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Managing Partner

Carolyn M. Ohlsen

Carolyn Ohlsen advises individuals and families on all phases of estate, trust and partnership planning including tax, administration and legacy development. Carolyn has lectured and chaired professional level courses and other programs on sophisticated estate planning topics, structuring for retirement assets, and transfer taxes.

She has been interviewed and cited as an authority in such areas in national publications. She represents taxpayers in private letter rulings and transfer tax audits. Carolyn received the Accredited Estate Planner (AEP) designation from the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils, in 2007 and a Certificate in Fiduciary Governance from the Leadership Center for Investment Stewards, in 2012. Carolyn also leads practice management for the firm.

Practice Areas
  • Private Client

  • Estate Planning

  • Wealth Counseling

  • Fiduciary Compliance

  • Dispute Resolution

  • Philanthropy

Education
  • M.B.A., Saint Louis University, 1992

  • J.D., cum laude, Saint Louis University, 1991 (awarded School of Law Scholarship 1988-1991)

  • B.S. in Business Administration, magna cum laude, Saint Louis University, 1988 (Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society)

  • Special Certification in the Computer Sciences, Saint Louis University, 1988

  • Parkway North High School, diploma with Honors, 1984 (National Merit Scholar)

Bar Admissions
  • Missouri 1991

  • New York 2006

Other Career Experience
  • Bryan Cave LLP, St. Louis, Missouri (Private Client Group) 1997-2004

  • Nations & Mueller, Attorneys at Law, Clayton, Missouri 1989-1997

  • AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company, Client Service Assistant 1985-1988

Publications & Speaking Engagements
  • NBI – Estate Planning Tools and New Laws (August 2023)

  • Estate Planning Council of St. Louis – St. Louis Practicing Scholars Series Trust Fiduciaries (March 2023)

  • NBI – Resolving Disputes and Making Changes to Trusts (December 2021)

  • NBI – Dealing with Warring Beneficiaries (August 2021)

  • Chapter co-author of estate planning treatise:  L. Brody & C. Ohlsen, Planning for Retirement Assets Under the Final Regulations, in D. Cornfeld & L. Brody, Missouri Estate Planning, Will Drafting and Estate Administration Forms § 3.4.7 (2005)

Served as one of the individual members exercising principal responsibility for Comments submitted in response to Proposed Regulations Relating to the Election Not to Have Automatic Allocation of Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Exemption Apply to Certain Transfers to a GST Trust, by individual members of the American Bar Association’s Section of Real Property, Probate and Trust Law; the American Bar Association’s Section of Taxation; and the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, Estate and Gift Tax Committee

Achievements & Honors
  • Super Lawyers (Missouri) 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023

  • Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register Rated AV (Preeminent, 5.0 out of 5.0)

  • St. Louis Small Business Monthly – Top St. Louis Estate Planner (March 2021)

Other Interests & Skills
  • Gardening

  • Entertaining

  • Outdoor travel

  • Theater and live music

  • Sunday School teacher

Civic Involvement
  • Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri –Women’s Leadership Network (2015-present)

  • Ladue School District PTO Volunteer (2001-2019)

  • St. Louis Public Library Foundation Planned Giving Advisory Council (2009-2013)

  • Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, outreach committee (2006-2008)

  • Junior League of St. Louis (1995-2005)

  • St. Louis Planned Giving Council, guest Roundtable Moderator

Professional Affiliations
  • Estate Planning Council of St. Louis (1997-present; Board Member 2003-2015; President 2011-2012)

  • American Bar Association Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section (1992-present); Tax Section GST Committee Chair (2004-2009)

  • Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis – Probate and Trust Section Steering Committee (1992-present)

  • Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis – Board of Governors (Board Member and Steering Committee Chair 2007-2008)

  • Thunderbird Walker Center for Global Entrepreneurship, Global Fiduciary Strategist (GFS) awarded 2012

  • Thunderbird Walker Center for Global Entrepreneurship, Certificate in Fiduciary Governance awarded 2012

  • National Association of Estate Planners and Councils, Accredited Estate Planner (AEP) 2007-present

  • The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) Designated Full Member (2021 – present)

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