Kristen M. Lewis

Kristen M. Lewis is Counsel in the Tax Practice at Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP.

She has extensive experience in estate planning and wealth protection, “special needs trusts,” trust and estate planning and administration, guardianships, fiduciary matters, trusts for pets, and charitable giving techniques.

Ms. Lewis is a nationally recognized expert on “Special Needs Trust” planning for persons challenged by disabilities, and is a frequent speaker and author on this topic. She is an active member of the Academy of Special Needs Planners, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the American Bar Association, the New York Bar Association Elder Law Section, the State Bar of Georgia Fiduciary Law Section, and the Georgia Planned Giving Council. She is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and is also a Co-Chair of the Long-Term Care, Medicaid and Special Needs Trusts Committee of the Elder Law, Disability Planning and Bioethics Group of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of the ABA.

Ms. Lewis received her B.A. degree in French and political science, with highest honors, from Wellesley College in 1981. She earned her J.D. degree from Cornell Law School in 1984. She is admitted to practice law in both New York and Georgia.

Ms. Lewis is a member and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, Inc., a former Trustee of the Wellesley College Alumnae Association and serves as a volunteer trainer for Canine Assistants, which raises and trains certified service dogs for recipients with disabilities. She is an active member of St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church and serves as an annulment Case Sponsor with the Metropolitan Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Atlanta.

Ms. Lewis co-authored an article entitled, “Top 15 Tips for Estate Planners When Planning for Special Needs,” published in Probate & Property, Volume 24, Number 2, March/April 2010, which was the magazine’s 2010 Excellence in Writing Award for “Best Overall Article - Trusts & Estates.”