Edward A. Copley

Edward A. Copley, J.D., received his J.D. from Southern Methodist University School of Law and his B.A. in English from Southern Methodist University. Mr. Copley joined us from Akin Gump in Dallas, where he focused his practice on taxation, trusts, and estates, with an emphasis on wealth transfer, estate planning, foundations, insurance and income tax planning for high net-worth individuals.

Prior to Akin Gump, Mr. Copley was an attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., working first for the Antitrust Division from 1960 to 1962 and then for the Tax Division from 1962 to 1966. After transferring to the Tax Division, Mr. Copley tried cases in Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, Florida, Texas, Louisiana, and New Mexico involving corporate and individual taxation, estate tax, gift tax, valuation, excise tax and fraud issues.

Mr. Copley has been named as one of the Leading Lawyers in America by Citywealth Leaders List. He currently serves as an advisory council member and board of directors member of several charitable organizations.

Education & Accreditations

• Southern Methodist University (1957)
  B.A. in English
• Southern Methodist University School of Law (1960)
  J.D.
  Served as Editor-in-Chief of the Southwestern Law Journal
  Order of the Woolsack
• State Bar of Texas
• District of Columbia Bar (inactive)

Honors & Awards

• Named one of D Magazine‘s Best Lawyers (2022)
• Recipient of Distinguished Probate Attorney Lifetime Achievement Award by Real Estate, Probate, & Trust Law Section of the Dallas Bar Association (2019)
• Named as one of the Leading Lawyers in America by Citywealth Leaders List (2013,2019)
• Named as one of North America’s Leading Lawyers in Private Wealth Management by Citywealth Magazine (2012,2015-2016)
• Named as one of the Top Wealth Advisors in the United States by Citywealth Magazine (2006,2011)

Professional Memberships & Designations

• American College of Trust and Estate Counsel Fellow
• United States Supreme Court Bar
• Admitted to Practice Before the Tax Court of the United States
• Admitted to Practice Before the United States Court of Claims
• International Academy of Estate and Trust Law
• Dallas Bar Association
• American Bar Association
• National Association of Accredited Estate Planners
• Dallas Bar Association Tax Section (Past President)
• Dallas Estate Planning Council (Past President)
• Southern Methodist University Law Alumni Association (Past President)
• Life Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation
• Adjunct Professor of Taxation at SMU (1966-1979)

Community Service & Personal Interests

• Life Member of the Salesmanship Club of Dallas
• Advisory Council Member and Board of Directors Member of Several Charitable Organizations
• Walking, Photography, and Reading