American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys

Steve Hartnett brings a broad range of educational and professional experiences to the Academy. Mr. Hartnett has practiced estate planning in a large law firm, managed a closely-held business, and taught law in both academic and professional settings. He applies this breadth and depth of understanding in assisting members and providing them timely, relevant support and education.

Professional Experience

During law school, Mr. Hartnett worked for the Internal Revenue Service, National Office, in Washington, D.C., interned for the Congressional Office of Minority Leader Richard Gephardt (D-Missouri), and interned with Judge James Meredith, United States District Court, Eastern District of Missouri. Upon graduation from law school, Mr. Hartnett served as law clerk to Judge Warren Welliver of the Supreme Court of Missouri. He managed a closely-held family business for a number of years, gaining first-hand experience and understanding of the difficulties and needs of family businesses and their succession issues. Mr. Hartnett practiced in the 300-member St. Louis-based law firm of Armstrong Teasdale LLP where he counseled individuals and formulated and implemented estate & gift, generation-skipping, and income tax plans. This counsel included advanced planning such as charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts, private foundations, family limited partnerships, sales to intentionally defective grantor trusts, and other specialized planning. Mr. Hartnett counseled clients with regard to trust and estate administration, including the preparation of the appropriate tax returns, disclaimers, and other documents. Steve Hartnett has taught law courses at Saint Louis University (St. Louis, Missouri) and business management courses at Maryville University (St. Louis, Missouri). Prior to joining the Academy, Mr. Hartnett taught numerous professional seminars, including Estate Planning for the CPA, April 2001; Practical Aspects of Multidisciplinary Practice, April 2000; The Multidisciplinary Practice Forum, January 2000; Estate Planning and Probate for the Paralegal in Missouri, November 1999; and Trusts, Estate Planning, and Divorce in Missouri, April 1999. Steve Hartnett has been active in bar activities and served on the Board of Governors of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis and Chairperson of its Section on Taxation. He served as a member of that organization’s Task Force on Multidisciplinary Practice (MDP). Mr. Hartnett is admitted to practice in California, Illinois, Missouri, and the District of Columbia.

Education

Steve Hartnett earned a Bachelors of Arts (B.A.) degree from Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa. He earned a Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., where he was named the recipient of the American Jurisprudence Award in Estate Planning. Steve Hartnett earned a Masters of Laws degree (LL.M.) in Taxation from New York University.

Personal

Mr. Hartnett lives in San Diego and enjoys cycling, hiking, and traveling.