Two new partners expand the Estate Planning team

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA – Two new partners, Wm. Bert Brannon and W. Alex Weatherly Jr., are expanding Callison Tighe’s Tax & Estate Planning, Probate & Trusts practice area, growth that will help the firm better serve business and individual clients.

Brannon is new to Callison Tighe, joining as a partner. Weatherly became a partner effective Nov. 1 after coming to Callison Tighe two years ago as an “of counsel” attorney.

They join David Ewing in a growing department capable of assisting clients with a range of legal matters, including business formation, business succession planning, tax and real estate planning, trust creation and administration, powers of attorney, probate administration and more.

Brannon is a South Carolina Supreme Court certified specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law who has practiced in Columbia for 25 years. A past president of the Columbia Estate Planning Council and past chairman of the Columbia Tax Study Group, he is an adjunct professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law, teaching estate planning.

He’s written on the topic, co-authoring a chapter on wills and testamentary trusts in Estate Planning in South Carolina, Volume II. He also frequently presents continuing legal education seminars for the South Carolina Bar.

Brannon holds a juris doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law and a master of law in taxation from the New York University School of Law.

A former certified public accountant, Weatherly has 30 years’ experience helping South Carolina business and individuals formulate strategies for protecting financial resources. He assists with estate planning as well as will and probate issues, including those involving high-value estates. A graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law who holds a bachelor’s in business with an emphasis on finance and accounting from The Citadel, Weatherly also has taught continuing legal education programs for attorneys and accountants on estate and tax planning.

Both Brannon and Weatherly also advise clients on business creation and succession planning, a key part of estate planning for small business owners.