Justin W. Whitney

Toggle the social sharing tools SHARE PDFI view myself as a professional who can organize complex affairs for my clients and become a turn-key resource for them on their estate planning and business affairs, said Justin. Clients have praised Justin for being highly knowledgeable, patient and well-organized, as well as responsive, and quick to point out how theyve recommended him to others. Justin Whitney helps families and business owners organize and transition their complex estates in a tax-efficient manner with an acute awareness of the unique circumstances of their family and station in life, delivering substantive knowledge and common sense as an advisor, a resource, and a friend. He is a partner in Lathrop GPMs Private Client Services practice group. With significant experience advising high-net-worth families on complex estate and gift tax planning and business succession planning, Justin leverages his background as a certified public accountant and his legal masters degree in taxation to deliver tax-focused solutions to clients. His day-to-day practice involves the preparation of all varieties of trusts including:Basic revocable trusts Charitable remainder trusts Grantor-retained annuity trusts Intentionally defective grantor trusts Irrevocable generation-skipping transfer tax-exempt dynasty trusts Life insurance trusts Qualified personal residence trusts Spousal lifetime access trusts Justin also advises business owners on tax-free reorganizations of corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies, business succession planning, the formation of family limited partnerships, and advanced gifting strategies. He has an active trust and estate litigation practice where he advocates in court disputes between trustees and beneficiaries. In addition to guiding clients on the technical nature of tax, estate and business laws, Justin is well-versed in complex interfamily dynamics and strives to promote family connectivity through communication and transparency. He regularly counsels business owners in ways to ensure that the fortune they spent a lifetime creating doesnt destroy the family relationships they treasure the most. Clients count on Justin to organize their affairs, plan their wealth and business transition, and then remain a constant and available resource for the rest of their lives as questions arise and life circumstances change. He endeavors to be the keeper of the facts for estate planning clients and a guide for their surviving family members. Clients count on Justin to manage their affairs for their families when their stage in life leaves them without the physical strength or mental acuity to do it on their own. More Less When asked...Why did you become a lawyer?I enjoy the opportunity to connect with clients and help them solve complex problems. What do you do outside of work?When Justin is not serving clients, he enjoys being with his wife and helping their children discover and achieve their dreams. Justin is also passionate about advocating for the underserved and disadvantaged members of the Kansas City community through mentoring, public service and pro-bono advocacy. Areas of Focus Services Closely Held & Family Businesses Trust & Estate Litigation Private Client Services Emerging Companies & Entrepreneurs Community Banking Sectors Family Office Credentials Education University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law (LL. M., Taxation, 2015)Washburn University School of Law (J. D., cum laude, 2007)University of Kansas (B. S., Accounting, 2004)University of Kansas (B. S., Business Administration, 2002)Admissions Bar Admissions Kansas Missouri Recognitions Selected among The Best Lawyers in America , Ones to Watch, 2023-2025 Chambers High Net Worth Guide, Leading Practitioner of Private Wealth Law, 2024-2025 American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, Heart of America Fellows Institute, 2021 Selected for Missouri/Kansas Super Lawyers Rising Stars 2014-2019 Myron E. Sildon Excellence in Estate Planning Award, Kansas City Estate Planning Society Presentations Speaker, Estate Planning for High-Net-Worth Clients, The Missouri Bars 2025 Annual Estate, Trust & Elder Law Institute, November 7, 2025 Presenter, Trust Litigation, Catholic Advisors Network CLE Program, October 23, 2024 Presenter, Choosing Between Simple Wills and Trusts, Kansas City Estate Planning Symposiums Fundamentals of Estate Planning Program, October 17, 2024 Presenter, Estate Planning to Minimize Income Taxation, Kansas Bar Associations Law Law Palooza CLE, September 6, 2024 Co-presenter, Leaving a Legacy: Donor Advised Funds and Private Foundations, and Youve Been Served: Top Ten Questions for Inheritance Beneficiaries and Their Advisors in Litigation Cases, Truman Heartland Community Foundations Professional Advisor Seminar Series, May 9, 2024 More Publications Author, Estate Planning with Family Limited Partnerships, Estate Planning Journal, Vol. 49, No. 6, June 2022 Co-author, Revocable Trusts: Kansas, Practical Law Trusts & Estates, Thomson Reuters, 2020 Co-author, Power of Attorney (Kansas), Practical Law Trusts & Estates, Thomson Reuters, 2020 Author, Trust Modifications, Trust Terminations and Valid Settlement Agreements, Kansas Probate & Trust Administration after Death, 8th Edition, Kansas Bar Association, 2018 Co-author, Estate Planning after the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, Ingrams, 2018 Co-author, Has Your Estate Plan Entered the Digital Age?, Ingrams, 2018 Co-author, Revocable Trusts: Missouri, Practical Law Trusts & Estates, Thomson Reuters, 2018 Co-author, Power of Attorney (Missouri), Practical Law Trusts & Estates, Thomson Reuters, 2018 Professional Activities Heart of America Fellows Institute, The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC)Kansas Bar Association, Real Estate, Probate and Trust Section Executive Committee, 2024-present Missouri Bar Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association Community Involvement Childrens Mercy Planned Giving Council, Member The Civic Council of Greater Kansas City, Kansas City Tomorrow Class of 2023-2024 Primary Sidebar Overview Areas of Focus Credentials Presentations Publications Professional Activities Community Involvement Related Insights Justin Whitneys Insights Firm News Lathrop GPM Partner Justin Whitney Elected Fellow of American College of Trust and Estate Counsel October 31, 2025 2 minute read Firm News Chambers High Net Worth 2025 Legal Guide Ranks 17 Lathrop GPM Attorneys July 24, 2025 2 minute read Firm News Seven Lathrop GPM Attorneys Named Lawyer of the Year, 92 Ranked as The Best Lawyers... August 15, 2024 4 minute read View More Insights