Edward A. Copley’s practice focuses on taxation, trusts and estates, with an emphasis on wealth transfer, estate planning, foundations, insurance and income tax planning for high-net-worth individuals.
Practice & Background
Prior to joining 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 received his B.A. in English in 1957 and his J.D. in 1960 from Southern Methodist University, where he served as editor-in-chief of the Southwestern Law Journal.
Mr. Copley is a past president of the Dallas Estate Planning Council, the Tax Section of the Dallas Bar Association and the Southern Methodist University Law Alumni Association. He is a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and a life fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation. He is a member of the International Academy of Estate and Trust Law, the State Bar of Texas, the Dallas Bar Association, the American Bar Association and a member of the National Association of Accredited Estate Planners. Mr. Copley served as an adjunct professor of taxation at Southern Methodist University from 1966 to 1979 and has served on its board of visitors.
Community Involvement
Mr. Copley’s community, civic and charitable activities include being:
- a life member of the Salesmanship Club of Dallas
- an advisory council member and board of directors member of several charitable organizations
- general counsel of the O’Donnell Foundation in Dallas, Texas.
Awards & Accolades
- Citywealth Magazine (2006 and 2011) – named as one of the top wealth advisors in the United States
- Citywealth Magazine (2012) – named as one of North America’s leading lawyers in private wealth management.