Clayton W. Chan

• St. Paul-Minnesota Foundation, Co-Chair, Cornerstone Advisory Board, 2021
• St. Paul-Minnesota Foundation,  Cornerstone Advisory Board member..., 2024
• St. Paul-Minnesota Foundation, member of Cornerstone Advisory Board. Appointed in 2020. , 2020
• Past Mentor, Winthrop & Weinstine Minority Mentorship Program, University of Minnesota Law School
• Former Member, Selection Committee, Minnesota State Bar Association Minority Clerkship Program
• Co-Founder, former Vice President, National Association of Asian-American Professionals, Minnesota Chapter
• Co-Chair, Probate & Trust Section, Hennepin County Bar Association, 2008-2010
• Past Mentor, Minneapolis Edison High School writing program for disadvantaged youths
• Past Mentor, University of St. Thomas School of Law Mentorship Program
• Co-Chair, Programming Committee, Hennepin County Bar Association, 2006-2007
• Member, Hennepin County Bar Association
• Member, Minnesota State Bar Association
• Member, Asset Protection Committee, American Bar Association
• Co-Chair, Hennepin County Bar Association Trust and Probate Section--Co-Chair, Hennepin County Bar Association Trust and Probate Section, Programming Committee--National Asian-Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) - -American Bar Association -Minnesota Bar Association -Hennepin County Bar Association--National Association of Elder Law Attorneys
• Co-chair, HCBA Probate and Trust Section Programming Committee

• Direct representation of numerous clients of moderate to very high net worth in excess of $100mm, regarding their trust and estate planning.  Represent numerous high net worth clients with complex planning, to achieve their critical family, legacy, tax, and business succession objectives, including working with numerous owners of a large family-owned businesses to develop a multi-tiered business succession and estate tax plans. Represent international estate planning clients with their complex multi-jurisdictional planning, including representing clients from Asia, Europe, and Latin America, to arrange their international estate planning matters. Represent clients to achieve their deeply-cherished charitable planning objectives, including the establishment and implementation of private foundations and charitable trusts. Represent clients with their estate planning for disabled family members.  Represent clients regarding court settlement trusts, including obtaining court approval for a settlement trust for a client who was severely injured in an accident and received a substantial U.S. federal district court settlement award. Successfully represent clients in front of the IRS regarding audits and private letter rulings.  Successfully represent clients in settling complex estate and probate matters. 

• 50 hours pro bono work for estate planning and elder law clients, 2019
• Creator and Mentor, Winthrop & Weinstine University of Minnesota Law School minority mentorship program
• I have worked hard in my career to increase diversity in the legal profession and wider community, including: Member, Diversity Committee, Lindquist & Vennum; Member, Selection Committee, Minnesota State Bar Association Minority Clerkship Program; Mentor, University of St. Thomas Law School mentorship program; Mentor, Minneapolis Edison High School writing program for disadvantaged students
• -National Association of Asian-American Professionals, Minnesota Chapter, Founding member, Board Advisor Past Vice President and Board Member -Chair, Winthrop & Weinstine Diversity Committee

• Selected as a "Best Lawyer in America" in trusts and estates and elder law areas , Best Lawyer in America, Best Lawyers in America, 2024
• My firm, Chan, PLLC/Carlson Estate Planning was selected as a "Best Law Firm" by peers. I am the sole owner and member of the firm. , Best Law Firm in America, Best Lawyers in America, 2024
• Five Star Award for Financial Professionals, Estate Planning, Five Star Award for Financial Professionals, Estate Planning, Five Star Award, 2024
• Selected as a "Best Lawyer in America" in the elder law area. , Best Lawyer in America, Best Lawyers in America, 2023
• Awarded the Five Star Award for Financial Professionals, estate planning, for 2021, Five Star Award for Financial Professionals, Estate Planning, Five Star Award, 2023
• Awarded the Five Star Award for Financial Professionals, estate planning, for 2021, Five Star Award for Financial Professionals, Estate Planning, Five Star Award, 2022
• Named an “Up and Coming Lawyer” by Minnesota Lawyer, 2007
• Named to Minnesota Super Lawyers, Rising Stars (Estate Planning), 2005-2007, 2010
• Recognized as a “Lead Counsel” rated attorney
• Recipient, Five Star Wealth Manager Award (Estate Planning), Five Star Professional, 2015, 2018
• Recognized as a Minnesota “Super Lawyer” in 2020, a recognition given to only 5% of attorneys each year
• Up and Coming Attorney, Minnesota Lawyer, 2007
• Minnesota Super Lawyers "Rising Stars", 2005-2007, 2010, Minnesota Super Lawyers "Rising Stars", 2005-2007, 2010, Super Lawyers

• University of Minnesota, College of Liberal Arts Honors Division, B.S., Economics, Cum Laude, 1997
• University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management, M.B.T. (Master of Business Taxation), major degree requirements completed

• Estate planning treatise. , Minnesota Estate Planning,Wills and Trusts Library: Forms and Practice Manual, 2023
• Sole Author, book: Business Succession Planning Strategies: a Manual, Thomson-Reuters/Asptore (2012); Sole Author, 2-volume treatise: Minnesota Estate Planning, Wills and Trusts Library--Forms and Practice Manual, Data Trace Publishing (2011, 2012, and 2013); Co-author: Minnesota Estate Planning, Wills and Trusts Library--Forms and Practice Manual, 1st and 2nd eds., Data Trace Publishing (2009 and 2010); Author: "Estate Planning in Uncertain Times," Estate Planning Client Strategies, Thomson-Reuters/Aspatore (2010); Author: "Taxation of Global E-Commerce: Current Proposals and Underlying Issues" (Winter, 2000, edition of the Minnesota Journal of Global Trade)
• Estate planning treatise, sole author, 2 volume series, updated annually. , Sole author, Minnesota Estate Planning,Wills and Trusts Library: Forms and Practice Manual, 2020
• 2 volume treatise, Minnesota Estate Planning,Wills and Trusts Library: Forms and Practice Manual(update), 2018
• Book , Business Succession and Estate Planning for the Small Business Owner, 2011
• Federal Tax Law Changes under the 2010 Tax Relief Act” – M&A Webinar Series (2011)

• Interviewed by St. Paul Minnesota Foundation for article regarding estate planning and charitable giving. Here is the online interview: https://www.spmcf.org/blog/clayton-chan-interview  , 2020

• "Business Succession Planning 101 for the Closely Held Family Business Owner”  (Moss & Barnett, Fall 2012)

“Clayton is an excellent lawyer and, as important, he is a person of the highest integrity.”

“Clayton is a top notch estate planning attorney and one of the most ethical people I know.”