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Dentons
After getting his undergraduate degree in accounting, Greg J. Duncan tried to land a job with one of the big accounting firms that were focused on tax work but received no offers. A friend planned to take LSAT prep for law school, and Duncan thought it sounded interesting and decided to do the same. “I had a couple of high school teachers who told me I argue a lot and I’d make a good lawyer,” Duncan said. “So I took the LSAT, got into law school, and the rest is history.” He has practiced at Dentons (and its legacy firms) since graduating from law school in 1999. A trust and estate board-certified lawyer, his primary focus is estate and wealth transfer planning. “I enjoy working with families, understanding how they operate and helping to craft a plan that meets their goals and family values,” Duncan said. His undergraduate degree is in accounting so when he joined Dentons, it was a natural fit to work in estate planning and wealth transfer. Recent projects include a tax court case his office settled favorably for a client. “I have also been assisting a client in anonymously giving, to date, nearly $20 million to charity,” he said, “which has been quite fun.”
Givebacks: board member, Biddle Memorial Foundation; volunteer and site coordinator, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance; member, Cornerstone Council, Central Indiana Community Foundation; past member, Professional Advisor Leadership Council, Central Indiana Community Foundation; past board member, board president, Prevail Foundation
First job: Duncan landed his first paper route at age 9. “You were supposed to be 10 to work it, but I told the paper I could do it,” he said. “They gave me a chance, and I had paper routes until I was a junior in high school.”
Mentors: His mentors include attorneys Paul Corsaro and Jim Reed. “Paul helped me learn how to engage with clients during difficult and highly emotional times, especially in estate administration,” he said. “Jim taught me to think outside of the box and how to approach different types of clients, including ones who may be challenging or needy in that moment.”
Important traits: In his area of practice, Duncan says that patience and attentiveness count for a lot — especially when sitting down with grieving families. “Not everyone can do what we do in the estate planning world,” he said. “It takes a certain personality.”
Advice: “I tell younger estate planning lawyers that you need to put in the work at a young age to sow your seeds and develop your client base. It may feel exhausting as it can take five, 10, or even 15 years to see the fruits of your labor. However, it’s important for your book of business and your reputation to sow those seeds early.”
Favorite de-stressors: “My wife has a way of keeping me grounded. Vacations also help.”•
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