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Spencer Fane Bolsters Phoenix Trusts & Estates Practice Team

June 3, 2025

Spencer Fane LLP is pleased to welcome Samantha Winter McAlpin to the firm’s Phoenix office as an of counsel attorney in the Tax, Trusts, & Estates practice group.

Samantha helps families, individuals, and fiduciaries navigate probate disputes, administer trusts and estates, and create estate plans. She advises on all aspects of estate planning, including wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, health care and financial powers of attorney, and living wills.

As a complement to her estate planning practice, Samantha litigates contested probate and trust claims involving trustees, personal representatives, beneficiaries, and the exploitation of vulnerable adults. She also has significant experience in probate and trust administration, guardianships, conservatorships, and taxation.

“Samantha brings a bright and welcomed perspective to the work our team does in the areas of trust and estate formation and probate litigation,” said David Funkhouser, Office Managing Partner for Spencer Fane in Phoenix. “Our continued measured growth in the local market aligns with the current and emerging needs of our diverse client base. Samantha’s ability to navigate complex taxation and asset preservation matters enhances our collaborative and efficient approach to legal services.”

Samantha previously served as a senior attorney for the Internal Revenue Service’s Office of Chief Counsel in Phoenix, where she provided legal counsel to the IRS and represented the government’s interests in U.S. Tax Court, with an emphasis on matters involving estate and gift taxation and collection from probate estates. 

An Arizona native, Samantha completed her undergraduate studies at Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University, and later earned her Juris Doctor from Notre Dame Law School before completing a Master of Laws in Taxation from the University of San Diego School of Law.

Spencer Fane
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