Q&A with Dana Dwiggins:

Attorney: ‘Proper trust and estate planning is extremely important’

Attorney Dana Dwiggins, a partner at Solomon Dwiggins & Freer, strikes a balance between managing the law firm and handling her own caseload, plus making time for family and devoting time and energy to Safe Nest, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending domestic violence.

Dana Dwiggins became managing partner at Solomon Dwiggins & Freer at age 32. In addition to practicing law — focusing on probate and trust litigation, small-business litigation, trust and estate administration, guardianships, and trust and wills — she oversees all financial aspects of the firm.

How has your firm grown over the past 10 years?

Our company has tripled in size, starting with only four attorneys and growing to 12. We have been able to remain a boutique law firm but compete in the market for high-end litigation in trust and estate law, representing clients throughout the state and across the nation.

What is the importance of trust and estate law in Nevada?

With many retirees living in Las Vegas, as well as wealthy individuals and people in second marriages, proper trust and estate planning is extremely important. Each individual’s estate planning is unique and should be tailored to the person’s needs and goals, whether to minimize taxes, assist children or other family members, provide for spouses, fulfill charitable purposes or avoid future litigation.

Our firm is actively involved in legislation surrounding trust and estate and making sure the laws evolve with changes in society, such as the increased involvement of caregivers in elderly people’s lives. Nevada is a friendly state for self-settled spendthrift trusts and other asset-protection trusts.

What are some of the daily responsibilities of a managing partner?

As the managing partner, I oversee all financial aspects of the firm and expenses and administration of the firm, including licensing, benefits, insurance. I also oversee all employment matters, handle potential conflicts and manage all aspects of marketing.

What is the most challenging part of your job?

I find it challenging to try to balance managing a successful law practice while building my own individual practice and dedicating a significant portion of my time to practicing law.

What has been the most rewarding part of your job?

The success of the firm and its reputation as being Nevada’s largest trust and estate litigation firm has been the most rewarding to me. The firm’s reputation is well known and respected throughout the legal community.

What do you do after work?

After work, I generally spend time with my family cooking dinner, watching movies or doing different activities with them. I am also an active board member of Safe Nest.

Describe your management style.

Although I consider myself a direct, take-charge person, I believe everyone at the firm is part of a team. I have an open-door policy and believe communication is key to maintaining morale at the firm. I am detail-oriented and involved in all aspects of the firm’s administration and decisions affecting the company; however, I value people’s participation and input in decisions that affect the daily operations of the firm. I encourage people to continually challenge themselves and to produce a work product that meets the highest standards, allowing them to develop the skills to be a respected attorney, paralegal or legal assistant.

Where do you see yourself and your company in 10 years?

Over the next 10 years, I plan to build on the firm’s achievements by continuing to litigate highly complex cases, which will further bolster the firm’s reputation and shape trust and estate law across the state. I plan to continue to manage the firm and assist in adding experienced, talented attorneys who will contribute to the firm’s success and reputation.

What is your dream job, outside of your current field?

If I were not a lawyer, I would consider being either a personal trainer because of my love for physical activities and health, or work in a bookstore, where it is generally very quiet and peaceful.

Whom do you admire and why?

I admire my mother the most because she is the most loving, caring and giving person I have ever met. She never gets tired of helping others, and her greatest pleasure in life is simply putting a smile on others’ faces without ever expecting anything in return.

What is your biggest pet peeve?

One of my biggest pet peeves in the law practice is people who are not passionate about the law and the services they provide.

What is something that people might not know about you?

Despite my reputation as being an aggressive litigator, I am actually a kind-hearted person who is very giving, and I enjoy bringing happiness to others.

Anything else you want to tell us?

Safe Nest, Nevada’s largest and most comprehensive nonprofit organization devoted to eradicating domestic violence, offers services such as shelter, counseling, advocacy and prevention. It is my intention to raise awareness across the community about the organization and its services, in addition to applying my professional skill set to increase donations to Safe Nest.

Tags: The Sunday
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