Ellen Fred serves clients on all aspects of land conservation law, including drafting and customizing conservation easements and related documents, analyzing the state and federal income, gift, and estate tax implications of employing various conservation approaches, and negotiating with landowners, tax-exempt organizations, and governmental agencies. Ellen's practice also includes counseling taxable and tax-exempt entities on corporate governance and tax-related issues as well as assisting clients with estate and gift tax planning and general real estate matters.

Raised in Traverse City, Ellen recently returned to the area after beginning her legal career in California. In her spare time, Ellen enjoys spending time working on her small farm with her husband Robert, and their young son, Jack, where they keep a family dairy cow and chickens and tend fruit trees, a vegetable garden, and a small vineyard.

Education

• University of Michigan (B.A., with High Honors and High Distinction, 1993)
• University of California, Hastings College of the Law (J.D., summa cum laude, 2003); Order of the Coif; Thurston Society; Recipient, AmJur Awards for Federal Income Tax, Torts, Federal Courts, Evidence; Recipient, Moot Court Awards for Best Brief, Honorably Mention for Oral Advocacy.

Admitted to Practice

• State Bar of California, 2003
• State Bar of Michigan, 2008

Previous Professional Experience

• Attorney - Coblentz, Patch, Duffy & Bass, LLP, San Francisco, California

Smith Haughey Publications

News for Ellen A. Fred

4/7/2009
Smith Haughey Expands & Strengthens Client Offerings in 10 Practice Areas

2/12/2009
Fred Joins Smith Haughey

Professional Affiliations

• State Bar of Michigan
• State Bar of California
• Grand Traverse-Leelanau-Antrim Bar Association
• Women Lawyers Association of Michigan
• Heart of the Lakes Michigan Model Easement Revision Working Group
• Land Trust Alliance

Community Affiliations

• Chair, Farmland Preservation Workgroup, Northwest Michigan Food and Farming Network
• Board Member, Great Lakes Children's Museum