
Overview
Bridget’s expertise and insight reach beyond navigating constantly shifting estate, trust, and tax laws to serving as a trusted advisor who thoughtfully prepares families for and carefully guides them through what too often can be the greatest challenges of their lives.
Many of Bridget’s clients have counted on her for more than 40 years to help them make the most intelligent decisions regarding their family’s wealth; today, she is serving their children and grandchildren. They trust her advice and sensitivity as she seeks to understand their interests and continuously analyzes trust and estate laws to optimally advance and protect them. She understands that issues surrounding trusts and estates can be as much about family dynamics as they are about money and uses her high emotional intelligence and outstanding communication ability to help clients make the choices that will best serve them today and tomorrow.
Nonetheless, conflict can happen, and when it does, Dorsey’s litigation team counts on Bridget’s textbook knowledge of tax code and trust and estate law. Even here, Bridget’s sensitivity shines as she helps the client understand the issues underlying conflict and respond in a way that ensures their best outcome.
These are some of the many reasons she is a longstanding fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), the premier organization in the field, where members are nominated based on their experience in and contributions to trust and estate planning, including exceptional skill in the field and contributions to the estate planning legal community. She is membership selection chair for the organization, is on the fiduciary litigation committee, and is a former Minnesota State Chair and former regent. She is also a steering committee member of the Cambridge Forum on Private Wealth Litigation, which was created to bring the field’s leaders together to advance the profession.
Experience
Representative Experience
Bridget’s practice involves advising and assisting clients in all estate planning matters, including:
- wills
- revocable (“living”) trusts
- powers of attorney
- health care directives (“living wills”)
- irrevocable tax planning trusts (such as grantor retained annuity trusts (GRATs), qualified personal resident trusts (QPRTs), installment sales to grantor trusts and life insurance trusts)
- prenuptial and post-nuptial agreements
- family business succession planning
- charitable planning (such as charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts, and private foundations)
Bridget also has substantial probate and trust administration experience, including:
- advising personal representatives and executors in administering decedents’ estates
- advising trustees in the administration of trusts
- advising guardians and conservators
Bridget also assists clients in resolving estate and trust litigation disputes and tax controversies, including:
- incapacity, mistake and undue influence claims
- breach of fiduciary claims
- will and trust construction matters
- representing taxpayers in estate, gift, and income tax audits
News & Resources
Articles
News & Press Mentions
Select Presentations
Bridget enjoys speaking on a wide variety of estate and trust topics. Her most recent presentations include:
- "Discretionary Distributions: Trust Decanting and Consideration of a Beneficiary’s Other Resources," Fiduciary Litigation Committee of ACTEC Fall Seminar, October 2014
- "Serving Charitable Boards: Legal Challenges and Ethical Pitfalls," ACTEC National Meeting, June 2013
- "You, Me and the UTC," Ramsey County Bar Association Luncheon Presentation, May 2013
- "Multiple Advisors Working Together: One for All and All for the Client," 36th Annual Probate & Trust Law Section Conference, June 2010
- "Probate & Trust Litigation - You Can't Take It With You But Maybe You Should!!!" Minnesota State Bar Association Luncheon Presentation, December 2009
- "Non-Tax Case Law Update: Highlighting Recent Trust and Estate Litigation Cases," 35th Annual Probate & Trust Law Section Conference, June 2009
- "The Sky May Be Falling, But Does It Have To Fall On You?" Minnesota State Bar Association Luncheon Presentation, December 2008
- "Recent Trends In Fiduciary Litigation," 34th Annual Probate & Trust Law Section Conference, June 2008
- "Simplified Trial Resolution from an Estate Planner's Point of View," University of Miami School of Law, 41st Annual Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning, January 2007
- Frequent lecturer at continuing legal education programs in Minnesota on topics relating to estate planning, estate and trust administration, and estate and trust litigation.
Industries & Practices
Tax Controversy & Litigation
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceTrusts & Estates Litigation
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceFood, Beverage & Agribusiness
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceEnergy & Natural Resources
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceHealthcare & Life Sciences
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceBanking & Financial Institutions
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practice- Banking & Financial Institutions
- Energy & Natural Resources
- Food, Beverage & Agribusiness
- Healthcare & Life Sciences
- Tax Controversy & Litigation
- Trusts & Estates
- Trusts & Estates Litigation
Professional & Civic
Professional Achievements
- Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC)
- Chair, ACTEC Membership Selection Committee
- Former Regent and Minnesota State Chair, ACTEC
- Former Co-Chair of Litigation Committee, Minnesota State Bar Association, Probate and Trust Law Section
- Member, Minnesota State Bar Association, Probate and Trust Law Section
Accolades
- Recognized in "Top Women in Law," Minnesota Lawyer, 2025
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America©, 2008-2026
- Named a Top Lawyer in Trusts and Estates by Minnesota Monthly, 2024
- Recognized by Chambers High Net Worth (HNW) for Private Wealth Law – Minnesota, 2018-2023
- Named "Minneapolis Lawyer of the Year" in Trusts and Estates by Best Lawyers®, 2021-2022
- Listed as a Minnesota Super Lawyers Women’s Edition, 2020-2021
- Listed as a Minnesota Super Lawyer, 2006 and 2010-2021
- Named a "2008 Five Star Best in Client Satisfaction Wealth Manager" by Mpls. St. Paul Magazine and Twin Cities Business Monthly
