Michelle Chapin serves as Managing Director of Wealth Strategy in Cresset’s Reston office. In this role, Michelle helps Cresset clients implement wealth transfer strategies, navigate the complexities involved in pre-sale planning, and understand all the facets of their estate plan. Michelle excels at providing clear and transparent explanations of intricate legal and tax matters, and provides guidance and practical solutions to achieve clients’ tax and non-tax wealth preservation objectives.
Prior to joining Cresset in 2023, Michelle spent 18 years in private practice as a tax, trusts and estates attorney where she advised individuals, families, and small business owners regarding their estate and gift planning needs and counseled fiduciaries and beneficiaries on trust and estate administration matters. She also focused a portion of her practice on cross-border planning for permanent residents, visa holders, and non-resident, non-citizens of the U.S.
Michelle was recently elected as a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) and has been recognized as a top Trust and Estate Attorney and Top Financial Adviser by Washingtonian Magazine and a Top Attorney by Bethesda Magazine. She has spoken extensively and written on topics pertaining to estate planning and administration. She currently serves as a Board Member of the D.C. Estate Planning Council.
Michelle earned an LL.M. (Master of Laws) in taxation and a Certificate in Estate Planning, with distinction, from Georgetown University Law Center. She received her Juris Doctor from American University Washington College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from the University of Florida. She is a member of the bars of Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia and is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Outside of the office, Michelle can be found cheering on her kids in their many activities and giving exceptional book recommendations.