Mary Sue Donohue
Partner
Trusts & Estates

Practice Area And Professional Expertise

• Former Chairperson of the Trust & Estates Practice Group.
  
  
• Ms. Donohue is among five percent of Florida lawyers Board Certified in Wills, Trusts and Estates.
  
  
• She actively manages development of strategy and carrying out of administration of multi-million dollar estates, including preparation of federal estate tax returns.
  
  
• Her practice prepares numerous estate plans, from wills to more extensive and more sophisticated estate plans, including creative uses of trusts.
  
  
• She also handles significant probate disputes, including accounting proceedings, fiduciary defense and removal and elective share issues.
  
  
• Prior to merging with Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, LLP, Ms. Donohue was the founding partner of the Donohue Law Firm, a boutique firm specializing in trusts and estates for 13 years.
  
  
• In addition, she has served as a bank officer in Florida and headed a state agency in South Dakota prior to forming her own law firm.
  
  
• Recognized as one of the Top Lawyers in South Florida™ in the 2007 - 2010 editions of the South Florida Legal Guide.
  
  
• Recognized as one of Florida’s Super Lawyers™ in the 2007 and 2008 editions of Law & Politics, as voted by her peers.

Publications
She has written on various trust and estates related subjects, articles include:

“Minimum Fee Schedules and Antitrust Laws” (S.D. Law Review – 1974)
“Basic Practice Under the Florida Probate Code” (chapter on Duties of Personal            Representatives and Attorneys) (Florida Bar – 1987)
“Survey of Trust and Estate Law” (Nova Law Review – 1993)
Quoted: "Instant Fortunes, and Sudden Headaches," The New York Times (December 2007)
Quoted: “Volatile economy holds new challenges for estate planning,” South Florida Business           Journal (October 31, 2008)
Quoted: "The Business of Sports," Sun-Sentinel (June 24, 2008)

Ms. Donohue has been quoted in numerous publications, including:

Kiplinger's
Sun Sentinel
The New York Times
The Washington Post

Presentations
Speaks on trust and estate topics for various organizations and Continuing Legal Education seminars.
Appearances on Wealth and Wisdom television show.

Education
University of South Dakota (J.D., 1975)
Boston University (B.A., 1972)

Courts & Bar Associations
The Florida Bar (1986)
South Dakota (1975)
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of South Dakota (1975)
Board Certified: Wills, Trusts and Estates by the Florida Bar (1996)
Member: Florida Bar Association (1986-present); current member Real Property, Probate and
          Trust Sections; former member Special Grievance Committee
Member: American Bar Association; Real Property and Probate, and Law Practice           Management Sections
Admitted in Florida and various federal appellate courts

Professional & Civic Affiliations
Florida Atlantic University Foundation
     Board Member and Executive Committee (1997-2003)
     Member: Nursing Advisory Board
Greater Boca Raton Estate Planning Council
     Past President and Member
Florence Fuller Child Development Board
     Past Board Member
Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County
     Member: Professional Advisory Committee (PAC)