Amanda Gyeszly
Member
Amanda Gyeszly is an attorney with two decades of experience working with clients and families on developing, implementing and administering effective strategies for transitioning wealth in a way that is both tax-effective and aligned with each client’s values and priorities.
Her practice focuses on complex estate planning and gifting strategies, business succession planning, charitable giving and exempt organizations, trust and estate administration, and assisting clients with marital property issues. Amanda also advises clients on related matters involving fiduciary law and income, estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes.
Before forming Gyeszly + Prangner, Amanda previously practiced with a boutique law firm in Houston and served as the Director of a private family office in Houston.
Education
The University of Texas School of Law
J.D., with Honors, 2004
The University of Texas
B.S., with Honors, 2001
Admissions/Certifications
- State Bar of Texas
- Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law,
Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 2009
Affiliations
- The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC)
Fellow, 2015 – present
Chair, New Fellows Steering Committee (Vice-Chair, 2022-2023; Member 2020 – present)
Member, Business Planning Committee (2019 – present)
Member, Charitable Planning and Exempt Organizations Committee (2019 – present)
Member, Communications Committee (2021 – 2024)
- Real Estate, Probate & Trust Section of the State Bar of Texas (REPTL)
Chair, Trusts Committee, 2021-2023; Member, 2019-2021, 2024 – present
Council Member, 2019-2023
- Texas Real Estate & Probate Institute (T-REP)
Chair, Trusts Committee, 2022-2023; Member, 2024 – present
- Member, Estate Planning and Probate Law Exam Commission
Texas Board of Legal Specialization, 2013-2015
- Tax Section of the State Bar of Texas
Chair, Estate and Gift Tax Committee, 2011-2013
- Life Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
- Fellow, American Bar Foundation
- Member, College of the State Bar of Texas
- Member, State Bar of Texas
Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law Section Tax Section
- Member, American Bar Association
Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section and Taxation Section
- Member, Houston Business and Estate Planning Council
- Member, The Estate Forum
Recognition
- Texas Super Lawyer, Law & Politics Magazine and Texas Monthly, 2021-2024
- Rising Star, Law & Politics Magazine and Texas Monthly, 2010 – 2015, 2020
Community
- Camp For All
Director, 2022 – present
Chair, Governance Committee (2023 – present)
- Houston Branch of The International Dyslexia Association
Director, 2019-2021
- The Junior League of Houston Foundation
Chairman, 2015-2017
Treasurer, 2014-2015
Director, 2014-2017
- The Junior League of Houston, Inc.
Sustaining Member, 2019 – present
Director, 2015-2016
Active Member, 2007-2019 (Chair, Community Initiatives Committee; Member, Strategic Planning Committee, Finance Council, Membership Council and Community Council)
- Houston Arboretum and Nature Center
Advisory Board Member, 2011-2016
Selected Publications/Presentations
- Panelist, Estate Planners’ Tool Box: Reading the Tea Leaves for the Good, the Bad and the Ugly, State Bar of Texas 28th Annual Advanced Estate Planning Strategies Course 2022
- Presenter, Tips on How to Prepare for the TBLS Estate Planning and Probate Exam, State Bar of Texas 41st Annual Advanced Estate Planning and Probate Course 2017 and the State Bar of Texas 38th Annual Advanced Estate Planning and Probate Course 2014
- Panelist, Navigating the Family Philanthropy Lifecycle, Philanthropy Southwest 68th Annual Conference 2016
- Presiding Officer, University of Texas School of Law CLE 33rd Annual Nonprofit Organizations Institute 2016
- Presenter, Compensation for Private Foundations: Strategies & Compliance, Philanthropy Southwest 67th Annual Conference 2015
- Course Director, State Bar of Texas 26th Annual Estate Planning and Probate Drafting Course 2015
- Author and Presenter, Practical Difficulties in Estate Planning and Administration with Private Foundations, State Bar of Texas 39th Annual Advanced Estate Planning and Probate Course 2015
- Author and Presenter, Drafting for Trust Modifications and Private Letter Ruling Requests, State Bar of Texas 24th Annual Estate Planning and Probate Drafting Course 2013
- Author and Presenter, Gift and Estate Tax, Where Are We Now? University of Texas School of Law CLE 15th Annual Estate Planning, Guardianship and Elder Law Conference 2013
- Co-Author, Comments of the State Bar of Texas, Tax Section on the Form 706-GS(D), submitted to the IRS on May 31, 2013
- Co-Author, Comments of the State Bar of Texas, Tax Section on Proposed Regulations Regarding Net Investment Income Tax under Section 1411 of the Internal Revenue Code, submitted to the IRS on March 4, 2013
- Co-Author, Comments of the State Bar of Texas, Tax Section on Transfers by a Trustee from an Irrevocable Trust to Another Irrevocable Trust (sometimes called “Decanting”), submitted to the IRS on May 22, 2012
- Co-Author, Estate Planning for the Blended Family: Synergy or Disharmonic Convergence? and Panelist, Medicaid and VA Eligibility and Blended Families, University of Texas School of Law CLE 13th Annual Estate Planning, Guardianship and Elder Law Conference 2011
- Author and Co-Presenter, Twilight Planning: Using Advanced Techniques to Plan for Incapacity, Houston Bar Association Probate, Trust and Estate Section Meeting, January 2011
- Co-Author and Co-Presenter, Roadmap to Developing an Estate Planning Practice, State Bar of Texas 21st Annual Estate Planning and Probate Drafting Course 2010
- Presenter, Fundamentals of Estate Planning, Association of Small Foundations 2010 National Conference
- Author and Presenter, I Think I Love You, So What Am I So Afraid Of? Contractual Wills and Other Options, State Bar of Texas Advanced Drafting: Probate and Estate Planning Course 2008
- Presenter and Co-Author, Corporate Issues Facing an Estate, South Texas College of Law Wills and Probate Institute 2008
- Panelist, How to Get a Will Probated, and How to Administer an Estate, State Bar of Texas Webcasts 2008
- Presenter, The Estate Administration Client Interview, Estate Administration A to Z and Trusts and Insurance, and Panelist, State Bar of Texas Nuts and Bolts of Estate Planning and Probate Course 2008
- Author, Fiduciary Duties and Liabilities and Tax Issues Associated with Revocable Trusts, and Panelist, Annuities and/or Client Created Living Trust Litigation, State Bar of Texas Advanced Elder Law Course 2007
- Author and Presenter, Fiduciaries’ Duties and Liabilities, Including Executors, Trustees, Guardians, Agents, Etc., University of Houston Law Foundation: Wills, Probate and Elder Law Institute 2006