John M. Sheftall

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John M. Sheftall

Partner
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Biography

John Sheftall, a Partner in Hall Booth Smith’s Columbus offices, concentrates his practice in fiduciary law, including estate planning, estate administration and fiduciary litigation. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, serves as a Director of SunTrust Bank in Columbus, and is a former Trustee of the St. Francis Hospital Foundation.

John was admitted to the Georgia State Bar in 1983. He was born in Macon, Georgia, and received his B.A. degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Georgia in 1980. He went on to earn both his J.D. and M.A. degrees from the University of Virginia.

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Prior to joining HBS, John practiced law in Columbus with Hatcher, Stubbs, Land, Hollis and Rothschild, LLP for over 21 years. Before that, he practiced law in Atlanta, where he was active in both the Fiduciary Section of the State Bar and the Atlanta Estate Planning Council. He currently chairs both the Estate Planning and Administration Group and the Fiduciary Litigation Group for HBS.

John is passionate about local history, historic preservation, neighborhood revitalization and community planning in Columbus. He has served on a number of local and regional non-profit boards, including the Georgia Historical Society in Savannah, the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation in Atlanta, and the Georgia Legal History Foundation.

He is Past President of Historic Columbus Foundation, Past Chairman of Historic Linwood Foundation, and Past President of MidTown, Inc., an organization responsible for the revitalization of older neighborhoods in Columbus. He currently serves as a Director of the Historic Chattahoochee Commission.

John is active in the Rotary Club of Columbus and a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, where he has served at the parish level as a Vestry member and Senior Warden, as well as at the diocesan level as a delegate and task force member. He has lectured widely at various fiduciary law seminars throughout Georgia, and speaks regularly before historical groups and organizations.

Service Specific Experience

Corporate and Partnership

John’s corporate practice includes representation of many Columbus-area and Georgia businesses. He is also involved in the banking and healthcare community, serving as a Director of SunTrust Bank in Columbus.

Fiduciary Litigation

John concentrates his practice in fiduciary law, including estate planning, estate administration and fiduciary litigation. He has been actively involved in the Fiduciary Section of the State Bar of Georgia and the Atlanta Estate Planning Council. He has lectured frequently at fiduciary law seminars throughout Georgia.

Credentials

ADMITTED
  • Georgia, 1983
EDUCATION
  • B.A., History, University of Georgia, 1980
  • M.A., Legal History, University of Virginia, 1983
  • J.D., University of Virginia, 1983

Memberships

  • Atlanta Estate Planning Council
  • Columbus Estate Planning Council
  • Georgia Historical Society (former Curator and Vice President)
  • Georgia Legal History Foundation (Trustee)
  • Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation (Director)
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  • Historic Chattahoochee Commission (Director)
  • Historic Columbus Foundation (Director and Past President)
  • Historic Linwood Foundation (former Chairman)
  • Mercer University Press (former Trustee)
  • MidTown, Inc. (Director and Past President)
  • Port Columbus Civil War Naval Center (former Director)
  • Rotary Club of Columbus
  • Springer Opera House (former Director)
  • St. Francis Hospital Foundation (former Trustee)
  • State Bar of Georgia – Fiduciary Law Section (former Chair of Legislation Committee)
  • SunTrust Bank, Columbus (Board of Directors)
  • Trinity Episcopal Church (former Vestry member and Senior Warden)

Recognition

  • The Best Lawyers in America®, 1997-2023
  • Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel
  • Phi Beta Kappa
  • Mortar Board
  • National Merit Scholar
  • Georgia Super Lawyers ® 2005-2022
  • AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell

Publications

  • Georgia Journal of Southern Legal History
    (Former Articles Editor)
  • Postmortem Planning with Disclaimers
    60th Annual Estate Planning Institute, Athens, Georgia, 2015
  • When Transfers of Property Involve Death and Taxes: A Probate Primer for Real Estate Practitioners
    Residential Real Estate Conference, Atlanta, Georgia, 2013
  • Postmortem Planning with Disclaimers
    Georgia Federal Tax Conference, Atlanta, Georgia, 2011
  • Statutory Modifications: How and How Hard
    56th Annual Estate Planning Institute, Athens, Georgia, 2011
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  • When to Hold Them, When to Fold Them: The Charms and Challenges of a Fiduciary Litigation Practice
    Fiduciary Law Institute, St. Simons, Georgia, 2008
  • Negotiating the Probate Court: Procedures and Pitfalls in a Fiduciary Practice
    Fiduciary Law Institute, St. Simons, Georgia, 2006
  • Program Chair
    46th Annual Estate Planning Institute, Athens, Georgia, 2001
  • Re-Examining the Bottom Line: Commissions, Fees and Compensation for Fiduciaries and Their Attorneys
    Fiduciary Law Institute, St. Simons, Georgia, 1999
  • Multi-Generational Estate Planning
    Columbus State University, 4th Annual Retirement and Estate Planning Seminar, Columbus, Georgia, 1998
  • Practical Uses of Charitable Remainder Trusts
    Columbus State University, Creative (But Practical) Techniques for Effective Retirement and Estate Planning, Columbus, Georgia, 1997
  • Estate Planning Options Involving Retirement Funds
    Columbus State University, Retirement Planning to Maximize Benefits for the Retiree and Other Family Members, Columbus, Georgia, 1996
  • Use of Wills, Trusts and Other Transfer Techniques
    Columbus College, Planning for Retirement and the Transfer of Wealth to the Next Generation, Columbus, Georgia, 1995
  • Special Issues in Trust Drafting: Retained Powers and Removal Powers
    40th Annual Estate Planning Institute, Athens, Georgia, 1995
  • Planning for Disability
    Basic Fiduciary Practice, Atlanta, Georgia, 1992 and 1993
  • Georgia’s New Rule Against Perpetuities
    Fiduciary Law Institute, St. Simons, Georgia, 1990
  • Probate and Estate Administration
    Bridge the Gap, Athens, Georgia, 1989 and 1991
  • The Marital Deduction: Drafting and Funding with Individuals in Mind and an Assessment of the Unlimited Marital Deduction Enacted in 1981
    32nd Estate Planning Institute, Athens, Georgia, 1987

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