KANSAS CITY (October 31, 2025) — Lathrop GPM is pleased to announce that Justin Whitney, a partner in the firm’s Kansas City office, has been elected as a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC).
ACTEC is a prestigious national organization of lawyers and law professors who are peer-elected based on their exceptional skill, integrity, and experience in the fields of trust and estate law. Fellows must have at least 10 years of experience in the active practice of probate and trust law or estate planning and demonstrate a high level of professionalism and commitment to improving the practice.
Whitney is a member of Lathrop GPM’s Private Client Services group and focuses his practice on complex estate and gift tax planning, business succession planning, and trust and estate litigation. He regularly advises high-net-worth families and business owners, leveraging his background as a certified public accountant and his legal master’s degree in taxation to deliver tax-efficient solutions tailored to each client’s unique circumstances.
“I’m honored to be elected to ACTEC and grateful to my colleagues and mentors who have supported me throughout my career,” said Whitney. “ACTEC’s mission to elevate the practice of trust and estate law aligns closely with my own values, and I look forward to contributing to the organization’s important work.”
Whitney earned his LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, his J.D. from Washburn University School of Law, and holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Accounting and Business Administration from the University of Kansas. He has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®: Ones to Watch (2023–2025) and the Chambers High Net Worth Guide (2024–2025) as a leading practitioner in Private Wealth Law. In addition, Whitney is a member of the Children’s Mercy Planned Giving Council and the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City’s 2023-2024 Kansas City Tomorrow Leadership Class.
With Whitney’s election, Lathrop GPM now has 14 attorneys nationwide who are ACTEC Fellows, reflecting the firm’s continued leadership in trust and estate law.