Overview
Head of the firm’s Tax / Trusts & Estates Group, Don Sparks is considered “the dean of the Delaware trust bar” (Chambers HNW).
Don represents banks, trust companies, and high net worth individuals in sophisticated estate planning and fiduciary matters. Don specializes in trusts and estates, focusing primarily on estate administration and planning, tax-exempt organizations, and fiduciary litigation. A client reports, “We go to him for the highest level of skill, highest level of responsiveness, and the highest level of experience” (Chambers HNW).
Don has held leadership roles in the Delaware bar as well as in a variety of professional organizations. He has frequently appeared as a speaker and has written numerous articles concerning estates, trusts, and related topics.
PRACTICES
Select Experience
- Significant fiduciary litigation involving trust construction, will interpretation, and breach of fiduciary duty claims
- Representation of banks and trust companies on fiduciary matters
- Representation of high net worth individuals in sophisticated estate planning matters
- IRS audit and controversy work
- Representation of tax-exempt public charities and private foundations
- Yale Law School, J.D., 1983
Yale Law Journal, Senior Editor - Dartmouth College, B.A., summa cum laude, 1980
Education
Leadership
- Estate Planning Council of Delaware, Inc., Past Chair
- Delaware State Bar Association, Tax Section, Past Chair
- Delaware State Bar Association, Estates and Trusts Section, Past Chair
Recognition
- American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, Fellow
- Chambers HNW, Private Wealth Law, since its inception in 2016
- The Best Lawyers in America, since 1995; Wilmington, Tax Law Lawyer of the Year, 2025, 2015, 2012; Trusts & Estates Lawyer of the Year, 2015
- Delaware Today Top Lawyer, Trusts & Estates, since 2014; Top Vote Getter, 2017, 2015, 2014
- Super Lawyers
Bar Admissions
- Pennsylvania, 1983
- Delaware, 1988