Calfee Congratulates Zachary Stackhouse on Receiving Estate Planning Council of Cleveland’s 2026 Exceptional Service Award

Calfee congratulates Zachary J. Stackhouse, an associate in the Estate and Succession Planning and Administration practice group, on being named the 2026 recipient of the Exceptional Service Award by the Estate Planning Council of Cleveland (EPC).

The EPC is an interdisciplinary organization of estate planning professionals. Its Exceptional Service Award is a discretionary, rather than annual, award and was presented to Zach for his outstanding commitment and leadership in the field.

During its Special Awards Celebration on June 4, 2026, the EPC formally recognized Zach for his exceptional contributions and service.

This recognition reflects Zach's dedication to clients, innovative leadership, and active role in advancing the estate planning profession. As a member of the Ohio State Bar Association's Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Law Section Council and member of the OSBA's Council of Delegates, he stands out for his engagement in the legislative process, contributing to the development and evaluation of laws that impact estate planning and beyond in Ohio. As a frequent speaker and author on perennial and emerging legal issues and as immediate past chair of the Marvin R. Pliskin Advanced Probate and Estate Planning Institute, Zach has established a reputation as a go-to resource on a variety of probate, trust, and tax issues. His selection by EPC places him among a distinguished group of recipients and underscores his achievements at an early stage in his career.

Calfee's Collaborative Approach to Client Service

The Exceptional Service Award highlights not only Zach's commitment to clients but also the strength of Calfee's collaborative estate planning approach. Through active engagement with a wide range of advisors, he helps ensure clients receive comprehensive, coordinated, and tailored solutions that reflect the EPC's interdisciplinary mission.

At Calfee, this approach is amplified by the firm's integrated platform and culture of cross-functional collaboration. Zach works closely across practice areas to help clients address complex issues such as:

• Business succession planning
• Tax-efficient wealth transfer strategies
• Probate litigation and fiduciary counsel
• Charitable giving and philanthropic structuring
• Corporate and real estate considerations tied to estate plans

This cross-functional model allows Calfee attorneys to provide comprehensive counsel and develop talent within the firm. Zach's recognition highlights his contributions and Calfee's dedication to advancing the estate planning profession through collaboration and service.

The attorneys in Calfee's Estate and Succession Planning and Administration group help individuals and families make some of the most important decisions of their lives. From the owner of a family business dealing with corporate succession issues to a CEO planning for retirement to a couple handling their sometimes-competing responsibilities for children and parents, our estate planning lawyers assist our clients in developing and implementing comprehensive estate plans that carefully balance personal goals with tax and administrative concerns.

Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP is a full-service corporate law firm with 160 attorneys and professionals in offices in Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Indianapolis. Calfee serves clients in the Midwest, nationally and globally in the areas of Corporate and Finance, Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation, Energy and Utilities, Estate and Succession Planning and Administration, Government Relations and Legislation, Intellectual Property, Labor and Employment, Litigation, and Real Estate Law. Calfee has been recognized as a leading law firm by Chambers USA 2026 in Antitrust, Banking & Finance, Construction, Corporate/M&A, Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation, Energy & Natural Resources, Environment, Government Relations, Insurance, Intellectual Property, Labor & Employment, Litigation: General Commercial, Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations, Public Finance, and Real Estate, and by Chambers HNW 2025 in Private Wealth Law. A founding member of Lex Mundi, Calfee offers international representation through a network of independent law firms with access to 22,000 attorneys located in more than 125 countries. Additional information is available at Calfee.com.

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