David T. DuFault

Principal

704.442.0000

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"I champion clarity and confidence in every legal step. – David"

“There is nothing so sinister in so arranging one’s affairs as to keep taxes as low as possible. Everybody does so, rich or poor, and all do right for nobody owes any public duty to pay more than the law demands; taxes are enforced exactions, not voluntary contributions. To demand more in the name of morals is mere cant.” Judge Learned Hand. I had been practicing law for a number of years when I rediscovered this quote from Judge Hand. At the time, I was starting a program to obtain a Masters in Accountancy with the intention of using it to better serve my clients in estate planning and corporate transactions. Many years have passed since then but I am still struck by Judge Hand’s phrase “so arranging one’s affairs.” As both an estate planner and a corporate attorney, my primary focus is assisting my clients in so arranging their affairs to achieve their specific goals. In estate planning, those goals often involve providing a legacy for a surviving spouse or child and making sure an appropriate person is named to serve as the guardian of a minor child. A will, durable power of attorney, and healthcare power of attorney with advanced directive are all necessary documents in an effective estate plan. Because everyone’s circumstances are different, certain estate plans can require the use of revocable or irrevocable trusts. In either case, the client is entitled to a comprehensive plan to achieve his, her or their goals. My role is to provide that plan as efficiently and effectively as possible. Doing so often involves teamwork. I’m committed to working with all my clients’ advisors to craft a plan, to arrange their affairs, to achieve that end. Corporate transactions also require arranging one’s affairs, but instead of passing on a legacy, the business owner needs to ensure the continued operation and

EDUCATION

University of Alabama School of Law, LL.M. in Taxation
University of North Carolina at Charlotte,
Masters in Accountancy
Campbell University School of Law
Wake Forest University

BAR ADMISSION

North Carolina

HONORS AND ASSOCIATIONS

American Bar Association Estate Law, Trust and Real Property Sections
North Carolina Bar Association Estate Planning, Tax and Business Law Sections
Mecklenburg County Bar Association Estate Planning and Tax Sections
Mr. DuFault frequently lectures. Most recently, he taught at CPCC Institute for Entrepreneurship – Choosing Your Legal Structure.
2025 Business NC Legal Elite

AREAS OF PRACTICE

Estate & Trust Planning
Estate Administration
Corporate
Debt Restructuring and Loan Closing
Commercial Lease Drafting and Review
Business Succession
Corporate Exit Strategies