Robert E. Armstrong

Partner

Direct775.326.4339 Fax775.788.2020

V-Card PDF (Print)

Areas of Practice

Bar Admissions

District of Columbia
Nevada

Court Admissions

U.S. District Court for Nevada
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
U.S. Tax Court
U.S. Supreme Court

Education

LL.M. in Taxation, New York University School of Law, 1980
J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 1979
B.S., Santa Clara University, 1976

Certifications

Areas of Practice

Bar Admissions

District of Columbia
Nevada

Court Admissions

U.S. District Court for Nevada
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
U.S. Tax Court
U.S. Supreme Court

Education

LL.M. in Taxation, New York University School of Law, 1980
J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 1979
B.S., Santa Clara University, 1976

Certifications

Professional Background

Robert Armstrong is nationally recognized for his representation of high-net-worth clients and family trust companies. His practice is focused on estate, gift, generation-skipping, and income tax planning, as well as the administration of trusts and estates, business and real estate transactions, and the formation, operation, and governance of family trust and retail trust companies.

Mr. Armstrong also has extensive experience in the areas of charitable giving, tax-exempt organizations, and state and local taxation, including the Nevada Commerce Tax. He has more than forty years of legal experience serving clients as an attorney, and as a non-practicing certified public accountant.

2024 is the eighth consecutive year that Mr. Armstrong is ranked in the highest category of Band 1 in Private Wealth Law in Chambers High Net Worth Guide. Clients interviewed by Chambers describe Mr. Armstrong as “especially notable for his work on the establishment and administration of Nevada-based private trust companies. He totally understands all aspects of finance and deal structures, and is a well-recognized expert in the area of high net worth trust construction, wills and estate planning.” “Mr. Armstrong has seen everything that can happen in a trust corporation. He is extremely experienced and very commercially sound.” “Robert Armstrong is technically proficient and on top of developments in Nevada trust law. He understands what we want for our clients, which makes him user-friendly.” “He is the best trusts and estates planner in the state. He has a huge breadth of knowledge and has been around for a long, long time. He remembers everything.” “He is highly knowledgeable and skilled, and is known and respected by estate regulators.” “He is very smart, organized and creative, a good communicator and very good at articulating complex concepts.” “Bob is an excellent tax strategist with a cutting-edge awareness of pending changes and direction in the space.”

Mr. Armstrong is frequently called upon to lecture on topics such as Nevada trust law, family trust companies, and tax matters at national and local seminars and forums.

Presentations and Publications

Presenter, “Corporate Transparency Act’s Impact on Trusts and Estates” and “2024 Update on Nevada Law Impacting Trusts and Estates,” Nevada Trust Conference, Nevada Bankers Association, April 30, 2024
Presenter, “Nevada Trust Decanting, Case Law Update, and Corporate Transparency Act,” Nevada Trust Conference, Nevada Bankers Association, April 25, 2023
Presenter, “Update on Nevada Trust Law,” Nevada Trust Conference, Nevada Bankers Association, March 1, 2022
Chief Author, Decedent Estates Chapter of the Nevada Civil Practice Manual, Lexis Nexis publications, 1990 – 2015

Awards and Recognition

Martindale-Hubbell – AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating (since 1993)
Northern Nevada Business Weekly, Best In Business awards – “Influential Leader” (2022)
Chambers High Net Worth Guide – Band 1, Private Wealth Law (2017-2024)
Nevada Business Magazine – “Top Rank Attorneys” (2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016-2022, 2024)
The Best Lawyers in America – Corporate Law (2006-2025), Tax Law (1993-2025), Trusts and Estates (1993-2025), Nonprofit / Charities Law (2020-2025), Real Estate Law (2010-2025), Closely Held Companies and Family Business Law (2020-2025)
The Best Lawyers in America – “Lawyer of the Year” in Trusts and Estates (2012, 2015)
The Best Lawyers in America –“Lawyer of the Year” in Tax Law (2014)
The Best Lawyers in America – “Lawyer of the Year” in Corporate Law (2013)
Mountain States Super Lawyers – “Super Lawyers” (2007-2024)

Professional Associations

Member, Trust & Estates Section Legislative Committee, Nevada State Bar
Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (also served as State Chairman)
Fellow, American College of Tax Counsel
Member, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Nevada Fellow of the American Bar Foundation

Community Engagement
Mr. Armstrong is a third-generation Nevadan, with family roots going back to Virginia City’s Comstock Lode, and is very active in community and philanthropic endeavors.

Emeritus Trustee, University of Nevada, Reno Foundation
Former Chair, University of Nevada, Reno Foundation Investment Committee
Co-Founder and Trustee Emeritus, Community Foundation of Western Nevada
Former Trustee and Past President, Catholic Community Services of Northern Nevada
Director and Past President, Athletic Association University of Nevada
Former Director and Past President, Reno Philharmonic Association

Mr. Armstrong is frequently called upon to lecture on topics such as Nevada trust law, family trust companies, and tax matters at national and local seminars and forums.

Presentations and Publications

Presenter, “Corporate Transparency Act’s Impact on Trusts and Estates” and “2024 Update on Nevada Law Impacting Trusts and Estates,” Nevada Trust Conference, Nevada Bankers Association, April 30, 2024
Presenter, “Nevada Trust Decanting, Case Law Update, and Corporate Transparency Act,” Nevada Trust Conference, Nevada Bankers Association, April 25, 2023
Presenter, “Update on Nevada Trust Law,” Nevada Trust Conference, Nevada Bankers Association, March 1, 2022
Chief Author, Decedent Estates Chapter of the Nevada Civil Practice Manual, Lexis Nexis publications, 1990 – 2015

Awards and Recognition

Martindale-Hubbell – AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating (since 1993)
Northern Nevada Business Weekly, Best In Business awards – “Influential Leader” (2022)
Chambers High Net Worth Guide – Band 1, Private Wealth Law (2017-2024)
Nevada Business Magazine – “Top Rank Attorneys” (2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016-2022, 2024)
The Best Lawyers in America – Corporate Law (2006-2025), Tax Law (1993-2025), Trusts and Estates (1993-2025), Nonprofit / Charities Law (2020-2025), Real Estate Law (2010-2025), Closely Held Companies and Family Business Law (2020-2025)
The Best Lawyers in America – “Lawyer of the Year” in Trusts and Estates (2012, 2015)
The Best Lawyers in America –“Lawyer of the Year” in Tax Law (2014)
The Best Lawyers in America – “Lawyer of the Year” in Corporate Law (2013)
Mountain States Super Lawyers – “Super Lawyers” (2007-2024)

Professional Associations

Member, Trust & Estates Section Legislative Committee, Nevada State Bar
Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (also served as State Chairman)
Fellow, American College of Tax Counsel
Member, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Nevada Fellow of the American Bar Foundation

Community Engagement
Mr. Armstrong is a third-generation Nevadan, with family roots going back to Virginia City’s Comstock Lode, and is very active in community and philanthropic endeavors.

Emeritus Trustee, University of Nevada, Reno Foundation
Former Chair, University of Nevada, Reno Foundation Investment Committee
Co-Founder and Trustee Emeritus, Community Foundation of Western Nevada
Former Trustee and Past President, Catholic Community Services of Northern Nevada
Director and Past President, Athletic Association University of Nevada
Former Director and Past President, Reno Philharmonic Association