Biography
Tod's work in the wealth transfer planning area concerns all aspects of estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer tax planning.
His experience includes complex wills and revocable trusts, generation-skipping trusts, dynasty trusts, spousal lifetime access trusts, grantor retained annuity trusts, charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts, charitable foundations, family limited partnerships, qualified personal residence trusts, sales to intentionally defective grantor trusts, post-mortem planning and estate and gift tax returns.
In the trusts and estates area, he represents trustees, personal representatives and beneficiaries during the administration process. He is involved with the decanting, modification, reformation and termination of irrevocable trusts.
Tod advises individuals, trusts and estates in disputes with the Internal Revenue Service and the South Carolina Department of Revenue.
He focuses on representing owners of family businesses and other closely held businesses in regard to the unique tax and nontax planning opportunities available to these businesses and their owners including the development of a practical and comprehensive business succession plan.
Also, Tod advises individuals, trustees and personal representatives in dispute resolution. If the disputes are in litigation, he works with a litigation attorney at the firm to resolve the dispute.
His clients consist of a broad range of individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, family-owned businesses, private foundations and other tax-exempt organizations.
Before Fox Rothschild
Tod was a partner at Smith Moore Leatherwood LLP, which combined with Fox Rothschild in 2018. From 2008 until 2017, Tod served as a member of the Management Committee and was the Partner-in-Charge of the firm's Greenville office.
Beyond Fox Rothschild
Tod is the Past Chair of the Board of Directors of the Community Foundation of Greenville.
His prior community involvement includes the Christ Church Episcopal School Alumni Association, Furman University President's Advisory Council, United Way of Greenville County, Piedmont Health Care Foundation, Greenville Zoo Foundation, Artisphere, The Children's Museum of the Upstate, Westminster Presbyterian Church and Greenville Country Club.
Bar Admissions
- South Carolina
Education
- Samford University, Cumberland School of Law (J.D., 1994)
- University of Florida (LL.M., 1995)
- Taxation
- Furman University (B.A., 1990)
Memberships
- Greenville Estate Planning Council, current member, past president
- Greenville Estate Planning Study Group
- South Carolina Probate Code Revision Committee (Trust Code)
Board of Directors
- Community Foundation of Greenville (2001-present, Chair 2023)
Honors & Awards
- Named a "Top Lawyer" by Talk-Greenville (2024, 2025)
- Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC)
- South Carolina State Chair, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) (2016-2021)
- Nominating Committee Member (2018-2019), American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC)
- Recognized by Chambers High Net Worth (HNW) for Private Wealth Law in South Carolina, Band 1 (2017-2025)
- Named to the "Lawyer of the Year" list for Tax Law (2013, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2026) and Trusts and Estates (2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2024, 2026) in South Carolina by Best Lawyers
- Received the Ruth Nicholson Award from the Community Foundation of Greenville (2012)
- South Carolina Supreme Court, certified specialist in estate planning and probate law
- Selected to the "Best Lawyers in America" list for Trusts and Estates (2007-2026) and Tax Law (2008-2026) in Greenville, SC by Best Lawyers
- Selected to the "Super Lawyers" list for Estate Planning & Probate and Tax (2009 - 2019, 2023 - 2024)
- Recognized among the “Legal Elite” for Tax & Estate Planning Law by Greenville Business Magazine (2013-2025)
- Leadership Greenville XXVII
- Named to Greenville Business Magazine's "Best and Brightest Under 35" (2000)
- Southeastern Council of Foundations, 2001 Hull Leadership Program
- Rated AV Preeminent™ by Martindale-Hubbell®

