Susan J. Link
Partner
Overview
Susan Link practices in the areas of estate planning, probate, and trust administration. She works closely with families to plan the disposition of their assets, both during lifetime and at death, and to accomplish the optimal estate and gift tax planning for clients through wills, trusts, and other instruments. Susan routinely drafts estate plans that include estate tax and generation-skipping tax planning, in addition to drafting and implementing irrevocable trusts, charitable trusts, qualified personal residence trusts, minors' trusts, antenuptial agreements, and postnuptial agreements. She is regularly involved in the analysis and issues of lifetime gifting programs, estate tax planning, and generation-skipping issues.
Susan also works with families after the death of a family member to ensure that the client's wishes are achieved and that the plan they created is carried out. If appropriate, Susan also advises estate and trust beneficiaries during administration in order to maximize their own planning options relative to their share of a decedent's estate through the use of disclaimers and powers of appointment.
Susan served as the chair of Maslon's Estate Planning Group from 2007-2018, and she currently serves as the program director of Minnesota Wills for Heroes. The Wills for Heroes program, sponsored by the Minnesota State Bar Association, is designed to provide free legal services for the preparation of basic estate planning documents for Minnesota first responders. She is recognized as a Notable Practitioner in Minnesota for Private Wealth Law in Chambers High Net Worth (HNW) (2018-2024), a member of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, and has taught as an adjunct professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Law.
Honors
2023 Minnesota ICON Award, Finance & Commerce (The Minnesota Icon awards recognize individuals with proven success throughout a lengthy and accomplished career. These honorees are leaders in their field who have been active in their communities and in mentoring the next generation.)
Notable Practitioner in Minnesota for Private Wealth Law, Chambers High Net Worth (HNW), 2018-2024
Top 50 Women Minnesota Super Lawyers® list, 2012-2023 (The "Top 50 Women Lawyers" list features attorneys who received the highest point totals in the yearly Minnesota Super Lawyers® balloting, research and blue ribbon review process.)
Top 100 Minnesota Super Lawyers® list, 2012, 2014-2023
Recognized on Minnesota Super Lawyers® list, 2002-2024 (Minnesota Super Lawyers® is a designation given to only 5 percent of Minnesota attorneys each year, based on a selection process that includes the recommendation of peers in the legal profession.)
Top Women Attorneys in Minnesota® list, 2012-2023 (The annual edition of the Top Women Attorneys in Minnesota list features attorneys selected for the previous year's Minnesota Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars lists.)
Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America®, 2011-2025
Attorney of the Year for Outstanding Service to the Profession, Minnesota Lawyer, 2018
Fellow, The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), since 2004 (ACTEC Fellows have more than 10 years in practice and are elected by their peers based on outstanding reputation, exceptional skill, and substantial contributions to the field by lecturing, writing, teaching, and participating in bar activities.)
North Star Lawyer, Minnesota State Bar Association, 2013-2023 (North Star Lawyer is a designation that recognizes members who provide 50 hours or more of pro bono legal services in a calendar year.)
Recognized as a Top Lawyer, Minnesota Monthly, 2024 (The research for the Top Lawyers list, created by Professional Research Services, is based on an online peer-review survey sent to all attorneys in Minnesota.)
Recipient of the Hennepin County Sheriff's Distinguished Service Award, 2018 (For leadership and contributions to the Minnesota Wills for Heroes Program.)
Recipient of the Minneapolis Fire Department Meritorious Service Award, 2018 (For leadership and contributions to the Minnesota Wills for Heroes Program.)
Pro Bono All Star, Minnesota State Bar Association, 2020 (Pro Bono All Star is a designation that recognizes MSBA members who have been recognized as North Star Lawyers for seven or more years.)
Recipient of the 2018 Excellence Award for Advancing Innovation in the Profession, Hennepin County Bar Association, 2018
Recognized as a 2017 (Real) Power 50 Winner, Minnesota Business magazine, 2017
Recognized on Women in the Law, Trusts and Estates list, Best Lawyers® Business Edition, 2016
Fellow, American Bar Foundation, 2015
Named a "Twin Cities FIVE STAR Wealth Manager," Twin Cities Business, 2009-2010, 2013
Eugene P. Daly, Jr. Award, Minnesota State Bar Association, 2012
Top 10 Minnesota Super Lawyers® list, 2014
Top 100 Women Minnesota Super Lawyers® list, 2005-2009 (list discontinued thereafter)
Listed as a Top 100 Attorney, Worth magazine, November 2007
President's Award, Minnesota Wills for Heroes Program, Minnesota State Bar Association, 2007
AV Preeminent, Martindale-Hubbell®