Jeremy is a nationally recognized tax expert. He counsels plaintiffs and plaintiff-side law firms on settlement planning, helping to maximize recovery outcomes. He also reviews and structures settlement transactions for trust companies, insurance companies, and other financial institutions.
Kent is a settlement planner and attorney in Logan, Utah. Kent’s education includes a law degree from Texas Tech University School of Law, a master’s degree in Personal Financial Planning from Texas Tech University, and a bachelor’s degree in History from Utah State University.
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Since the 2018 tax law changes, many plaintiffs have encountered unexpected tax consequences, paying more than necessary on their settlements. With the elimination of legal fee deductions, plaintiffs are now often taxed on both their net recovery and the portion allocated to attorney fees. This issue arises in a range of taxable damage categories, including emotional distress, defamation, harassment, punitive damages, and interest. Fortunately, trust-based planning tools can help avoid this “double tax” when implemented before settlement. This CLE will equip plaintiff attorneys with the key knowledge they need to help clients avoid overpaying taxes.
Key topics to be discussed:
Date / Time: February 12, 2026
Closed-captioning available
Jeremy Babener | Structured Legal
Jeremy is a nationally recognized tax expert. He counsels plaintiffs and plaintiff-side law firms on settlement planning, helping to maximize recovery outcomes. He also reviews and structures settlement transactions for trust companies, insurance companies, and other financial institutions.
Jeremy has worked across a broad spectrum of cases and settlement sizes, including individual claims, mass torts, and class actions. His role often includes drafting and refining settlement terms, proposing tax-efficient and financial strategies, and negotiating their adoption with defense teams.
He has developed and evaluated financial vehicles, trust arrangements, and income deferral solutions. Among these is the Plaintiff Fund Charity, a no-cost program that protects plaintiffs’ Medicaid eligibility when they fundraise for medical needs.
Jeremy is a member of the AAJ Public Education Committee, the ABA TIPS Plaintiffs’ Practice Committee, and chairs the Legal Committee of the Society of Settlement Planners. Earlier in his career, he served as a Fellow in the Office of Tax Policy at the U.S. Treasury Department. Through Structured Consulting he trains settlement planners how to issue spot for value-focused strategies and how to implement arrangements.
He frequently speaks on settlement taxation and ethics at law schools such as NYU School of Law and the University of Chicago, contributes articles to Forbes, Bloomberg, and the ABA, and shares his insights on CNN, Fox News, and CNBC.
Kent Hansen | Structured Legal
Kent is a settlement planner and attorney in Logan, Utah. Kent’s education includes a law degree from Texas Tech University School of Law, a master’s degree in Personal Financial Planning from Texas Tech University, and a bachelor’s degree in History from Utah State University. He is a current board member of the Estate Planning Council of Northern Utah and a former board member of the Society of Settlement Planners. At Structured Legal he advises plaintiffs and plaintiff attorneys regarding tax treatment and strategies the maximize value at settlement.
He also serves as a consultant for Structured Consulting, helping settlement planners to issue spot and effect value-driving arrangements.
I. How the plaintiff double tax affects settlement outcomes | 2:00pm – 2:20pm
II. How and when the double tax applies across case types | 2:20pm – 2:40pm
III. Practical approaches attorneys can use to protect clients | 2:40pm – 3:00pm
Approved for CLE Credits
1 General
Approved for CLE Credits
1 General
Approved for CLE Credits
1 General
Approved for CLE Credits
1 General
Approved for CLE Credits
1 General
Pending CLE Approval
1 General
Approved for CLE Credits
1 General
No MCLE Required
1 CLE Hour(s)
Pending CLE Approval
1 General
Approved via Attorney Submission
1 General Hours
Pending CLE Approval
1 General
Approved for CLE Credits
1 General
Pending CLE Approval
1 General
Pending CLE Approval
1 General
Pending CLE Approval
1 General
Pending CLE Approval
1 General
Pending CLE Approval
1 Substantive
Pending CLE Approval
1 General
Pending CLE Approval
1 General
No MCLE Required
1 CLE Hour(s)
No MCLE Required
1 CLE Hour(s)
Pending CLE Approval
1 General
No MCLE Required
1 CLE Hour(s)
Pending CLE Approval
1 General
Approved for CLE Credits
1.2 General
Pending CLE Approval
1 General
Pending CLE Approval
1 General
Pending CLE Approval
1 General
Approved for CLE Credits
1 General
Pending CLE Approval
1 General
Approved for CLE Credits
60 General minutes
Approved for CLE Credits
1.2 General
Approved for CLE Credits
1 General
Pending CLE Approval
1 General
Approved for CLE Credits
1.2 General
Pending CLE Approval
1 General
Pending CLE Approval
1 General
Pending CLE Approval
1 General
Approved for CLE Credits
1 General
Pending CLE Approval
1 General
Pending CLE Approval
1 General
No MCLE Required
1 CLE Hour(s)
Approved for CLE Credits
1 General
Approved for CLE Credits
1 General
Pending CLE Approval
1 General
Not Eligible
1 General Hours
Approved for CLE Credits
1 General
Approved via Attorney Submission
1 Law & Legal Hours
Pending CLE Approval
1 General
Pending CLE Approval
1.2 General
Pending CLE Approval
1 General
only $395 yearly
only $395 yearly