Meet Matt Dana
The Founding Attorney
Managing Partner & Chair, Family Office / Private Client Planning
JD, LLM, CPA, CLU
Creating the “Dana Estate Planning Legacy”
The Dana name has become the symbol of a quality Estate Plan in Arizona. Since 1989, it has developed and continues to strive for excellence in the Estate Planning community. At its core is Estate Planning lawyer Matt Dana.
- Years of Experience
- 40+
- Attorneys Trained
- 20+
- Clients Served
- 10K+
- State Licenses
- 3
Early Legal Career and Founding of Dana Law Firm
Matthew S. Dana, JD, LLM, CPA, CLU, began his legal career in Mesa, Arizona in 1984 after graduating from ASU Law School.
Five years later he founded Dana & Associates, Inc. and began to solely focus his practice on Estate Planning.
As the firm grew, Matt changed the name to Dana Law Firm and moved the headquarters from Power Road in Mesa to the Perimeter Center in north Scottsdale.
Mentorship and Firm Growth
During this period of expansion, Matt Dana trained over 20 attorneys in the field of Estate Planning, including his two sons. “This was the happiest time in my career,” said Matt. The firm was evolving into the premier Estate Planning law firm it is today, and Matt himself became recognized as one of the elite Estate Planning lawyers in Phoenix, Scottsdale, and throughout Arizona.
Transition to Quarles & Brady
In 2014, Matt Dana was invited by the national law firm Quarles & Brady to lead their Estate Planning practice in Arizona—
a sign of recognition from the legal community. Always one to seek a challenge, Matt accepted the position and brought five of the best lawyers and paralegals from Dana Law Firm with him.
Dana Law Firm Legacy and Family Continuation
In October 2014, the Dana Law Firm suspended its legal practice, though it remains a viable corporation owned by Matt Dana.
Some cases remain pending, and fees continue to be paid to the firm. Matt’s sons have continued the legacy:
Rilus founded Dana & Associates, LLC, and Zachary practices as Dana Law Group. Matt is very proud of both.
Return to Private Practice and Formation of Dana Whiting Law
Since founding Dana Whiting Law in 2017, the firm has seen remarkable growth and expansion across Arizona and California, particularly among high-net-worth clients. With attorneys licensed in nearly 10 states and with the reach of the YouTube videos, Dana Whiting Law now serves clients across the country.
Professional Affiliations
Matt took and passed the CPA exam while he was in law school. He is also a CLU and a Chfc which he earned while he was in law school selling life insurance. He is a member of the Trust and Estate Section of the Arizona Bar. He is also admitted to practice before the United States Tax Court. Matt has been active in various tax and estate planning organizations throughout his career including Central Arizona Estate Planners and East Valley Estate Planners and is a frequent speaker for various charitable organizations and estate planning professional groups.
Charitable Affiliations
Matt has always immersed himself in various charities throughout the state by helping them raise money, advising them on tax laws that benefit charities and helping them create Professional Advisory Boards made up of estate planning professionals. Currently, he is significantly involved with and serves on the board of the Sun Devil Club of ASU. He also served on the professional advisory board for Phoenix Suns Charities where he and Nancy became the first “Playmakers for Life”. Throughout the years he also served in various charitable positions for the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, Phoenix Theatre and Scottsdale’s Western Spirit, Museum of the West. Matt is always available to speak to your organization on the tax advantages of charitable giving. He is especially experienced and knowledgeable on Charitable Remainder Trusts, Charitable Lead Trusts and Private Family Foundations.
Personal Background
In his spare time, Matt enjoys his family wherein he and his wife Nancy have raised 5 beautiful children and have 19 grandchildren and still counting. He is adored by his grandchildren and loves being their “Papa” and playing with them outside. He loves his western heritage and follows his father’s footsteps in riding the many horse trails in Arizona. Matt is proud to say that he has not only road a horse from Mesa to Prescott, but he also rode his mule, (“Lori Darlin”) on the approximately 850 miles of the Arizona Trail which starts on the Mexican border and ends on the Utah border.
He loves the outdoors and when he is not horseback riding or hunting and fishing, he spends most weekends working on projects with his beloved Nancy at the “DanaRosa”, their log home in Pinetop. Matt professes “to be 20% cowboy”. But, if you visit him at his Scottsdale office decorated with all of his father’s barn wood, western memorabilia, bronzes, and western art you would come away knowing that he is “100% cowboy at heart.”
Professional Affiliations
Matt is one of only a few lawyers in Arizona that is an Attorney and CPA. He is a member of the Trust and Estate Section of the Arizona Bar. He is also admitted to practice before the United States Tax Court. Matt has been active in various tax and estate planning organizations throughout his career including Central Arizona Estate Planners and East Valley Estate Planners and is a frequent speaker for various charitable organizations and estate planning professional groups.
Education
Matt received his undergraduate degree from Arizona State University (B.A. Accounting, 1981). While working on his law degree Matt sat for the CPA exam passing all 4 parts in one sitting. He became a CPA the same year he graduated from Law School from Arizona State University (JD 1984). He also received an LLM (Masters of Law Degree in Taxation) from New York University in May, 2010.
While working on his undergraduate and graduate degrees, Matt was a College Agent for Northwestern Mutual Life. During his years working in the life insurance business, Matt furthered his knowledge of the use of life insurance in estate planning by becoming a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and a Chartered Financial Consultant. (ChFc)
Bar Admissions:
Arizona
Colorado
New York
Charitable Affiliations
Matt has always immersed himself in various charities throughout the state by helping them raise money, advising them on tax laws that benefit charities, and helping them create Professional Advisory Boards made up of estate planning professionals. Currently, he is significantly involved with and serves in various capacities for the Sun Devil Club of ASU, the Phoenix Theatre, and the Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West. In the past, he also served in various positions for Phoenix Suns Charities and for the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. Matt is always available to speak to your organization on the tax advantages of charitable giving. He is especially experienced and knowledgeable on Charitable Remainder Trusts.
Personal Background
In his spare time, Matt enjoys his family wherein he and his wife Nancy have raised 5 beautiful children and 14 grandchildren and still counting. He is adored by his grandchildren and loves being their “Papa” and playing with them outside. He loves his western heritage and follows his father’s footsteps in riding the many horse trails in Arizona. Currently, Matt is about halfway finished with riding his mule, (“Lori Darlin”) on the approximately 850 miles of the Arizona Trail.
He loves the outdoors and when he is not riding the Arizona Trail he spends most weekends working on projects with his beloved Nancy at either their “ranch” on the Mogollon Rim or their log home in Pinetop. Matt professes “to be 20% cowboy”. But, if you visit him at his Scottsdale office decorated with all of his father’s barn wood, western memorabilia, bronzes, and western art you would come away knowing that he is “100% cowboy at heart.”
Preserving Family Values
We know the importance of a good name and the importance of preserving family values. The Dana family has been in Arizona for 5 generations. Perhaps you have seen three generations of Dana’s as news anchors on channel 12. (Joe, Kent, and now Joe Dana). We know the importance of community and faith. We know that in the end, the most valuable assets you have are your loved ones. Those are the assets you want to plan for and protect. “I learned a long time ago that as much as I love our family compound on the Mogollon Rim, it isn’t worth anything without the family being up there,” said Matt. “Without the joy of grandkids running up and down the meadow it is nothing more than a 15-acre parcel of forest land,” said Matt. “Estate Planning in the right way will bless the lives of generations to come. The lack of planning, or improper planning, will ultimately lead to hardship, heartache, and despair.