Rod and Genders

Genders & Partners from Adelaide is the only South Australian Finalist in the STEP Private Client Awards 2015/2016 for Vulnerable Client Advisor of the Year (1 of only 2 in all of Australia)The international Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) has announced the shortlist of finalists in the STEP Private Client Awards for Vulnerable Client Advisor of the Year.The firm of Genders & Partners is one of only 5 finalists throughout the world in this category.Genders & Partners is the only South Australian finalist, and 1 of only 2 finalists in all of Australia.This is a very prestigious award, from a truly independent and international organisation.Genders & Partners is the oldest law firm in South Australia, established in 1848.Their EstatePlanner division specialises in Estate Planning, which includes Wills, Trusts, Powers-of-Attorney and Advance Medical Directives.Genders & Partners also practises extensively in Estate Administration, Probate and Letters of Administration for Deceased Estates.About Rod GendersRod Genders is a specialist lawyer from the oldest law firm in South Australia, and he helps people protect themselves, their assets and their families.Rod is the 3rd generation of Genders in the law and has been practising specialised law since the mid 80’s. 2016 will mark his 30th year in legal practise.Rod has acted as counsel or consultant to in excess of 50 other firms around Australia.He holds the South Australian state record for the highest ever personal injury award of damages, and has been involved in several of the largest personal injury claims in Australian legal history.Rod specialises in Estate Planning (Wills, Trusts, Powers-of-Attorney & Advance Medical Directives).For over a decade he served on the Council of the Law Society of South Australia.Rod is a senior and active member of the Law Society’s Succession Law Committee. Much of our work in the last 12 months has been directed at persuading the state government to modify its new Advance Care Directives legislation to better serve & protect the interests of vulnerable people.He is a founding member of STEP South Australia and continues to serve on this branch committee.Rod is the founder & Chair of the global Digital Assets Working Group of the international STEP Mental Capacity Special Interest Group. In the last 12 months Rod has:Written a chapter "Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets" for the book "Developing a global agenda" at the Inaugural STEP Global Congress in Miami USA in November 2014.Presented a seminar to lawyers on "Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets".Advised STEP re inclusion of Digital Assets into STEP education program.Introduced new members from Canada and the USA to DAWG;For 3 years Rod was Deputy Chair of STEP Mental Capacity SIG, and last year worked on a seminar on testamentary capacity and a position paper on Guidelines for fund investment on behalf of an incapable person;For over 20 years he has chaired a private committee enquiring into the affairs of protected persons. These are people who have received substantial awards of monetary compensation following claims for damages for personal injuries, in consequence of which they are deemed by the Court to be vulnerable to undue influence, or otherwise lack the requisite capacity to handle their own affairs. Rod provides advice and guidance to the private managers of these protected estates, including the creation of best-practice guidelines and procedures.Rod gives free public seminars to community groups, such as the Country Women’s Association on Advance Care Directives, and to an over-50’s church group on Modern Integrated Estate planning. He is scheduled to speak to the Seniors Information Service next month.He is a member of the Law Council of Australia and an associate member of the American Bar Association.Rod is a Public Notary, and a member of the Notaries Society of South Australia.