About W. Randolph
W. Randolph Shump built a foundation in numbers before he ever practiced law. He earned a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from the University of Baltimore Merrick School of Business in 1992. That grounding in accounting informed the next stages of his education and shaped the kind of law he would later practice. He returned to school for a J.D. at the University of Maryland School of Law, graduating in 2000 and studying business and taxation while there. He later completed an LL.M. in Taxation and Estate Planning through the University of Baltimore’s Graduate Tax Program in 2009.
The sequence of degrees maps onto a career that bridges accounting and law. Shump’s academic path suggests an attorney who understands both the numerical and legal sides of financial arrangements. Over time he has handled matters where tax rules intersect with business decisions and estate transfers. He has advised individuals and entities on tax considerations, drafted documents for estate transfers, and counseled business owners on tax consequences of transactions.
Clients and colleagues describe him as methodical. He approaches problems by tracing them back to fundamentals — statutes, regulations and the figures that underlie them. That approach can be useful in tax disputes, estate planning, and transactional work where small errors in calculation or drafting have outsized effects. He also brings experience interpreting complex tax rules and applying them to practical situations, whether in the administration of estates or in planning for multigenerational transfer of assets.
Shump’s training in accounting continues to be an asset. It allows him to read financial statements critically and to work directly with accountants and financial advisers. He has worked on matters involving tax-efficient structuring, the preparation and review of estate documents, and the coordination of tax reporting for estates and trusts. When tasks require the cooperation of outside specialists — appraisers, CPAs, or investment advisers — he guides the legal side of the effort and keeps the technical tax analysis aligned with client goals.
He maintains a practice that reflects the combination of his degrees and his years of work. His file work ranges from counseling individuals on estate plans to advising business owners about tax implications of ownership changes. He currently concentrates his practice on tax and estate planning matters.
