Attorney Profiles

Richard C. Shanks

Rick has been a Texas resident since he was six years old. He practices in Tax Law, Probate Law, Estate Planning, Business Organization and Business Planning.  His hobbies include Whiskey Collecting, Comic Books and Coins

  • BA – University of Texas – Accounting – 1975 (Summa Cum Laude)
  • JD – University of Texas – 1978
  • Managing Editor, Texas Law Review
  • Board Certified – Tax Law – Texas Board of Legal Specialization
  • Certified Public Accountant

  • Butler & Binion – 1975 – 1984 Associate
  • Andrews & Kurth – 1984 – 1987 Associate
  • Brown McCarroll (& predecessors) – 1987 – 1997 Partner
  • Richard C. Shanks, P.C. – March 1, 1997 – April 30, 2003
  • Shanks & Earley, L.L.P. – May 1, 2003 – December 31, 2004
  • The Shanks Law Firm – January 1, 2005 – January 1, 2017
  • Shanks & Hauser, L.L.P. – January 2, 2017 – Present

  • State Bar of Texas – Real Estate, Probate & Trust Law Section
  • Houston Bar Association – Probate, Trusts & Estates Section

  • State Bar of Texas – 1978
  • U.S. Tax Court – 1980
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas – 1991

  • Family Limited Partnerships
  • A Brief Overview of Estate Planning
  • Myths of Estate Planning
  • Planning Techniques for Business Owners
  • Estate Planning with Asset Protection Benefits

  • The Estate Tax Trap of Company Retirement Plans
  • New Wrinkles in Corporate Planning
  • A Brief Comparison of the Old Prudent Men Rule with the Prudent Investor Rule
  • Planning For the Alternative Minimum Tax
  • Fighting the Good Fight: Keeping Our Clients Out of Trouble With The IRS

Vanessa Lanceley Hauser

Born on in Oslo, Norway, Vanessa has been considered a Texan by affiliation since the age of 2. She joined the firm in 2002 and practices in Tax Law, Probate Law, Estate Planning, Business Organization and Business Planning.  Hobbies include collecting antiques and walking.

  • BA – Rhodes College in Memphis, TN – 1999
  • JD – South Texas College of Law – 2002

  • Judicial Intern to United States Magistrate Judge Nancy Johnson, United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas – Summer 2001 – January 2002.
  • Richard C. Shanks, P.C. – April 30, 2003
  • Shanks and Earley, L.L.P. – May 1 2003 – December 31, 2004
  • The Shanks Law Firm – January 1, 2005 – January 1, 2017
  • Shanks & Hauser, L.L.P. – January 2, 2017 – Present

  • State Bar of Texas – Real Estate, Probate & Trust Law Section
  • Houston Bar Association – Probate, Trusts & Estates Section
  • Association of Women Attorneys
  • Houston Estate and Financial Forum
  • Disability and Elder Law Attorneys Association
  • Attorneys in Tax and Probate

  • State Bar of Texas – 2003
  • U.S. Tax Court – 2003
  • U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas – 2004

  • The Womens’ Home
  • The Junior League of Houston

Hannah Smithson

Associate