Regan T. Caton

Biography

I joined Franke Beckett as an associate attorney in October 2021. Prior to joining the firm, I served as a judicial law clerk to The Honorable Alison L. Asti of the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County, Maryland. I believe that clerking is one of the most valuable experiences a young attorney can have. Serving as a judicial law clerk gave me the opportunity to learn how things operate on the other side of the bench. I was fortunate to be exposed to a wide variety of civil, criminal, family, and guardianship matters at various stages, both in and out of the courtroom. I got to witness what makes powerful pleadings and oral arguments stand out above the rest, and what zealous advocacy truly looks like. In my time with the judiciary, I was privileged to build connections with judges, courthouse staff, and fellow law clerks that I will take with me for the rest of my career.

The summer before I began law school, my now Mother-in-Law jokingly suggested I pursue a career in estate law, so I could help the family when everyone’s time eventually comes. I brushed it off as uninteresting and not at all for me. Little did I know this is exactly where I would end up. My interest in this practice area can be credited both to law school classes and real-world work. During my 2L year, I took the Estates and Trusts course taught by Professor Paula Monopoli. I’m not sure if it was her big Halloween candy jar or her engaging hypothetical exercises, but my interest was piqued. The following summer, I clerked at a small firm, focusing primarily on estate administration. This real-world application of what I learned in the classroom cemented my desire to pursue this practice area. I went on to take an estate planning seminar taught by Professor Michael Bakhama in my last semester, where we engaged in hypothetical estate planning for a wide variety of family scenarios.

The thing I love most about this practice area is that it is relevant to everyone. While it is beneficial to each of us individually to plan for our future, it is also beneficial to our loved ones. Clear, upfront planning on our part negates the need for family members to make difficult decisions during a time of grief. Effective estate planning leads to smooth estate administration. I have first-hand experience in guiding families through what is possibly the most difficult time of their lives, and always strive to ensure they know they are not alone.

I graduated magna cum laude from Texas A&M University in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. From there, I attended the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. While in law school, I was involved in the Women’s Bar Association, the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association, and served as a Peer Advisor to 1L students. I also served as a Student Attorney in the Youth, Education & Justice Clinic, where I represented students from underserved communities, as well as juvenile lifers. I graduated from Maryland Law with a Juris Doctor in May 2020, and was admitted to practice in Maryland in December 2020.

I was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas before moving to Maryland in August 2017. Outside of the office I enjoy traveling, discovering new places to eat, and spending time with friends and family.