Loveland, Ohio, United States
Counsel clients in estate planning, estate and trust administration, guardianships, will and trust contests, and business succession planning.
Assist and advise clients in estate planning; estate and trust administration; guardianships; will and trust contests; business succession planning; business formation and transactions; and contract negotiation and disputes.
Advise and assist clients in creating comprehensive estate plans through wills, trusts, and advanced directives, including charitable trusts, estate tax planning, and family-owned business succession planning. Assist business owners in entity selection and formation, succession planning, contract negotiation, contract disputes, defense against mechanic’s liens, and collection issues. Advise and assist clients in areas of estate and trust administration, will and trust contests, professional malpractice defense, and appellate practice.
Conducted legal research involving motions submitted to the court. Consulted with court on legal questions presented during hearings. Participated in pre-trial conferences in civil and criminal cases to identify issues for trial. Drafted legal opinions in civil litigation and criminal hearings. Drafted jury instructions. Experience with Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure, Ohio Rules of Criminal Procedure, and Ohio Rules of Evidence. Member of working committee to review Montgomery County Rules of Practice and Procedure and make recommendations to Judges of the Common Pleas Court General Division, which were adopted in March and August 2014.
Estate planning for individuals including drafting trusts, wills, powers of attorney, living wills and health care powers of attorney. Reviewed and assessed estate assets and made planning recommendations based on tax considerations and individual needs and goals. Identified non-legal issues for client to review with other professional advisors. Provided legal services for small business owners including entity selection and formation and contract drafting and negotiation. From November 2011 – October 2012, served as Of Counsel for Burnett & Thomason, Frisco, Texas providing review of chains of title to determine surface, mineral rights and coal ownership; determine whether a parcel was leased, unleased or partially leased and make recommendations for curing defects in the lease; if leased, determine the party or parties entitled to the royalty interests and their relative ownership; review assignments of the lease, if any, and determine overriding royalty ownership, if any, and the percentages of working interest ownership and net revenue interest ownership; identify any encumbrances on the parcel, including prior unreleased oil and gas leases, coal leases, liens, and easements of record; determine if the parcel is included in a current or prior oil and gas unit; identify gaps in title and curative steps needed; and identify any mineral rights ownership issues under Ohio’s Dormant Mineral Act of 1989, and as amended in 2006.
Met with small business owners and determined legal needs based on business goals and objectives. Prioritized the clients’ most urgent legal needs and identified the legal services to be provided by the ECDC. Established action plans to accomplish the identified objectives. Drafted documents, including an LLC Operating Agreement, Service Contracts, and Independent Contractor Agreements. Counseled clients on the purpose and use of the contracts as well as regulatory issues related to the operation of the businesses.