Experienced Team Recognized as Trailblazers in
Advanced Planning and Family Office Corporate Transactions
CHICAGO, July 10,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The national law firm of Ice
Miller today announced the addition of an esteemed cross-office
team of business and estate planning lawyers from Handler Thayer,
including founding partners Steven
Thayer and Eric Kalnins.
Thayer and Kalnins are recognized for their experience in advanced
estate and business planning techniques for high-net-worth clients,
family-owned businesses, and entrepreneurs, including the formation
and operation of family offices. They expand an already deep and
talented Ice Miller estate planning team in Indianapolis and Columbus, featuring legal professionals highly
regarded for their work and insight involving estate planning with
high-net-worth families.
Thayer and Kalnins are joined by fellow partner Lacee Wentworth, based in the greater
Phoenix area, who focuses her
practice on complex business transactions, mergers and
acquisitions, securities compliance, corporate governance, and a
range of financing transactions, as well as of counsel Ryan Bennett and associate Andrew Willis from the advanced planning team at
Handler Thayer.
In tandem with the team's arrival, Ice Miller is announcing the
launch of a new Naples, Florida,
office as of July 1. This new
location, spearheaded by Kalnins, will better position the firm in
its ability to service existing clients in their business and legal
endeavors, as well as in its efforts to target new opportunities
and areas for strategic growth.
Additionally, this multidisciplinary team will establish a new
family office advanced planning practice at Ice Miller, bringing to
bear its cutting-edge experience redefining financial and estate
planning for high-net-worth individuals in the 21st
century. Inclusive of this practice is the full range of tax
services—including tax planning and tax representation—attributable
to income, estate, gift, excise and franchise tax, treaty analysis
and state tax comparisons, and sales and use taxes.
Key to the advanced planning model—and innovative in the
space—is the practice's extensive corporate transaction
capabilities and experience, which dovetail with Ice Miller's
established strength in the marketplace. The Handler Thayer team
offers comprehensive business organization, employment agreements,
securities offerings, venture capital financing, contract
representation, private equity funds, hedge funds, mergers and
acquisitions, and annual maintenance services to entrepreneurs and
closely held businesses—now with the breadth and resources of the
full Ice Miller legal services platform underpinning these
endeavors.
"We're thrilled to welcome Steve, Eric, Lacee, Ryan, and Andrew
into the Ice Miller fold," declared Ice Miller Chief Managing
Partner Michael Millikan. "Their
arrival checks multiple important boxes for us, including providing
an expanded and novel service to our client base that both
complements and fortifies the offerings for which we are nationally
recognized, as well as extending our geographic footprint into a
dynamic region of the country."
Thayer is an established business lawyer who has been heavily
involved in the formation, financing, and operation of business
enterprises in a variety of industries, both domestically and
internationally, for more than a quarter century. His industry
experience includes supporting technology ventures, securities
offerings, real estate transactions, manufacturing businesses,
contract manufacturers, retail establishments, franchised
businesses concepts, resort development, brokerage businesses,
professional sports team acquisition, and other start-up and
emerging businesses. He regularly works with large family offices
regarding their international holdings, including international
companies, and the complex tax issues that go with those
structures.
"Ice Miller provides the platform that will help take our
efforts to the next level," asserted Thayer. "With a strong suite
of talented lawyers across the country, I'm excited by the promise
of this pairing and the opportunities that will undoubtedly be
afforded my clients in the months and years to come. Equally, I'm
excited by the opportunity to bring our family office advanced
planning initiatives to the firm and those whom it serves."
Kalnins practices primarily in the areas of business
structuring, domestic and international tax, estate planning, and
litigation that pertains to each of the foregoing. He is also
experienced in the creation and implementation of advanced estate
planning techniques for high-net-worth clients, including the
formation and operation of family office structures.
In addition to her corporate transaction experience, Wentworth
also serves as general counsel to clients who do not employ
in-house counsel, advising on real-world legal implications
affecting their businesses. She provides advice to entrepreneurs,
start-ups, ultra-high-net-worth families, family offices, and
established businesses from a wide variety of industries,
including, but not limited to, manufacturing, distribution,
insurance, agri-business, craft brewing and spirits, sports and
entertainment, health care, physical therapy, diagnostic testing
services, and cryptocurrency.
Bennett's practice is focused on tax compliance, planning, and
administration, and estate planning, trust and estate
administration, and wealth transfer planning. He has worked with a
broad range of clients, including high-net-worth individuals
seeking to implement carefully designed tax-minimization
strategies.
Willis focuses his practice on probate, estate administration,
trusts and estates, and estate contest litigation.
About Ice Miller LLP
Ice Miller LLP is a full-service law firm dedicated to
helping our clients stay ahead in a changing world. With more than
350 legal professionals ++across the nation, we advise clients on
all aspects of the complex legal issues impacting businesses each
day. We serve emerging growth companies, FORTUNE 500 corporations,
municipal entities and nonprofits. To learn more, visit us at
icemiller.com.
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SOURCE Ice Miller LLP