Drake, Phillips, Kuenzli & Clark

PROBATE & ESTATE PLANNING

As part of our Probate & Estate Planning practice, our firm drafts wills, revocable trusts, irrevocable trusts, including life insurance trusts, powers of attorney, living wills, family business entity agreements and all other documents needed as part of an estate plan. We also counsel clients with respect to the ownership and disposition of closely held businesses, creation and operation of family limited partnerships, limited liability companies, and the creation and operation of charitable trusts. Additionally, our firm can provide assistance in the field of elder law, including issues involving Medicaid and long term care. Our goal is to provide a coordinated approach to an estate plan that combines sensitivity to the needs of our clients, the desire to minimize taxes, maximize retained assets and the ability to follow through to see these goals are accomplished.

Our firm also offers complete legal services subsequent to the death of a client. These services include the preparation of all tax returns, probate and trust administration and advising clients with respect to their rights as a surviving spouse, trust beneficiary or as a fiduciary of an estate or trust.

REAL ESTATE & LANDLORD/TENANT LAW

Our firm represents landlords and tenants, owners, developers, lenders and borrowers in the acquisition, development, financing, leasing and management of real property, including condominiums and residential developments as well as commercial and industrial real property. Working with our in-house title agency, Assured Title Agency, Inc., we can cover all manner of real estate transactions, including intermediary services in 1031 like-kind exchanges and advanced commercial financing.

GENERAL CIVIL & CRIMINAL LITIGATION

Our firm can handle almost every type of civil litigation as well as certain criminal matters. We have tried cases and argued appeals in courts throughout Northwest Ohio involving almost every foreseeable area of controversy. Our approach to litigation emphasizes the full spectrum of services for our clients. Our litigators are trained to evaluate actual and potential litigation at the earliest stages, to first determine if litigation can be avoided, or, if it is filed, whether the matter can be resolved quickly and economically. Our litigators strive to think not just as lawyers, but as businessmen as well, so that your economic interests are fully protected. In addition, the conduct of litigation at every stage is done in full and close consultation with our clients.

CORPORATE & BUSINESS LAW

Our firm serves as general counsel to many business and corporate clients and represents the interests of corporations, shareholders and management on specific matters and in litigation. Our experience includes business organization, finance and operations. As a full service law firm, we assist our business clients and financial clients with the complete range of their concerns. In addition to matters relating to general corporate and business law, our firm provides counsel regarding labor and employment issues, intellectual property, international activities, real estate and taxation. We can also assist businesses with commercial agreements involving both the sale of their goods and services as well as the potential sale or purchase of a business. Finally, our attorneys counsel business clients on the choice of business entities and the formation and management of those entities, including corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies.

FAMILY LAW & DOMESTIC RELATIONS

Our firm is pleased to offer our clients a complete range of services in the area of Family Law & Domestic Relations. Our firm understands the complex legal issues involved in family relationships, both in a personal and a business setting. We have the skill and experience to counsel clients on the implications of those issues, and to resolve them in an effective manner. We can assist our clients in divorce actions and in disputes involving a prior divorce. Our firm will also address the issues arising from a divorce, including disputes involving child custody, child support and alimony, martial assets, qualified plans and closely held business assets. We can also assist you in matters involving adoption and paternity.

PERSONAL INJURY

In handling personal injury claims, our firm operates on the philosophy that each client, no matter how big or small, is entitled to, and will receive, our best, most responsive service. We will attempt to compensate you for your damages, both physical and emotional, through negotiation and settlement, or if those means are unsuccessful, by trial. Because disputes involving personal injury often are the result of physical and emotional injuries that can be difficult to objectively quantify, many of these disputes are decided by jury trial. Consequently, we place great emphasis on our trial capabilities. Once it is determined that a dispute will not settle, we are prepared to mount an aggressive, energetic and innovative defense. Such an approach has proven not only to increase the probability of a favorable verdict at trial, but also to increase the likelihood of an advantageous settlement.

MUNICIPAL LAW

Our firm has extensive experience in dealing with the local government entities in matters relating to real estate development, zoning and annexation. We offer our experience to our clients to assist them with development problems and issues in all matters involving local municipalities and county government. Our firm can also assist clients in negotiations or disputes involving local governmental rules and ordinances, including the litigation of claims arising from the actions of the local government.

CREDITOR'S RIGHTS & BANKRUPTCY

Our firm can provide lending advice to creditors during all stages of business transactions. Our goal is to identify and resolve potential creditor's rights and bankruptcy issues early on. However, when a transaction fails, our firm is prepared to assist a creditor in the collection of funds, including the recovery and sale of collateral. We are also prepared to assist creditors with issues arising from debtor's bankruptcy and the representation of creditors in Bankruptcy Court.