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Michael T. Sawyier
Member
mtsawyier@epaclaw.com
Born:
Boston, Massachusetts, January 6, 1948
mtsawyier@epaclaw.com
Education:
University of Chicago, J.D., 1972; Yale University, LL.M., 1973; John Marshall Law School, LL.M., Tax, 2000
Harvard University, A.B., magna cum laude, 1969
Practice Areas:
Asset Protection; Trusts and Estates; Business Law; Limited Liability Entity Law; Tax Planning; Commercial and Residential Real Estate
Admissions:
1972, Illinois; 1974, New York and District of Columbia; 1976, California; 1977, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois; 1981, U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit; 1983, Indiana; 1984, U.S. Supreme Court; 1989, Texas
Biography:
Michael T. Sawyier is the principal of the Law Offices Of Michael T. Sawyier.
Mr. Sawyier received his undergraduate degree from Harvard University (having entered as an advanced placement sophomore), his J.D. from The University of Chicago Law School (where he served on the Law Review), an LL.M. in International Law from Yale University Law School, and, in 2000, an additional LL.M. in Tax Law from The John Marshall Law School.
Mr. Sawyier concentrates his practice in the areas of estate and business planning, asset protection, real estate, and business law. He has practiced in the Chicago area for 30 years and is a participating attorney in the AARP Legal Services Network, serving on its Chicago-Area trusts and estates and real estate panels. In addition, he is a member of the Wealth Counsel Network of estate planning attorneys, a member of the Advisory Board of the Association of Chartered Senior Financial Planners (ACSFP), and special counsel to the National Association of Financial and Estate Planning (NAFEP).
Experience of Michael T. Sawyier
Representative Estate and Business Planning Practice:
Member: Chicago Bar Association Trust Law, Probate Practice, Elder Law, and Asset Protection Committees; Illinois State Bar Association Trusts and Estates and Elder Law Sections; American Bar Association Entity Selection, Family Limited Partnership/LLC, and Long-Term Health Care Committees; National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys; American Association of Retired Persons Legal Services Network; Wealth Counsel Network.
- Diverse business and transactional law practice extending for more than 30 years (corporate, limited liability company, partnership, tax, real estate, financing) (highest professional quality rating by Martindale-Hubbell).
- Asset protection, including family limited partnerships, family LLCs, and domestic asset protection trusts.
- Bankruptcy practice.
- Decedents' estates, guardianships, and special needs trusts.
- Preparation of estate and gift tax returns.
- Trust administration.
- Preparation and implementation (including funding) of a Qualified Domestic Trust (QDOT), Qualified Conservation Contribution (Easement), Multi-Corporate General Partner Family Limited Partnership, and numerous estate plans utilizing A-B revocable trusts, pour over wills, and powers of attorney.
- Preparation and implementation (including funding) of irrevocable life insurance trusts and dynasty trusts.
- Preparation of wills, codicils, and testamentary trusts.
- Review of trust instruments, powers of attorney, small estate affidavits, and sundry account ownership and control questions for financial institution.
- General counsel to American Insitute of Sindhulogy
- Advisory Board member of Association of Chartered Senior Financial Planners.
- Special counsel to National Association of Financial and Estate Planning.
- Counsel for retirement plan benefits and distributions, beneficiary designations (including multi-generational IRAs), buy-sell agreements, and charitable remainder trusts.
Representative Real Estate Practice
- Advice about, negotiation, and drafting of numerous leases and construction contracts (commercial and residential).
- Advice about, negotiation, drafting, and closing of numerous real estate sales contracts (commercial and residential), including office buildings, stores, restaurants, an industrial plant, a motel, vacant parcels, and apartment buildings.
- Mortgage refinancing of 676 St. Clair office building ( Chicago, Illinois) and other commercial properties.
- Negotiation of sale of institutional mortgage loan portfolio.
- Landmark ordinance (zoning) litigation for East Lake Shore Drive Association ( Chicago, Illinois).
- Limited Partnership Syndication.
- Townhouse Development.
- Tax counsel re sundry matters.
Litigation of construction contract, construction defect, mechanic's lien, mortgage foreclosure, building code violation, bankruptcy, eviction, and (as Special Assistant Attorney General) eminent domain matters
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