Susan Gell "Susie" Gell Meyers
- Partner
industries
practices
Estate and Wealth Transfer Planning
- Represents business owners, physicians, dentists and individuals for their estate planning needs, including:
- tax planning (income, gift and estate) for families of wealth
- gift and estate tax litigation
- asset protection
- planning for large retirement plans or other income taxable assets
- implementing gift trusts and family limited liability companies to maintain family ownership of heirloom assets
- developing plans to transfer ownership of family businesses to next generation owners on a tax-advantaged basis using techniques such as GRATs, life insurance trusts, and sales to grantor trusts
- drafting prenuptial agreements to protect family businesses, heirlo
Estate and Wealth Transfer Planning
- Represents business owners, physicians, dentists and individuals for their estate planning needs, including:
- tax planning (income, gift and estate) for families of wealth
- gift and estate tax litigation
- asset protection
- planning for large retirement plans or other income taxable assets
- implementing gift trusts and family limited liability companies to maintain family ownership of heirloom assets
- developing plans to transfer ownership of family businesses to next generation owners on a tax-advantaged basis using techniques such as GRATs, life insurance trusts, and sales to grantor trusts
- drafting prenuptial agreements to protect family businesses, heirloom assets and wealth
- estate tax planning for non-US citizens and resident aliens
Vacation Home Planning
- Represents individuals and cottage associations to develop agreements and policies establishing rules for transfer, use and maintenance of vacation homes by multiple parties.
Business Planning
- Represents closely held businesses, including medical and dental practices, to determine proper entity selection, formation, ongoing operation and succession planning. Representation includes drafting buy-sell agreements restricting transfers of ownership, establishing rules for sale and purchase of interests, and protecting S corporation elections, as well as drafting employment policies setting forth rules for employment of family members.
Estate/Trust Administration
- Provides a full range of post-death estate settlement and trust administration, including the administration and tax planning for decedents’ estates, preparation of estate tax returns, income tax returns and fiduciary accounts, and handling of IRS audits and valuation disputes. Successfully negotiated settlement with IRS on gift/estate tax audits resulting in:
- Recognition of family owned LLCs for gift purposes
- 22.5 percent discount for partial interests in real property
- 20 percent combined discount for marketable securities LLC
- Full estate tax deduction for interest on Graegin notes
- 35 percent combined discount for marketable securities limited partnership
- Defined value formulas in gifts and sales respected by the IRS
- Prenup Workshop, Family Business Alliance, February 14, 2019, Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Panelist, “Estate Planning Issues in Preparation for a Transaction,” Strategic Alternatives for Middle Market and Closely Held Businesses, October 26, 2017, Grand Rapids, Michigan
- “Prenuptial Agreements: The Elephant in the Room,” Attorneys for Family-Held Enterprises 2013 Annual Conference, April 26, 2013, Chicago
- Lecturer: Estate Planning and Probate Matters for Institute of Continuing Legal Education courses and other organizations
- Prenup Workshop, Family Business Alliance, February 14, 2019, Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Panelist, “Estate Planning Issues in Preparation for a Transaction,” Strategic Alternatives for Middle Market and Closely Held Businesses, October 26, 2017, Grand Rapids, Michigan
- “Prenuptial Agreements: The Elephant in the Room,” Attorneys for Family-Held Enterprises 2013 Annual Conference, April 26, 2013, Chicago
- Lecturer: Estate Planning and Probate Matters for Institute of Continuing Legal Education courses and other organizations
- Should You Be Holding Family Meetings?Legacy Matters
- Should You Have a Family Constitution?Legacy Matters
- 51 Warner Attorneys Rated 2021 Top Lawyers by Grand Rapids Magazine
- 105 Warner Attorneys Rated Best Lawyers in America©
- 44 Warner Attorneys Recognized by Michigan Super Lawyers Magazine
- Six Warner Attorneys, Firm Named Top Leaders in Chambers High Net Worth 2021 Guide
- “Why You Can’t Always Trust Incentive Trusts,” Barron’s, 12/16/2017
- “Prenuptial agreements and the elephant in the room,” Grand Rapids Business Journal, 2/22/2013
- “Who will make decisions and manage the business if you aren’t able?,” Grand Rapids Business Journal, 4/18/2011
- “Why You Can’t Always Trust Incentive Trusts,” Barron’s, 12/16/2017
- “Prenuptial agreements and the elephant in the room,” Grand Rapids Business Journal, 2/22/2013
- “Who will make decisions and manage the business if you aren’t able?,” Grand Rapids Business Journal, 4/18/2011
Testimonials
“She’s very responsive, willing to work collaboratively – she and I are able to try to coordinate issues. She does that in a very collaborative, professional way, she’s great to deal with.”
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“She’s a really strong client advocate. She’s very good at coming up with ideas throughout the year; she calls clients up about ideas and follows through very well.”
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“She has an incredible skill set for working with families, understanding the dynamics, the sensitive issues and really looking out for the clients’ best interests.”
