Green Bay, Wisconsin
Service Areas:
Education:
- J.D., University of Wisconsin Law School
- B.A., with distinction, University of Wisconsin – Madison
Admissions:
- Wisconsin
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
- Supreme Court of Wisconsin
With over 20 years of experience, Phil assists individuals with estate, wealth, and business succession planning and businesses with corporate and real estate matters. He focuses on preserving family relationships in wealth transfers and crafting practical plans that honor his clients’ wishes while minimizing taxes and ensuring flexibility. His expertise includes domicile planning for clients across multiple tax jurisdictions, family vacation property succession, and advising agricultural clients on farm ownership and transfer complexities.
Phil also counsels businesses in manufacturing, retail, and service industries, leveraging his background as a former in-house counsel to provide solutions during mergers, acquisitions, and unique business challenges. Previously, he served as general counsel for a manufacturer and led the Manitowoc office of a full-service business law firm. A frequent speaker and author on estate planning and business succession, he has also been a guest lecturer at the University of Wisconsin Law School.Affiliations
- Member, Manitowoc County Bar Association
- Board of Directors, Bank First Corporation, 2021-Present
Awards & Recognitions
- The Best Lawyers in America©, Trusts and Estates, 2018-present
- The Midwest’s Best Lawyers©, Trusts and Estates, 2021
Notable Representations
- Acted as outside general counsel for a number of manufacturing companies, and retailers successfully addressing the larger issues faced by the companies, and managing the specific legal needs and delivery of legal services in the many specialty areas of law including environmental, labor, intellectual property, zoning, and mergers and acquisitions.
- Handled the probate of a sizable estate where the deceased left no will and no close heirs. The process included the determinations of unknown heirs numbering in the hundreds with differing degrees of kinship to the deceased. It also required lengthy administration, effective mass communications, significant research and efficient use of staffing and research resources to effectively administer the estate.
- Assisted in the successful sale of a distribution company to a distributor in a different territory. The transaction required the assignment of numerous agreements, the development of complex non-compete provisions, and the handling of various employment and labor issues. Phil assisted the seller in locating a target buyer, handled initial negotiations with the buyer, and provided counsel through to post-closing requirements.
- Working with a retired executive to effectively manage his estate. Planning has included the creation of irrevocable insurance trusts, a qualified personal residence trust, marital deduction planning trusts, and general revocable trusts. It also demanded the successful handling of multi-state issues and challenges to trust funding.
- Acted as long-standing counsel to a commercial real estate developer working in complex acquisition and development, regulatory matters, governmental affairs, corporate organization and structuring and associated tax planning matters. In conjunction with this developed master leasing documents and procedures.
Service Area Subspecialties
- Corporate
- Wealth Planning