Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PC
Summary
Main Office
313 South Washington Square
Lansing,
MI 48933
Websites
Geographies
Office Locations
Farmington Hills
32300 Northwestern Highway
Suite 230
Farmington Hills, MI 48334
Lansing
313 South Washington Square
Lansing, MI 48933
Grand Rapids
1700 East Beltline, NE
Suite 200
Grand Rapids, MI 49525
Detroit
333 West Fort St.
11th Floor
Detroit, MI 48226
Marquette
205 South Front St.
Suite 2D
Marquette, MI 49855
Holland
151 Central Avenue
Suite 260
Holland, MI 49423
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For over a century, Michigan’s leading corporations, individuals and families have relied on Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith. The firm has earned a reputation for outstanding client service, for a results-minded attitude and for across-the-board legal excellence. We credit this reputation to our adherence to the timeless Midwestern values of integrity, civility, hard work, camaraderie and commitment to our communities.
Clients of all sizes and types, public and private, seek our help. Many establish long-term relationships with the firm that span generations. All find attorneys who are highly regarded for their ability and experience in handling sophisticated transactions and corporate formations, difficult litigation and complex regulatory and municipal issues.
As a 100-plus attorney law firm with a statewide footprint, we provide comprehensive services for businesses, organizations, municipalities, families and individuals throughout Michigan, the nation and beyond, including:
- Administrative, Municipal Law and Public Finance
- Banking, Finance and Real Estate
- Business and Corporate Law, Information Technology and Sports and Entertainment
- Commercial Litigation and Trial Practice, including Construction
- Employment, Labor and Benefits
- General Litigation, Appellate, Family Law-Divorce and Criminal Law
- Health Care
- Trusts and Estates
- Workers' Compensation
Each of our practice groups is comprised of lawyers rated as the best by clients and peers.
Case History
Reduced Estate Tax Exposure
Practice Area: Estate Planning
Description: For one client, Frank created an extremely detailed estate plan.
Outcome: The plan saved the client millions of dollars (and preserved family harmony) by reducing proposed estate tax exposure through inter-family gifting, creative charitable planning (including Private Foundation work) and insurance and tax structuring.
Dividing Eight-Figure Business
Practice Area: Estate Planning
Description: A married couple came to Frank for help dividing an eight-figure business.
Outcome: He arranged an agreement that did this amicably, avoiding a threatened divorce and enabling the spouses to run the separated businesses successfully.
Complex Generation-Skipping Trust
Practice Area: Estate Planning
Description: Frank created complex, generation-skipping trusts for one client, with advanced incentive provisions.
Outcome: This allowed a chemically-dependent adult son continued access to the family fortune in a very “controlled” environment, thereby preventing substantial waste of hard-earned assets.
Estate Planning for Special Needs Children
Practice Area: Estate Planning
Description: The parents of a special-needs adult wanted to ensure that their child continue receiving governmental-supplied benefits following their demise.
Outcome: Frank drafted numerous discretionary trusts for this client.
First Conservation Easement
Practice Area: Estate Planning
Description: Frank created the first conservation easement for a well-known Michigan resort lake.
Outcome: The agreement protected the environmental integrity of substantial waterfront frontage, while reducing his client’s property tax obligations to less than half and creating a substantial charitable contribution deduction.
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