William R. Franzen
bill@levinschreder.comBill joined Levin & Schreder from McDermott Will & Emery LLP, where he was a partner practicing in the firm’s Private Client and Estate Planning Department. He has extensive experience counseling high net worth clients on family business succession and tax planning, estate planning, multigenerational wealth transfer, international tax planning, family office structure and administration, executive compensation planning, and charitable organization formation and administration matters.
Bill has written extensively on trust and estate planning issues for Illinois State Bar Association and Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE) publications. He has also given numerous presentations to family offices regarding current estate and tax planning matters.
Publications:
Co-Author, “Tax Aspects of Estate, Trust and Guardianship Litigation,” Illinois Estate Trust and Guardianship Litigation, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE), 2002 Edition and 2008 Supplement
Co-Author, “Discretionary Distributions,” Illinois Trust Administration, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE), 1999 Edition and 2005/2008 Supplements
Co-Author, “Federal Estate and Gift Tax Procedures,” Illinois Estate Administration, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE), 1999 Edition
Co-Author, “20,000 Litigants and 2 Million Adults: The True Impact of Shifting the Burden of Proof,” Probate & Property, March/April 1999, awarded Excellence in Writing Award, Best Overall Article (Probate & Trust)
“Survey of the Taxation of Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Settlements and Awards,” Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) General Practice Newsletter, November 1998
“Illinois Limited Liability Companies,” Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) Commercial, Banking & Bankruptcy Law Newsletter, July 1998
“Illinois Limited Liability Companies,” Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) General Practice Newsletter, May 1998
Co-Author, “1997 Trusts & Estates Legislation Update,” Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) Trusts & Estates Newsletter, December 1997
“The Deductibility of Financing Fees in a Leveraged Buyout: A Conflict in Reasoning Between the Tax Court and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals,” 46 Syracuse Law Review 1147, 1996
Education:
J.D., magna cum laude, Syracuse University College of Law, 1996
Associate Editor, Syracuse Law Review
B.A, University of Illinois - Urbana, 1993
Admitted:
Illinois, 1996
Certification:
Certified Public Accountant - Illinois
Professional Activities:
American Bar Association - Member, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section
Illinois State Bar Association
DuPage County Bar Association
Community Activities:
Income Tax Preparation Program - Volunteer
