Debra K Smietanski
Our Services - Estates & Trusts
In our nationwide offices, the attorneys in the Estates & Trusts Practice of Foley are highly specialized, concentrating on estate planning, probate, trust law, and related areas of taxation.
Depending on each client's requirements and desires, we can limit our counsel to a single issue, or provide advice on a broad range of personal or family goals and how best to achieve them.
Generating Sensible Estate Planning Solutions
Foley has extensive experience developing sophisticated estate plans for wealthy individuals and families. These plans are designed to reduce potential tax burdens within the context of the client's overall estate-planning objectives. We use sophisticated planning vehicles tailored to each client, including specialized trusts, family-limited partnerships, limited liability companies, and private charitable foundations.
With public companies, employee benefits often are at the core of an executive's wealth. We frequently work with these executives on estate planning for stock option plans, employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), retirement benefits, compensation plans, restricted stock and fringe benefits, and compliance with relevant securities laws. We work closely with our Employee Benefits Practice attorneys throughout the planning process.
With private and closely held companies, thoughtful, creative estate planning is required to achieve the client's objectives. We counsel owners of these busiÂÂnesses on alternatives for transferring ownership and control to the next generation, and in solving liquidity concerns associated with estate taxes.
As the tax law affecting closely held businesses changes, we continually develop new techniques for the smooth transfer of management and ownership. Our lawyers have recapitalized corporations and established partnerships that freeze the values of the older generations' business interests for estate-tax purposes, thereby insulating substantial asset value from federal and state death taxes.
Providing Qualified Estate and Trust Management
The Estates & Trusts Practice represents numerous multimillion-dollar estates and trusts, many of which involve portfolios with such diverse and complex assets as art collections, closely held business interests, real estate held for development, mineral interests, patents, and copyrights. We assist in the administration and management of these estates and trusts, and counsel the beneficiaries in regard to tax-saving techniques. Foley partners also can serve as executors or trustees when appropriate.
In addition, clients who rely on Foley attorneys to serve as trustees or successor trustees have access to FOLEY PrivateOffice, the firm's exclusive trust administration services. Through a family office setting, FOLEY PrivateOffice administers several billion dollars in client assets and caters to the needs of approximately 1,000 family members.
Our services also include preparation of estate and fiduciary income tax returns, maintenance of computerized trust accounting systems, and representation of fiduciaries before the Internal Revenue Service.
Board Certified Attorney, Wills, Trusts & Estates - Florida Bar
Debra K Smietanski
Foley & Lardner LLP
100 N Tampa St #2700
Tampa FL 33602-5810
Tel: 813 229-2300
Fax: 813 221-4210
E-mail: dsmietanski@foley.com
LEGAL PRACTICES:
Estates & Trusts
Debra Smietanski is special counsel in Foley's Tax & Individual Planning and Estates & Trusts Practices. She is board-certified by The Florida Bar in wills, trusts and estates.
A licensed certified public accountant, Ms. Smietanski is a member of the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants and served as president for the American Woman's Society of Certified Public Accountants, Tampa Chapter, from 1996 to 1997.
She is also a member of the Hillsborough County Bar Association; the Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers, where she served as treasurer and a member of the board of directors from 1993 to 1997; and the Florida Association for Women Lawyers, where she served as secretary and a member of the board of directors from 1993 to 1995.
Ms. Smietanski is a member of the Tampa Hyde Park Rotary Club and served as president from 1998 to 1999. She is also a member of the Tampa Bay Estate Planning Council, serving on the board of directors from 1995 to 1997, as well as a member of the board of director with FRAMCO (French-American Business Council of West Florida, Inc.), and an advisory committee member for both the Community Foundation of Greater Tampa, Inc., and H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute. She is currently a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Tampa and has served as president of its council. She is a member of the board of directors for Seniors in Service of Tampa Bay, a non-profit organization enhancing the lives of seniors, and is currently serving as its chairman-elect.
Ms. Smietanski received her J.D., cum laude, in 1980 from the University of Illinois. She received her B.S. in accounting, with highest honors, in 1975 from the University of Illinois, where she was a member of Beta Gamma Sigma and listed on the Bronze Tablet.
Ms Smietanski was named to the 2007 Florida "Super Lawyers" list by Law and Politics Media, Inc.
Ms. Smietanski is admitted to practice law in the state of Florida and the state of Illinois, and before the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
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