Douglas W. Stein

Douglas Stein is a partner in the Tax Section of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP.

Mr. Stein’s main practice area is Estate Planning and Wealth Protection.

Mr. Stein recognizes that every client’s situation is unique and advises them on innovative and sophisticated estate planning and business succession techniques which are tailored to the unique needs of each of his clients. Mr. Stein assists his clients in structuring their philanthropic gifts through the use of planned gift arrangements which include charitable limited partnerships, charitable remainder trusts, and charitable lead trusts. Mr. Stein also selectively uses onshore and offshore private placement life insurance and entities to achieve the client’s estate and income tax goals. In addition to advising on sophisticated income tax mitigation techniques he also assists his clients in obtaining tax credits to minimize the cost of expanding or acquiring a business.

Mr. Stein received his B.A. in Economics from the University of Maryland. He earned his J.D. from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. He has been selected as one of the Best Lawyers in America in Trust and Estates.

Mr. Stein is a member of the Massachusetts, Michigan and New York Bars and is admitted to the United States Tax Court.

Mr. Stein is conversant in Hebrew.

Articles

• “Eight Thoughts on Preparer Penalties; and then Some More”, The Michigan Tax Lawyer, Spring 2008.
• “FLPs and Private Foundations, The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly”, Family Foundation Advisor, November/December 2007.
• “The Leveraged Family Business CLAT”, Probate and Property Magazine, September/October 2007.
• “A Practical Guide to Drafting Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (with Sample Forms and Checklists)”, contributing author, ALI/ABA, 2007.
• “Help! Someone Hijacked My Foundation!”, Family Foundation Advisor, May/June 2006.
• “Discretionary Trusts Merely Support Trusts?”, Trusts & Estates Magazine, February 1, 2005.
• “The Use of Trusts in Business Continuation and Succession”, Probate & Property Magazine, May/June 2003.
• “Interest Rate Arbitrage and Estate Planning”, Lawyers Weekly USA, 2003, and Trusts and Estates, January 2003.
• “What to Consider Before You Accept and Interest in a Family Limited Partnership”, Exempt Organizations Report, May/June 2002.
• “Recapitalizations and Family Limited Partnerships”, The M&A Tax Report, January 2002.

Lectures

• “The Secrets of Using Deferred Payment Sales”, ICLE’s 48th Annual Probate and Estate Planning Institute, May 2008.
• “Code Secs. 6166 and 2053”, 19th Annual Real Property and Estate Planning Symposia, May 2008.
• “Charitable Lead Trusts in Business Planning”, 18th Annual Real Property and Estate Planning Symposia, April 2007.
• “Recent Tax Court Valuation Cases: Making Your Way Through the Mine Fields”, Northeastern Michigan Estate Planning Council, April 2005.
• “Drafting in Light of UPIA”, Oakland County Bar Association, February 2005.