William Russell, Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP Photo

William E. Russell

Partner
William Russell, Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP Photo
William E. Russell

About William

William E. Russell advises closely held businesses and professionals on business and tax matters. His practice consists of corporate transactions and business consulting, advanced estate planning and probate, and asset protection.

As to business matters, Bill has handled the purchase and sale of private equity businesses and joint ventures. He has significant experience in the structuring of business entities, including limited liability companies, partnerships, S corporations, buy-sell agreements, deferred compensation arrangements, and general corporate transactional agreements. He has also advised business owners in the resolution of ownership and governance controversies.

Bill’s experience in advanced estate planning includes the restructuring of businesses or real estate to minimize estate taxes, family partnerships, grantor annuity trusts, qualified personal residence trusts, charitable trusts, trusts for children, insurance trusts, generation-skipping trusts, and retirement distribution planning as well as basic estate planning for all individuals. His practice also includes estate administration and post-mortem planning to minimize taxes.

Bill advises business owners on asset protection and workout matters, with particular emphasis on attributes of limited liability companies and limited partnerships.  He represents real estate investors and developers in the financing and development of both commercial and residential properties, including specialized mezzanine financing and the structuring of real estate investment and development entities.  Bill counsels on complex controversies involving trusts, trust and estate beneficiaries, and closely held business or investment entities.

Representative Matters

  • Structured a $300M cross border investment in real estate development in the U.S. by an Irish national for income and estate planning purposes.
  • Represented a closely-held U.S./Indian technology services company in the combined sale of its US and Indian operations.
  • Represented an Oregon-based manufacturer of audio and video equipment in a sale to a large family office.

Recognitions

Illinois Leading Lawyers - 2020 (cited in multiple years).

Leading Lawyers - Closely-Held Business Lawyers and Trust, Will & Estate Planning Lawyers in Illinois.

Martindale-Hubbell legal ability/ethical standards rating ("A-V") - Highest possible rating.

Credentials

Education

J.D., Washington University School of Law

M.B.A., Washington University in St. Louis

B.A., Duke University, magna cum laude

Admissions

  • Illinois, Ohio

Organizational Involvement

Professional

Chicago Bar Association

Chicago Estate Planning Council

Former Chairman, Estate Tax Division of the Chicago Bar Association Federal Tax Committee

Illinois Bar Association

Community

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Thought Leadership

"Structuring Trusts, Taxes, Transitions With Business Passion," Leading Lawyers Magazine (June 2019).

SGR News & Perspectives

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