Ed Cather focuses his practice in estate and asset protection planning, probate, and estate and trust litigation as well as tax controversy and business planning. Prior to his law career, Ed Cather practiced for several years as a certified public accountant with one of the world’s largest professional service firms, focusing on tax and business planning. His extensive background in business and accounting enables him to provide a practical business and legal perspective on complex financial issues facing companies and business owners.
Estate and Asset Protection Planning
Ed works with clients to protect assets; minimize taxes; transfer wealth; and transition closely-held businesses. He counsels and assists clients in the utilization of various planning techniques, including the use of grantor trusts, charitable trusts, private family trusts, closely-held entities and irrevocable life insurance trusts.
Estate and Trust Litigation, Probate and Trust Administration
Ed also represents heirs, beneficiaries, fiduciaries and creditors in the resolution of probate and trust-related litigation, including disputes involving fiduciary responsibility and liability; interpretation of wills and trusts; distributions to beneficiaries; will and trust contests; fiduciary compensation; spousal rights; and disputes in which fraud, undue influence and lack of capacity are at issue. Ed also represents clients in probate and trust administration matters.
Business
Ed advises clients on legal issues encountered in the business life cycle. He has helped organize or create business entities with many different legal, ownership and management structures. Ed has also represented clients in a wide variety of transactions, including stock and asset purchases and tax-free mergers and reorganizations. He also represents clients in business-related litigation.
Tax Planning and Controversy
Ed has represented various businesses and individuals before the IRS and state tax commission relating to income, employment, sales and use tax issues. His practice includes federal, state and local tax planning; partnership and corporate tax structuring; and planning.
Banking and Finance
From litigation to complex lending transactions, Ed represents clients in all facets of the lending process. His efforts in countless workouts and loan restructures for financial institutions have involved the negotiation of claims, analysis of priorities, and evaluation of other factors necessary to bring matters to successful conclusion.
