William M. Lane

Biography

Bill Lane connects people to solutions. Business executives, higher education leaders, and non-profit professionals consider Bill their friend, as well as their counselor. Often turning to Bill when they have a need, Bill’s clients rely on him for advice, connections, introductions, and, most importantly, answers. Bill helps clients connect with resources on a variety of legal matters, including complex trusts and estates, real estate, and administrative law. No matter what the situation entails, Bill is conscientious and understands the value of relationships.

Representative Experience

  • Business planning for higher educational institutions, churches, and other non-profit organizations, including governance, investment and finance, audit and risk management, advancement and planned giving, and real property matters
  • Represented buyers and sellers of commercial, industrial, agricultural, and residential real estate, lenders, architects, real estate developers, civic associations, and construction and agricultural businesses in real estate matters, including preparation, reviewing and negotiating terms of deeds, exchanges, leases, easements, restrictive covenants, encroachments, adverse possession, loan documentation, and workouts
  • Member of Ad Hoc Committees to establish the Community Foundation of Fairfield County and the Community Foundation of Delaware County
  • Represented the Scioto Conservancy District during its formation, operation, and dissolution
  • Represented the Ohio Insurance Guaranty Association at the time of its formation
  • Represented individuals and companies before administrative agencies, including the Department of Insurance, the Department of Natural Resources, the Board of Pharmacy, the Department of Commerce, the Division of Financial Institutions, and Division of Securities
  • Estate planning for individuals and families, including advising and preparation of wills, trusts, prenuptial agreements, financial and healthcare powers of attorney, living wills, gift annuities, charitable remainder annuity trusts and unitrusts, and special needs trusts
  • Probate litigation representing individuals, banks, and trust companies involving will and trust construction, reformation of trusts, removal, and appointment of successor trustees, and other probate issues
  • Business planning for privately held businesses, including articles of incorporation and of organization, codes of regulations, bylaws, business succession planning, voting trusts, deferred compensation agreements, stock incentive plans, close corporation agreements with non-disclosure, non-competition, and buy-sell provisions
  • Represented title insurance company as title agent licensed by the State of Ohio

Licensed In

  • Ohio

Education

  • J.D. University of Michigan Law School
  • B.A. Amherst College

Memberships

  • Member, Tax Committee, Ohio Chamber of Commerce
  • Board Member and Chair of Enterprise Risk Committee of Mount Carmel College of Nursing
  • Past President, Rotary Club of Columbus
  • Past President, Columbus Rotary Foundation
  • Trustee Emeritus, Bexley Seabury Seminary Federation
  • Past Chair of the Board, American Cancer Society Ohio Division Inc. and Past Member, American Cancer Society National Assembly and its Crusade and Investment Committees
  • Past Member, Financial Board of Advisors, Childhood League
  • Past Chair of the Board, United Way of Delaware County
  • Past President, Sunbury Big Walnut Chamber of Commerce
  • Past Chair of the Board, Delaware County Foundation, Member of the Governance Committee
  • Past Member, Committee on Corporate Social Responsibility, The Episcopal Church
  • Ambassador for Justice, Greater Columbus Community Helping Hands
  • Admitted, Supreme Court of the United States
  • Admitted, United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
  • Ohio State Bar Association (Agricultural Law, Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law, and Real Property Law Sections)
  • American Bar Association (Real Property, Probate and Trust Law, Business Law and Taxation Sections)
  • Columbus Bar Association (Probate Committee, Real Estate Law Committee, Estate, and Gift Tax Section, Taxation Committee)
  • Fellow, Columbus Bar Foundation and Ohio State Bar Foundation
  • Member, Professional Advisory Committee, Columbus, Delaware County Foundation and Nationwide Children’s Hospital
  • Columbus Estate Planning Council

Achievements

  • Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review AV Preeminent, Highest Possible Rating in Both Legal Ability and Ethical Standards
  • Named to list of Top Lawyers in Columbus CEO Magazine 2010, 2013-2018
  • The Best Lawyers of America®, Trusts and Estates (2013-Present)
  • Distinguished Service Awards from Childhood League, United Way of Delaware County, American Cancer Society, and Delaware County Foundation

Speaking Engagements

  • Lecturer-numerous topics, including Director’s Liability, Community Organizations, Charitable

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