Varnum attorneys Kristiana Coutu and Dean Reisner are two of the featured speakers at the upcoming Take Root Conference on Estate and Succession Planning for Farmers. The conference, hosted by Michigan Farm Bureau, is set for Monday, Feb. 26 from 8:30 to 4 p.m. at Crowne Plaza Lansing West, 925 S. Creyts Road in Lansing.
The conference is designed to meet the needs of individuals in any state of estate and succession planning. Breakout sessions will be held in the afternoon following a morning workshop.
Coutu will present on Farm Estate Planning Tax Considerations, covering a review of the current tax system, structures for farm transitions, use of estate tax benefits to create tax benefits, and structures to reduce or eliminate estate taxes. She will also discuss pitfalls to avoid in estate and succession planning.
Reisner’s presentation will focus on Succession Planning, covering farm transfer factors and strategies, distribution issues with farming and non-farming beneficiaries, and buy/sell agreements. He will also discuss how to choose the best business structure and how to build a management team.
Both Coutu and Reisner have a significant agriculture focus to their legal practices, as well as personal ties to the agriculture community.
Coutu is experienced in several areas of agricultural law including labor and employment matters, H-2A labor, taxation, succession planning and general business matters. She previously practiced as a certified public accountant and has over 20 years of experience in the agriculture industry, including agricultural lending and operating her family farm.
Reisner concentrates his practice on business transactional matters, general corporate work, real estate matters, estate planning, and agricultural law. He works closely with clients and their advisors to create organizational structures, business succession plans and estate plans that allow families to plan for current and future generations. Reisner grew up on a 1,000-acre farm in Sanilac County in Michigan’s thumb area, where his family continues to grow corn, beans and wheat.