Thomas H. Bergh

Trust and Estate Attorney

Tom has over 40 years of experience in helping clients efficiently and effectively define their estate planning goals and then set up a plan to reach them. His expertise helps clients develop a clear and custom-tailored strategy, and then implement the plan by drafting clear and understandable legal documents. These strategies include protecting client wealth, transitioning closely held businesses to the next generation, reducing potential estate and income taxes, and limiting postmortem expenses. He also has experience in dealing with the IRS in administrative hearings and litigation, in developing creative tailored solutions for business succession planning, and in creating and operating charitable trusts and private foundations.

Tom is a frequent speaker and author on estate planning, employee benefits and charitable planning, and is the past chair of the Financial and Estate Planning Council of Metropolitan Detroit. He is a member of the Community Foundation of Southern Michigan’s Legal/Financial Advisor Network and the Tannahill Society of the Detroit Institute of Arts.

He is a resident in the firm’s Birmingham and Grand Rapids offices.

Experience

Represented a leading carbon steel service center in its sale to a private equity fund. Negotiated the purchase agreement and provided counsel regarding the transaction structure, employee benefits, tax matters and antitrust filings under the Hart Scott Rodino Act. Assisted the selling family in creating and implementing its estate plan and the creation and operation of a family foundation.

Drafted a complete estate plan for a new client on three hours notice and personally delivered it to the client after midnight at the Intensive Care Unit of the University of Michigan Hospital for review and signing moments before the client’s emergency surgery.

Honors and Recognitions

Best Lawyers in America^®, Litigation – Trusts and Estates, Trusts and Estates, since 2012

Best Lawyers in America^®, Lawyer of the Year, Litigation – Trusts and Estates (Troy), 2023

DBusiness, Top Lawyers, Trusts and Estates, since 2017

Five Star Wealth Manager, 2010 – 2012

Grand Rapids Magazine’s Top Lawyers, Trusts and Estates since 2022, Employee Benefits Law, 2022

Leading Lawyers: Tax Law – Individual; Trust, Will & Estate Planning Law

Martindale-Hubbell^® AV Preeminent^™ Peer Review Rated

Michigan Super Lawyers^® since 2008

Top Rated Lawyers™ in Tax Law, 2013

Professional Affiliations

American Bar Association: Taxation Section; Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section

Oakland County Bar Association: Taxation Committee, past chair

State Bar of Michigan: Probate and Estate Planning Law Section; Taxation Section; Business Law Section

The Financial and Estate Planning Council of Metropolitan Detroit, past president

Thomas Cooley Law School, former adjunct professor of law

Community Involvement

Chamber Music Society of Detroit, Board of Directors

Community Foundation of Southeastern Michigan, Planned Giving Committee

Detroit Institute of Arts, Tannahill Society

Planned Giving Roundtable for Southeast Michigan

Wayne State University, Planned Giving Committee, past chair