Michael T. Sawyier
Michael T. Sawyier
Principal
Michael T. Sawyier is the principal of the Law Offices Of Michael T. Sawyier. He received his undergraduate degree from Harvard University, which he entered as an advanced placement sophomore. He earned his J.D. from The University of Chicago Law School, where he served on the Law Review, his first LL.M. in International Law from Yale University Law School and his second LL.M. in Tax Law from The John Marshall Law School.
Mr. Sawyier concentrates his practice in the areas of asset protection, estate and business planning, business law, and real estate. He has practiced law full-time for more than 40 years.
Mr. Sawyier’s expertise in trusts and limited liability entities (a subject on which he lectures for the National Business Institute and other business organizations) enables the firm to help clients formulate and carry out their optimal asset protection plans and tax planning, all at a highly reasonable cost.
Mr. Sawyier lives with his family in Chesterton, IN, where he has long-time roots. His great-uncle Robert Murray lived in Valparaiso and made the charitable remainder gift of the property that became the Sunset Hill County Park. His uncle Arthur Horton also lived in Valparaiso on the Predere Farm Property and gave generously to many local causes. His parents owned the same property where Mr. Sawyier and his family now live for almost 40 years.
Practice Areas
- Asset protection
- Business law
- Commercial and residential real estate
- Entity law
- Tax planning
- Trusts and estates
Education
- John Marshall Law School, LL.M. Tax, 2000
- Yale University, LL.M., 1973
- University of Chicago, J.D., 1972
- Harvard University, A.B., magna cum laude, 1969
Bar Admissions
- Illinois, 1972
- New York, 1974
- District of Columbia, 1974
- California, 1976
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 1977
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit, 1981
- Indiana, 1983
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1984
- Texas, 1989
- Michigan, 2010
Board Memberships
- Northwest Indiana Croquet Association, Inc.
Representative Matters
Estate and business planning
- Diverse business and transactional law practice extending for more than 40 years (including corporate, limited liability company, partnership, tax, real estate, financing)
- Asset protection (including family limited partnerships, family LLCs and domestic asset protection trusts)
- Decedents’ estates, guardianships and special needs trusts
- Trust administration
- Preparation and implementation (including funding) of a Grantor Retained Annuity Trust (GRAT), Qualified Domestic Trust (QDOT), Qualified Conservation Contribution (Easement), Multi-Corporate General Partner Family Limited Partnership, irrevocable gift trusts (including charitable trusts, life insurance trusts and dynasty trusts) and numerous revocable trusts
- Preparation of wills, codicils, powers of attorney, transfer on death instruments and testamentary trusts
- Review of trust instruments, powers of attorney, small estate affidavits and sundry account ownership and control questions for financial institutions
- Counsel for retirement plan benefits and distributions, beneficiary designations (including IRA protection trusts and multi-generational IRAs), buy-sell agreements, employment agreements and severance agreements
Real estate
- Representation of private property owners in reciprocal easement negotiations and drafting for private roadway across the south campus of Purdue University North Central (Westville, IN)
- Representation of private developer in subdivision and sale of commercial lots in Portage, IN, including preparation of Declaration of Easements, Covenants, and Restrictions and hearing of same
- Advising, negotiating and drafting for numerous leases and construction contracts (both commercial and residential)
- Advising, negotiating, drafting and closing for numerous real estate sales contracts (both commercial and residential), including office buildings, stores, restaurants, an industrial plant, a motel, vacant parcels and apartment buildings
- Mortgage refinancing of 676 St. Clair office building in Chicago and other commercial properties
- Negotiation of sale of institutional mortgage loan portfolio
- Landmark ordinance (zoning) litigation for East Lake Shore Drive Association in Chicago
- Limited partnership syndication
- Townhouse development
- Tax counsel regarding sundry matters
Construction and property-related matters
- Construction contracts
- Construction defects
- Mortgage foreclosures
- Building code violations
- Eminent domain (as Special Assistant Attorney General)
(219) 926-4200
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