Biography
Bhavik R. Patel joined Sandberg Phoenix & von Gontard in 2004 and is the Business Law Practice Group Leader. Additionally, he is the Chair of the firm’s Wealth Planning Group and Special Needs Planning Group. Bhavik is also the managing member of the firm’s O’Fallon, Illinois office. He practices in both the Business and Business Litigation Practice Groups and focuses in the following areas:
- Wealth/Tax Planning and Administration
- Business/Corporate Planning
- Special Needs Planning
- Probate and Trust Litigation
- FINRA Litigation
- Trademarks
Recently, Bhavik was recognized as a 2010 Rising Star by Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers in the area of Estate Planning and Probate. Over the last four years, Bhavik has also enjoyed teaching Practical Aspects of Wealth Planning and Drafting for Washington University School of Law and Graduate Tax Program. Prior to joining Sandberg Phoenix, Bhavik worked at a tax law boutique in St. Louis County.
Wealth/Tax Planning and Administration
Bhavik brings his technical and practical perspective to his clients. He devises and implements a personal and customized plan specific to each client and their family. To that end, Bhavik works closely with accountants and financial advisors to ensure a comprehensive plan that helps his clients recognize their objectives in light of individual circumstances and values. Bhavik works with them to chart a financial and legal course so they can effectively direct and secure the future for themselves, their families and beneficiaries. Bhavik counsels individuals and families of all levels of wealth and at nearly every stage of life. Bhavik has experience drafting revocable and irrevocable trusts, life insurance trusts, gift trusts, family trusts, dynasty trusts, qualified personal residence trusts, discretionary trusts, blind trusts, GST trusts, asset protection trusts, voting trusts, and much more. In addition to estate planning, Bhavik has extensive experience with complex and unique estate and trust administrations, as well as, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements.
Business/Corporate Planning
Bhavik utilizes his LL.M. in Tax Law and his M.B.A. to provide his business clients with the advice and knowledge of an outside general counsel. Bhavik offers a unique perspective to his clients by understanding how to keep a company’s goals in focus while working to prevent or resolve issues. Bhavik’s business planning expertise ranges from creating or forming entities to developing and structuring exit strategies that maximize the client’s goals and objectives. Bhavik has extensive experience in negotiating and closing a variety of asset and stock purchase agreements. Bhavik is also uniquely positioned to advise his business clients in obtaining and optimizing a variety of minority certifications, such as women owned and minority owned business enterprises (WBEs/MBEs) and disadvantaged business enterprises (DBEs). Bhavik combines his knowledge in business and estate planning to advise clients on effectively and practically devising a business succession plan. Bhavik has prepared numerous buy-sell agreements, stock restriction agreements and family business plans.
Special Needs Planning
Bhavik helps families plan for the future of their dependents with special needs, to achieve the best possible quality of life. He possesses in-depth knowledge of the laws pertaining to government benefit eligibility and advises his clients on the use of special needs trusts and guardianships and conservatorships. Bhavik is considered an expert in special needs planning and is often approached to speak to families that care for loved ones with special needs. Bhavik has presented on a plethora of special needs topics for St. Louis Arc, Life Skills, Albert Pujols Foundation, Edwardsville Special School District, St. Lukes, National Convention for Williams Syndrome, Men’s Health Conference in Southern Illinois, and many more. Bhavik has prepared numerous Stand Alone Special Needs Trusts, Testamentary Special Needs Trusts, Medicaid Payback Trusts and other Discretionary Trusts. He understands and plans for his client’s unique and customized goals to effectively implement an appropriate special needs plan.
Probate and Trust Litigation
Bhavik utilizes his substantive knowledge in business and estate planning to effectively litigate contested probate, trust and business matters. He represents businesses, individuals, personal representatives, beneficiaries and omitted or potential heirs in the following areas:
- Will Contests and Litigation
- Breach of Fiduciary Duty
- Fraud and Forgery
- Beneficiary’s Rights
- Elective Share Claims
- Abuse of Power of Attorney
- Joint Bank Account Litigation
- Pay on Death Disputes
- Estate Litigation and Settlements
- Undue Influence Claims
- Lack of Mental Capacity Claims
- Contested and Uncontested Guardianship and Conservatorship
- Removal of Fiduciaries
- Trust Contests and Litigation
- Trust Modification, Termination and Construction
- Trustee Removal
- Business Owner Disputes
FINRA Litigation
FINRA Litigation Practice is an integral part of Bhavik’s legal practice. His practice specializes in the representation and defense of broker-dealers, registered representatives, and other financial professionals nationwide in actions initiated by former and current clients, as well as other entities and individuals. Bhavik’s FINRA litigation practice concentrates in the defense of broker-dealers, registered representatives and other financial professionals before the FINRA in litigation involving securities and consumer fraud litigation, punitive damage litigation, violations of state and federal securities laws, common law claims, and violations of FINRA Rules. Bhavik utilizes his general representation of several financial advisor firms to provide legal counseling in every facet of professional liability and FINRA litigation.
Trademarks
Bhavik provides services that enable businesses to establish, protect, and profit from a distinct, recognizable identity of a product or service. He works with clients at every step of the trademark development process, including creation, identification and protection. Additionally, Bhavik negotiates and prepares trademark licenses, assignments, and other business agreements, and when disputes arise will litigate trademark, trade secret and unfair competition disputes. Bhavik has handled several highly publicized trademark disputes.
Practice Groups
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Business Law
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Business Litigation
Industries/Areas of Practice
- Business and Tax Advice
- Special Needs Planning
- Estate Planning and Administration
- Probate and Trust Litigation
- Trademarks
Civic Activities
Bhavik is a board member of the Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition. The Coalition assists in placement of foster children and the training of foster parents. Bhavik also founded and chairs the Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition’s Junior Board.
Professional Activities
Bhavik is admitted to practice law in Missouri, Illinois, the United States District Court for the Eastern and Western District of Missouri and the United States Tax Court. He is a member of the Missouri Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (BAMSL), and BAMSL's Probate and Trust Steering Committee. Bhavik is also a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). He is an active member of the Missouri and Illinois NAELA Special Needs Planning Chapters.
In addition to his role as the Chair of the firm’s Business Practice Group, Bhavik is a member of the firm’s Diversity Committee.
Bhavik is currently a member of Washington University School of Law's adjunct faculty. He is teaching a class entitled, "Practical Issues in Wealth Planning & Drafting."
Presentations
Understanding Guardianships – December 13, 2011
Special Needs Trusts – November 10, 2011
Optimizing Your Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) – October 27, 2011
Understanding Public Benefits from the Perspective of a Special Needs Planner – October 19, 2011
Wealth Planning and Preservation – October 15, 2011
A Physician’s Estate Plan – October 14, 2011
Grow Your Knowledge at the Garden: Grantor Trusts in the Age of the Re-Unified Credit – October 13, 2011
The Right Business Succession Plan for the Closely Held Business Owner: Ownership and Management Transition – September 15, 2011
How to be an Effective Estate Planner – September 14, 2011
Publications
Bhavik currently authors the monthly case reviews for new trust and probate litigation in the
Missouri Court Bulletin. Bhavik authored and continues to supplement several chapters in the
Missouri Bar Estate Planning Series CLE including Chapter 6, "Planning and Techniques for Making Gifts" and Chapter 14, "Antenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements."
Education
Bhavik received his LL.M. in Taxation from the Washington University School of Law.
He received his Juris Doctor from the University of Arkansas-Little Rock School of Law. He served as the Associate Managing Editor of the University of Arkansas-Little Rock Law Review and graduated with honors.
He received his M.B.A. from the Illinois Institute of Technology-Stuart College of Business, and graduated with high honors.
He received his B.B.A.,
magna cum laude, from Georgia State University.