Bennett (Ben) joined Sandberg Phoenix in 2023 and is a member of the Business practice group. Ben concentrates his practice in estate planning, probate and general business, corporate law and succession planning. He is an Adjunct Professor at the Washington University School of Law in the Master’s of Taxation Program where he teaches a class in Business Succession Planning.
Ben is a frequent lecturer and speaker on estate planning, business succession planning and tax issues. He has authored articles for such publications as the Journal of Taxation, Estate Planning and the St. Louis Business Journal.
Handled tax court controversy - preferred stock recapitalization and family estate freezes;
Worked with many family businesses nationwide regarding business succession and generational planning;
Handled numerous shareholder disputes.
American Bar Association, Real Property, Probate and Trust and Taxation Sections
Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, Probate and Trust Law Steering Committee, Past Chairman
Colorado Bar Association
Estate Planning Council of St. Louis
Illinois State Bar Association
Missouri Bar Association
Missouri Bar Association, Advisory Committee of the Supreme Court of Missouri, Former Panel Member
Missouri Bar Association, Former Durable Power of Attorney Subcommittee Member
Missouri Region X Disciplinary Committee, Former Chair
J.D., University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law
B.S.B.A., University of Missouri-Columbia, cum laude
Colorado
Illinois
Missouri
United States Tax Court
Jonny G Foundation, Founder and Board Member
The Kaufman Fund, Volunteer
Alzheimer Association, Former Board Member
AMC Cancer Research, Former Board Member
Make-A-Wish Foundation, Former Board Member
Missouri Tourism Commission, Board Member, Appointed by Gov. Jay Nixon, 2014 - 2017
The Lupus Foundation, Former Board Member
“Protecting the Next Generation: Succession and Estate Planning for Small/Family-owned Businesses,” Missouri Lawyers Media (September 15, 2020)
Panelist, “Turning Liquidity into Purpose: Developing your plan for the liquidity event and the next chapter of your life,” Smart Business Dealmakers Conference (February 13, 2020)
“Lending to the Family-Owned Business,” Risk Management Association Monthly Meeting (June 2017)
“Obeying the Cardinal Rules: A Practical Guide to Common Ethical Issues," Transportation Law Institute, St. Louis (November 2014)
2012 Annual Update and Open House, St. Louis, MO (November 2012)
“Right to Die After Cruzan,” The Missouri Bar Fall Probate Institute (1990)
“The Probate Tool Box - Federal and Missouri Estate and Income Taxes,” Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (1988)
Co-Author, “Sales, Mortgages, Leases and Exchanges,” Chapter 6 of The Missouri Bar CLE Handbook, Estate Administration
Co-Author, “S Corporations in Missouri,” Professional Education Systems, Inc.
Co-Author, “Planning for the Allocation of Administration Expenses to Income Under Hubert,” Journal of Taxation, Vol. 84, No. 4, (April 1996)
Co-Author, “Hard to Handle Assets in Probate,” The St. Louis Bar Journal, Vol. 1 (Winter 1992)
Co-Author, “IRS Makes It Harder to Use GRITS, But Provides a Safe Harbor to Avoid Gift and Estate Taxes,” Estate Planning, Vol. 17, No. 1 (1990)
Co-Author, “Valuation of Closely Held Business Interests, Current Application of Minority Discount and the Control Premium,” The Journal of Taxation of Estates and Trusts, Vol. 2, No. 3 (Spring 1990)
Co-Author, “Treatment of Estate Freezes Revised by TAMRA, But Many Questions Remain,” Estate Planning, Vol. 16, No. 2 (March/April 1989)
Co-Author, “Deferral Can Still be Combined with Corporate Redemptions to Provide Liquidity, Tax Benefits,” Estate Planning, Vol. 14, No. 5 (1987)