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John T. Klees

Senior Counsel
fax +1 616.608.1168

John Klees helps individuals and families secure their business and nest egg assets for future generations by developing and implementing wealth preservation strategies, succession plans, and advanced estate and gift tax strategies.

With over 30 years of experience, John serves a diverse client base throughout the state of Michigan and develops and implements wealth preservation strategies, asset protection plans, business succession plans, wills and trusts, and advanced estate and gift tax strategies in such a way as to minimize difficulties, taxes, and expenses.

John’s primary emphasis is in pre-death business and estate/succession planning, to help clients and their families avoid disputes and litigation down the road. He also assists surviving family members in post-death estate and trust administration, again with an emphasis to avoid disputes and litigation. But when disputes are unavoidable, John represents surviving family members, in their fiduciary capacity (as trustee) or as beneficiaries, to ensure that good, fair and “right” results are obtained in litigation.

Education

LL.M., New York University School of Law, New York City, New York
J.D., cum laude, Michigan State University College of Law, East Lansing, Michigan
B.A., University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky

Recognitions

Named a Leading Lawyer in Grand Rapids by Leading Lawyers℠ (2014-2024)

Memberships

American Bar Association, Taxation and Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Sections

Grand Rapids Bar Association

State Bar of Michigan, Taxation and Probate & Estate Planning Sections

West Michigan Estate Planning Council, Member and (past) Director

State Bar Licenses

Michigan

Court Admissions

U.S. Tax Court