T.J. (Tim) PASSARO - Attorney

Tim is both a CPA and a lawyer. He has been practicing law in St. Joseph since 1977. Prior to that, he was a tax manager in a Big 8 CPA firm. He received his business degree and law degree from the University of Notre Dame.

Tim is admitted to practice law in Michigan, Indiana and Pennsylvania. He is a member of many professional organizations including: Bar Associations (local, state and national), CPA organizations, Estate Planning Councils, and has served as President of the Southwestern Michigan Estate Planning Council and Treasurer of the Notre Dame Estate Planning Institute.

He has taught college courses including: Accounting, Income Taxes, CPA Review, and Business Valuations. Tim has given numerous speeches on taxation, estate planning and business succession matters. He is also involved with many not-for-profit organizations.

Tim's practice focuses upon:

• Estate Planning
• Business Tax Planning
• Business Succession Planning
• Family Wealth Succession Planning
• Charitable Giving
• Buying and Selling Businesses

HOWARD H. KAHNE - Attorney

Howard has been practicing law in St. Joseph since 1982. Prior to attending law school he taught high school social studies for 4 years in New Buffalo, Michigan.

Howard received his B.S. in Education from Central Michigan University (Summa Cum Laude) in 1969, his Law Degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School (Summa Cum Laude) in 1980, and his Masters Degree in Taxation from the University of Miami in 1984.

Howard is a member of many professional organizations including Bar Associations (local, state and national), and Real Estate and Probate Organizations. He is also involved with many youth activities.

He has presented many seminars and has lectured on Income Taxation, Estate Planning, Probate, and Condominium Development matters.

Howard's practice focuses upon:

• Real Estate
• Condominiums
• Probate
• Estate Planning
• Business Tax Planning
• Family Wealth Succession Planning
• Buying and Selling Businesses

WILLIAM E. WESTERBEKE - Attorney

Bill is both a CPA and a lawyer. He practices in all areas of tax law including tax planning for businesses and individuals, estate planning, tax controversies, tax exempt organizations, and tax compliance. Bill advises clients on tax planning and compliance for sophisticated entity structures and strategies, including acquisitions, mergers, and reorganizations. He also provides counsel on tax and business planning for closely held business entities and their owners, ownership succession planning, executive compensation issues, estate planning, and retirement planning.

Bill's background includes experience in public accounting as well as a clerkship at the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting (Beta Alpha Psi) at Michigan State University and a Juris Doctorate at Valparaiso University School of Law (Law Review). Bill is a member of the Chicago Bar Association's Federal Tax, Asset Protection and Trust Law Committees, and currently serves as the chair of Exempt Organizations Division. Bill is also a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, Illinois State CPA Society, and the American Bar Association Tax Committee.

Bill's practice focuses upon:

• Estate Planning
• Family Wealth Succession Planning
• Charitable Giving
• Business Succession Planning
• Business Tax Planning
• Elder Law

SALLY A. TAYLOR - Attorney

Sally has been practicing law in Berrien County since 1998. Sally received her B.A. in English and Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her law degree from Valparaiso University School of Law.

Sally is admitted to practice law in Michigan and Indiana. Sally practices in all areas of real estate law, including residential and commercial transactions, development of real estate, homeowner and cooperative associations and zoning matters.

Sally's practice focuses upon:

• Real Estate
• Condominiums

BRIAN G. HOLT - Attorney

Brian received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Science Pre-Law and Psychology from Michigan State University in 1993 and his Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Notre Dame in 2004. Prior to attending law school Brian worked as Director of Student Services at Lake Michigan Catholic Junior/Senior High School in Saint Joseph, Michigan for four years.

Brian’s background includes extensive training and experience in interpersonal relationships and problem solving. While in law school his course of study focused on Estate Planning, Taxation and Real Estate Transactions.

He enjoys an athletic lifestyle and shares that joy with others through coaching various sports including football, basketball and volleyball.

Brian's practice focuses upon:

• Elder Law
• Estate Planning
• Probate

LORI M. THOMPSON - Attorney

CHRISTINE A. SMITH - Legal Assistant

Chris has worked as a legal secretary/assistant in St. Joseph since 1981. She is a member of the Legal Assistants Section of the Michigan State Bar. Her duties include preparing documentation for probate administration, preparing documentation for conveyance of real estate, and preparing documentation for development of condominium projects.

Chris's practice areas focus upon:

• Real Estate
• Condominiums

BRENDA M. KARSTEN - Legal Assistant

Brenda has worked as a legal secretary/assistant since 1983. She has worked in St. Joseph since 1984 and prior to that time worked in Clayton, Missouri. She graduated with honors from Lake Michigan College with an Associates Degree in Applied Science (Legal Secretary Program). She is a member of the Legal Assistants Section of the Michigan State Bar. Her responsibilities include corporate and LLC entity organization, annual corporate maintenance, and drafting agreements involving the purchase and sale of businesses.

Brenda's practice areas focus upon:

• Business Tax Planning
• Business Succession Planning
• Charitable Giving
• Family Wealth Succession Planning

GRETCHEN M. LIEBERG - Legal Assistant

Gretchen has worked as a legal secretary/assistant in St. Joseph since 1997. She is a member of the Legal Assistants Section of the Michigan State Bar. Gretchen graduated from Indiana University with a B.S. in Education (Magna Cum Laude) in 2001. Her duties include working with clients in developing their estate plans and titling of assets. She is also responsible for many special projects including the implementation of many new technologies at the firm.

Gretchen's practice areas focus upon:

• Estate Planning
• Charitable Giving
• Family Wealth Succession Planning

CAROL BEEBE - Legal Assistant

Carol has worked as a legal secretary/assistant in the St. Joseph area since 1978. She is a member of the Legal Assistants Section of the Michigan State Bar. Her duties include working with clients, preparing estate planning documents, and assisting clients with titling of their assets.

Carol's duties focus upon:

• Estate Planning
• Family Wealth Succession Planning
• Elder Law

ALICE M. BLAKE - Legal Secretary

CANDICE L. CONLEY - Legal Assistant

MICHELE R. ZANDARSKI - Legal Secretary

ELIZABETH J. MURTHA - Legal Secretary