George S. Holzapfel  Principal

Education

• Bachelor of Arts (Economics), 1973, University of Washington 
• Master of Business Administration (Finance/Accounting), 1977, University of Washington
• Juris Doctor (Law), 1977, University of Washington
• Honors include cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa awards. 
• Awarded the Distinguished Teaching Award, 1982, Golden Gate University Graduate School of Tax

Representative Cases

• Formation, Operation and Liquidation of Businesses—George has assisted in the formation and reorganization of hundreds of businesses. He puts significant focus on well-drafted buy/sell provisions in shareholders agreements, partnership agreements and similar documents in an effort to minimize time consuming and expensive disputes among co-owners of businesses. George also has experience in the negotiation and structuring of real estate partnerships, limited partnerships, limited liability companies, joint ventures and other agreements. 
• Purchases and Sales of Businesses—George has participated in several hundred purchases and sales of businesses, representing purchasers as well as sellers. These have taken a wide variety of forms, including sales of assets, sales of stock, “boot strap” redemptions, leveraged buy-outs, mergers and other reorganizations. Besides the actual legal documents, George emphasizes strategy and negotiation to arrive at the best possible result for his clients. Significant tax planning is a critical part of these transactions, and George’s goal is to save more in taxes for his clients than the cost of the legal fees for the transaction. 
• Succession Planning for Businesses—As an attorney for many private businesses, George has developed and implemented many succession plans and other plans of reorganization to facilitate the transfer of ownership and control from one generation to the next. These transactions require careful attention to corporate, estate planning, tax and other areas of law. George strives to structure these transactions to achieve the goals of the parties while at the same time laying the legal foundation for the successful continuation of the business itself. 
• Executive Compensation—George’s experience in this area includes drafting detailed employment agreements for executives and other employees, sometimes with covenants not to compete, trade secret provisions and “no employee hire” clauses. His related work often involves executive compensation planning, including stock options, stock appreciation rights, non-qualified deferred compensation planning, qualified retirement plans and phantom stock rights. 
• Representation of Minority Shareholders/Partners—Using a specialized list of techniques developed from experience combined with academic teaching, George regularly represents minority partners in partnerships and limited liability companies, and minority shareholders in corporations, in an effort to provide the legal framework to give them adequate ownership, voting and compensation protections. 
• Estate Planning and Probate—George’s experience includes sophisticated estate planning, involving preparation of wills and trusts, charitable and family gifts, private foundations, family limited liability companies, as well as revocable living trusts and guardianships. He has handled the legal administration of many large and small estates, giving special consideration to post-mortem planning, and tax return preparation and filing. 

Bar Admissions

• United States Tax Court 
• United States District Court for the Western District of Washington 
• Washington State Bar Association (Probate and Trust Committee Section member) 

Publications

• Right-to-Die Options Allowed Under State Law
• In Some Trusts, the Heirs Must Work for the Money, The New York Times, Sunday, January 29, 2006
• Personal Liability of Corporate Officers and Directors: A Short Compilation, Business Law Newsletter of Washington State Bar Association, Vol. 14, No. 2
• Successor Products Liability in Sale of Asset Transactions, Business Law Newsletter Corporate Law Section of Washington State Bar Association
• Durable Power of Attorney is a Guardianship Alternative, Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce

Professional & Civic

• Named AV (highest) rated lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory for more than 25 years 
• Named “Super Lawyer” in Washington Law & Politics magazine every year since the inception of the award 
• Lecturer for continuing legal education seminars for the Washington State Bar Association, the Washington CPA Society, the Attorney-CPA Tax Clinic, the University of Washington School of Law and other organizations 
• Faculty member for the University of Washington (Paralegal Extension Program) from 1985 to 1990
• Faculty member for the Golden Gate University Graduate School of Tax (Seattle Branch) from 1982 to 1992
• President of Hawthorne Hills Community Club (1987-1988) and as trustee (1983 to present) 
• Active in other community organizations