Les Raatz
Litigation - Trusts and Estates
Litigation - Trusts and Estates
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Les Raatz is an attorney practicing primarily in the areas of estate planning, probate and trust administration, entity structuring, taxation, charitable organizations, commercial organizations, and commercial transactions. Mr. Raatz has significant experience representing hundreds of business clients and their families in connection with estate and tax planning. He has been an author and speaker at numerous seminars on areas of income and estate and gift taxation, selection of business entities, and buying and selling businesses.Mr. Raatz graduated with high honors from the University of Illinois with a B.S. in Accountancy in 1974. He received his law degree from the University of Illinois in 1977. He is a licensed attorney in Texas and Arizona. After graduation from law school he practiced as a Certified Public Accountant with KPMG Peat Marwick, CPAs. Since that time, he has practiced law in Texas before becoming a shareholder with Mariscal, Weeks, McIntyre & Friedlander, P.A. in 1986. Mr. Raatz has extensive experience in a broad range of tax, probate and trust matters, including estate planning, audits and litigation, and corporate, trust, exempt organizations, real estate, and partnership and limited liability company taxation.Mr. Raatz is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) and is listed in Best Lawyers in America in fields of Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. He is certified as a Tax Specialist by the Board of Legal Specialization of the State Bar of Arizona. He was President of the Central Arizona Estate Planning Council, Chair of the Probate and Trust Law Section of the State Bar of Arizona, Chair of its Arizona Trust Code Comment Committee, and Chair of the Tax Advisory Commission for the Board of Legal Specialization. He is a member of the Taxation Section of the American Bar Association, and the Taxation and Probate and Real Property Sections of the State Bar of Arizona, and was a member of the Probate Rules Committee of the Arizona Supreme Court.He is a Director of the Phoenix Arizona Chapter of the Junior Diabetes Research Foundation. Les Raatz is an attorney practicing primarily in the areas of estate planning, probate and trust administration, entity structuring, taxation, charitable organizations, commercial organizations, and commercial transactions. Mr. Raatz has significant experience representing hundreds of business clients and their families in connection with estate and tax planning. He has been an author and speaker at numerous seminars on areas of income and estate and gift taxation, selection of business entities, and buying and selling businesses.Mr. Raatz graduated with high honors from the University of Illinois with a B.S. in Accountancy in 1974. He received his law degree from the University of Illinois in 1977. He is a licensed attorney in Texas and Arizona. After graduation from law school he practiced as a Certified Public Accountant with KPMG Peat Marwick, CPAs. Since that time, he has practiced law in Texas before becoming a shareholder with Mariscal, Weeks, McIntyre & Friedlander, P.A. in 1986. Mr. Raatz has extensive experience in a broad range of tax, probate and trust matters, including estate planning, audits and litigation, and corporate, trust, exempt organizations, real estate, and partnership and limited liability company taxation.Mr. Raatz is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) and is listed in Best Lawyers in America in fields of Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. He is certified as a Tax Specialist by the Board of Legal Specialization of the State Bar of Arizona. He was President of the Central Arizona Estate Planning Council, Chair of the Probate and Trust Law Section of the State Bar of Arizona, Chair of its Arizona Trust Code Comment Committee, and Chair of the Tax Advisory Commission for the Board of Legal Specialization. He is a member of the Taxation Section of the American Bar Association, and the Taxation and Probate and Real Property Sections of the State Bar of Arizona, and was a member of the Probate Rules Committee of the Arizona Supreme Court.He is a Director of the Phoenix Arizona Chapter of the Junior Diabetes Research Foundation. Les Raatz is an attorney practicing primarily in the areas of estate planning, probate and trust administration, entity structuring, taxation, charitable organizations, commercial organizations, and commercial transactions. Mr. Mr. Raatz is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) and is listed in Best Lawyers in America in fields of Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. He is certified as a Tax Specialist by the Board of Legal Specialization of the State Bar of Arizona. He was President of the Central Arizona Estate Planning Council, Chair of the Probate and Trust Law Section of the State Bar of Arizona, Chair of its Arizona Trust Code Comment Committee, and Chair of the Tax Advisory Commission for the Board of Legal Specialization. He is a member of the Taxation Section of the American Bar Association, and the Taxation and Probate and Real Property Sections of the State Bar of Arizona, and was a member of the Probate Rules Committee of the Arizona Supreme Court. He is a Director of the Phoenix Arizona Chapter of the Junior Diabetes Research Foundation.
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2008
Nicholas Cook
We engaged Les Raatz at Dickinson Wright to help our family navigate the administration of a complex, multi-generational trust after my father's passing. With his 48 years of experience, particularly in trusts and estates, we felt immediately confident in his counsel. He expertly guided us through the probate process, clarified intricate tax implications, and provided clear, strategic advice on restructuring some of the entity holdings within the trust. His deep knowledge, honed over decades, was evident in every conversation, and it's no surprise he's been recognized multiple times as a 'Lawyer of the Year' in Phoenix for this very practice area. Les is a consummate professional who treats clients with respect and patience. The only minor critique would be that during particularly busy periods, response times from his office could occasionally slow, but his associate was always helpful. Overall, his meticulous approach saved our family significant stress and ensured everything was handled correctly. We are deeply grateful for his expertise.