Steven St. L. Cox

Steve focuses his practice on estate planning, family business succession planning, probate matters, estate and trust administration, charitable planning/nonprofit institutions, trust and estate litigation and business and tax matters. He represents individuals and business clients in a wide range of tax, estate, and succession planning matters.

Experience

• Developing multi-generational wealth and family business transfer plans
• Tax and succession planning for closely held businesses and business owners
• Sophisticated estate tax planning with GRATs, ILITs, QPRTs, grantor trusts, and discounted entities
• Lifetime wealth preservation planning for individuals and professionals, including planning using domestic asset protections trusts
• Charitable planning using trusts, private foundations, and public charities
• Preparation and defense of estate and gift tax returns
• Drafting and negotiating premarital agreements
• Representing individual and corporate trustees with respect to trust interpretation, distribution of assets, operations, trust modification and trust litigation
• Representing trust beneficiaries with respect to distribution of assets, beneficial rights, trust modification, trust litigation and claims of breach of fiduciary duties

Services

• Estate Planning
• Wealth Transfer & Succession Planning
• Tax Law
• Corporate & Transactional
• Probate, Trust & Guardianship Litigation

1. The University of Akron, Master of Taxation, College of Business Administration
2. The University of Akron School of Law, J.D.
3. The Ohio State University, B.A., Economics

Bar Admissions

1. Ohio

Court Admissions

1. U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
2. U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
3. U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
4. U.S. Tax Court

• Recipient of the Dr. Frank L. Simonetti Distinguished Business Alumni Award, University of Akron College of Business Administration (2018)
• Named the Litigation - Trusts & Estates "Lawyer of the Year" in Akron by The Best Lawyers in America® (2014, 2016, 2018, 2020)
• Named to The Best Lawyers in America® for Trusts and Estates (2007-2024); Litigation - Trusts & Estates (2012-2024)
• Named Akron, OH "Lawyer of the Year" by The Best Lawyers in America® for Trusts and Estates (2021)
• Recognized as an "Akron Top Lawyer" by Akron Life Magazine (2010-2024)
• Recognized as one of the "Best Lawyers in Northeast Ohio" by the Cleveland Plain Dealer (2016)
• Selected as an "Ohio Super Lawyers - Rising Star" by Ohio Super Lawyers magazine (2005 & 2006)
• Leadership Akron, Class XVIII (2001-2002)

Professional Affiliations

• Akron Tax and Estate Planning Council
• Cleveland Estate Planning Council
• The University of Akron Foundation, Gift and Estate Planning Committee
• Summa Health Charles Deering Legacy Advisor Leadership Council
• Akron Zoo Gift Planning Council
• American Bar Association
• Ohio State Bar Association
• Akron Bar Association, Board of Trustees (2006-2009)
  • Business and Corporate Law Committee, Past Chairman and current Member
  • Taxation Committee, Probate Law Section and Grievance Committee

Community Affiliations

• Humane Society of Summit County, Past Chair and Current Member - Board of Directors
• Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens, Past Chair and Current Member - Board of Directors
• Embracing Futures, Past Chair and Current Member - Board of Directors
• Summa Foundation, Member - Board of Directors
• University of Akron Foundation, Member - Board of Directors
• Bluecoats of Summit County, Member - Board of Directors
• Akron Community Foundation, Past Chair - Board of Directors
• Children's Family Care, Past Chair - Board of Directors
• Boys & Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve, Past Secretary - Board of Directors
• Greater Akron Musical Society (Akron Symphony), Past Member - Board of Directors
• Leave A Legacy Summit/Portage/Medina, Cabinet Member