David W. Woodburn
Shareholder
1375 East Ninth Street
One Cleveland Center, 10th Floor
Cleveland, OH 44114
P 216.820.4234
F 216.623.0134
P 216.820.4234 | F 216.623.0134
Overview
Dave’s practice is primarily focused in the area of estate planning law, with an emphasis on business succession and asset protection planning. Dave represents professionals and closely held business owners and counsels them in developing plans designed to reduce estate tax exposure and maximize wealth preservation for desired heirs. He works to make sure each client’s plan is personalized to reflect his or her personal goals.
Dave also deals with many facets of probate litigation and inheritance controversies, including will contests, trust challenges, undue influence, and breach of fiduciary duty claims. He routinely handles trust and estate administrations and assists individuals in modifying and reforming irrevocable trusts that no longer comport with the individuals’ desired goals.
Dave has served as guardian of person and estate for individuals in the past and has represented family members who seek to either impose a guardianship or challenge a third-party seeking to obtain guardianship over another.
A large portion of Dave's practice centers on real estate transactions and advising individual homeowners and businesses entering into sales agreements and dealing with residential and commercial issues such as easements, property restrictions and related disputes. He is also a frequent speaker on Estate Planning issues on behalf of various local charities and financial institutions.
Services
Education
- The University of Akron School of Law, J.D.
- The University of Akron College of Business Administration, M.B.A.
- Miami University, B.S.
Credentials
Bar Admissions
- Ohio
Recognitions
- Named to The Best Lawyers in America® for Real Estate Law (2007-2024); Trust and Estates (2007-2024); and Litigation - Trusts and Estates (2024)
- Selected as an "Ohio Super Lawyer" by Ohio Super Lawyers magazine (2012-2020)
- Crain’s Cleveland Business "40 under Forty" award recipient
- Greater Akron Chamber "30 for the Future Award" award recipient (2010)
- Leadership Akron, Class XXII
Affiliations
Professional Affiliations
- Akron Bar Association
- Estate Planning, Probate & Elder Law Section, Member
- Probate Law Section, Past President
- Scholarship Committee, Past Member
- Ohio State Bar Association
- Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, Member
- Young Lawyers Section, Past Board of Governors
- American Bar Association, Past Member
- Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, Past Member
- Young Lawyers Section and Sports & Entertainment Section, Past Member
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
Community Affiliations
- Stewart’s Caring Place (Akron), Past Trustee
- Habitat for Humanity of Summit County, Emeritus Trustee and Past President
- Akron Tax & Estate Planning Council, Past President
- First United Methodist Church of Akron, Past Trustee
- Community Health Center Foundation, Past Trustee
- Ohio Presbyterian Retirement Services Foundation, Past Trustee
- Rockynol Local Board, Past President and Past Trustee
- Greenleaf Family Center, Past Trustee
- St. Hilary School Board, Past President and Past Trustee
Insights
Alerts
New Federal Law to Create Reporting Requirements for Most U.S. Entities (Dec 7, 2023)
IRS Issues Inflation Adjustments for 2024 (Nov 13, 2023)
Saving for College While Also Saving for…Retirement? (Oct 10, 2023)
Rising Inflation Affects Ceilings on Retirement Contributions, Transfer Tax Credits and Income Tax Brackets for 2023 (Oct 25, 2022)
What You Should Know About Proposed Estate Tax Law Changes (Sep 7, 2021)
Articles
Avoiding Common Property Ownership Issues - Properties Magazine (2016)
Do Your Due Diligence - Properties Magazine (2014)
Asset Protection Opportunity for Physicians - MD News Magazine (2013)
Asset Protection for Developers/Builders - Properties Magazine (July 2013)
New Estate Planning Concerns in Light of Recent Tax Changes (co-author) - Aspatore Books (2013)
Presentations
"Creating Your Legacy During a Time of Inflation and Economic Uncertainty" - Cleveland Museum of Natural History (January 2023)
"Business Succession Planning Breakout Session" - Panelist - Smart Business DealMakers Conference (2020)
"Estate Planning Myths: Fact or Fiction?" (2019)
"Modifying & Decanting Irrevocable Trusts" - Cuyahoga Metropolitan Bar Association Probate Section (2017)
"Employee Drug & Alcohol Testing and Background Checks" - The Alternative Board #200 and 201 (2017)
Firm News
Roetzel & Andress Earns Recognition in 2024 Best Lawyers (Aug 17, 2023)
Roetzel Attorneys Recognized in 2023 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America® (Aug 18, 2022)
74 Roetzel Attorneys Named 2022 Best Lawyers in America®; 18 Recognized as Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (Aug 19, 2021)
Shareholder David Woodburn Featured in Smart Business DealMakers Magazine (January 2021)
Seventy Roetzel Attorneys Named to 2021 The Best Lawyers in America© List; Ten Named “Lawyer of the Year” (Aug 20, 2020)
Services
- Estate Planning
- Wealth Transfer & Succession Planning
- Probate & Trust Administration
- Corporate & Transactional
- Real Estate
- Probate, Trust & Guardianship Litigation
Overview
Dave’s practice is primarily focused in the area of estate planning law, with an emphasis on business succession and asset protection planning. Dave represents professionals and closely held business owners and counsels them in developing plans designed to reduce estate tax exposure and maximize wealth preservation for desired heirs. He works to make sure each client’s plan is personalized to reflect his or her personal goals.
Dave also deals with many facets of probate litigation and inheritance controversies, including will contests, trust challenges, undue influence, and breach of fiduciary duty claims. He routinely handles trust and estate administrations and assists individuals in modifying and reforming irrevocable trusts that no longer comport with the individuals’ desired goals.
Dave has served as guardian of person and estate for individuals in the past and has represented family members who seek to either impose a guardianship or challenge a third-party seeking to obtain guardianship over another.
A large portion of Dave's practice centers on real estate transactions and advising individual homeowners and businesses entering into sales agreements and dealing with residential and commercial issues such as easements, property restrictions and related disputes. He is also a frequent speaker on Estate Planning issues on behalf of various local charities and financial institutions.
Education
- The University of Akron School of Law, J.D.
- The University of Akron College of Business Administration, M.B.A.
- Miami University, B.S.
Credentials
Bar Admissions
- Ohio
Recognitions
- Named to The Best Lawyers in America® for Real Estate Law (2007-2024); Trust and Estates (2007-2024); and Litigation - Trusts and Estates (2024)
- Selected as an "Ohio Super Lawyer" by Ohio Super Lawyers magazine (2012-2020)
- Crain’s Cleveland Business "40 under Forty" award recipient
- Greater Akron Chamber "30 for the Future Award" award recipient (2010)
- Leadership Akron, Class XXII
Affiliations
Professional Affiliations
- Akron Bar Association
- Estate Planning, Probate & Elder Law Section, Member
- Probate Law Section, Past President
- Scholarship Committee, Past Member
- Ohio State Bar Association
- Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, Member
- Young Lawyers Section, Past Board of Governors
- American Bar Association, Past Member
- Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, Past Member
- Young Lawyers Section and Sports & Entertainment Section, Past Member
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
Community Affiliations
- Stewart’s Caring Place (Akron), Past Trustee
- Habitat for Humanity of Summit County, Emeritus Trustee and Past President
- Akron Tax & Estate Planning Council, Past President
- First United Methodist Church of Akron, Past Trustee
- Community Health Center Foundation, Past Trustee
- Ohio Presbyterian Retirement Services Foundation, Past Trustee
- Rockynol Local Board, Past President and Past Trustee
- Greenleaf Family Center, Past Trustee
- St. Hilary School Board, Past President and Past Trustee
Insights
Alerts
New Federal Law to Create Reporting Requirements for Most U.S. Entities (Dec 7, 2023)
IRS Issues Inflation Adjustments for 2024 (Nov 13, 2023)
Saving for College While Also Saving for…Retirement? (Oct 10, 2023)
Rising Inflation Affects Ceilings on Retirement Contributions, Transfer Tax Credits and Income Tax Brackets for 2023 (Oct 25, 2022)
What You Should Know About Proposed Estate Tax Law Changes (Sep 7, 2021)
Articles
Avoiding Common Property Ownership Issues - Properties Magazine (2016)
Do Your Due Diligence - Properties Magazine (2014)
Asset Protection Opportunity for Physicians - MD News Magazine (2013)
Asset Protection for Developers/Builders - Properties Magazine (July 2013)
New Estate Planning Concerns in Light of Recent Tax Changes (co-author) - Aspatore Books (2013)
Presentations
"Creating Your Legacy During a Time of Inflation and Economic Uncertainty" - Cleveland Museum of Natural History (January 2023)
"Business Succession Planning Breakout Session" - Panelist - Smart Business DealMakers Conference (2020)
"Estate Planning Myths: Fact or Fiction?" (2019)
"Modifying & Decanting Irrevocable Trusts" - Cuyahoga Metropolitan Bar Association Probate Section (2017)
"Employee Drug & Alcohol Testing and Background Checks" - The Alternative Board #200 and 201 (2017)
Firm News
Roetzel & Andress Earns Recognition in 2024 Best Lawyers (Aug 17, 2023)
Roetzel Attorneys Recognized in 2023 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America® (Aug 18, 2022)
74 Roetzel Attorneys Named 2022 Best Lawyers in America®; 18 Recognized as Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (Aug 19, 2021)
Shareholder David Woodburn Featured in Smart Business DealMakers Magazine (January 2021)
Seventy Roetzel Attorneys Named to 2021 The Best Lawyers in America© List; Ten Named “Lawyer of the Year” (Aug 20, 2020)