News
Meredith K. Sugar
- E msugar@taftlaw.com
- T (614) 334-6147
- T (937) 245-6859
- F (614) 221-2007
Summary
Meredith’s practice is focused in the area of sophisticated wealth transfer, estate planning and administration, tax planning for individuals, corporations and partnerships, business succession planning and general corporate representation. She frequently advises high wealth individuals on how best to structure and implement wealth transfer and estate planning vehicles such as GRATs, dynasty trusts, family limited partnership and limited liability companies. She also represents estates, businesses and individuals in IRS audits. She regularly forms and advises nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations.
In addition to her estate planning and tax practice, Meredith also advises business owners regarding structuring complex transactions, entity formation, succession planning, mergers and acquisitions and other corporate needs. She has developed a special focus on representing business owners who are involved in the development, installation and construction of energy facilities, as well as oil and gas leasing and development transactions. She frequently collaborates with members of the firm’s Environmental practice.
Representative Experience
- Representation of estates, businesses and individuals before Internal Revenue Service and Ohio Department of Taxation regarding tax issues
- Negotiation and sale of company stock and assets
- Negotiation of oil and gas leasing transactions
- Buy-sell agreements and corporate representation
- Counseling on selection and structuring of various types of entities, including Family Limited Partnerships & LLCs
- Business Succession Planning
- Representation of renewable energy developers, installers and financiers
- Nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations
Other Professional Experience
- Associate, Vorys Sater Seymour & Pease (1999-2007)
- Former Adjunct Professor of Mathematics, Columbus State Community College
- Former land/lease/legal analyst, Belden & Blake Corporation
Awards
Honoree, Best Lawyers in America, Trust and Estates (2021 – present)
“Top Lawyers” Honoree, Columbus CEO (2015)
Community Service Award Honoree, Ohio State Bar Foundation District 7 (2011)
Forty Under 40 Honoree, Business First (2010)
Community Service Award Honoree, Columbus Bar Association (2010)
Honoree, Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Stars (2009, 2013)
National Mathematics Honorary, Pi Mu Epsilon
Presidential Mathematics Award Honoree, The Ohio State University
CALI Award, Moritz College of Law, Commercial Law
All Service Areas
All Practices
- Corporate Governance
- Project Finance
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Private Client
- Business Succession Planning
- Estate Planning
- Wealth Transfer Litigation
- Family Office Practice
- Personal Tax Planning
- Probate and Trust Administration
- Transactional Tax and Tax Planning
- Women, Minority and Veteran-Owned Businesses
- Nonprofit and Tax-Exempt Organizations
All Industries
Education
- The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law (1999)
with honors
- The Ohio State University, M. Ed. (1996)
- The Ohio State University, B.S. in Mathematics (1995)
Admissions
- State - Ohio
Speeches and Publications
- Speaker, “Estate Planning, Wealth Transfer and Business Succession Planning,” Delaware County Foundation, May 2019
- Speaker, “Estate Planning,” St. Vincent de Paul Society, 2018
- Speaker, “Wealth Transfer,” Conway Center for Family Business, 2017
- Author, “Ohio’s New Asset Protection Trusts: Leaving a Legacy,” Columbus CEO, August 2014
- Speaker, “Tax Implications of Health Care Reform,” Ohio Manufacturer’s Association, September 2010; HRACO, October 2011
- Author, “Renewable Energy Project ITC, Grant Extended by 2010 Tax Act,” Chester WS Newsletter, Vol. 1, 2011
- Speaker, Author, “Nonprofit Tax Advice in the Wake of the Return Preparer Penalty Standards,” ALI-ABA’s The Practical Tax Lawyer, Winter 2010
- Author, “Ohio General Assembly Reforms Renewable & Advanced Energy Tax Policy,” Client Bulletin, June 2010
- Speaker, “Advanced Energy Tax Credits,” Nonprofit Advocate Institute, May 2010
- Speaker, “Endowments,” Western Conference of United Methodist Church, March 2010
- Author, “Recent Donor Intent Litigation,” Washington Legal Foundation, Spring 2009
News
Three Hundred Sixty-Three Taft Attorneys Recognized in Best Lawyers in America® 2025 News
Three Hundred Six Taft Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in Best Lawyers in America® 2024 News
Two Hundred and Forty-Three Taft Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in Best Lawyers in America® 2023 News
232 Taft Attorneys Selected for Inclusion in Best Lawyers in America® 2022
Past Events
Professional Affiliations
- Columbus Bar Association
Member, Trusts and Estates Committee
Member, Nonprofit Committee
Member, Business Law Committee
Recipient, 2010 Service Award - Ohio Oil and Gas Association
Member
- Ohio State Bar Foundation
Fellow, Class of 2011
Recipient, 2012 Service Award - Columbus Bar Foundation
Fellow
- Conway Center for Family Business
Service Provider
- The Entrepreneurship Institute
Past Member
- Women Lawyers of Franklin County
Member
Community Involvement
- U.S. Joint Committee on Infant Hearing
Member
- National Easterseals, Chicago, Illinois
Member, Board of Directors
- Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Washington, D.C.
Past President, Board of Directors
- Easterseals of Central and Southeast Ohio
Past President, Board of Directors
- CLAVE Caring for Hearing Impairment, London, England
Member, Board of Directors
- Fundación Oír es Clave – Centros de Atención Temprana en Deficiencia Auditiva, Madrid, Spain
Member, Board of Directors
- Nationwide Children's Hospital
Member, Parent Advisory Board
- First Congregational Church Columbus
Past Trustee
Past Secretary - The Catholic Foundation, Columbus
Past Member, Professional Advisors Group
- U.S. Joint Committee on Infant Hearing
Member