Current Employment Position(s)

Partner

Lawyer Overview

My practice centers around business and estate planning, probate and tax issues. I handle complex development work as well as mergers and acquisitions. I have litigated tax issues at every level. I also represent many of the local school districts in our area.

There are many large farms and manufacturing concerns in our community, and estate planning and business planning can get quite sophisticated. I am proud that I am able to recommend and use simple and inexpensive tools as well as complex techniques as may be required by the situation.

I have advised clients everywhere in the Midwest and my practice takes me throughout the United States. However my roots are in local soil. My father and grandfather owned and operated grain elevators in the Red River Valley. Our family has made many friends in the area and I'm pleased to be able to work with them and others who need legal services.

My wife, Ann, and I have four children - Kelly, Kathleen, Kierann and Conor. Ann is originally from Wahpeton, and I grew up a few miles from here in Campbell, Minnesota. We are an active family, and most days you can find us enjoying the outdoors with our two golden retrievers.

West Practice Categories

, Contracts, Business Organizations, Formation & Business Planning, Limited Liability Companies, Mergers & Acquisitions, Partnerships, Reorganizations, Education Law, Estate Planning, Living Wills, Powers of Attorney and Appointment, Trusts, Wills, Probate & Estate Administration, Taxation Law, Corporate Taxation, Estate & Gift Taxation, Income Taxation

Bar Admissions

• North Dakota, 1977
• U.S. Supreme Court, 1985
• U.S. Tax Court
• U.S. District Court District of North Dakota

Professional Associations and Memberships

• North Dakota Bar Association (Member)
• American Bar Association (Member)
• Southeast Judicial District Bar Association (Member)
• Richland County Bar Association (President)
• North Dakota State Board of Higher Education, 2005 - Present
• North Dakota State Board of Higher Education, 2007 - 2008 (Vice President)
• North Dakota State Board of Higher Education, 2008 - 2009 (President)
• North Dakota Attorney Disciplinary Board, 1995 - 2001 (Member and Past Chairman)
• North Dakota Inquiry Committee, 1987 - 1993 (Member)
• North Dakota Inquiry Committee, 2001 - 2007 (Member)
• North Dakota State College of Science Foundation Board (Member, Board of Directors)
• North Dakota State College of Science Foundation Board (Past President)
• North Dakota Council of School Attorneys, 1986 (Past President)
• St. Francis Medical Center, Breckenridge, Minnesota, 1984 - 1994 (Member, Board of Directors)

Honors and Awards

• "AV" rated by Martindale Hubbell

Education

• Creighton University School of Law, Omaha, Nebraska, 1977
  J.D.
• Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, 1974
  B.S.B.A.

Address

PO Box 38
321 Dakota Ave
Wahpeton, ND 58074

Phones

(701) 642-2668

Faxes

(701) 642-4729

Emails

Contact Us

Websites

http://www.smithstrege.com