The firm’s practice is devoted to providing legal services to entities and individuals in all aspects of the personal and business endeavors. For more information about our various areas of expertise please explore the categories below. [toggle title=”Health Care Law”] Our health care law practice focuses on the laws as they affect physicians, physician practices and other providers. The members of the firm have many years experience in the representation of physician’s legal needs. We advise our clients on participation in Medicare and Medicaid programs, assist with corporate structuring and organization, and counsel clients regarding the business and commercial relationships in the context of federal and state fraud and abuse laws, confidentiality laws and state licensure and professional practice laws. We have represented physician groups in merger transactions and joint ventures with local hospitals and other medical service providers. The firm has been actively involved in designing and planning the merger of physician practices, the formation of multi-specialty groups, the formation of IPAs and strategic planning for physician practices.[/toggle] [toggle title=”Corporate, Business, and Tax Law”] Van Meer & Belanger offers legal advice for the business owner, from structuring a purchase and sale transaction to answering day to day legal questions. We assist in mergers and acquisitions and other business and joint ventures. We advise clients on the federal tax laws affecting their business transactions. We are involved in negotiating and drafting most documents which our clients need in their daily operations, including employment agreements, noncompetition agreements and confidentiality agreements. The firm handles all types of business entities, including C and S corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, limited partnerships and limited liability partnerships and strives to educate clients as to the best type of entity for a client’s particular purpose. We represent our clients in tax controversies before the Internal Revenue Service and have tried tax cases in the U.S. Tax Court and Federal District Courts. We assist accountants and other lawyers in contested tax matters. We also act as expert witnesses in trials on matters of corporate, tax and business law.[/toggle] [toggle title=”Trusts and Estates”] Van Meer & Belanger handles all aspects of estate planning and probate law. We prepare all types of estate planning documents, including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, health care powers of attorney and prenuptial agreements. Our attorneys have many years of experience in the areas of gift and estate tax planning, generation-skipping transfer tax planning, and charitable giving. We have long-standing relationships with several local financial planners, accountants and banks, and work with these other professionals to provide clients with integrated and efficient estate planning services. Attorneys in our office often serve as personal representatives of client’s estates or trustees for client’s trusts. We also prepare estate and trust tax returns.[/toggle] [toggle title=”Real Estate Law”] Van Meer & Belanger assists in all aspects of real estate and commercial transactions, including advising clients on the acquisition, construction, financing, leasing, and sale of industrial, commercial and residential real estate. We represent borrowers and negotiate the structure and documentation of financing transactions. We also negotiate and draft commercial leases.[/toggle] [toggle title=”ERISA and Employee Benefits”] Van Meer & Belanger represents clients in all aspects of employee benefits laws. We assist clients in the creation, operation and termination of tax-qualified retirement plans, deferred compensation plans and welfare benefit plans. Our attorneys have extensive experience in obtaining federal approval of plans and plan transactions. We advise clients on compliance with ERISA and Internal Revenue Code regulations. The firm sponsors its own form of prototype retirement plan which clients may elect to use when adopting 401(k) plans, profit sharing plans and money purchase pension plans.[/toggle]