Ron Danna is the senior principal and leading transactional attorney for the firm, with a law career spanning over 40 years. Ron represents legal needs of business owners and executives in a variety of industries. Ron’s main focus is closely-held and family-owned businesses, advising his clients on the legal aspects of running and growing a successful business, such as business formation, mergers and acquisitions, and real estate transactions. He also handles the legal needs for many business owners, executives and private clients, providing advice regarding transactions for taxes, trusts, estate plans, and other personal affairs, including international investors.
Mergers and Acquisitions. The sale or purchase of a business takes many forms, but all will have tax implications. With effective planning, Ron and his team of tax attorneys minimize the tax “bite” on these sales, mergers or acquisitions. He has handled numerous transactions in this area and always keeps the client’s personal and tax goals at the forefront when completing these substantial transactions, no matter how small or large they may be.
Closely-held and Family-owned Businesses. Many of Ron’s business clients are small to mid-sized businesses. For these clients, he acts as their “outsourced” general counsel, involved in day-to-day operations and transactions and is just a phone call away. He provides legal guidance on succession planning, tax planning, business growth opportunities, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and business operations – whatever is required to successfully run a business.
Manufacturing. Many of Ron’s clients are manufacturers or distributors. He understands their legal needs and the countless issues these businesses face on a daily basis. Ron works with his clients to develop key strategies for protecting and advancing their operations. He represents both manufacturers and distributors in the production and sale of domestic international products. International Distributor Agreements are complex and impacted by a foreign country’s laws. He has worked on such agreements for sales in many nations.
Estate Planning. Ron’s strong background in tax law enhances his ability to discern his clients’ estate plan needs and create estate plans that avoid probate, minimize taxes, and meet their goals to transfer wealth to the next generation. He helps set up trusts for individuals, and families, guiding them through the formation, funding, administration, and distribution of assets to the beneficiaries. Down streaming wealth to successive generations should be a part of any business person’s estate plan. Ron is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA).
Transportation. Ron has a long history serving the motor carrier business and transportation industry, giving him a deep understanding of the industry’s business operations, regulations, and laws. In addition, Ron has provided legal counsel for a mid-sized fuel hauling company for over 35 years, contributing to the organization as a director on their board for over 25 years.
A proud veteran of the Armed Forces, Ron served as a captain in the United States Army.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
- Italian Club of St. Louis
- LL.M. in Taxation, Washington University School of Law (1974)
- J.D., Washington University School of Law (1964)
- B.S.B.A., University of Dayton (1961)
- Missouri
- U.S. Tax Court
- Transportation Lawyers Association
- International Bar Association
- The Missouri Bar
- Estate Planning Council of St. Louis
- National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
- Ron Danna Honored as a 2020 Top Estate Planning AdvisorRon Danna is named as a SBM 2020 Top Estate Planning Advisor. Read more »
