February 9, 2021 – Ulmer & Berne LLP is proud to announce that Partner Frederick N. Widen has been elected as a Fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel (the “College”), a professional organization comprised of America’s best tax attorneys.
Membership in the College is an honor reserved for those at the top of their chosen profession who are recognized for their extraordinary accomplishments, professional achievements, and dedication to improving the practice of tax law. Fellows are nominated by their peers and membership is limited to a maximum of 700 tax attorneys across the United States.
“We are thrilled that the American College of Tax Counsel has recognized Fred for his notable contributions to the practice of tax law,” said Patricia A. Shlonsky, Partner-in-Charge of Ulmer’s Cleveland office and Group Leader of the firm’s Employee Benefits and Tax Practice Groups. “Fred is an outstanding attorney who demonstrates incredible skill in this field as he assists clients and colleagues, and we congratulate him on this very significant achievement.”
Widen concentrates his practice on representing businesses, real estate developers, private equity companies, and other clients in taxation, real estate, business, and succession matters. He has extensive experience in income, estate, gift, sales, property, and criminal tax matters on the international, federal, state, and local levels. Widen assists clients in structuring business acquisitions and dispositions, Section 1031 exchanges and entity and asset transfers, as well as in preparing sophisticated business governance documents, including partnership, operating, joint venture, and shareholder agreements. He is a certified specialist of Federal Taxation Law by the Ohio State Bar Association.
Widen is a frequent writer and speaker on timely and complex tax law matters including Section 1031 exchanges, S corporations, qualified opportunity zones, and the tax implications of the coronavirus relief bill and Paycheck Protection Program. He has also been active in the community throughout his career, including serving in leadership roles for the Shaker Schools Foundation, Northeast Ohio Health Services, the Cleveland-Marshall Law Alumni Association, and Suburban Temple. Often honored for his legal skill, Widen has earned recognition as one of the Top 100 attorneys in the state of Ohio and Top 50 attorneys in Cleveland by Ohio Super Lawyers and has been named to The Best Lawyers in America© for Tax Law and Litigation & Controversy – Tax, Trusts & Estates every year since 2005.
Founded in 1981, the College provides a venue for its Fellows to work together to promote sound tax policy and to engage in thoughtful discussion with the government about matters affecting the tax system. As part of its mission to improve the tax system, the College strives to elevate professional standards in the practice of tax law, stimulate skills development and knowledge through participation in continuing legal education programs and seminars, provide input by the tax bar into the development of tax laws, and facilitate the scholarly discussion and examination of tax policy issues.