Jim Bownas has practiced for 50 years in the areas of wills, trusts and probate law and business counseling. A graduate of Harvard Law School, he is a frequent speaker at continuing education seminars for lawyers, accountants, and financial advisors. Jim is rated at the highest levels of legal ability and integrity by his peers and has been selected among the Best Lawyers in Central Ohio by Columbus Business First and Columbus CEO magazines. He is admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in Ohio, as well as the United States Tax Court and United States Supreme Court.
Harvard Law School, J.D., 1971
Xavier University, B.S., 1968, cum laude
Corporations and Limited Liability Companies – Nonprofit Organizations
Contracts and Leases – Real Estate Law
Qualified and Nonqualified Benefit Plans – Wills, Trusts and Probates
Income, Estate and Gift Tax – Securities Exemptions
In re: Cardinal Industries, Inc. and Substantively Consolidated Entities, Bankruptcy No. 2-89 02779, United States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. Ohio, Eastern Division.
Supreme Court of Ohio, 1971
United States Tax Court, 1971
United States Supreme Court, 1971
United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio
United States Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Ohio
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
Columbus Bar Association – Member, Estate and Gift Tax Committee
Columbus Bar Association – Member, Business Tax Committee Member, Real Estate Law Committee, Past Chair, Securities Law Committee
Ohio State Bar Association – Member, Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law Section, Past Secretary, Banking, Commercial, and Bankruptcy Law Committee
Catholic Foundation Professional Advisors Group
Better Business Bureau of Central Ohio, Certified Lemon Law Arbitrator
Orange Township Business Association
Friends of the Library
Columbus Bar Foundation
Emerald City Players, Board of Directors
Prep Academy Schools, Board of Directors
Friends of the McCoy Center for the Arts
St. Francis DeSales High School Alumni Association – Chair, Planned Giving Committee
Xavier University Alumni Association, Past President
Ohio Bar Foundation
"Effective Estate Planning for the Small Estate," National Business Institute, 2002
"Family Limited Partnerships and LLCs," National Business Institute, 2002
"Counseling the Small Business," National Business Institute, 2005
"Demystifying Asset Protection Vehicles," National Business Institute, 2005
"Adding Asset Protection to Your Practice," National Business Institute, 2006
"Drafting Effective Wills and Trusts," National Business Institute, 2006
"Drafting LLC and LLP Agreements in Ohio," National Business Institute, 2006
"Estate Planning Fundamentals," Better Investing National Convention, 2006
"Asset Protection Strategies," Central Ohio Estate Planning Council, 2007
"Keeping the 'Fun' in Funerals," Dublin Retirement Village, 2007
"The Amazing ESOP," Financial Planning Summit, 2007
"Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law Certification Review," Columbus Bar Association, 2008
"Is an LLC Right for You," National Business Institute, 2007
"Ohio Estate Planning Fundamentals," National Business Institute, 2004
"Overcoming Title and Bankruptcy Obstacles During Foreclosure," National Business Institute, 2006
"Taxes Affecting a Decedent's Estate," Ohio State Bar Association, 2007 -2011
"Federal and Ohio Estate Taxes," John L. Sauter Memorial Estate Planning Seminar, 2011
"Notary Wars," Columbus Bar Association, 2011
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