Richard W. Schroeder, Attorney

Dick has been practicing law in Minnesota and Wisconsin for over 36 years since graduating from the George Washington University National Law School in 1969. While in law school, Dick served as Legislative Assistant and Constituent Case Worker for Congressman Vernon W. Thomson, Third District, Wisconsin.

He has been with the Hale Skemp law firm for 16 years and focuses on transactional law, including business law, real estate law, elder law, and estate planning law and probate. He was General Counsel for Gateway Foods, Inc. and the related business entities for over 15 years, gaining experience and familiarity with virtually all areas of business law. He is highly respected by his peers in dealing with large complex estate plans and is a frequent speaker at seminars dealing with various aspects of estate planning. He is a member of the La Crosse County Estate Planning Council and is also a member of the Society of Financial Service Professionals.

Dick is also a licensed title insurance agent and is affiliated with both Attorneys' Title Guaranty Fund, Inc. and with First American Title Insurance Company. He has issued hundreds of title policies for individuals and lending institutions. Dick also holds a Real Estate Broker’s license.

Representative Experience

• Devised a plan to largely avoid federal estate tax and a strategy to pay remaining taxes with discounted dollars for a wealthy widower with three children. The client owned a business which he hoped to pass onto his children, had a large 401 (k) plan, and owned real estate in several states, and was concerned about the amount of federal real estate taxes he would pay if he were to die.
• Set up new corporations, bought and sold grocery outlets, dealt with various government agencies such as the National Labor Relations Board and local land use committees, purchased and developed store sites, created subsidiaries, arranged company and store financing, prepared shareholder agreements, dealt with commercial landlords and tenants, and drafted cross easements, acquisitions and mergers, while serving as General Counsel for a billion dollar wholesale food company.
• Licensed by the State of Wisconsin to issue Title Insurance Policies and close real estate transactions, and have Real Estate Broker’s license. Personal real estate development involvement over the years include: constructing and owning personal residences, condominiums in Wisconsin and Florida, apartment buildings, self-storage units, commercial and office buildings, and investments in raw land for future development.