With a law degree, CPA, and a Ph.D. in Economics, Steve Zumbach brings the added dimension of business counseling to his law practice. He is often brought into situations dealing with succession planning, disputes amongst business partners and complex financings and refinancings.
Steve’s core practice is the closely-held family business. He is one of the few lawyers with strong practice skills in estate planning, business law, and mergers and acquisitions matters. As a result, he can integrate both estate planning and corporate planning expertise into the representation of family business and the families which own them. Steve has a long track record of getting the most difficult acquisitions completed on the buy and sell side. In part, that is because he brings his interdisciplinary background of law, economics, and accounting together to be a problem solver in the deal room.
Honors and Accomplishments
– Inducted: Iowa Business Hall of Fame
– Governor’s Award for Outstanding Service as an Iowan
– Recognized 150 Iowans Who Made a Difference
– Iowa State University Order of the Knoll Cardinal and Gold Award
– Iowa State University Alumni Medal
– Iowa State University Outstanding Young Alumnus Award
– Bravo Culture and the Arts Award
– The World Food Prize Iowa Founders Award
– A. Arthur Davis Distinguished Leadership Award
– Excellence in Economic Development Award given by the American Economic Development Council
– Iowa Certified Public Accountants Public Service Award
– Outstanding Volunteer Philanthropist, Association of Fundraising Professionals
Admitted to Practice (State)
– Iowa
Admitted to Practice (Federal)
– U.S. District Court, Northern District of Iowa
– U.S. District Court, Southern District of Iowa
– U.S. Tax Court
– U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
– U.S. Supreme Court
Community & Professional Activities
Professional:
Chambers USA – Corporate M&A – Star Individual
Best Lawyers’ Des Moines Mergers and Acquisitions Lawyer of the Year
Best Lawyers’ Des Moines Estates and Trusts Lawyer of the Year
The Best Lawyers in America® listed for:
– Mergers & Acquisitions Law
– Corporate Law
– Trusts and Estates
– Non-Profit/Charities Law
Corporate INTL Global: Estate Planning Lawyer of the Year in Iowa
Corporate Live Wire Iowa Lawyer of the Year
Corporate/M&A Worth Magazine Top 100 Lawyers
Leaders In Law: Expert in Corporate Law in Iowa
Super Lawyers – Mergers & Acquisitions – Super Lawyer designation for Iowa:
– Mergers & Acquisitions Law
– Corporate Law
– Trusts and Estates
– Non-Profit/Charities Law
The American College Trust and Estate Counsel (Fellow)
Advisory Board: Bureau of National Affairs Tax Management
Iowa Society of Certified Public Accountants (Member)
Community:
Honorary Co-Chair ISU Forever Capital Campaign (2013-2020; $1.1 billion fundraising goal)
Greater Des Moines Partnership Executive Committee (2011-present)
Capital Corridor, Co-Chair (2011-2014)
United Way Campaign, Chair (2010)
Bravo Greater Des Moines, Chair (2005)
Greater Des Moines Partnership, Chair (2003)
Greater Des Moines Committee, Chair (2000)
Greater Des Moines Chamber of Commerce Federation, Chair (1993)
Iowa State University Campaign Destiny Scholarship Campaign Co-Chair (1995-2000;$458.6 million raised)
Iowa State University Partnership for Prominence Capital Campaign, Deputy National Chair (1988-1993; $214.5 million raised)
Iowa State University Research Foundation, Chair (1991-1993)
Des Moines Estate Planning Council, Chair (1990-1991)
Iowa State University Alumni Association, President (1986)
Iowa State Board of Regents, Member (1973-1977)
Iowa Bicentennial Commission (1976)
National Planning Board for the White House Conference on Aging (Member, 1970-1972)
Advisor to the Registrant {advisory council for Vietnam era changes to the draft} (1968)
Boards:
Bankers Trust Company, Community Board
Excell Marketing, L.C., Advisory Board
Kum & Go, Advisory Board
Miles Funds, Inc., Chairman of the Board
Publications and Presentations
BNA Portfolio 833, Special Use Valuation “Divorce, Corporate Style,” The Practical Accountant
