Brian C. Eddy

Shareholder

Practice Areas

Brian represents individuals, private companies, start-up companies, banks, as well as agricultural and commercial real estate owners. His practice areas include, but are not limited to:

Business Formation (Sole Proprietorships, Limited Liability Companies, Partnerships, C Corporations, S Corporations and Non-Profit 501(c)(3) entities), including Entity Selection; Asset Protection Strategies; Contractor Registrations; Federal Tax ID #s; and Sales Tax Permits.
Business Advise, including Employment & Shareholder Agreements; Severance Agreements; Contracts and Succession Planning; Trademarks; and Nondisclosure Agreements; Incentive Stock Options Plans; Security Agreements and UCC-1 Financing Statements.
Mergers, Acquisitions & Divestitures, including stock purchase agreements, stock redemption agreements, asset purchase agreements, and merger agreements.
Debt Collection, including Demand Letters; Litigation; Foreclosures; Confession of Judgments; Judgment Debtor Examinations; Garnishments and Levies; and Mechanic’s Liens.
Real Estate, including Purchase Agreements; Contracts and Leases; Real Estate Closings; 1031 Exchanges; Title Opinions & Deeds; and Development (Plats & Zoning); Boundary Line Disputes; and Quiet Title Actions.
Estate Planning, Probate, & Litigation, including Wills, Revocable and Irrevocable Trusts; Power of Attorneys; Guardianships & Conservatorships; Will Contests; and Representation of Estate Beneficiaries.
Taxation, including Individual and Business Tax Return Preparation and Consulting; and Sales & Use Tax Returns.

Experience Highlights

Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestitures
- Assisted numerous clients with the sale and acquisitions of companies in a variety of industries: medical device company, webhosting business, crop insurance business, restaurants, bars, a .com business, hotels, a grain bin business, convenience stores, a wireless internet business, hog confinement operations, a China company, a lumber supply business, retail pharmacies, a repair shop business, a cleaning business, and multiple insurance agencies.
Estate Planning, Probate, and Litigation
- Created revocable trusts for large net worth families with complex farming and/or business operations
- Probated multiple estates in excess of $10 million
- Represented beneficiaries of estates where executors were failing to uphold fiduciary duties

Education

J.D., With Distinction, University of Iowa, 2000
B.A., Finance (emphasis in Accounting and Taxation), minor in Political Science, University of Iowa, 1997

Prior Experience

Attorney, Best & Flanagan, LLP
2000-2005
Minneapolis, MN

Bar Admissions

United States Tax Court, 2020
State of Minnesota, 2001
State of Iowa, 2001

Professional Activities & Memberships

Member, Iowa State Bar Association
Member, Minnesota State Bar Association

Honors, Distinctions & Community Awards

2010 Recipient of the Cedar Valley Region's "20 Under 40" Award
Hall of Fame, Independence Area Chamber of Commerce (2009)
Business Person of the Year, Independence Chamber of Commerce (2006)
Journal of Corporation Law, University of Iowa (1999-2000)

Published Articles

Author, "Internet Roadshows: It's Time to Open the Door for the Retail Investor", Journal of Corporation Law, 2000

Past Professional Activities & Memberships

Board of Directors, Independence Community School District (2011 – 2019; President from 2011 – 2015; Vice President 2017-2018)
Board of Directors, Independence Area Chamber of Commerce (2007-2009) (President 2008 and 2009)
Board of Directors, Heartland Acres Agribition Center (Vice Chairman 2009; Chairman 2010-2011)
Board of Directors, Dollars for Scholars (2012-2014)
Independence Mustangs Varsity Football (Volunteer Coach 2010-2011)
Independence Mustangs 7^th and 8^th Grade Football (Volunteer Coach 2012-2013)
Independence Mustangs Baseball (Volunteer Coach 2017-2018)
People for Progress (Co-Chair 2008-2011)
Volunteer Coach for Youth Baseball and Youth Football (2009-2016)