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W. William Gust
Partner
Gust@gentrylocke.com
Direct: 540.983.9305
Fax: 540.983.9400

W. William Gust

Partner

Phone: 540.983.9305
Fax: 540.983.9400
Gust@gentrylocke.com
Bill Gust is a senior tax partner with Gentry Locke and also serves as a Consultant with Gentry Locke's subsidiary, Corporate Capital Resources, LLC. Bill has been working with closely held business owners for over 30 years relative to tax, corporate and sophisticated estate planning matters. As a result of his expertise in implementing business succession strategies, Bill has assisted in the successful transition of many privately held businesses and, as a part of this process, has implemented over 100 ESOPs. A member of American College of Trust and Estates Counsel and the NCEO and ESOP Association, Bill is a frequent lecturer on business and tax planning as well as IRS and DOL compliance matters.
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Education

  • Georgetown University Law Center, LL.M in Taxation, 1983; George Mason University School of Law, J.D. with distinction, 1981; Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, B.A. 1977

Experience

  • Successfully represented numerous companies in tax controversies involving coal excise tax disputes in United States District Court, United States Tax Court, and the Court of Federal Claims, resulting in substantial taxpayer recoveries

  • Represented numerous professional and other corporations in the design and implementation of qualified retirement plans and unqualified deferred compensation arrangements for key employees

  • Represented numerous corporations in the negotiation and implementation of mergers and other restructuring with transaction values in excess of $170 million

  • Serves as a Consultant of Corporate Capital Resources LLC, a wholly owned consulting subsidiary of Gentry Locke Rakes & Moore; established to provide fee-only business succession consulting services to owners of closely held companies

  • Represents over 100 public and private companies in the adoption and operation of Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) and subsequent stock purchases from public and private shareholders

  • Structured and implemented numerous acquisitions of turbine and rotary aircraft for U.S. and foreign companies; oversees compliance with FAR Part 91 and Part 135 operations

  • Represents many individuals and families in the structuring and implementation of sophisticated estate plans, designed to minimize the negative impact of state and federal taxes

Education

  • Georgetown University Law Center, LL.M in Taxation, 1983
  • George Mason University School of Law, J.D. with distinction, 1981
  • Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, B.A. 1977

Awards

  • Named to Virginia Super Lawyers in the area of Tax Law (2007-2010, 2012)
  • Named "2012 Roanoke Tax Law Lawyer of the Year" and one of The Best Lawyers in America in the area of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law (2006-2013) and Tax Law (2003-2013)
  • Named a Top Rated Lawyer for General Practice, Taxation, Trusts and Estates law by American Lawyer Media (2013)
  • Designated one of the Legal Elite in the field of Taxes/Estates/Trusts (2001-2008) and Business (2003, 2010) by Virginia Business magazine
  • Named a "Legal Eagle" for Employee Benefits (ERISA) and Tax Law by Virginia Living magazine (2012)
  • One of "The Valley's Top Attorneys" for Tax Law in a poll by The Roanoker magazine (2007)

Bill Gust is AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell      2012 Roanoke Tax Lawyer of the Year Bill Gust

Affiliations

  • Past Chair, Board of Governors, Trusts and Estates Section, Virginia State Bar
  • Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel
  • Member, Tax, Trusts and Estates, Health Care, Business Law Sections, Virginia State Bar
  • Member, Tax, Employee Benefits, Corporate Sections, American Bar Association
  • Member, Roanoke Valley Estate Planning Council
  • Member, ESOP Association; NCEO, Mid-Atlantic Chapter of ESOP Associations