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Ronald ‘Ronnie’ M. Katz

Member, Indianapolis

317.615.4222

‘Ronnie’ joined Stoll Keenon Ogden as a Member in July 2022 as part of the firm’s merger with Katz Korin Cunningham, an Indianapolis firm which Ronnie co-founded with Offer Korin in 1994. “Envisioning opportunities for our clients and our community” is not just a motto for the firm that Ronnie helped foster – it is also part of the foundation of Stoll Keenon Ogden’s culture. It requires an understanding of client goals, the numbers, governmental implications and the impact of tax consequences. The goal is to provide exceptional legal services efficiently at reasonable rates, without the frustration of delays, excess costs and bureaucracy.

Ronnie has maintained an AV Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating © since 1992 and is listed in The Best Lawyers in America (for Real Estate and Trusts & Estates) and as an Indiana Super Lawyer. In 2021, Ronnie received The Indiana Lawyer Leadership in Law Distinguished Barrister Award, an honor limited to 15 lawyers in the State of Indiana each year. Ronnie was recently named the 2023 “Lawyer of the Year” in Central Indiana for his work involving “Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)” by U.S. News Best Lawyers^® in America. He has also been recognized as a Life Fellow and Distinguished Fellow of the Indianapolis Bar Foundation, a Fellow of the Indiana Bar Foundation and as a 2002 recipient of the Indianapolis Bar Association Dr. John Morton-Finney Excellence in Legal Education Award.

Ronnie is a leader in the firm’s Trusts & Estates, Business Services, Tax and Real Estate groups. He has also served as an adjunct Professor of Law and guest lecturer for the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law (Real Estate Transactions; Trust & Estates) and, since 1993, has taught the Indiana Bar Review courses on Real Estate Law and Probate, Wills, Trusts and Administration. He has been involved in educating his peers for the past quarter century, primarily through continuing legal education courses offered through The Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, the Indianapolis Bar Association, and the American Bar Association.

Trust & Estates: Ronnie counsels clients on the importance of developing plans that meet the needs of the client. His services include a broad range of other matters that may be required as part of the planning process, including entity agreements, real estate transfers, and coordinating beneficiary designations of retirement accounts and life insurance with a client’s overall plan. Ronnie also represents and advises beneficiaries of estate and trusts and advises corporate and individual trustees regarding their responsibilities. As part of the firm’s Trusts & Estates Litigation group, Ronnie also initiates and defends claims on behalf of heirs and beneficiaries.

For the past several years, Ronnie has strongly advocated that medical and legal professionals take a greater proactive role in advocating for their respective patients and clients about end-of-life decisions. He has focused his research and education on the legal, ethical, and practical implications for patients, physicians, caregivers, and attorneys.

Business Services: Ronnie’s services to his business clients includes developing a solid understanding of the financial and tax consequences of intended business transactions, including management strategies that result in improved operational efficiency. Ronnie has counseled businesses in multiple industries in assisting them with internal growth strategies as well as through acquisition and integration. He often assists clients in the development of business and financial structuring plans, particularly with start-up and middle-market companies, which include understanding the advantages and disadvantages of ‘business entity’ alternatives. With respect to closely-held companies, Ronnie’s services include navigating business succession planning challenges, especially with respect to streamlining ownership, financial and operational issues.

Tax Services: Ronnie’s practice often involves estate, business succession and transactional planning relating to federal and state tax implications. Prior to becoming an attorney, Ronnie began his professional career as a certified public accountant (CPA), and following law school earned a Masters of Law in Taxation Degree at Georgetown University Law Center. He also has extensive experience with respect to real estate development involving tax incentive programs, including service as the American Bar Association (ABA) Chair of the ABA Forum on Affordable Housing & Community Development Law. Ronnie also served as a member of the National Advisory Board of West Group’s Housing and Development Reporter for 17 years.

Real Estate: Ronnie’s practice also includes representing and advising clients involved in real estate development and financing in the State of Indiana. A significant focus of this practice has involved the structuring of single family and multi-family residential developments, including tiered levels of ownership and financing alternatives that conform to the client’s goals.

In serving as an engaged stakeholder in the central Indiana community, Ronnie has supported several arts and civic organizations in the City of Indianapolis during his career, including service as a president of the boards of The Indianapolis Fringe Theatre, the Jewish Community Center Association of Indianapolis, and Indiana Federal Community Defenders.

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Practices

Education

Georgetown University of Law Center
1985, L.L.M

Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
1983, J.D.

Indiana University
1980, B.S.

Admissions

Indiana

District of Columbia

Recognition

AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®
The Indiana Lawyer Leadership in Law Distinguished Barrister Award, 2021
Best Lawyers®, Lawyer of the Year (Indianapolis), Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), 2023

Best Lawyers®, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Real Estate Law, and Trusts and Estates, 2022-present
Indianapolis Bar Association & Foundation honors: Board of Directors Award, 2017; Distinguished Life Fellow, 2012; John Morton-Finney Excellence in Legal Education Award, 2002; Distinguished Fellow, 1993
Coalition for Homelessness Intervention & Prevention, Inc., Emile Godfrey Board Service Award, 2009
Indiana State Bar Foundation, Fellow, 2006
Indiana Super Lawyers^®, 2006 – present
Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis, L.L. Goodman Leadership Award, 1997
Jewish Community Center Association of Indianapolis, Martin L. Larner Leadership Development Award, 1991
Wexner Heritage Foundation 3-Year Leadership and Development Program, Graduate 1989

Affiliations

American Bar Association (ABA): including service to ABA Forum on Affordable Housing and Community Development Law; Member, Governing Committee (2000 – 2007); Governing Committee Chair (2005 – 2006); Conferences Chair (2002 – 2003)
Indiana State Bar Association
Indianapolis Bar Association (IBA); Vice President of IBA Board, 2007; General Counsel to IBA, 2004

Indiana Federal Community Defenders, Inc., President (2020 – 2023) and Board of Directors (2017 – present)
Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, Board of Directors, 2021 – present
John S. Grimes Advisory Committee to the Indiana University Foundation, 2012 – present
IndyFringe (Indianapolis Fringe Theater, Inc.), Past President (2012 – 2013) and Board of Directors (2010 – 2018)
Compassion & Choices of Indiana, 2010 – 2018
Jewish Community Center Association of Indianapolis, Past President (1995 – 1998), Board of Directors, 1985 – present
The Phoenix Theater, Board of Directors, 2014 – 2016
Housing and Development Reporter, Thompson West Publishing, National Advisory Board, 1994 – 2011
Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention of Greater Indianapolis, Inc. (CHIP), Board of Directors, 2003 – 2009
JCCA of North America, Board of Directors, 2004 – 2010
Indiana Housing Finance Authority Annual Conference on Affordable Housing Planning Committee, 1997 – 2002
Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis, Board of Directors, 1991 – 2000
Indiana Equity Fund, Board of Directors, 1994 – 2008
Congregation Beth El Zedeck, Board of Directors, 1992 – 1995

News Seminars

118 SKO Attorneys Named to “2023 U.S. News Best Lawyers® in America”, Aug. 18, 2022

Indiana Multistate Bar Review, Indianapolis Bar Association, Trusts & Estates, Faculty, 1993 – present; Real Property Law
and Personal Property Law, Faculty, 1993–2003

Hot Tips in Probate Practice, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, Indiana, Faculty, 2009–present

Guest Lecturer, Trusts & Estates and Law Practice Management on a periodic basis, Indiana University Robert H. McKinney
School of Law, 1996–present; Adjunct Faculty, Real Estate Transactions, 1995–1996

Death & Dying: Maximizing Quality of Life and Minimizing Pain and Suffering When Faced with End-of-Life Decisions, Indiana
University College of Health & Human Services, Presenter and Author, 2013–2020

Legal Issues Involving Physician Assisted Dying, Indiana University School of Medicine, Presenter, 2013–present

Legal Issues Impacting ‘End of Life’ Choices, Compassion & Choices of Indiana Fall Program, Presenter, 2011

A New Season of Dedication, ABA Journal of Affordable Housing & Community Development Law, Vol. 15, No. 4, Author,
2006

Political Will, ABA Journal of Affordable Housing & Community Development Law, Vol. 15, No. 3, Author, 2006

Winds of Change, ABA Forum on Affordable Housing & Community Development Law (ABA/AHCDL) Conference on Creating
Healthy Communities: Ending Homelessness, Presenter and Author, 2006

State of the Union, ABA Journal of Affordable Housing & Community Development Law, Vol. 15, No. 2, Author, 2006

Winds of Change, ABA Journal of Affordable Housing & Community Development Law, Vol. 15, No. 1, Author, 2005

HURRICANE KATRINA: Public Housing Aftermath – Housing & Development Law Institute 22nd Annual Fall Conference,
Presenter and Author, 2005

Balancing the Rights of Individual Tenants and the Larger Community, ABA/AHCDL Conference: Doing Well While Doing
Good ~ Building Housing & Community with a Social Justice Perspective, Panelist, 2005

Hasta La Vista Baby: Roundtable on Nearing the End of Compliance Period, Indiana Housing Finance Authority Annual
Conference Panelist, 2004

The Closing Checklist: An Exhaustive Overview of all the Documents, 13th Annual ABA/AHCDL Forum Conference, Faculty,
2004

Is Your Deal Under Water? Making a Tax Credit Deal, Indiana Housing Finance Authority Annual Conference, Panelist, 2003

Working Successfully with Community Agencies and Officials, Urban Revitalization: An Affordable Housing Conference,
Faculty, 2003

Overcoming Obstacles in Tax Credit Compliance, ABA/AHCDL 12th Annual Conference, Faculty, 2003

Community Development Initiatives, Indianapolis Neighborhood Housing Partnership’s Housing Summit, Panelist, 2003

Affordable Housing and Community Development Initiatives, International Project Finance, Investment, and Business
Development, Center for International Legal Studies, Faculty, 2003

Current Issues in Estate Administration and Trusts, Annual Indiana Law Update, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum,
Faculty, 2002

Need Some Coaching? Choose a Consultant, Indiana Housing Finance Authority Annual Conference, Panelist, 2002

Developers Tool Belt: Soft vs. Hard Financing, Urban Revitalization: An Affordable Housing Conference, Faculty, 2002

Advanced Tax Credit Issues (Expiring Use, Increased Allocation, State QAP), New Approaches to Developing Affordable
Housing and Creating Economic Developments, The Association of the Bar of the City of New York, Faculty, 2001

Housing Tax Credits in Indiana, METRO Publishing Co., Inc. Author, 1994-2001

Housing and Development Forms and Commentary, West Group Publishing, Co-author, 1996-2001

New Markets Tax Credit, Urban Revitalization: An Affordable Housing Conference, Faculty, 2001

Ethical Considerations in Estate Planning and Probate, Current Estate Administration Issues Seminar, co-sponsored by
Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum and Banc One Investment Management Group, Faculty, 2000

Creative Partnerships, Indiana Housing Finance Authority Annual Conference, Panelist, 2000

Utilizing Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, Racing Ahead in Housing, National Association of Housing and Redevelopment
Officials Annual Meeting, Faculty, 2000

Tax-Exempt Private Activity Bond Workshop, sponsored by Novogradac & Company, LLP, Faculty, 2000

Joint Ventures between Not-for-Profits and Private Developers: Negotiating the Partnership Agreement, Affordable Housing
and Community Development: The State of the Art, co-sponsored by ABA/AHCDL and The Association of the Bar of the City
of New York, New York, NY, Faculty, 2000

Fundamentals of HOME/RHTC, Indiana Housing Finance Authority Annual Conference, Faculty, 1998

Apartment Association Tax Credit Seminar, Apartment Association of Indiana, Faculty, 1998

Structuring the Development and Development Team; Determining Sources and Uses & Amount of Credits; Dotting Your
“Eyes” and Crossing the “Tees” in Your Application, Indiana Housing Finance Authority Rental Housing Tax Credit Seminar,
Faculty, 1997

Current Issues for Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Project Owners and Advisors, Challenges and Opportunities in Affordable
Housing and Economic Development in New York and Beyond, co-sponsored by ABA/AHCDL and The Association of the Bar
of the City of New York, New York, Faculty, 1997

Issues in Tax Credit Compliance, A Whole New Ball Game, Indiana Housing Finance Authority Annual Conference, Faculty,
1996

Understanding and Using Housing Tax Credits in Indiana, Indianapolis Bar Association Seminar, Instructor, 1996

Tax Credits and Financing, ICLEF Commercial Real Estate, Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, Instructor, 1994

The Nuts & Bolts of Tax Credit Development in Indiana: A Presentation on Housing Tax Credits in Indiana, co-sponsored by
the Indianapolis Bar Association and the Apartment Association of Indiana, Faculty and Chair, 1994

Section 42 Tax Credits for Affordable Housing Development, Central Indiana Society of the Institute of Certified Financial
Planners Seminar, Instructor, 1993

Section 42 Tax Credits for Low to Moderate Income Housing, Indiana Bankers Association Conference Instructor, 1992

Apartment Management Legal Issues, National Association of Home Builders Resident Apartment Management Courses,
Instructor, 1991 – 2000

Real Estate Law, Apartment Association of Indiana Certified Apartment Management Courses, Instructor, 1989 –1992

Taxation of Partnerships, Indiana Society of Enrolled Agents Annual Seminar, Faculty, 1989