Attorneys at Law Licensed in Nebraska, Iowa and Michigan

Mary E. Vandenack

Founding and Managing Partner

On the cutting edge of legal innovation

A founding member of the firm, Mary offers extraordinary energy and focus in the inter-related areas of tax, business, real estate, health care, estate planning, business succession planning and asset protection planning. Mary excels in dealing with the issues of closely held businesses — companies operated primarily by its owners. Mary also excels at integrating technology with the practice of law. Under her guidance, the firm became the first in Omaha to maintain an electronic document management system. This system has streamlined the legal process for her clients and for the firm, and has recently resulted in her recruitment for the American Bar Association's Law Practice Section Editorial Board. Mary uses her vast knowledge of law and technology to provide clients with top-quality customer service and representation.

For more information about Mary's main practice areas, use the links below:

For more information about Mary, click here.

Health care

In the health care arena, Mary regularly represents health care providers including physicians, dentists, chiropractors, podiatrists, physician organizations, health care facilities, group health plans, ambulatory surgery centers, billing companies, pharmaceutical companies, and specialty health care providers. Mary also works with pharmacies, pharmaceutical distributors and various types of organizations and professionals supporting the health care industry. Mary has a particular expertise in coordinating the business needs of health care clients with their personal estate and asset protection plans. For more information, visit the firm’s Health Care page.

Back to top

Business law

In the general business arena, Mary has significant experience working with real estate developers, real estate investors, real estate management companies, contractors, and companies in the telecommunications, information technology, construction, engineering, agribusiness, financial, and manufacturing industries.

Mary's skill and knowledge related to the issues of closely held businesses and their owners has provided her a niche in assisting such clients with a wide variety of issues including transactions, employee benefits, expansions into or transactions in national or international markets, mergers and acquisitions, and state, federal, local, and international tax and business issues. Mary is often asked to serve in the role of general counsel to her clients and easily transitions from focusing on complex business issues to helping her clients address the impact of their businesses on their individual planning needs. For more information, visit the firm’s Business Planning page.

Back to top

Tax law

Mary's work with closely held businesses and their owners has also provided numerous opportunities to deliver service in the tax exempt or non-profit arenas. Mary is often involved in the formation and ongoing work of family foundations as well as public charities. For more information, visit the firm’s Tax Law page.

Back to top

Estate planning and business succession

Mary has long been known for her skills in the estate planning and business succession planning areas. Mary works regularly with complex planning issues. Mary has drafted trusts including typical marital trusts, dynasty trusts, generation-skipping trusts, grantor-retained annuity trusts, asset protection trusts, conduit trusts, and charitable trusts. Mary has been involved in the formation of family limited partnerships and limited liability companies often used in estate planning. Asset protection planning and premarital planning have become significant areas of importance in estate planning. Mary is regularly engaged for her expertise in the design of asset protection planning strategies. For more information, visit the firm’s Estate Planning and Business Succession page.

Asset protection planning

Asset protection planning has become a significant area of importance in estate planning. Mary is regularly engaged for her expertise in the design of asset protection planning strategies including asset protection trusts and various types of entities utilized for protection from potential liability. For more information, visit the firm’s Asset Protection page.

Back to top

More about Mary Vandenack

Mary graduated magna cum laude from Creighton University School of Law in 1992, where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the Creighton Law Review, won a Domestic Moot Court competition as Best Oral Advocate, and was inducted into the Alpha Sigma Nu Honor Society. Mary received her Bachelors Degree in Business and Accounting, summa cum laude, from the College of Saint Mary.

Mary regularly speaks and writes in her practice areas. Mary serves on the Editorial Board for the American Bar Association Law Practice Management Magazine as well as the Board for the ABA Women Rainmakers. She currently writes a column on estate planning and business succession issues for the Metro Magazine. Mary is active in promoting the use of technology in the practice of law and in improving the cost effectiveness and efficiency of legal services. In addition, Mary is a member of various task forces promoting changes in legislation and regulations governing tax, business and health care.

In her spare time, Mary shares her love for health and wellness by teaching yoga.

Practice areas

Bar admissions

  • Nebraska, 1992
  • U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska, 1992
  • Michigan, 2007

Education

  • J.D., Creighton University School of Law, magna cum laude, 1992
    • Editor-in-Chief, Creighton Law Review
    • Best Oral Advocate, Domestic Moot Court
  • B.A., College of St. Mary, summa cum laude, Business and Accounting, 1990

Professional associations and memberships

Fraternities/sororities

  • Phi Delta Phi
  • Alpha Sigma Nu Honor Society