At Brown & Vogel, Steven W. Brown is the president and co-founder of the firm. Backed by over 35 years of experience, he is intimately familiar with all aspects of Kansas estate law. He primarily focuses his efforts on business succession planning and estate planning. Steve loves the challenge of helping his clients solve complicated problems, and he can help you solve yours, too. One of his most useful talents is explaining complex concepts to his clients in easy-to-understand language. He graduated from University of Kansas, earning both his undergraduate degree and Juris Doctorate there. Steve has given countless presentations to other attorneys, professionals, and financial advisors. He is also a contributing author to two books. You can trust Steve to provide you with the effective legal services you need and deserve. As a skilled estate planning attorney in Salina, he can help you with all your needs.
EDUCATION Junction City High School, 1972; University of Kansas, 1976, B.S. Accounting/Business Administration with distinction; University of Kansas, 1979, Juris Doctorate.
PROFESSIONAL 2000 to present - President of Brown & Vogel, LLC, Salina, Kansas;1996 to 1999 - President of Steven W. Brown, Chartered, Salina, Kansas; 1991 to 1995 - Shareholder in law firm of Clark, Mize & Linville, Chartered, Salina, Kansas; 1982-90 - Shareholder in law firm of King, Adrian, King & Brown, Chartered, Salina, Kansas;1981-82 - Arthur Young & Company, Dallas, Texas; 1979-81 - Associate, Hoover, Schermerhorn, Edwards & Pinaire, Junction City, Kansas. Member of the National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys, Incorporated, 1997 to 2002; Member of Welath Counsel 2002 to present; Chartered member of Lifespan Legal Services™; Graduate of Master’s Program in Wealth Strategies Planning® through the Esperti Peterson Institute, as accredited by the Estate and Wealth Strategies Institute at Michigan State University; Contributory author to Strictly Business, Planning Strategies for Privately Owned Businesses, published in 2002 by Quantum Press; Contributory author to Love, Money, Control: Reinventing Estate Planning, a book that provides answers to questions about transferring wisdom along with wealth, published in 2004 by Quantum Press.
Martindale-Hubbel rating - “AV”
Listed in 1995-1996 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.
Bar Associations: American Bar Association; Kansas Bar Association; Northwest Kansas Bar Association; Saline-Ottawa County Bar Association.
Bar Committees: Kansas Bar Association: Chairperson of Kansas Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Committee (1995-1997); President of Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law Section of KansasBar Association (1989-1993); Kansas Bar Association Real Estate,Probate and Trust Law Section CLE Liaison (1990-1997); Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee (1989-1993); Saline County Civil Process Committee and Trustee of Saline County Law Library.
Kansas Bar Association Activities: Author and speaker, Kansas Bar Association seminar “Living Trust Drafting” – 1991; Author and speaker, Kansas Bar Association seminar “How to Draft a Revocable Living Trust” – 1988; Speaker, Kansas Bar Association seminar “Protecting Assets from Creditors and Post-Death Implications” – 1989; 1992 - Speaker, Nebraska Bar Association, A Medical and Legal Perspective on the Durable Power of Attorney; 1992 - Speaker, Kansas Bar Association satellite “Elder Law Seminar” 1994 - Speaker, Kansas Bar Association seminar “Estate Administration”; Speaker, Kansas Bar Association seminar on Estate Planning for Disability and Tax Issues; Speaker, The Western Kansas Council on Estate Planning & Gifting seminar “Health Care Directives” - 1995; Fellow of the Kansas Bar Foundation; Continuing Legal Education Seminar Coordinator for several programs, including Plaza Lights Institute, Best of Continuing Legal Education and other probate and trust related seminars; Speaker, National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys seminar “The Truth About Estate Planning”; Outstanding Service Award, Kansas Bar Association as chair of the Continuing Legal Education Committee, - 1998; Instructor of the Estate Planning Practicum, an intensive week long training course for members of the National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys, Incorporated; Speaker for Kansas Land Improvement Contractors Association Convention; Speaker for Kansas Accountants Tax Conference; Speaker for Kansas Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors.
CIVIC Member of Board of Directors of the Information Network of Kansas, Inc.(2000-02); President (1992) and member of Board of Directors of Salina Chamber of Commerce, 1989-92; Treasurer, The Saint Francis Academy (1992); Board of Trustees of Salina Public Library; Treasurer of Salina Public Library, 1988; President (1990-91) and member of Board of Directors of Salina Art Center, Inc., 1986-92; Campaign Chairman of Salina United Way Campaign, 1989; President of Salina Chapter of Ducks Unlimited, 1987-88; Member of Board of Directors of Salina Downtown Lions Club, 1985-88; President of Salina Country Club, 2008, and member of Board of Directors of Salina Country Club, 1993-95 and 2005-2009. Member of Board of Directors of Kansas Wildscape.
CHURCH Roman Catholic. Founder and member of Board of Directors of St. Mary’s Grade School Endowment Fund, 1988; Member of St. Mary’s Grade School Council, 1985-89; Member of Finance Council of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish; Member of the The Roman Catholic Diocese of Salina Finance Council, Member of Board of Trustees of Catholic Charities (2002 – 2008).