Overview
Amy Demlow is the Managing Member of Critchfield, Critchfield & Johnston—the first woman in the over 150-year history of the firm to assume the role. In nearly 25 years of practice, she has developed broad capabilities in complex corporate and business transactions and real estate matters. She also counsels owners of closely-held businesses on various estate planning matters. Amy has worked with several families and closely-held business owners in structuring their family trust company as a solution to business succession and successor trustee issues.
M&A/Corporate and Business
Amy serves as lead counsel on many firm M&A transactions, whether closely-held exchanges, private equity, or sales to public companies. She is results-oriented and works easily with investment bankers and certified public accountants on a team approach. She is familiar with tax, regulatory and complex issues that affect buyers and sellers. She also acts as general counsel to a number of firm clients, providing guidance on matters such as corporate governance, executive compensation, and business succession planning.
Estate Planning
In addition to her general corporate work, Amy leads clients through the process of estate planning, with a focus on the preservation and protection of assets through the use of comprehensive wealth transfer and tax-saving strategies. She designs tailored planning options not only to minimize tax but to address sometimes sensitive family dynamics as well.
Family Trust Companies
Amy is also skilled in the creation of customized Family Trust Companies. These entities provide families and family businesses with the option of forming their own private trust company in Ohio to serve as a trustee for family trusts. Amy considers the unique dynamic of each family as she structures these companies as a solution to business succession and successor trustee issues. In addition to her responsibilities to her clients, her firm, and to the numerous boards on which she sits, Amy actively educates others through speaking engagements with organizations such as Women in Business, Non-Profit Symposium on Fundraising, Medina Chamber of Commerce Business and Growth, and the Medina Chamber of Commerce Women’s Business Conference. She is also a frequent speaker on non-legal issues such as work-life balance and LGBT issues.
