WILLIAM LEE MERRITT

Lincoln, NE

(402) 440 - 9750

wlmerritt1949@gmail.com

68505

ACCOMPLISHED ATTORNEY/MANAGING PARTNER

Successful Attorney/Managing Partner with proven ability to mentor future leaders, solve complex problems and foster
strong business relationships. Seeking opportunity to support a world-class law firm by leveraging leadership skills,
consultative approach, and deep understanding of legal/financial solutions.

Areas of strength and special skills include:

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Four decades of experience in legal/financial arena; 25 years as Managing Partner in elite Midwestern practice.
Competitive and driven, commits to projects 100% with all in mentality.
Financially savvy; understands drivers of sustained revenue growth and profitability.
Diverse experience across domestic and international businesses.
Well regarded for ability to foster business relationships and earn long-term client loyalty.
Holds employees accountable with motivational management style; rallies firm around goals.
Adept at matching employee strengths to areas where they can succeed and add value.
Analytical; challenges the status quo with process improvement initiatives; understands the big picture.
Effective trainer/mentor; models techniques to lift overall team performance.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF OMAHA, Lincoln, NE
2014 Present
A subsidiary of First National of Nebraska which is recognized as the largest privately held bank in the United States with $17 billion
in managed assets and 5,000 employees.
Vice President Business Development Officer
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Recruited to join prestigious financial institution with vision of building Lincoln, Nebraska, greater Nebraska, Iowa
and Kansas based client portfolio in areas of agribusiness, corporate, and community bank lending.
Ensured meticulous focus on relationship building, with ultimate goal of becoming the bank of choice in the
Lincoln, Nebraska, Iowa, and Kansas markets.
Notable Accomplishments: Gained valuable insight into networking and relationship-building outside the context
of a law firm; assisted in the origination of significant financing; became the largest user of Salesforce (CRM)
system in business development efforts.

WOODS & AITKEN LLP, Lincoln/Omaha, NE

National leader in the practice of construction, telecommunications, banking and finance law.

1980 2014

Partner (and continued as Practice Development Lead) (2012 2014)

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Aggressively recruited attorneys to join firm and trained them on relationship management.
Continued to lead corporate/business transaction department and practice development efforts; led and
coached team of ten attorneys to ensure focus on superior quality work product and practice development.
Notable Accomplishments: Championed culture of optimal client service as the #1 competitive advantage and the
key to growing/maintaining market share.

William Lee Merritt

WOODS & AITKEN LLP, Lincoln/Omaha, NE

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1980 2014

Managing Committee Member / Managing Partner (1985 2012)

Head of Corporate/Business Transaction Development & Practice Development (1984 2012)
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Focused heavily on talent management and grooming Associates to become future Partners; recruited attorneys
into the firm with inherent ability to foster relationships in addition to high-level technical legal skills; handled
many human-resources issues among attorney team.
Monitored and supported office/bookkeeping staff to ensure efficient and smooth running back-office operation.
Collaborated with fellow executive team members within construction/litigation and telecom in order to share
best practices and propel revenue/profitability to higher levels.
Coordinated and implemented corporate and business structures for clients to attain required/requested results
while limiting operating risks and exposures.
Represented US businesses in M&A efforts or formation of business operations in Canada, Mexico, Algeria,
Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and the European Union.
Launched Omaha office and integrated processes and culture into the firm.
Notable Accomplishments: Instrumental in diversification of client base to avoid the risk of concentration from five
major clients; instituted strategy whereby ideally no single client would account for more than 8% of firm
revenue.

Partner (1981 1985)

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Led corporate/business transaction department for highly visible client base with major decisions surrounding
mergers, acquisitions, and tax strategies; analyzed business structure risks and set forth risk-mitigation plans.
Notable Accomplishments: Displayed natural leadership aptitude and ability to mentor in preparation for
Managing Partner role.

Associate Lawyer (Jan-Dec 1980)

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Recruited by Sr. Partner of firm based on proven abilities demonstrated at prior firm and displayed during
decision to bring Woods & Aitken into highly complex software development case.
Followed by several major clients from prior firm due to significant loyalty gained via outstanding results.
Focused on consulting with clients on M& A strategies, and establishing corporations/partnerships.
Notable Accomplishments: Hired as attorney by firm that was known for typically recruiting only those with
Harvard Law School or similar educational experiences; promoted to partner in only one year compared to norm
of seven years.

KELLY, WALLACE, MOORE & MERRITT, PC, North Platte, NE

Law firm that primarily represented business clientele.

1977 1980

Managing Partner (1979 1980) / Shareholder/Partner (1978 1979) / Associate Attorney (1977)
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Leveraged outstanding financial/tax experience gained at prior position and channeled knowledge and academic
foundation (Juris Doctor) to become a prime partner candidate.
Notable Accomplishments: Demonstrated fortitude to convince fellow partners to bring in outside law firm to
handle the litigation surrounding a significant client matter involving a software developer which ultimately
resulted in a successful outcome and was a game-changer for the client.

TOUCHE ROSS AND CO., Lincoln/Omaha, NE

1973 1977
Prestigious and world-renowned national accounting firm that was one of the predecessors to the current Deloitte accounting firm.
Tax Staff Accountant (1974 1977) / Intern (1973 1974)
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Began as intern during final year of law school and charged with building comprehensive tax consulting practice
upon completion of Juris Doctor.
Leveraged sought-after combination of accountant /attorney training to bring tremendous value to the firm.
Focused on complex tax planning for corporations, partnerships and individuals.
Notable Accomplishments: Assisted in tax planning efforts with major corporate and individual clients to reduce or
postpone the payment of tax obligation.

William Lee Merritt

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EDUCATION
University of Nebraska College of Law, Lincoln, NE
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Juris Doctor. (Graduated with Distinction, 1974)
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Allen Moot Court Board. (Chairman, 1974; Member, 1973)
University of Nebraska College of Business Administration, Lincoln, NE
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Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Accounting Major. (Graduated 1971)

SELECTED HONORS
Peer Rated as Best Lawyer in America for Mergers & Acquisitions (2011 2012)
AV Rated by National Lawyer Rating Service
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Highest industry rating given for Legal Ability, Professionalism, and Ethics. (Rated AV since 1990)

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
University of Nebraska Lincoln Finance Department
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Member of Advisory Board. (2015 Present)
Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry
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Member of Economic Development Council. (2014 Present)

Association for Corporate Growth - Omaha Chapter

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Shares trends/ideas with fellow attorneys, accountants, CFOs, and other metro business leaders. (2010 Present)

Nebraska Bar Foundation

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Peer nominated to form select group of top attorneys in the state. (2010 Present)

Nebraska Bar Association / American Bar Association

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Member. (1974 Present)

MILITARY STATUS
United States Army Reserve
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Honorably Discharged from the United States Army Reserve at the rank of Captain. (1984)
Commissioned as a reserve finance officer in the United States Army Finance Corp. (1974)

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

VOLUNTEERISM

Personal Experience with Foreign Child Adoption Sharing Best Practices and General Information
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Serves as sounding board and advisor for colleagues, friends, and those in the community who are interested in
the international and domestic adoption process, after having adopted a daughter from China and a son from
Lincoln, NE. (1996 Present)

Haiti Mission Trip (sponsored by Messiah Lutheran Church), Lincoln, NE

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Painted/repaired various facilities; tutored school children in mathematics. (2004)

China Mission Trip (sponsored by the Back to the Bible Organization), Lincoln NE
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Collaborated with Church leaders regarding issues impacting local missions and house churches. (2000)