An expert in business and taxation matters, Mr. Acker has authored numerous articles on tax and estate planning strategies for owners of real property; workouts and debt restructuring; tax deferred like-kind exchanges of property; partnership; state property tax and other tax matters for the Journal of Taxation, and the State Bar of Michigan Real Property Section’s professional journal, The Real Property Review.
His articles also appear in the Wayne Law Review, and State Bar of Michigan Taxation Section’s professional journal, the Michigan Tax Lawyer.
He is a frequent lecturer on the tax impact of federal tax legislation on real estate development, financing, investment and ownership, as well as the structuring of real estate and other business and joint commercial ventures. He speaks at seminars sponsored by the American Bar Association, Michigan’s Institute of Continuing Legal Education, the Real Property Section of the State Bar, the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants and for other professional groups of real estate attorneys, tax attorneys and certified public accountants.
Education
J.D., University of Michigan, 1975
B.B.A., with high distinction (first in class), University of Michigan, 1972
B.S., Central Michigan University
Bar and Court Admissions
State Bar of Michigan, 1975 U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
U.S. Court of Federal Claims
U.S. Tax Court, 1976
Mr. Acker has extensive experience before the Internal Revenue Service
Memberships
State Bar of Michigan He is a member of the sections on Taxation; Corporation, Banking and Business Law; Real Property; as well as Probate and Trust Law. He is a former multiple term member of the Council of the State of Michigan Real Property Section and continuing Chairperson of the State Bar of Michigan Real Property Section’s Tax Aspects of Real Estate Transactions Committee.
American Bar Association Mr. Acker has served as a member of the Steering Committee for Leadership Oakland and co-chair of Leadership Oakland’s Justice System Subcommittee, which provides leadership education for Oakland County business.
Oakland County Bar Association Mr. Acker has served as a member of the Steering Committee for Leadership Oakland and Co-Chair of Leadership Oakland’s Justice System Subcommittee, which provides leadership education for Oakland County business.
He was formerly a multiple term member of the Council of the State of Michigan Real Property Section and served for each year of his multiple terms as Chairperson of the State Bar of Michigan Real Property Section’s Tax Aspects of Real Estate Transactions Committee.
William Acker has maintained an “AV” peer review rating with Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, the highest peer review rating for attorneys for more than 30 years.
He was also selected for inclusion in Michigan Super Lawyers magazine featuring the top 5% of attorneys in Michigan in the practice areas of Estate Planning & Probate, Business & Corprate Law and Tax Law.
Mr. Acker has also been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 in the fields of Litigation & Controversy – Tax; Tax Law; Trusts and Estates; and Real Estate Law and was named The Best Lawyers® in America 2019 Tax Law Lawyer of the Year. He has been recognized by The Best Lawyers® in America since 2012.
Additionally, Mr. Acker was selected by a vote of his peers to be included in DBusiness magazine’s list of Top Lawyers in 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018 and 2024 in the practice area of Tax Law. He has also been designated a “Leading Lawyer” in Tax Law: Individual, Tax Law: Business, and Trust, Will & Estate Planning Law for the years 2014 to the present (granted to the top 1% of attorneys in Michigan). Mr. Acker was also selected as a 2013 Top Rated Lawyer in Taxation Law by American Lawyer Media.
