RAFAEL A. ICAZA

BIOGRAPHY

Mr. Belnap has been practicing law in the Treasure Valley for nearly four decades, and he is the founding partner of Belnap Legal, PLLC. From the inaugural days of his career serving as a law clerk to the Honorable Marion J. Callister, of the U.S. District Court in Idaho, and throughout private practice, he has built a solid reputation as one of the most respected and trusted lawyers in Idaho. His years of practice have afforded him wide-spread expertise in many areas of the law, including business and corporate law, entity formation, entrepreneurial startups and private business, international business and transactions, real estate, wills, trusts, estate planning, probate, family law, adoption, and others.

Formerly, Mr. Belnap served as general counsel to one of Idaho’s largest land developers, overseeing projects as far reaching as the Hawaiian Islands. Through his experience, he has developed a broad understanding of business and real estate law and has been able to effectively represent clients with those needs. Over the years, he has also developed an expansive knowledge base of all aspects of business law, which has lent to extensive experience assisting clients with business formation, ownership, operational and disposition needs.

In addition to Mr. Belnap’s time as general counsel and his many years in private practice, on two occasions he had the privilege to serve as international legal counsel for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS Church) in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean (1984-1987; 1998-2001). In these positions, he oversaw and managed a wide array of legal issues, including all international law matters, governmental relations, tax issues, land acquisition, construction and architectural contracts, dispute resolution, labor and immigration.

AREAS OF PRACTICE

• Adoptions
• Agricultural Law
• Business & Corporate Law
• Charitable Planning
• Commercial Leasing
• Estate Planning (Wills, Trusts, Probate & Estate Administration)
• Guardianships & Conservatorships
• International Law
• Nonprofit & Tax-exempt Organizations
• Real Estate

LANGUAGES

Spanish

ADMISSIONS

• Idaho—All Idaho State Courts
• U.S. District Court—District of Idaho
• U.S. Bankruptcy Court—District of Idaho

EDUCATION

• J.D., Brigham Young University
• B.A., Brigham Young University

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

• Representation of the world’s largest potato handling equipment manufacturer, based out of Idaho
• Represented large farm & dairy in acquiring Fifty Million ($50,000,000.00) dollar line of credit
• Representation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for six (6) years as general foreign legal counsel in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean
• Founded and operates Idaho’s largest international, Hague-qualified, adoption agency
• Representation of several large corporations and other entities in opening cross-border operations in Latin America
• Representation of hundreds of companies in Idaho, including formation and ongoing business counseling
• Representation of several construction and development companies, including their contract drafting and review
• Representation of and counsel to Boise’s Somalian community

MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS

Idaho State Bar Association

American Bar Association

Steven’s Henagar College—Curriculum Advisory Board

Duke Family Foundation, Inc. —Executive Director

CASI Foundation For Children, Inc. —Founder, Director & President

Women’s Business Center of Idaho—Advisory Council Member

Women’s Business Center of Idaho—Meet The Masters Legal Presenter

• Seminar: Meet the Masters—Business Formation and Entity Selection, Idaho Women’s Business Center, June 2014
• Seminar: Meet the Masters—Corporate Governance & Risk Management, Idaho Women’s Business Center, June 2014
• Seminar: Meet the Masters—Employment Law Issues, Idaho Women’s Business Center, June 2014