John W. Flora has practice expertise ranging from serving as
lead counsel of a publicly-held Fortune 500 company to representing
private companies and their owners from business formation through
succession. Mr. Flora has substantial experience in negotiating and
consummating business
transactions. His practice also specializes in estate
planning and wealth management. In all these areas, Mr. Flora brings
to bear substantial technical expertise in federal
and state taxation law. As both a technician and an advisor, Mr. Flora
is effective in helping clients resolve complex tax and people problems,
particularly in the areas of business succession and estate planning.
Experience
- Served as lead counsel in over 20 mergers and acquisitions by
publicly held poultry corporation and two major divestitures of its
corporate subsidiaries (transactional values ranging in size from $1
million to $80 million).
- Served as lead counsel to first wind farm developer in Virginia.
- Served as business advisor and lead counsel to “start up”
poultry cooperative structured to help 130 farm families and 450
employees.
- Negotiated and consummated taxable and tax-free transactions with
public companies on behalf of private business clients.
- Served as lead counsel to publicly-held poultry corporation during
its secondary public offering, private placement of subordinated
convertible preferred stock, and multiple financings (ranging from $20
to over $200 million).
- Served as lead counsel to publicly held corporation during its
successful defense of a hostile takeover attempt by Tyson Foods and
during its negotiation with and acquisition by Pilgrim's Pride
Corporation.
- Successfully handled an estate tax refund case through successful
defense at the Federal District Court, IRS appeal to the Fourth
Circuit, and settlement of the appeal with the Department of Justice.
- Assisted several philanthropic individuals in creating significant
Charitable Lead and Dynasty Trusts to balance tax savings,
philanthropy and family asset stewardship.
- Assisted hundreds of families in developing estate and financial
plans as well as providing estate administration advice focused on
minimizing family conflict and administrative cost.
Honors and Awards
- "Legal Elite," Virginia Business Magazine, 2000-2006
- AV* Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell ®
- "Super Lawyer," Virginia Super Lawyers Magazine, Tax,
2006, 2007
Education
- College of William and Mary School of Law, Williamsburg, Virginia
Masters of Law in Taxation, 1981; J.D., 1980
- College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia
B.A., 1977
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Virginia State Bar, Chair, Tax Section, 1998 – 1999
- Virginia Bar Association, Chair, Tax Section, 1997 – 1998
- Virginia Bar Association, Member
- American Bar Association, Member, Tax Section
- Harrisonburg-Rockingham Bar Association, President, 1994
- Blue Ridge Community College Foundation, Chair, 2003-2006
- Harrisonburg/Rockingham Free Clinic
- Community Tax Law Project
- Rockingham Memorial Hospital Planned Gifts Committee, Chair, 1985
– 1990
- Rockingham Memorial Hospital Foundation, 1984 - 1988
- Bridgewater Healthcare, Inc., 1994 - 2000
- Brethren Benefit Trust, Chair, 1992 - 1998
John W. Flora
90 North Main Street, Suite 201
Harrisonburg, VA 22802
P.O. Box 1287
Harrisonburg, VA 22803
T: 540.437.3111
F: 540.437.3101
email: John W. Flora
Areas of Practice
Bar Admissions
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