Lenhart Obenshain’s tax attorneys are business lawyers with tax backgrounds, including several with advanced law degrees in taxation and one who is also a certified public accountant. As a result, tax planning is incorporated into every business transaction rather than constituting an after thought or add-on service. We work in close cooperation with the business’ financial and accounting officers and other advisors. Most transactions or events experienced by a growing company, from formation, through financings, employee incentives, technology exploitation and sale, have significant tax implications that must be addressed to maximize operating profits and equity value. Lenhart Obenshain’s attorneys approach every transaction with these implications and the long-term picture in mind.

Our services include:

• Company Formations and Conversions. Lenhart Obenshain’s attorneys have significant experience in the selection of the optimal legal or tax entity form for a particular business, investment or venture, including C or S corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, and business trusts. We also advise and assist existing businesses desiring to convert from one form of entity to another. We also advise clients on the use of multiple legal entities and subsidiaries to achieve various business, liability protection and tax planning goals.
• Mergers and Acquisitions. Our attorneys have significant experience with most types of business mergers and acquisitions, including taxable and tax-free asset and stock sales, stock redemptions, mergers, spin-offs and divestures, reorganizations and recapitalizations. Our tax attorneys regularly advise clients with respect to the tax implications of cash and deferred, contingent or “earnout” payments for stock, payments under consulting and noncompetition agreements, and exchanges of equity securities in one company for those in another.
• Employee Incentives Taxation. We regularly advise clients with regard to the design and administration of employee benefit plans and arrangements for both executives and employees, including qualified and non-qualified employee benefit plans. We assist growing companies in structuring incentive compensation arrangements, deferred compensation plans, stock option and restricted stock plans and agreements. We also assist companies with the establishment of employee stock ownership plans (ESOP’s).
• Wealth Transfer and Estate Planning. Lenhart Obenshain has an extensive practice in advising business owners and investors with respect to estate and gift tax planning and family trust and estate administration. A closely-held business or private equity investment can often constitute one of the most significant assets in an owner or investor’s estate, and early planning regarding the ownership and future disposition of such business or investment is critical to minimizing the impact of estate taxes and family circumstances or dynamics on their value. Business owners and “angel” investors also often have significant wealth, making them good candidates for sophisticated planning vehicles such as charitable trusts and private foundations, and equity discounting vehicles, such as family limited partnerships, grantor retained annuity trusts and family installment sales.

Lenhart Obenshain places a premium on creativity, efficiency, and responsiveness. We offer cost-effective alternatives to the traditional “billable hour” arrangement, including providing a comprehensive business and tax overview for a fixed-fee.

If you need legal advice on business tax and wealth transfer issues contact Jeffrey G. Lenhart at 540.437.3123.