Lynn K. Suter practices business law, representing corporate and institutional clients, as well as small business, emerging growth, professional service and nonprofit clients. Ms. Suter has significant transactional experience with both public corporations and closely-held businesses, representing clients on the buy or sale side of hundreds of deals.  From business and capital formation and the addition or withdrawal of owners, to mergers, acquisitions, business reorganizations, financings, divestitures and business separations, Ms. Suter has the technical knowledge and business understanding to guide owners and managers through their business’ life cycle. 

Experience:

• Substantial transactional experience with values ranging from hundreds of thousands to hundreds of millions of dollars, including sale of the largest southeast processor and marketer of branded apple products (“White House” apple products) and the sales of nationally ranked poultry companies in separate transactions (Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation acquisition of WLR Foods, Inc. and Cargill Incorporated acquisition of Rocco Enterprises, Inc.)
• Formation of 120-member poultry cooperative involving multi-million dollar private capitalization (sale of common and preferred securities), bank financing and grant funding in less than six months; formation and capitalization of organic wood products cooperative; formation of organic foods company
• Incorporation/organization of businesses and professional service firms (i.e., physicians, architects, engineers), including supporting owners in formulating and drafting their agreements with respect to ownership, management and employment
• Purchase and/or sale of franchise businesses, including restaurants, convenience stores, car dealerships
• Negotiation of business and professional service firm separations and dissolutions, including division of assets, settlement of liabilities, and noncompete covenants
• Private placements and associated federal and state securities filings (Reg D and blue sky) related to capital formation of start up and existing businesses, including $30 million private placement of subordinated convertible preferred stock
• Prepared and filed S-3, S-4 and S-8 registration statements under Securities Act of 1933 in connection with stock issuances, including secondary offerings, business combinations and equity incentive plans, and 10Q, 10K and other periodic reports under Securities Act of 1934
• Incorporation of nonprofit organizations, including churches, and assistance with associated tax and charitable organization filings
• Several years of teaching college and graduate courses in business law and organizational governance, including the impact of Sarbanes Oxley Act on corporate governance
• Executive Assistant to President of Bridgewater College, 1998-2000. Position included serving as College’s Personnel Officer
• Service in Nepal through Mennonite Board of Missions and United Missions to Nepal, 1995-1998

Honors and Awards:

• "Legal Elite," Virginia Business Magazine, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
•  BV* Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell ®

Education

• Washington and Lee University School of Law, Lexington, Virginia
  J.D. with Honors, 1986
• Honors: Omicron Delta Kappa, Burks Scholar, Law Review: Washington & Lee Law Review, Contributor, 1984 - 1985
• James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia
  B.A. with Honors, 1983

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Blue Ridge Community College Foundation, Board Member
• Bridgewater Healthcare, Inc., Board Member
• Eastern Mennonite High School, Board Member
• Virginia Bar Association, Member, Business Law Section
• American Bar Association, Member
• Harrisonburg-Rockingham County Bar Association, Member, Secretary, 1993-1994
• Eastern Mennonite School, Board Chair

*CV, BV and AV are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies.