Reaping the Rewards - Helping Your Clients Build, Preserve, and Realize Value in Their Companies (from Annual Virginia Conference on Federal Taxation 2015) (Online Seminar)

A pre-recorded streaming VIDEO replay of one session from the June 2015 live seminar, 67th Annual Virginia Conference on Federal Taxation.

As the Baby Boomer generation begins to retire, many business owners need to transition ownership and control of their businesses to others, such as family members, the management team, or an outside buyer. This process presents unique risks and challenges that can endanger the health of the business and the owner’s ability to achieve his or her personal goals. This session explores tax strategies, business succession, and exit planning for privately held companies and its integration with personal financial planning and wealth management.

FACULTY

J. Benjamin English, Hirschler Fleischer / Richmond

Ben English is a Partner in the Business Section of Hirschler Fleischer, PC, where he helps growing companies develop practical solutions to legal issues. Mr. English brings to client relationships a wealth of experience to help clients evaluate strategic opportunities, think creatively, and manage risk while preserving opportunity.  He works closely with company management to understand their business strategy and tailor legal strategy accordingly.  He advises clients on business plans, capital structure, financing, shareholder agreements, employee compensation and benefits and intellectual property matters.  Mr. English assists clients with relationships and transactions that contribute to their growth, such as private equity and venture capital financings, mergers and acquisitions, technology licensing and strategic partnerships.  He also advises clients on business succession strategies ranging from transition of management and ownership to the next generation in a family business to the sale of a company to a financial or strategic buyer.

Mr. English received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University and his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.

L. Michael Gracik, Jr., Keiter / Glen Allen

Mr. Gracik is the Managing Partner at Keiter and works in the tax services group which consists of over 50 tax professionals. Mr. Gracik’s clients benefit from his 39 years of experience and tax insights. His client's include closely-held businesses in the real estate, home building, manufacturing, construction, retail and wholesale industries. He also serves many estates, trusts and foundations.  Mr. Gracik also provides tax planning and tax consulting services to the Firm’s private equity fund clients.  

Mr. Gracik has significant knowledge and experience in planning and structuring acquisitions and sales of businesses, succession planning, executive compensation and benefit programs, estate planning and administration, tax issues of non-profit organizations, and tax planning for businesses and their owners. He is a frequent presenter on the topics of succession planning and exit strategies.

Mr. Gracik serves as co-director of The Annual Virginia Conference on Federal Taxation.  He served as chairman and member of the Individual Taxation Committee of the AICPA. Mr. Gracik is a member of the Advisory of the VCU Massey Cancer Center and served as chairman of the Board from 2003-2006.