EDUCATION:
College of William and Mary School of Law
Williamsburg, Virginia
Masters of Law in Taxation, 1981
J.D., 1980
College of William and Mary
Williamsburg, Virginia
B.A., 1977
ADMISSIONS:
Virginia
MEMBERSHIPS:
- Virginia State Bar
- Virginia State Bar, Committee on Nominations to Virginia Commissions & Appellate Courts, 2008 - 2010
- Virginia State Bar, Chair, Tax Section, 1997 – 1999
- American Bar Association, Tax Section
- Harrisonburg-Rockingham Bar Association, President, 1994
- American Agricultural Law Associaton
John W. Flora
Shareholder
Harrisonburg
Phone: 540-437-3111
E-mail: jwf@lolawfirm.com
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At Lenhart Obenshain
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, farm succession 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 and farm succession, and estate planning and administration.
Experience
CASE RESULTS DEPEND ON A VARIETY OF FACTORS UNIQUE TO EACH CASE AND DO NOT GUARANTEE OR PREDICT A SIMILAR RESULT IN ANY FUTURE CASE.
- 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.
Recognitions
- Best Lawyers in America®
Trusts and Estates - 2012 - "Legal Elite," Virginia Business Magazine
Taxes/Trusts/Estates - 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008
Taxes/Estates/Trusts/Elder Law - 2009, 2010 and 2011 - "Virginia Super Lawyers," Law & Politics Magazine
Tax - 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 - AV®* Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®*
More than Lenhart Obenshain
Mr. Flora has been a member of the Bridgewater Church of the Brethren since the commencement of his legal career. He has been active in the local church, and at the district and denominational level, including a ten year stint as a member of the denomination’s Brethren Benefit Trust, serving as chair for six of those years.
He just finished helping fund raise a new Brethren charitable enterprise to preserve the John Kline Homestead in Broadway, Virginia. Now he is helping Brethren Woods with a capital campaign.
Mr. Flora and his family have preserved and maintained an 1820s historic home on the North River. Yard and maintenance work provides a much needed break from the mental rigors of a law practice.
Mr. Flora also enjoys snow skiing and sporting events. He is a fan of Penn State Football, North Carolina Basketball, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
- Blue Ridge Community College Foundation, Chair, 2003-2006
- Harrisonburg/Rockingham Free Clinic, 2000-2008
- Community Tax Law Project, Board Member
- Rockingham Memorial Hospital Planned Gifts Committee, Chair, 1985–1990
- Rockingham Memorial Hospital Foundation, 1984 - 1988
- Bridgewater Health Care, Inc., Chair
- Brethren Benefit Trust, Chair, 1992 - 1998
- Shenandoah Telecommunications Co., Board Member
*AV® Preeminent™ and BV® Distinguished™ are certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell is the facilitator of a peer review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the Bar and the Judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings fall into two categories - legal ability and general ethical standards.
Legal Assistant
Maxine Arey
540-437-3122
marey@lolawfirm.com
Paralegal
Paula Patterson
540-437-3121
ppatterson@lolawfirm.com
Areas of Practice
Business Law
Tax Law
Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestitures
Trusts and Estates
Probate
Agricultural Law