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Biography

Rick represents privately held companies, families and individuals in corporate, tax and estate planning matters. This has been Rick’s legal focus for nearly 20 years.

On the corporate side, Rick advises owners, directors and executives of closely held companies on an array of matters, ranging from early stage structure and funding, mid stage buy-outs and divorces, to late stage exits. Rick has significant experience in handling all phases of corporate acquisitions, divestitures, mergers and restructures with a focus on the tax implications associated with such transactions. He regularly assists family owned businesses with succession and exit planning, including preparing buy-sell agreements, stock restriction agreements and other internal governance documents. Whereas Rick’s corporate practice is industry diverse, it does tend to have an emphasis on professional service providers in the financial and health care sectors.

On the estate planning side, Rick counsels families and individuals on matters relating to wealth preservation and transfer. Rick has substantial experience in helping clients identify, and tailor a plan to meet, familial goals. Within this framework Rick advises on federal transfer and income taxes, and drafts wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, intentionally defective grantor trusts, asset protection trusts, charitable trusts, family limited partnerships and other estate planning documents. Rick’s practice also includes representing fiduciaries and beneficiaries in the administration of trusts and decedent’s estates.

Other Info About Rick

Experience

Legal Work Highlights

Sale of insurance and benefits agency to strategic buyer.

Sale of payment processing business to financial buyer.

Sale of medical transcription company to public company.

Sale of cardiology practice to public health care company.

Tax-free spin-off of separate line of business from company’s core business.

Purchase of insurance agencies, including owner’s personal goodwill.

Private placement of debt and equity in technology company.

Recapitalization and restructure of company with interstate operations for succession purposes.

Acquisition of controlling interest in family franchise business by second generation.

Represent anesthesiologist in connection with buy-in to practice group.

Limited partnership and dynasty trust creation as part of estate plan.

Represent beneficiaries in sale and other disposition of estate’s ownership interest in several ventures.

Education

Law School

Cumberland School of Law, J.D., 1995
American Juris Prudence Award – Property II
Scholar of Merit Award – Advanced Decedent’s Estates & Trusts

Undergraduate School

Carthage College, B.A., Economics, 1989, cum laude

Bar Memberships

Rick is licensed to practice in the following state(s):

Tennessee, 1995

Recognition

Local & National Recognition

The Best Lawyers in America©, Corporate Law, 2015-2020

Professional Affiliations

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

Tennessee Bar Association, Tax Law Section

Nashville Bar Association

Civic Activities

Civic & Charitable Organizations

Miracle League of Music City, Director

West Nashville Sports League, Director

Hearing Solutions International, Director

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