Taylor English W. Dennis (Denny) Summers Leads Firm’s ESOP Practice

Atlanta- December 5, 2011- Behind the expertise of attorney W. Dennis Summers, Atlanta law firm Taylor English Duma LLP becomes a leader in advising companies on Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). Mr. Summers, who joined the firm earlier this year, brings over 30 years of corporate law experience focusing on ownership succession, mergers and acquisitions, and general business law matters. Summers is part of the firm’s growing and impressive Corporate & Business practice group.

“ESOPs are an invaluable option in today’s marketplace for business owners looking for liquidity, diversification, and tax savings,” says Summers. “I advise a wide range of companies seeking to explore their options for selling the business, redistributing ownership, or creating an exit strategy for some of the owners. ESOPs also provide compelling tax benefits, including the ability to create a tax free entity, the opportunity to defer the capital gains taxes on sale of a company’s shares, as well as tax deductions on both principal and interest paid on ESOP loans.

Mr. Summers brings to Taylor English over 30 years of broad experience in a variety of industries, with an emphasis on the healthcare and service industries. He has represented clients in virtually every aspect of ESOP transactions, including corporate ESOP sponsors, ESOP trustees, shareholders, lenders, and buyers and sellers of ESOP companies.

“Denny has the experience and a skill set that are unique and invaluable to the firm. He has been a leader in corporate transactions for over 30 years. The potential to deliver value to our existing and prospective clients is exciting,” says Managing Partner Al Hill.

“Joining Taylor English was a great opportunity for me to bring a much needed skill to a rapidly growing firm,” says Mr. Summers. “Taylor English’s approach to client relationships encourages each of us to be creative, flexible and thorough in how we deliver client solutions. I’m thrilled to be a vital part of this exciting firm as we redefine how law firms help business.”

In addition to the ESOP expertise Mr. Summers brings, Taylor English has recently expanded its Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation practice group with the addition of Don Kohla from King & Spalding. For over 30 years, Mr. Kohla has been representing clients with mergers and acquisitions, employee benefit, and executive compensation plans. His expertise on ERISA and ERISA-related matters and his experience assisting and implementing all types of employee benefit plans has earned him the highest industry honors, including The Best Lawyers in America each year for over 25 years and Super Lawyer every year since its inception in Georgia.

Prior to joining Taylor English, Mr. Summers was a partner in the Atlanta office of McGuire Woods LLP, a national law firm, for eleven years. Prior to 1999, he practiced law with various law firms, including nearly 20 years in his own firm. Before entering private practice, he served as law clerk to the Honorable James C. Hill, U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and as staff counsel to the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities (Watergate Committee).