1. Law Firm of the Month
Life Can Be Complicated...
And simplifying the “complicated” is where we stand out!
MendenFreiman LLP
By Beverly Molander
George D. Menden
Haigwood Studios Photography
Lawrence (Larry) H. Freiman
C
ofounding partner, George Menden, describes wanted to work with larger businesses he would have to learn to
MendenFreiman this way, “MendenFreiman LLP is a read financial statements; and where better to learn that skill than
boutique law firm with practice specialties in business as an accounting major at Brigham Young University. He began
formation, representation and transactions, estate planning his career as a certified public accountant with Ernst & Young,
and estate administration. Our clients are affluent individuals, focusing on the accounting and tax complexities of mergers
families and business owners. They hire us because we are and acquisitions, until he received his Juris Doctor, cum laude,
uniquely able to navigate highly complex issues that can have a from Brigham Young in 1985. He then joined Alston & Bird as
long-term impact on their businesses and their families.” an attorney specializing in corporate transactions and finance.
Menden feels he had been preparing to run his own law firm Returning to E&Y to head up their new personal financial
since before he graduated from high school. While growing up planning initiative out of three offices, he also taught estate and
with a father who owned several businesses, he realized if he gift tax to E&Y employees. He returned to law when he joined a
Vol. 2 Issue 1 Attorney at Law Magazine® Metro Atlanta | 15

2. Boutique Law Firm of the Month
midsize Atlanta law firm in 1989. planning lawyer due to the complexities “Since all our lawyers have strong tax,
After Menden started his own firm of the client’s circumstances. Margaret accounting and financial backgrounds,
years later, the practice got too busy to was overcome with the enormity of her there is an opportunity to analyze each
handle on his own. He took the bold move situation and the loss of her husband. But client situation from a number of points
of hiring an industrial psychologist to help “Long Island” Larry and “south Georgia” of view,” Freiman says. “We think of
him find the right partner, and Lawrence Margaret got along spectacularly. “We ourselves as tax geeks who not only relish
(Larry) Freiman was at the top of the list. work a lot with clients in sensitive places the opportunity to apply what we know
Freiman graduated first in his class with a who are dealing with real-life issues,” to solving complex client problems but to
J.D./M.B.A. from the University of Florida says Freiman. “We are able to guide nice do that in a caring and supportive way.”
in 1993. He received his Bachelor of Arts people like Margaret through an intricate Case in point: MendenFreiman
in economics, magna cum laude, from maze of laws, rules and administrative represented a client in a transaction
University at Albany-SUNY in 1989. procedures that can have a long-term with a public company that was formed
Menden and Freiman had crossed paths effect on the well-being of their family to acquire accounting practices and
years before as Menden was finishing his and business.” When it was time for the consulting practices. When the firm
tenure at the midsize law firm Freiman final office conference for the project, received transaction documents from
had joined as a summer clerk. They had Margaret placed a brown bag down on the the large Philadelphia law firm that
been mentored by the same lawyer at conference table and said, “Larry, this is represented the public company,
the firm and had similar philosophies for you.” The thank-you present was a jar Menden saw clearly that the financial
as to the type of practice they wanted to
build. Coupled with the entrepreneurial Freiman says, “We think of ourselves
spirit that both possessed and a as tax geeks who not only relish the
significant overlap in their experiences,
the combination was a perfect match.
opportunity to apply what we know to
MendenFreiman LLP celebrated its 15th solving complex client problems but to do
anniversary last year. The difference in age that in a caring and supportive way.”
(Menden is ten years older) and religious
beliefs (Menden is Mormon and Freiman of Margaret’s muscadine preserves. There covenants and tax provisions did not fit
is Jewish) helps to broaden the reach and was something else in the bag – a second his client’s situation. The Philadelphia
strengthen the bond that is based on jar of preserves for a paralegal at the firm firm argued that there had been 63 other
intelligence, knowledge, human value, who had worked closely with Margaret on cases handled in this particular manner
ethics – and zeal. so many issues over those long months. and would not budge on the issues.
A former Mormon Bishop, Menden To Menden and Freiman, this little act The public company stood by their law
holds compassion and respect in high carried a big message – clients feel cared firm. Menden remarks, “By appreciating
regard; and he has built the firm around for at every level of the firm. This became certain tax consequences and accounting
these core values. To Freiman, the firm’s the firm’s “muscadine preserve” story. principles uniquely applicable to our
attention to client care is exemplified in its client’s situation, we were able to secure
“muscadine preserve” story – providing Distinctively Different millions more for our client.”
sage estate- and tax- planning advice While the firm specializes in When another MendenFreiman client
with a mix of TLC. A south Georgia business formation, representation wanted to purchase an oil distributorship,
woman in her late 70s, whose husband and transactions, estate planning and the firm saw an opportunity to structure
of 50 years had recently passed away, was estate administration, both partners the transaction differently. The client was
referred to Freiman by another estate- agree – the more complex the better. also purchasing separate transportation
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3. Haigwood Studios Photography
Estate Planning and Estate Administration Team. From L to R (standing): Megan L. Richards, Bridget W. Christian, Amanda H. Klier, Amanda P. McDaniel. From L to
R (sitting): Paige P. Baker, Anne H. Goehring
assets and a trucking
business, all with different
“We stay in our own areas of passion and because there were many
human pieces on the
kinds of liabilities attached. expertise. We have relationships with chessboard. Menden was
“We resolved disparate other specialty firms and we are quick to able to navigate the family
issues – created separate
LLCs and restructured the
refer work that can be best handled by dynamics to restructure
the family business:
purchase and transaction others. “In the end, our focus is always keeping creditors at bay,
– and positioned the client on excellent and cost-effective work for selecting properties to sell,
to save millions of dollars
in eventual estate taxes,”
our clients,” says Menden. and, finally, emerging with
a 21st-century company
Menden explains. structure that would mean a positive cash flow for the company
But it’s not just about moving businesses around like pieces on a and the family for decades to come.
chessboard to win – there are real people behind those companies. Menden is quick to point out that the firm has significant
For instance, a real-estate magnate had built a tremendous industry expertise with clients who are automotive dealers,
company. However, with the recession, the company was franchisees, manufacturers, distributors and professional
hemorrhaging money; and the magnate was in advancing stages services practices. However, there is a limit to what they will take
of Alzheimer’s. The wife came to Menden for advice on the entire on. “We stay in our own areas of passion and expertise. We have
situation. The process involved a lot of empathy and counseling relationships with other specialty firms, and we are quick to refer
Vol. 2 Issue 1 Attorney at Law Magazine® Metro Atlanta | 17

4. At A Glance
MendenFreiman LLP
Two Ravinia Drive, Suite 1200, Atlanta, GA 30346
www.mendenfreiman.com
Ph: (770) 379-1450
• Co-Founders – George D. Menden and Lawrence H. Freiman
o Year - 1997
• Practice Areas – Business Formation, Representation and
Transactions, Estate Planning and Estate Administration
• Community/Civic Involvement
o Ravinia Club Board of Governors (Lawrence H. Freiman)
Haigwood Studios Photography o Georgia Eye Bank, Inc. (Paige P. Baker)
Business Formation, Representation and Transactions Team. From L to R o Atlanta Junior League (Megan L. Richards, Rebecca J. Barnes)
(standing): Bridget W. Christian, Megan L. Richards, Allison S. Cook. From L to o Technology Association of Georgia (Allison S. Cook)
R (sitting): Rebecca J. Barnes, Paige P. Baker.
o Zoo Atlanta (Rebecca J. Barnes)
work that can be best handled by others. In the end, our focus is • Memberships
always on excellent and cost-effective work for our clients,” says o American Bar Association (Lawrence H. Freiman, Bridget W.
Menden. Christian)
While the lawyers and staff are the backbone of the o Georgia Bar Association (George D. Menden, Lawrence H. Frei-
organization, internal operations and technology provide the man, Megan L. Richards, Janet E. Fortune, Bridget W. Christian,
Paige P. Baker, Amanda H. Klier, Allison S. Cook)
efficiency that is so important to getting the job done in a cost-
o Atlanta Bar Association (Lawrence H. Freiman, Bridget W.
effective manner. Freiman continues, “We have a state-of-the-art,
Christian, Megan L. Richards, Amanda H. Klier, Allison S. Cook)
client-tailored document-production system that saves time and o Estate Planning Council of North Georgia (Lawrence H.
money. The efficiency and cost effectiveness of this system have Freiman, Bridget W. Christian, Megan L. Richards)
earned excellent client reviews and are among the hallmarks of o Atlanta Estate Planning Council (Lawrence H. Freiman,
our practice.” Paige P. Baker)
o Decatur/DeKalb Estate Planning Council (Janet E. Fortune)
Up to the Challenge - Avoiding the 2013 Fiscal Cliff o Society of Financial Services Professionals (Lawrence H.
For a law firm dedicated to estate planning for highly Freiman)
successful individuals, the end of 2012 was a particularly exciting o American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (George D.
time; and the entire staff worked feverishly to make sure clients Menden)
o Lawyer’s Club of Atlanta (George D. Menden, Lawrence H.
took advantage of year-end planning opportunities. Before
Freiman)
January 1, 2013, there was an expiring opportunity to transfer
o Georgia Association of Women Lawyers (Allison S. Cook)
wealth to successive generations. Although Congress pulled
the country back from the brink of the fiscal cliff at the literal • Awards
eleventh hour, it is likely that in the foreseeable future favorable o Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory ‘AV Preeminent’ (George D.
interest rates, at lows not seen in our lifetimes, will almost Menden, Lawrence H. Freiman, Janet E. Fortune)
surely increase; charitable deductions may be severely limited; o Five Star Wealth Manager (George D. Menden)
o Georgia Trend Legal Elite (George D. Menden, Lawrence H.
valuation discounts for family-controlled businesses and other
Freiman, Janet E. Fortune, Paige P. Baker)
effective wealth-transfer and tax-minimization strategies may be
o Georgia Super Lawyers (George D. Menden, Lawrence H. Frei-
legislated or regulated away. Menden confirms, “Our firm put in man, Janet E. Fortune)
long hours to protect our clients and create a happy, wealthy New o Georgia Super Lawyers Rising Stars (Paige P. Baker, Megan L.
Year for all of them.” Richards)
18 www.AttorneyAtLawMagazine.com