Lentz, Stepanovich, & Bergethon, P.L.C.



448 Viking Drive, Suite 370 Virginia Beach, Virginia 23452 Office - 757.498.7035 Fax - 757.486.6127	Lentz, Stepanovich and Bergethon, P.L.C. ("L.S.B.") is a transactional business law group committed to surrounding small to mid-sized businesses, entrepreneurs and families with exceptional legal counseling and services to: protect their wealth; defend their assets; and preserve their legacies for the generations to come. LSB emphasizes Four Pillars of Practice: Planning (estate and business), property (Commercial and Residential Real Estate and Intellectual Property); Advocacy (Corporate and Personal Civil Litigation), and Constitutional Law. Our Four Pillars: PLANNING (Business and Estate) Practice Group: Stephen D. Lentz; Gregory P. Bergethon, CPA. ; Jennifer Shupert We believe that all good planning (personal, family or business) is a dynamic process and is best accomplished through our clients' having access to an integrated team of professionals. Our task as lawyers is to serve as a part of such a team in the entire planning process. We approach our roles with an appreciation for the importance of other advisors while maintaining both our unique role as lawyers and our commitment to client confidentiality. We render legal counsel in the areas of: Corporate Formation Planning in the crucial selection of the appropriate choice of entity. We also have substantial experience in the formation and ongoing representation of "not for profit" clients (501© 3 and 501©4) including churches, ministries, charities, associations and educational institutions. Business Succession Planning for the drafting of intermediate legal business agreements such as retirement plans, buy/sell agreements, and shareholder agreements. Mergers and Acquisitions from a law group with national and international business experience to assist with due diligence, development and implementation of acquisition and divestiture strategies. Labor and Employment law issues. Franchise and Distribution counsel available at both the Franchisor and Franchisee levels. International Business Law serving our clients needs in the United States and in countries around the world. Estate Planning and the important choice of last direction documents (trust, wills, advance medical directives, powers of attorney) in such a way as to minimize estate taxes and ensure proper disbursement at the appropriate time to the next generation. PROPERTY Practice Group: Stephen D. Lentz, Deborah Spritosanto LSB represents a variety of commercial, industrial, residential, public and nonprofit clients in real estate matters. Firm attorneys take an active role in all aspects of real estate-related transactions, from structuring and performing due diligence to preparing the operative documents. Services provided by the Property Group include: Landlord and Tenant representation. Commercial Real Estate Transactions. Qualifying projects and clients for permanent loan financing. Preparing Operative Documents. Residential Real Estate Transactions. Serving as approved attorneys for major title insurance companies. ADVOCACY Practice Group: Attorney John G. Stepanovich We know the importance of effective and aggressive advocacy in the representation of our clients. We have over two decades of experience that includes litigation and appellate practice at the State and Federal level in both the civil and criminal arenas. Additionally, we have substantial experience appearing before the United States Supreme Court and several State Supreme Courts. Mr. Stepanovich has served as both prosecutor and defense counsel in the area of criminal practice. Our attorneys have substantial litigation experience in the civil practice representing injured parties, businesses and associations at State and federal levels. We have served as counsel to municipalities, universities, churches and charities. We represent clients before administrative agencies, including the Internal Revenue Service. Finally, we have demonstrated business, educational, administrative and not for profit association leadership experience. All of this makes our firm uniquely qualified to effectively represent individual clients, businesses, churches, ministries, campaigns, educational institutions and associations in the courtroom, the Congress, the administrative process, or in their funding endeavors. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW Practice Group: Attorney John G. Stepanovich Our firm is deeply committed to advancing the common good by representing those clients and causes whose efforts are in the public interest and who are in need of effective legal assistance. One of our founding members has extensive experience and is a nationally recognized advocate in constitutional and public interest law. We understand and accept our obligation to advocate on behalf of clients, causes and cases that have experienced a violation of their constitutional rights and freedoms. As a firm we believe it is a privilege to live in a free society and accept, as a solemn responsibility, the need to advocate preserving those freedoms whenever and wherever the need arises on behalf of our clients.