Randolph Smith – Partner
Randy concentrates in the areas of Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), general
corporate, ERISA tax, finance, mergers and acquisitions and international matters.
With respect to ESOPs, Randy represents companies, ESOP trustees, selling shareholders
and lenders in multi-million dollar leveraged ESOP buyouts. He has extensive
experience with C corporation and S corporation ESOPs and related corporate
restructurings and financings.
Having previously worked in Buenos Aires, Argentina, for the business law firm Munoz de
Toro & Munoz de Toro and in the international practice of one of the world’s largest law
firms, Randy has extensive experience with international transactions, and in particular
handling matters in Spanish and Portuguese.
Education:
University of South Carolina, Masters of International Business (MIBS). 1 999
Institute Tecnologico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Mexico, 1999
Georgia State University College of Law; J.D .. 1997
Washington & Lee University; B.A., English and Spanish, 1993
Quentin R. Lynch – Partner
“Que” is a transactional business attorney with significant experience counseling business
clients in legal matters, involving sales and acquisitions, closely held company
transactions. corporate financing transactions, and commercial transactions. Que
focuses his practice particularly in the areas of private company M&A, ESOP formations,
business entity structuring and commercial contract negotiations.
Que holds a Juris Doctorate from the Mercer University, Walter F. George School of
Law and a Baccalaureate Degree in Finance with distinction from Morehouse College.
Honors & Awards
- George W. Woodruff Scholar, Mercer University Law School
- Moot Court Board Member, Mercer University Law School
- Cali Award in Corporat e Drafting and Corporate Issues Seminar, Mercer University Law
School - The State Bar of Georgia Young Lawyers Division Leadership Academy, 2009
Benjamin D. Ellis – Attorney
Ben engages in the general representation of corporate clients primarily in the practice
areas of corporate law, contracts law, banking and finance, real estate transactions, ERISA
and general employment law. Ben also has substantial experience practicing in the
areas of trusts, estates and probate law. Ben focuses his practice particularly in the
areas of ESOP formations, commercial contract negotiations, employee benefits and
executive compensation. and general corporate representation.
Ben graduated from the Georgia State University School of law u.o. 1997). where he
was a member of the Law Review, and from the University of Virginia (B.A. 1991 ), where he
majored in Philosophy.
Karen Reschly – Attorney
Karen’s practice involves transactional tax, general corporate, mergers and acquisitions, international transactions and private equity. As a member of the firm’s ESOP transaction team, Karen employs her expertise to create tax-efficient reorganization and transaction structures which optimize post-
closing company cash flow efficiency.
Karen also has over ten years of experience in the world of timberland investment. She has expertise in developing tax-efficient structured international investment funds and accounts and substantial experience representing domestic and foreign-based investment managers. In this regard, her
clients have included TIMO’s, governmental, tax-exempt and foreign institutional investors, family offices and alternative investment managers.
Additionally, Karen has overseen the execution of dozens of transactions for the formation, acquisition, capitalization, disposition and liquidation of structured timberland investments in Central and South America, Central Europe and the Baltics, South Africa, and the U.S.
Leadership: Program Vice- Chair, Forest Resources Committee, American Bar Association, 2017-2019.
Education:
University of Florida, B.A., with honors, 2000
Florida State University, J.D. with honors, 2005
University of Florida, LL.M. (Tax), Graduate Tax Scholar,
2006
Publications:
● Co-Author, The Definitive Guide to Investing in
Timberland, PEI Media, 2010
Shawna Corman – Attorney