TAMPA, FL – The law firm of Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP is pleased to announce that Julio C. Esquivel, William R. Swindle, and Gregory C. Yadley, partners in the Tampa office, along with Cherry Bekaert & Holland, LLP and Bernstein Global Wealth Management, presented “Maximizing Returns in M&A Transactions” February 7, 2012 at the Palma Ceia Golf & Country Club in Tampa.

Mr. Esquivel focuses his practice in corporate, securities, franchise and general business matters. He has significant experience with a wide variety of transaction structures across a broad range of industries, including handling matters for entrepreneurs, start up companies, established private companies, and public companies. Mr. Esquivel’s experience includes advising public and private companies in connection with corporate governance matters and ’34 Act reporting obligations, including compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, as well as advising clients on matters relating to the formation of new businesses (structure, governance and related issues), with extensive experience representing start-up and growth stage enterprises. Mr. Esquivel received his J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, and his B.S. from the University of Florida.

Mr. Yadley has extensive experience representing business entities of all sizes, including closely-held and family businesses and large and small public companies. He regularly represents these clients in financing transactions, mergers and acquisitions, contract negotiations and disputes, strategic planning, legal compliance and general corporate matters. He also has extensive experience in securities matters, including advising clients with regard to their private and public offerings of securities (including initial public offerings) and their ongoing disclosure obligations. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Florida Levin College of Law, a frequent lecturer and contributor to legal periodicals, Co-Editor of The Florida Bar Florida Corporate Practice Manual, Co-Director of the annual Federal Securities Institute and a Moderator for the SEC Government-Business Forum on Small Business Capital Formation. Mr. Yadley was also named to Florida Legal Elite©, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005 and 2004 Florida Trend Magazine (top 1.6% of Florida lawyers); The Best Lawyers in America®, Corporate Law, 2005 – 2012; Florida Super Lawyer, and Florida Top 100 Lawyer, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006; Tampa Bay's Best Lawyers, 2011, 2010, 2009 and 2008; and 20 Most Influential Lawyers in Tampa Bay 2005, Tampa Bay Business Journal. Mr. Yadley is AV® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell. He is incoming Chairman of the American Bar Association’s Middle Market and Small Business Committee. Mr. Yadley received his J.D., with honors, from George Washington University and his B.A., cum laude, from Dartmouth College.

Mr. Swindle is Board Certified by the Florida Board of Legal Specialization and Education in both Tax and in Wills, Trusts & Estates. He also serves as the Co-Chair of the Tax and Employee Benefits Department. Mr. Swindle has extensive experience in the areas of estate planning and probate administration and federal and state tax matters. He represents taxpayers in connection with individual, corporate, partnership, estate and gift and trust tax matters, including planning and controversy resolution at the federal and state level. Mr. Swindle served as the National Tax Director and a Senior Vice President with Wachovia Wealth Management where he provided technical expertise to members of the Financial Planning Group, assisted Wachovia’s highest net worth clients, and spoke and authored articles to raise the awareness of Wachovia among tax and estate planning professionals. Prior to joining Wachovia, Mr. Swindle was also a shareholder in the law firm of Kalish & Ward, P.A. and served as chairman of that firm’s Tax and Estate Planning Department. Mr. Swindle is AV® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell. He has authored numerous articles on tax and estate planning matters published in law reviews and bar publications and is a frequent lecturer on tax and estate planning topics. Mr. Swindle also serves on the Editorial Board of Practical Tax Strategies, a monthly national tax publication.

* * *

Founded in 1925, Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP is a full service law firm with over 220 attorneys practicing in Toledo and Columbus, Ohio; Tampa and Sarasota, Florida; and Charlotte, North Carolina.