David Kern
Partner
Business Law
Taxation
Nonprofit Law
Employee Benefits
Trusts & Estates
Foundation Law
Health & Medicine
International Business Law

Practice Area And Professional Expertise

• Joined the Firm as an associate attorney in 1996. Mr. Kern was elected partner in 1999. He served as Co-Chair of the Business Practice Group from 2000 through 2006.
  
• Listed: The Best Lawyers in America® 2003 – 2010 editions.
  
  
• Named as ‘Akron Best Lawyers' Corporate Lawyer of the Year ’ for 2009.
  
  
• Recognized as one of Ohio's Super Lawyers™ in 2004 - 2010, as voted by his peers.
  
  
• Recognized as one of the “Top Attorneys in Business Services” (Tax) in the 2009 Corporate Counsel Edition of Super Lawyers™
  
  
• Martindale-Hubbell Rating of AV, which indicates very high to pre-eminent legal ability and very high ethical standards as established by confidential opinions from members of the Bar.
  
  
• Mr. Kern has experience in the following areas:
  
  
  • Corporate mergers and acquisitions
    
  • Private equity and venture capital transactions
    
  • Corporate reorganizations
    
  • General corporate representation
    
  • Corporate fundraising though debt and equity instruments
    
  • Tax planning
    
  • Representing closely-held businesses, start-up technology companies and physician groups
    
  • Planning and reorganizing for-profit and not-for-profit entities
    
  • Consulting and designing, Employee Stock Ownership and deferred compensation plans
    
  • Sophisticated estate planning, and succession planning for individuals with particular expertise in closely-held businesses and their owners
    
  • Analyzing and implementing charitable planning to effectuate corporate dispositions
    
  • Designing family limited partnerships and limited liability companies

  Education
  Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, D.C. (LL.M. in Taxation, 1992)
  Capital University Law School, Columbus, Ohio (J.D., with honors, 1990)
  The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio (B.S.B.A., 1990)
  Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana (B.S., 1983)
  Universite Libre de Bruxelle, French language (1983-1984)

  Courts & Bar Associations
  Ohio Bar (1990)
  Pennsylvania Bar (1992, Inactive)
  U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania
  U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
  Member: American Bar Association
  Member: Ohio State Bar Association
  Member: Akron Bar Association

  Professional & Civic Affiliations
  Board of Advisors: Akron Council on World Affairs
  Trustee: Stewart's Caring Place
  Trustee: Humane Society of Greater Akron Foundation
  Member: Akron Tax and Estate Planning Council
  Member: City of Akron Holocaust Commemoration Committee
  Graduate: Leadership Ohio
  Completed C.P.A. Examination