FloranceGordonBrown, A Professional Corporation

Fred Bernhardt is a Director of the Firm. He is a member of the Firm’s Business Law, Estate Planning and Administration, and Real Estate Practice Groups.

Education

• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, B.S., Business, 1965
• University of Virginia School of Law, J.D., 1968

Military Service

• U. S. Army Reserve, Judge Advocate General, Major, 1968 to 1980

Work Experience

• Estate Planning
  • Planning for family wealth transfers, including such techniques as:
    • Credit shelter trusts
    • Revocable and irrevocable trusts
    • Crummey trusts
    • Family limited liability companies and partnerships
    • Special needs trusts
    • Generation-skipping trusts
    • Charitable remainder trusts
    • Private foundations
    • Qualified personal residence trusts

• Business Law
  • Advising business clients regarding:
    • Sale and acquisition of assets and stocks
    • Retirement planning
    • Business succession planning

• Commercial Real Estate
  • Advising commercial developers and others regarding:
  • Acquisition, development and financing of shopping centers, office buildings and mixed use developments
  • Selection of entity for real estate acquisition and development, including tax ramifications
  • Restructuring real estate-based financings

Professional Recognition

• Virginia Super Lawyers magazine, “The Top Attorneys in Virginia,” Estate Planning & Probate, 2006 and 2007
• Virginia Business magazine, "Legal Elite," Taxes/Estates/Trusts, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006
• Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory – AV (highest) rating

Professional Affiliations and Memberships

• Member
  • Virginia Bar Association
  • Virginia State Bar
  • Richmond Bar Association
  • Trust Administrators Council of Richmond
    • Former President
  • Private Business Study Group of Richmond
  • Estate Planning Council of Richmond