Larry George

Shareholder
713-752-8614
lgeorge@craincaton.com

Experience

Mr. George has a very active estate planning, business planning and tax practice that includes the representation of individuals, families, privately owned companies and charitable organizations, both in the United States and abroad. Depending upon the issues at hand, the expertise of lawyers from other practice groups in the firm may be included to serve literally all needs of the client.

Mr. George has considerable experience in advising both young and old entrepreneurs and executives on the formation and operation of multi-owner and family owned companies including the issues that arise concerning the transfer of ownership to the next generation and the related tax and estate planning issues. Mr. George has been named by his peers as one of the top lawyers in Houston by H Texas Magazine and has been named as a Super Lawyer by Texas Monthly Magazine.

Representative Experience

Estate Planning

Preparation of traditional Wills, life insurance trusts, revocable trusts as well as powers of attorney, medical directives, and related documents
Devise gift and estate plans to minimize the payment of current or future estate and gift taxes
Develop succession plans for family owned businesses
Develop family entities such as family partnerships, limited liability companies, special-purpose trusts and trusts to direct the management, control and preservation of the family’s assets while minimizing taxes both during lifetime and at death
Charitable planning including the use of trusts and family foundations
Counsel on the benefits of and develop premarital and postmarital agreements for asset protection, succession planning and promoting family harmony

Business and Tax Planning

Structure and negotiate the acquisition or sale of entities or their assets and coordinate with the firm’s specialists in real estate, environmental, employment or securities law matters as appropriate
Develop Buy-Sell Agreements among shareholders to deal with death, divorce, disability and other issues among the owners
Devise succession plans to transfer the business to the next generation of owners or to key employees
Develop key employee agreements to encourage the retention of non-family members in the business
Develop and prepare incentive compensation agreements for key employees
Devise exit strategies for the owners including the sale of the business to family members, key employees and to the third parties in a tax effective and secure manner
Business and tax counsel to entrepreneurs and family owned businesses in the formation and capitalization of new and growing businesses taking into account control issues, management, shareholder agreements and voting agreements
Counsel on the resolution of disputes among the owners of closely-held businesses
Advise and counsel on employee disputes and, as necessary, include lawyers from the Firm’s employment group
Representation before the Internal Revenue Service on tax disputes of all nature
Professional Certifications
Board Certified, Estate Planning and Probate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Press Releases/Honors
Named by Texas Monthly Magazine as a "Super Lawyer"
Named by Texas Monthly Magazine as a "Texas Super Lawyers for the Family and Consumer"
Named by H Texas Magazine as one of the "Top Lawyers in Houston"
Named by H Texas Magazine as "Houston's Top Lawyers for the People"

Representative Community and Civic Activities

Rice University: Athletic Steering Committee; Board of Directors of the Owl Club; Rice Associates
River Oaks Baptist School: Chair, The Legacy Society; Development Committee
St. John’s School Quadrangle Club
City of West University: Long Range Planning Committee