Cassie Ashman

Epiphany Law, LLC Advises Tundraland on Acquisition of Renewal by Anderson.

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Epiphany Law is pleased to announce that it represented Tundraland, a Kaukauna-based home improvement business, in the acquisition of the Milwaukee window company, Renewal by Anderson.

Tundraland Home Improvements LLC, which operates in Wisconsin and Arizona, announced the acquisition Wednesday, Dec 2, 2020. Tundraland is the parent company of Jacuzzi Bath Remodel of Wisconsin, Decks in a Day, Jacuzzi Bath Remodel of Arizona and Renewal by Anderson of Greater Milwaukee.

As a result of the acquisition, Tundraland will expand its workforce in the Milwaukee area. Tundraland said the company plans to add more than 100 new jobs in the Milwaukee area in the upcoming months.

“Renewal by Andersen of Milwaukee has a 20-year ‘Best in Class’ track record for delighting their customers,” said Brian Gottlieb, CEO and founder of Tundraland, in a news release

“They have a culture of excellence, which makes them a great fit. Like all the markets we serve, we’re excited to bring a unique and impactful level of community outreach to Milwaukee that makes us more than just a home improvement company; instead, a brand that’s woven into the fabric of the community.”

Tundraland, a privately held company, has more than 400 employees. It has its headquarters and a showroom in Kaukauna with another showroom in Wausau. Tundraland operates production facilities in McFarland and Pewaukee.

Epiphany Law Partner, Rob Macklin led the deal team, which also included Partner Katie Blom, as well as Associate Shane Anderson.

 

Media Contact:

Epiphany Law, LLC

Shannon Daniels

Marketing Director

sdaniels@epiphanylaw.com

920.996.0000

www.epiphanylaw.com

Attorney Mike Bendel

Epiphany Law is Proud to Welcome Michael Bendel

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Epiphany Law, LLC, is pleased to announce that Attorney Michael Bendel has joined the firm. Mike is an experienced intellectual property attorney, bringing over 25 years of experience advising clients of all sizes on intellectual property matters including trademarks and service marks, copyrights, patents and trade secrets. Serving businesses and entrepreneurs, Mike is a registered patent attorney with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office since 1996 and has secured hundreds of patents, trademarks and copyright registrations.

Mike’s passion for helping businesses and entrepreneurs aligns directly with Epiphany Law’s mission to “positively impact lives through education, empowerment and an innovative approach to solving problems.” Epiphany Law’s managing partner, Kevin Eismann said, “A strategic IP plan can help drive business success. Our clients can benefit from having all their business needs under one roof.”

Mike earned his J.D. from The John Marshall Law School, in Chicago, IL and his undergraduate from St. Norbert College, De Pere, WI.

 

Epiphany Law, LLC represents Security Door & Hardware Co. and Security Builder’s Supply Co. on their sale to CIH

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Epiphany Law LLC is pleased to announce the successful sale of its client, Security Door & Hardware Co. and Security Builders Supply Co. to Central Indiana Hardware, Inc. (CIH).

Security Door & Hardware (SDH) and Security Builders Supply (SBS) provide full Division 8 commercial door and hardware products through four IL locations. The companies will continue to operate under the Security Door & Hardware and Security Builders Supply names as divisions of CIH.

Russ Benson, a member of the founding family said, “We are proud of our accomplishments and feel that CIH will only expand on the legacy our family began.”  Tim Johnson, VP and General Manager of SBS added, “Being part of the Security family has been a fulfilling and educational part of my career and I am proud of what our team has accomplished. I now look forward to a new family team at CIH to grow and expand services to our longtime customers.”

“I have been a part of a great team of individuals and am very proud of what we have been able to accomplish together. We welcome the opportunity to provide additional offerings to our clients over time and are confident that we will improve on the excellent service they have come to expect. Becoming a part of CIH will allow us to better serve our customers in all aspects of the business,” said Greg Rolnicki, VP and General Manager of SDH.

“We are excited to welcome Security Door & Hardware and Security Builders Supply to the CIH family,” said Ron Couch, President & CEO of CIH. “As a company focused on delivering exceptional customer service through innovative programs, we are excited to support the SDH & SBS teams with resources to expand opportunities and accelerate growth in their market.”

“We were thrilled to be able to help the companies transition to new ownership while maintaining their core values,” said Rob Macklin, a Partner at Epiphany Law.  He added, “We think that Epiphany has one of the best track records – and best legal teams – in the country for helping small to mid-sized family businesses maximize their value in a sale or recapitalization, while maintaining the culture that they’ve worked so hard to achieve.”

Epiphany Law, LLC, served as legal counsel to Security Door & Hardware and Security Builders Supply. WCF Advisors, LLC, acted as exclusive financial advisor in connection with the sale.

 

We’re Growing – Proudly Introducing Epiphany Law’s New Partnership Team

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Epiphany Law is proud to be “Just Different.” We’ve never operated like a traditional law firm. Instead, we’ve always taken steps to make sure the firm’s and client’s incentives are aligned. Epiphany Law’s mission is to help families, business owners and entrepreneurs achieve their goals. We’re proud to announce our partnership team is growing. This growth will better empower Epiphany Law to live out our mission.

Epiphany Law is now co-owned by attorneys Kevin Eismann, Katie Blom, Heather Macklin and Rob Macklin. All attorneys are equal partners in the practice and share ownership responsibilities. Over the last 15 years, Epiphany has proven to be an innovative leader in serving the business community and individuals in northeast Wisconsin.

Kevin Eismann explains, “Epiphany Law started as a boutique firm, giving us the flexibility to offer our clients more time and attention. We took a different approach than the other, big law firms. We created genuine partnerships with our clients and worked together to achieve their business goals. None of that has, or will change. But, over the past 15 years, the business community has changed. It’s evolved. There’s more talent, better technology and stiffer competition. We’ve evolved too. Epiphany Law’s new partnership model gives our clients more options and resources. It better empowers our clients to succeed in today’s business landscape.”

Meet the Partners

Rob Macklin 

Rob Macklin has over 20 years of experience offering businesses top-notch legal service and practical, actionable advice. Rob started with Epiphany Law in July of 2019 and in his previous roles he served as General Counsel to several successful companies, ranging from $5 million to $1 billion in global revenue. In addition, Rob took time from his legal career to serve with the US Navy as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, running intelligence operations for SEAL Team 8. As a trained lawyer, small business owner and Department of Defense certified interrogator, Rob’s diverse skill set can help you navigate any challenge your business may face.

Heather Macklin

Heather Macklin is an experienced commercial litigator and joined Epiphany Law in 2018. Over the last 20 years, Heather has represented clients across a broad spectrum of industries, including financial institutions, construction, real estate developers and small, closely held corporations. Heather understands that corporations are not in the business of litigation, but sometimes litigation is unavoidable.  When commercial disputes do arise, she believes in a pro-active, focused and well-prepared strategy, designed with the goal of finding a practical and economic resolution, so her clients can quickly get back to their primary business objectives. When early resolution cannot be achieved, however, she will diligently and aggressively represent her clients’ best interests.

Kathryn Blom

Katie Blom is a business attorney and trusted legal adviser and has served as a partner at Epiphany Law since 2013. Katie has a proven track record of putting her clients in the best position possible and she enjoys the challenge of using her legal skills to help clients achieve their goals. A large portion of Katie’s practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions as well as business transition planning. Katie has been an essential part of Epiphany Law’s success in the past and in her new role, she will ensure Epiphany Law continues to live out its mission and values while pursuing excellence.

Attorney Kevin L. Eismann

 Kevin Eismann is the founding partner at Epiphany Law. As a business owner, Certified Exit Planning Advisor, as well as an attorney, he brings a unique, multi-point perspective to his clients that’s invaluable. Kevin enjoys building comprehensive strategies that protect his client’s long-term best interests. Kevin understands the true talent of an advisor is in understanding not only the legal issues, but also how the legal issues fit into the business as a whole.  Kevin’s approach to the law has set Epiphany apart from other, traditional law firms. As Epiphany Law continues to grow and evolve, Kevin’s vision for superior client service will remain the same.

Partnering Together to Fight Breast Cancer

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Pictured Above: Epiphany Law team at the Real Men Wear Pink Guest Bartending Event

I often say moving to northeast Wisconsin was one of the best decisions I’ve made. It has been a great place to raise my five boys, make a career and a home. There is a real partnership between the public and business community here and I am proud to be a member of both. Good corporate citizenship is important, that’s one of the reasons I was excited to participate in The Real Men Wear Pink campaign supporting northeast Wisconsin’s American Cancer Society (ACS).

Over the years, several of my friends, clients and employees have been affected by cancer. Research from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services tells us that 1 in 8 women will get breast cancer at one point in their lives.

Because of the donations given to the ACS, they can continue their important work. Here’s just a few examples of what they’ve accomplished so far.
  • $59M invested in breast cancer research grants
  • 5M free rides have been provided to treatment
  • 40K patients guided through the complex health care system by ACS patient navigators
  • 5M breast cancer patients were provided one-on-one support services

When I was approached to be one of the community leaders representing The Real Men Wear Pink campaign, I was glad for the chance to give back. I believe businesses and business owners need to have a collaborative partnership with their community. And, this campaign is a great example of what we can achieve when we work together for an important cause.

This community has been my home for over 25 years. I’m grateful the American Cancer Society is working to attack cancer from every angle and make our area an even better place to work and live.

Attorney Kevin Eismann

 

About the Author

Kevin Eismann is a business attorney and owner of Epiphany Law, LLC. Epiphany Law’s mission is to positively impact lives through education, empowerment and an innovative approach to solving problems. Kevin was proud to join the fight against breast cancer this past October and participate as one of the business community leaders in the Real Men Wear Pink Campaign.

Before You Hire a Lawyer, Answer these 4 Questions

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The life of a business owner or business executive is typically filled with big decisions. And no decisions loom larger than whom to work with. Working with the right people will propel your business forward, while making the wrong hire will negatively affect your company’s culture, efficiency and ultimately, your bottom line.

Hiring the right lawyer is just as important as hiring the right employees, and when you’re hiring a lawyer to represent your business interests, there’s a lot to consider.

As a General Counsel to multiple companies, I’ve hired a lot of lawyers.  I’ve made some great decisions, and some that I’d rather not think about too much… But here are four questions that I found helpful when I was hiring outside legal counsel for the companies I worked for.

1. How well does the lawyer communicate?

A lawyer’s communication skills, more than anything else, will positively or negatively impact your relationship.  If you and your lawyer can’t communicate well – for whatever reason, be it style or substance, your relationship will be a failure.  Whomever you select needs to have superior communication skills and understand the importance in building a solid client-attorney relationship.   And, they need to be able to communicate however you like to communicate – be it over the phone, in person, email or text – you’re the client. And, they need to be able to adapt to your style or the relationship will be a failure. Before you hire a lawyer, you’ll want to make sure your communication styles are a good fit.

2. What is the lawyer’s style?

Are they aggressive?  Deliberate?  Inquisitive?  What is their risk tolerance?  In order to make informed decisions, you need to hear and embrace opposing viewpoints. But, you won’t have a good relationship with a lawyer whose style differs greatly from your own – that will only lead to frustration and confusion.  In particular, finding a lawyer who understands your risk tolerance is a key to being on the same page, but don’t underestimate other “personality” driven factors as well.

3. What is their experience level?

Assuming you’ve found a lawyer you “click” with, now it’s time to get into substance.  Ask yourself if you need a generalist or a specialist?  Are you looking for a long-term partner that can understand and work with your business on a variety of issues, or a specialist that can help fix a significant, pressing issue that you’d already identified?  Both can be business-savvy partners. But, you’ll want to make sure the lawyer you hire has significant experience in the role you’re looking to fill.

4. What is the best type of service agreement and fee schedule for my company?

There’s a lot of options for procuring legal counsel, and there are no right or wrong answers here. Here are four common solutions.

  • Hourly rate – probably the most common attorney fee arrangement on the list. The lawyer will track his or her time in fractions of an hour (usually six minute increments) and bill accordingly. These kinds of arrangements may result in a mis-match of incentives, since your lawyer gets paid more the longer they take, which is why other fee arrangements are gaining popularity.
  • Flat retainer agreement – This payment structure is ideal for businesses that have on-going legal needs, and the retainer can cover almost all your legal needs, or only specific subjects, like employment law. Having a dedicated attorney on-call will help you reduce risk and stop legal disputes before they even begin. It is often the most cost-effective way to procure convenient, expert legal assistance.
  • Flat fees – this is more common with attorneys who handle large volumes of a specific kind of case. Flat fees may be offered for will preparations, tenant evictions, mortgage foreclosures and more – each individual matter is a fixed fee, no matter how long it takes. Flat legal fees can be an attractive solution, but keep in mind litigation will almost never fall into this category.
  • Risk Sharing– most people have heard of contingency fees in litigation, where a lawyer might get 30 percent of 40 percent of the recovery if the client wins, but nothing if the client loses. However, they are gaining in popularity for other kinds of matters as well.  For instance, many firms will handle a merger or an acquisition on a similar arrangement, taking a smaller fee if the deal fails to close, and a larger fee if the deal is successful.  These types of fees help to align the lawyer’s incentive with your own.

Once you decide on the best fit for your company, it’s critical to make sure to clarify expectations. Ultimately, the client is in charge and the client-attorney relationship works best when there is a clear understanding about services rendered and the associated costs.

To learn more about how to hire a lawyer, contact us here.

How to Hire a Lawyer – About the Author

Lawyer Rob Macklin

 

Rob is a business attorney with Epiphany Law. He has over 20 years of experience offering businesses top-notch legal service and practical, actionable advice. Rob has served as General Counsel to several successful companies, ranging from $5 million to $1 billion in global revenue. In addition, Rob took time from his legal career to serve with the US Navy as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, running intelligence operations for SEAL Team 8. As a trained lawyer, small business owner and Department of Defense certified interrogator, Rob’s diverse skill set can help you navigate any challenge your business may face.

Business Owners : Limit Financial Stress in 4 Simple Steps

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By now, most of us understand how harmful stress can be to the body. It affects your heart health, breathing, muscles and even your brain function. But, according to the American Psychological Association, 26 percent of U.S. adults report feeling stressed about money most or all the time. And, for the average business owner, the stats around stress are even more surprising. Small business owners report that managing their business is at least 4 times more stressful than raising children.

One of the best things you can do to protect yourself from stress is to take a more proactive approach to your long-term planning. It’s been said that procrastination breeds stress and when it comes to finances, that’s certainly true. To help minimize stress, it’s essential to think about the long term.

Step 1 – Get a Trust-Based Estate Plan for Business Owners

As a business owner, you’ll have unique needs when it comes to estate planning. Proper estate planning is important in order to:

  • Provide continuity for the business, its other owners, and employees
  • Ensure adequate liquidity to enable transitions due to disability or death
  • Minimize transfer, gift, estate and income taxes
  • Reduce costs and burdens associated with settling affairs
  • Provide protection for the Business Owner’s spouse and family
  • Maximize likelihood that intended legacy is achieved

If you do not currently have an estate plan, or you simply have a will, you will need to take action. To protect your business and your own best interest, it’s important that you get a trust-based plan. Your will indicates who you want to have access to your assets, and how you want your assets distributed, but it does not keep your family out of Court. No one wants to go through Probate if they can avoid it. A trust-based plan allows your family to access your assets in the event you become incapacitated or pass away.

Step 2 – Get a Valuation

Understanding the value of your business is critical for proper business planning and achieving personal goals. Completing a Valuation on a regular basis allows you to manage and measure value growth. A quality report will also list your value drivers – the items on which you should focus to achieve value growth.  Even if you’re not considering exiting your business for years, knowing that the value of your business is the amount someone will pay for your business, will keep your end goal in mind.

Step 3 – Get a Succession Plan

Business succession planning is necessary for any business owner, especially those close to retirement. And, it is something you don’t want to put off. Planning ahead can help ensure you don’t leave money on the table. The vast majority of small business owners in the United States are never able to monetize the value of their business.  In other words, they are never able to “transition” their business successfully. Business owners can help avoid this problem with a well-designed business succession plan.

Step 4 – Consider a Business Succession Trust

If you have a transferable business with value, you will want to consider a Business Succession Trust. One of the key benefits of trusts is tax avoidance, specifically the federal estate tax. Another important benefit is creditor protection. Trusts can be used to shield the family and spouse from creditors or business-related debt.

Benjamin Franklin once said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” That’s a good way to think about financial planning for the business owner. If you take some time to think about your long-term financial goals and your legacy now, you can avoid complications, like probate, in the future.

For more information, call Epiphany Law at 920-996-000 and we can set up a time to assist you with the estate planning process. Or, contact us here.

About the Author

Kevin Eismann, Business Law Attorney

Kevin L. Eismann brings a unique, multi-point perspective to his clients because he is a business owner, Certified Exit Planning Advisor, as well as an attorney. Kevin enjoys building comprehensive strategies with his clients that allow them to reach their personal and business goals. Kevin has provided business owners practical, cost-effective solutions for over 20 years.

Key Benefits of Outsourced General Counsel

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Put simply, Outsourced General Counsel is an extension of your team. Like an in-house general counsel, an outsourced general counsel is a business’ chief lawyer or legal advisor. And other than the fact they don’t typically work ON the premises of your business, an outsourced general counsel really owns the same duties and responsibilities of an in-house counsel. Those duties and responsibilities include (but are not limited to) the identification and oversight of all legal issues across the company and its various departments, as well as the provision of key advice to the business’ key decision-maker

This proactive approach to the law solves business’ needs  by providing a cost-effective solution. It’s a way to have an experience closer to the in-house model while also getting a broader knowledge base.

Some of the key reasons to consider outsourcing your general counsel include:

  • Fixed Budget and No Surprise Legal Bills – your business’ legal budget for next year does not need to be a guess. When outsourcing your general counsel, you know, with certainty, what you will spend next year on legal services.
  • Responsive Service – Your outsourced general counsel will become an integral part of your team. Fr example, contracts can be reviewed before signed, HR questions can be discussed, and HR policies would always be up to date in one flat rate.
  • Proactive Risk Management – Imagine having your attorney on speed dial, for answers to issues before they become problems. Imagine being proactive rather than reactive. Being proactive ultimately saves time and money.

Typically clients who utilize these services develop a close relationship with one attorney but have access to all attorneys in the firm to handle specialized needs. The close relationship ensures priority service and the backing of the firm ensures broader expertise.

An outsourced general counsel will protect your company and ensure your business is staying on the right side of the law.

If you have questions or would like to learn more, you can contact us here. 

 

About the Author

Attorney Kevin Eismann

Kevin Eismann

Kevin is the founding partner at Epiphany Law, LLC. He enjoys building comprehensive strategies with his clients that allow them to reach their personal and business goals. Kevin has been providing business owners practical, cost effective solutions since for over 20 years.

 

Epiphany Law Welcomes Attorney Robert Macklin

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Appleton, WI – Epiphany Law, LLC, is pleased to announce that Attorney Robert Macklin has joined the firm. The addition of Robert Macklin is due to the firm’s ongoing growth and commitment to provide valuable service offerings to its clients.

Rob brings over 20 years of experience advising clients of all sizes, both domestic and international on complex business matters. Serving as General Counsel to several successful private and public companies, in industries including manufacturing, medical, telecommunications, healthcare and consumer goods has given Rob knowledge on what a business needs to be successful. In addition, Rob took time from his legal career to serve with the US Navy as Part of Operation Iraqi freedom, running intelligence operations for SEAL Team 8.

Epiphany Law’s founder, Kevin Eismann said, “The volume and complexity of our transactional work continues to grow. Our clients can benefit tremendously from the vast business experience that Rob brings to the team.”

As an experienced lawyer, small business owner and Department of Defense certified interrogator, Rob’s diverse skill set can help business owners mitigate risks and promote business success. More specifically, Rob focuses on the areas of proactive law, commercial contracting, mergers and acquisitions, compliance and investigations, business processes, strategic governance and capital formation, and international law.

 

Attorney Robert Macklin

 

Rob earned his J.D. from the one of the top law schools in the country, the University of Chicago Law School and his undergraduate from UCLA. To learn more about how Rob’s expertise can benefit your business, please contact us.