Thomas R. Lenfestey III


Areas of Practice:
Corporate & Business Law / Estate Planning, Administration & Wills / Employment Law / Commercial & Residential Real Estate

Raleigh Office:
Landmark Center
4601 Six Forks Road
Suite 400
Raleigh, North Carolina 27609
(919) 250-2108 Direct Phone
(919) 250-2100 Fax
tlenfestey@smithdebnamlaw.com

Administrative Contact:
Jennifer Mercer, paralegal
919-250-2101 Direct Phone
jmercer@smithdebnamlaw.com

Thomas R. Lenfestey, III concentrates his practice in business law, estate planning & administration of wills, employment law and real estate. He represents and advises businesses and individuals with various transactional and administrative needs. As well as being a licensed North Carolina attorney, Mr. Lenfestey also has a background in accounting and is a licensed, North Carolina Certified Public Accountant.

Mr. Lenfestey represents entrepreneurs and businesses on a wide variety of transactions and strategic planning matters including business formation, structuring and negotiating business sales and purchases, contract needs and numerous other tax and legal matters. He also counsels, advises and develops strategies for business and executive clients in employment situations such as employment agreements, compensation and bonus planning and auditing business clients' other employment practices such as handbooks, hiring, employee benefits and disciplinary actions.

Mr. Lenfestey assists individual clients with the development and implementation of comprehensive estate plans that achieve the personal, financial and charitable goals of those individuals and families. His estate planning practice includes preparing wills, trusts, advanced directives and creating and implementing other tax-saving and asset protection strategies such as family limited partnerships, life insurance trusts, and charitable trusts. Mr. Lenfestey further counsels clients responsible for a deceased individual’s estate through the estate administration process using tax minimization strategies and competent and timely handling of the sometimes-complex estate administration procedures.

Mr. Lenfestey also assists owners, builders, developers, lenders and homeowners associations with all aspects of acquiring, selling, financing and utilization of real estate, as well as the development of new residential subdivisions. He further assists in negotiating and contracting of such transactions as well as providing representation in zoning and land use matters.

Mr. Lenfestey has been with the firm’s business law group since September of 2004. Prior to joining the firm, he served as a summer associate clerk with Smith Debnam in 2003.
 

Admissions

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North Carolina State Bar

Education

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J.D., Campbell University, 2004     

M.A.C. (Master of Accounting), North Carolina State University, 2001

B.S., North Carolina State University, 2000
Minor, Spanish

Published Articles

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Co-Author, Homeowner Access to HOA Financial Records, Homeowner Association of North Carolina (HOA-NC, Inc.) (Spring 2006)

Plan, and Plan Now: The Basics of Estate Planning, Legal Insights (Spring 2006)

Asset Protection for Physicians: Preparing for the Unnatural Disaster, Medical Mutual Insurance Company of North Carolina (2006)

Understanding Family Limited Partnerships in North Carolina as a Tool in Estate Planning and Asset Protection, National Business Institute (December 2005)

Professional Affiliations

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American Bar Association 
         Tax Section
         Employment Section

North Carolina Bar Association
         Estates & Probate Section
         Tax Section
         Business Section

Wake County Bar Association

North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants (NCACPA)

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)

Civic Involvement

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Cary Central Rotary Club
         President Elect, 2007
         VP, 2006

Raleigh Chamber of Commerce