John Goodson

Goodson Manley Forakis PLC

John Goodson believes that businesses must be structured and operated so they will provide benefits for multi-generations.

Qualifications as a Business Lawyer: to Assist with Forming, Operating and Succession Planning of Business Structures

Working as an estate planning attorney for more than 45 years, John and his firm found it necessary to give equal attention to business structuring.

The statistics are grim – 65% of business structures die in the second generation, and 85% die in the third generation. To avoid these unnecessary losses, John found that families must give special attention to create security, harmony and success for family businesses. Incidentally, all businesses are family businesses because all businesses are run by human beings who have families!

A key element of the family dynasty is the family business – either as a separate operating business or as a Limited Partnership investing in business stocks and bonds, loans and real estate property.

Legal and Financial Skills Relating Specifically to Businesses

Academic Studies: Co-authored a university textbook, “Legal Aspects of Doing Business in Arizona;” attended a specialized course study in business planning at Harvard University.

Personal Business Experience: Operated a family corporation which included a citrus ranch, stocks and bonds, interests in a car rental business and a parts manufacturing business; formed and operated a nationwide legal forms business including 15 books of legal forms with instructions; founding Director and legal counsel for a start-up water company which eventually sold for over $60,000,000.

Board of Directors Experience: First hand functioning Board member for many businesses and from this experience learned what works, what does not work, and how the legal services and structures mesh with the governing body of business organizations. As the founding Director of the new Prescott College for four years, he used his position for teaching an experimental course on operating as a Board Member of a Board of Directors.

Direct Client Business Experience: Startups, problem resolution, assisting with succession planning, resolving internal disputes, planning future projects, helping clients through financial setbacks, and advising clients throughout a multiple of business happenings.

Experience Working with Professional Experts: Identified and worked with legal specialists (litigation, patent, and securities attorneys), forensic accountants, management consultants, psychologists, human resource experts, appraisers, business brokers, lobbyists.

Writing and Teaching: Information on his teaching and samples of his writings on business law may be found on his firm’s web site: www.gmfdlaw.com.

General Life Experience and Demeanor: From all of the above, John has the “trial and error” experience that his clients have and will be going through.

Since most business meetings and conferences with attorneys are thought to be dull and conventional be assured that John will bring some color and common sense into the business planning process.

His lectures and client sessions are made entertaining and interesting by his weaving in analogies, stories, and common sense experience from:

• His colorful pre-lawyer background
• Being a mountain climber and a member of a mountain rescue team
• A martial arts student in Tai Chi and Akido
• A lawyer and board member for the Aspen Academy of Martial Arts
• An Armored Cavalry Officer with the Third Armored Cavalry Regiment on border defense in Germany
• Coach of the winning European Pistol Team and coach of the Le Clerk Combat Firing Team
• An Outward Bound wilderness instructor for high school students for 25 years
• A land navigation instructor of a course called “Zen and the Art of Land Navigation” for more than 20 years
• A member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers
• Co-founder of the Reevis Mountain Survival School
• Campaign manager for many political campaigns
• The founding attorney and board member for over 40 operating foundations and hundreds of family foundations
• A radio news announcer and radio celebrity.