Family Business

David is a partner in the firm’s Corporate Group and a member of the firm's Executive Committee. David has extensive experience in structuring and consummating mergers and acquisition transactions and in representing lenders and private equity firms when they make investments in companies. Upon joining LP in 2009, David founded and currently serves as the head of the firm's Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) practice, which serves clients who are involved in various types of transactions involving ESOPs.

Tom Bennett is President/CEO of Cyl-Tec, founded by his family in 1990. Tom has been with Cyl-Tec for 25 years and previously was a Regional President at Airgas/Air Liquide, worldwide supplier of gases and industrial supplies. Tom led the recent sale of Cyl-Tec to the employees (ESOP) and continues to serve as President/CEO.

Cara’s area of focus is employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) in privately held companies. She structures and facilitates the creation of new ESOPs and works with existing ESOPs in matters ranging from acquisition structuring to repurchase planning and analysis. Cara’s experience with ESOPs also includes providing financing assistance, tax planning, ongoing plan administration, employee communication, and structuring of executive incentive plans.

Cara is a member of the American Institute of CPAs, Kentucky Society of Certified Public Accountants, The ESOP Association, The National Center for Employee Ownership, and Employee-Owned S Corporations of America.

She currently serves on the board of directors of the ESOP Association and the Women’s Fund of South Central Kentucky.