Cummings & Cummings Law

Business, Real Estate, Tax, and Estate Planning Law Firm — Serving Florida and Texas



 
 
“Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.”

Steve Jobs

“Let us perceive clearly our shortcomings.”

Gautama Buddha

“I was taught that the way of progress was neither swift nor easy.”

Marie Curie

“Tough times don’t last, but tough people do!”

Unknown

“With some people, if they don’t know, you can’t tell them!”

Louis Armstrong

Welcome

/Cummings & Cummings Law

Cummings & Cummings Law is a full-service law practice serving business owners, executives, real estate developers, and their families throughout Florida, Texas, and Oklahoma. Our firm, led by attorney and Certified Public Accountant Chad D. Cummings and attorney Lisa A. Cummings, empowers innovative thinkers to conceive, plan, grow, and exit their ventures and develop effective wealth preservation, tax, and estate plans to support their endeavors.

Our specific areas of practice include business law, commercial law, intellectual property, corporate law, partnership and LLC law, business transactions and dispute resolution, commercial real estate, executive compensation, ERISA, business tax planning, non-profit, estate planning for entrepreneurs and high-net worth individuals, wealth preservation, and other areas of law affecting trade and commerce. We also assist clients in our commercial real estate development and management practice.

Our practice also delivers financial analysis and planning, forensic accounting, and tax expertise in the context of our legal engagements, particularly though not exclusively in mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, private lending, fundraising, and other due diligence contexts.

We also help innovators and creators in the disruptive technology space (e.g., blockchain, generative AI and LLM, FinTech, Web3, DeFi, crypto, esports, 4D printing, disintermediation) and in the distributed autonomous organization (DAO), entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA), and search fund spaces to protect their bold ideas and maximize their return.

Member of The Florida Bar Member of the American Academy of Attorney-CPAs Member of the State Bar of Texas

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An Introduction

/Meet Our Team

Chad D. Cummings, CPA, Esq., M.S.T., LL.M., CMA, CRMA, CFE, CIA, CISA, FCPA

Founding Attorney and Chief Executive Officer


Photograph of Chad D. Cummings in professional attire

Chad is an attorney and Certified Public Accountant serving Florida and Texas with dual licensure in both states. He holds a number of other finance, accounting, tax, and risk management credentials which he applies in his law practice for the benefit of his clients.

Previously, he served in operations and finance with the world’s largest accounting firm (PricewaterhouseCoopers), airline (American Airlines), and bank (JPMorgan Chase & Co.). He has also created and advised a variety of start-up ventures.

He is a member of The Florida Bar and the State Bar of Texas and holds two law degrees: the Juris Doctor (J.D.) and the Master of Laws (LL.M.). He also holds active CPA licensure and undergraduate and graduate degrees in accounting and taxation, respectively, for a total of four degrees and ten professional licenses and certifications.

He lives and works in Bonita Springs, Florida and serves clients throughout Florida and Texas.

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Lisa A. Cummings, Esq.

Attorney and Executive Vice President


Photograph of Lisa A. Cummings in professional attire

Lisa A. Cummings’ legal career spans five decades and several sectors and enterprises, including, for example, in-house counsel and other roles—domestic and international—with Halliburton, Dell Technologies, Walmart, Mercer, Kerr-McGee (now Occidental Petroleum), Cadbury Schweppes (now Keurig Dr. Pepper), Plains Capital Bank, Chesapeake Energy (now Expand Energy), Hertz, Michaels Stores, Cityblock Health, and others.

She holds an undergraduate (B.S.) degree in accountancy from the University of Oklahoma and a Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the University of Oklahoma School of Law. She is admitted to the Oklahoma Bar Association and counsels clients on matters involving ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code, executive compensation, employee benefits, and complex multi-state employment law matters.

She lives and works in Bonita Springs, Florida and Dallas, Texas and serves clients nationwide and globally on matters of federal law.

 

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Jeanne J. Stevens

Chief Administrative Officer


Photograph of Jeanne J. Stevens in professional attire

For more than 30 years, Jeanne has dedicated her career to implementing and managing comprehensive employee health and welfare and retirement programs and supporting Fortune 100 enterprises. Her passion lies in ensuring benefit strategies that not only safeguard the well-being of employees but also drive organizational success. With a steadfast work ethic, a keen eye for detail, and a leadership mindset, she takes pride in delivering solutions that balance cost-effectiveness with industry-leading best practices.

Jeanne’s decades of experience span myriad sectors, enterprises, and roles, including Benefits Connection, Dell Technologies, Rockport Healthcare Services, Cadbury Schweppes (now Keurig Dr. Pepper), Hertz, Michaels Stores, and others.

She applies her multinational experience, cross-functional expertise, and project management acumen in her role as Chief Administrative Officer at Cummings & Cummings Law to deliver outstanding service to internal and external stakeholders alike and to assist in developing and realizing the firm’s strategic vision.

She lives and works in Southern California and supports firm operations globally.

 

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Client Testimonials

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
”I hired Mr. Cummings to litigate for me. I hired a company to perform a job and it became a nightmare. . . . He very quickly acted and got the job done quickly for me. He made it happen in a few weeks and I had been waiting over a year. He looked out for me and what was best for me as his client. To me that is what you want when looking for a lawyer to represent you. I will be referring clients and friends to him.“

Client in Naples, Florida

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“The much maligned legal profession got a definite lift when Chad decided to take up law. He brings a sharp mind, commonsense thinking and focus on details that allow any client to breathe a sigh of relief. His response time is fast, accurate and explanations are clear and concise. You won’t be left wondering “what did he say” after a conversation about the legal ramifications and available options. We are excited to share that Chad represents our firm. You will be too.“

Client in Dallas, Texas

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Chad is extremely detailed, very thorough, and professional. Highly recommended and will help you get the results. He was able to get us a very favorable settlement . . . he made a very detailed case which made the difference.“

Client in Naples, Florida

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Chad helped me relocate my small business from Texas to Florida and I could not have asked for a better person to do it than Chad. His service was PERFECTION from start to finish. He is clear and transparent with the fee and always punctual, detailed, and prompt with his answers for any question I had along the way. He is such a trustworthy person. I highly recommend Chad for any business-related case and for future business, I will absolutely come back to him without thinking twice.“

Client in Miami, Florida

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Chad is a kind and caring attorney who works tirelessly to help his clients. He is competent and thorough. He makes sure everything is up to date with current laws and he explains everything in a way so you can understand. I highly recommend him for your legal work.“

Client in Naples, Florida

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Chad advised me on a few business formation issues earlier this year, and I could not be more appreciative of his services. His real world experience in the business world coupled with his grasp of the law make for an invaluable advisor. I highly recommend his services.“

Client in Tampa, Florida


Our Philosophy and Style

We have built a technology-first, nimble law practice by constructing automations and tools to minimize the amount of time spent on administrative and other non-value added tasks, allowing us (and our clients) to focus energies on the issues at hand.

At the outset of an engagement, each client is assigned one attorney who will be their only point of contact throughout the process, thereby eliminating communication and experience gaps that plague some traditional law firms. We do not hire assistants, interns, or paralegals because of the sensitivity and complexity of the matters we handle, thereby allowing us to develop one-on-one relationships with each client.

For example, our firm uses 100% self-service, electronic scheduling to keep overhead costs (and client fees) in check. We operate a paperless law practice. To eliminate phone tag, we rarely utilize voicemail and instead have adopted an asynchronous communication paradigm, allowing us to resolve matters 40-60% faster, on average, than traditional firms.

Whenever possible, we leverage software (backed up by our human expertise) to minimize bottlenecks and frustrations traditionally associated with the practice of law. Most of our prospective clients appreciate and prefer these efficiencies, often empowering us to complete projects much more expeditiously than legacy firms without sacrificing quality or accuracy. These are “first principles” which define our approach to the practice of law.

For example, the most common criticism clients have of their attorneys generally is ineffective and infrequent communication; therefore, we send written status updates every week to clients with open matters at no additional charge, providing roadmaps and “next steps” suitable for dissemination to internal and external stakeholders.

We choose to work exclusively with clients who:

  1. are comfortable using technology;
  2. are decisive; and
  3. view their attorney not as a servant and operating expense to be minimized but as a trusted advisor and capital investment to be optimized.

We deliberately limit the number of strategic matters we accept to ensure we meet our commitments to our existing clients and routinely offer referrals to those prospective clients that are uncomfortable leveraging technology in this way or who would be better served working with other firms.


Starting Your Business

/If you’re just getting started, start here.

We often receive inquiries from new and would-be entrepreneurs, small business owners, and start-up founders (including those going the entrepreneurship through acquisition/search fund route) about the most common legal questions and issues they face in conceiving and managing their ventures. To that end, we have compiled a small library addressing the most commonly asked questions, which we have made available at no cost. Click the button below to get started.

Firm Library: Resources for Founders

 


Practice Verticals

/Our Areas of Focus

Our practice emphasizes, but is not limited to, the law as it intersects businesses (ranging from early stage start-ups to Fortune 100 enterprises) and their stakeholders.

When clients hire our firm, we apply not only our legal knowledge, but also our skills and expertise accrued in operations, finance, and legal departments at some of the largest ventures in the world, bolstered by our insights from forming and growing our own ventures.

Prospective clients particularly appreciate this confluence of experience and find it a tremendous value as compared with the costs of onboarding one or more “consultants,” attorneys, accountants, and tax advisors.

Cummings & Cummings Law serves entrepreneurs, businesses, and high-net-worth individuals at the complex intersection of law, finance, taxation, and corporate strategy. From early-stage startups to Fortune 100 companies, the firm offers legal counsel grounded in real-world business experience and deep technical subject matter expertise.

Business Law and General Counsel Services

The firm advises clients on a wide range of corporate and operational legal matters, including:

  • Entrepreneurship through acquisition (ETA)
  • Search funds
  • Distributed autonomous organizations (DAOs)
  • Entity selection and business formation
  • Operating agreements and shareholder agreements
  • Term sheets and joint ventures
  • Purchase and sale of businesses (asset or stock transactions)
  • Equity raising, buy-ins, and buy-outs
  • Employment, consulting, and compensation agreements
  • Non-compete and non-solicitation clauses
  • Regulatory analysis and compliance planning
  • Contract drafting, review, and negotiation
  • Crisis management and dispute resolution

Business Formation and Structuring

New and evolving businesses rely on the firm to ensure sound legal and financial structuring:

  • LLC formation and operating agreements
  • Corporate bylaws and board governance
  • Internal controls and risk mitigation
  • Subchapter S election evaluation and filing
  • Corporate tax strategy

Executive Compensation, ERISA, and Employee Benefits

The firm counsels employers, founders, and executives on executive compensation and benefit plan design, including under ERISA:

  • Stock options, RSUs, phantom equity, and deferred compensation
  • IRC § 409A compliance and plan drafting
  • Employment agreements and golden parachutes
  • 457 and 403(b) plan structuring
  • Qualified plan audits, corrections, and fiduciary guidance
  • Health, welfare, and fringe benefit plan compliance

Commercial Real Estate Law

The firm offers advanced legal counsel for commercial and mixed-use real estate developments, including:

  • Land acquisition and financing
  • Zoning, planning, and permitting
  • Construction and mortgage law
  • Environmental and tax regulation compliance
  • Pro forma development and financial analysis
  • Franchise and hospitality contracts

Commercial Lease Negotiation

The firm prepares and negotiates commercial leases for retail, industrial, hospitality, and medical facilities, addressing:

  • Renewal clauses and rent escalation
  • CAM reconciliation and audit rights
  • Assignment, subletting, and personal guarantees
  • Rights of first offer (ROFO) and first refusal (ROFR)

Estate Planning and Wealth Preservation

Cummings & Cummings Law provides personalized estate planning for entrepreneurs and high-net-worth individuals, including:

  • Wills, trusts, and succession strategies
  • Asset protection and business continuity planning
  • Tax mitigation and lifetime gifting strategies
  • SLATs, GRATs, IDGTs, and other advanced trusts
  • Integration with tax and investment advisors

Business Redomestication

Cummings & Cummings Law facilitates seamless redomestication to effectuate the change in domicile of corporations and limited liability companies into Texas and Florida, including:

  • Articles of Conversion and Formation
  • Coordination with Secretaries of State
  • Legal plans of conversion
  • Board meeting minutes and governance arising therefrom

Trademark and Intellectual Property

To protect intellectual property assets, the firm provides trademark registration services, including:

  • Federal USPTO trademark searches
  • Application preparation and filing
  • Office action responses
  • Trademark licensing and assignment
  • Trade secret strategy, including Proprietary Information and Invention Assignment (PIIA) agreements

Forensic Accounting, Financial Analysis, and Tax

While our firm does not offer traditional public accounting services such as audits or bookkeeping, Cummings & Cummings Law is a leader in advanced forensic accounting and analysis, particularly in the contexts of due diligence, fraud prevention, detection, and correction, internal control implementation, and tax, including:

  • Four-statement accounting compilations on GAAP, IFRS, tax, cash, and hybrid bases
  • Forensic reviews in preparation for purchase, sale, or strategic investment
  • Advanced reconciliations, particularly in instances of suspected or known fraud
  • Multivariate business valuation with sensitivity analyses
  • Business tax return preparation (Forms 1065, 1120, and 1120S) and federal and multi-state strategy
  • Trust tax return preparation (Form 1041), including gift tax returns (Form 709)

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Important Notices and Disclaimers

/Please read the following very carefully.

This website and the material provided here is for informational purposes only, and does not constitute tax, accounting, or legal advice. No person should rely on, or act, or refrain from acting on the basis of any matter or information contained in this website without seeking appropriate legal or other professional advice.

The attorney-client relationship is only created by the execution and delivery of a formal engagement letter and payment and acceptance of any required deposit or retainer. Any initial conversations you may have with our firm or its members by phone, email, or otherwise do not give rise to an attorney-client relationship, nor does the mere act of contacting our firm nor scheduling a consultation.

Unless and until a formal engagement letter is executed and delivered and deposit or retainer is paid and accepted, our firm accepts no responsibility for your matter and will perform no work on your behalf. In the event of any conflict between this website and an engagement letter, the terms and provisions of the engagement letter shall control.

Please be aware that there are statutes of limitations and strict deadlines by which to file certain documents; therefore, time is of the essence. If you do not retain this firm to handle your matter, you should immediately seek the services of another attorney without delay.

The transmission of information from this website is not intended to create, and its receipt does not establish, an accountant-client, attorney-client, or any other fiduciary relationship. Nor do any interactions or communications you may share with our firm or its members via social media, email, or other media create such a relationship in the absence of an executed representation agreement. Except for existing clients, any unsolicited materials transmitted to this firm or its members should not be considered privileged or confidential, and we accept no responsibility for the security or privacy of information you transmit to us via social media, email, or some other mechanism except as required by law.

This website does not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation of any security. You are solely responsible for determining whether any investment, investment strategy, security, or related transaction is appropriate for you based on your personal investment objectives, financial circumstances, and risk tolerance. All investments involve risk, including the risk of loss of principal.

Reproduction, distribution, republication, and retransmission of material contained within this website or in any of our articles or publications hosted on other websites or fora is prohibited without prior, written authorization which may be withheld or conditioned in our sole discretion.