Find Lawyers in Florida, United States for Tax Law
Practice Area Overview
The structure of a transaction can significantly affect its tax consequences, and very small changes in structure or in the underlying facts can have enormous tax significance. Tax lawyers design structures with those consequences in mind, while also taking into account the parties’ commercial goals, timing issues, and any other legal or accounting considerations. The tax treatment of some transactions — such as a “spin-off,” where a company distributes subsidiary stock to its shareholders — is highly complex, and tax lawyers may assist clients in obtaining confirmation of their transactions’ tax consequences from the IRS in the form of a private letter ruling.
Tax lawyers also review and negotiate the terms of the transaction, ensuring that the legal agreements implement the deal in a manner consistent with its intended structure. The agreements also govern the relationship between the parties. They may help the parties understand the intended tax treatment, identify certain tax exposures, and allocate responsibility between the parties for any taxes that may apply.
Tax lawyers also work with clients to determine the most tax efficient manner of carrying on ongoing business operations, taking into account federal, state, local, and international tax considerations.
On occasion, tax-related disputes arise between the parties to a transaction or with the IRS or another taxing authority. Tax lawyers may represent clients in administrative proceedings, private settlement negotiations, or litigation related to these controversies.
Tax lawyers are responsible for providing technical advice and analysis, but must fully understand the overall business transaction in order to do so. The best lawyers give advice in a way that is clear, thoughtful, and business-minded. Tax lawyers need to be closely involved in a transaction from the very beginning and throughout the transaction, in order to be able to give the best advice on an ongoing basis and to be able to modify the structure, if necessary, in response to any changes to the business terms of the transaction.
Stephen L. Gordon, Partner
Andrew W. Needham, Partner
Lauren Angelilli, Partner
Cravath, Swaine & Moore
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Jolyon Acosta’s practice focuses on private wealth services for high net worth individuals, families, and multi-generational business owners. Mr. Acosta counsels clients in a variety of complex estate and business planning matters related to their wealth management needs. He has extensive experience advising clients on matters involving estate, gift, and income taxes, and routinely assists family businesses in succession and other planning matters. Mr. Acosta represents clients across a...
Glenn A. Adams practices in the areas of corporate and tax law. He advises clients on a variety of business entity issues during the life cycle of the business — beginning prior to formation, continuing as the business grows and succeeds, and forward until the business, or a unit of the business, is liquidated upon sale or other circumstances. Mr. Adams has substantial experience with the formation of corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships (including general partnership...
Scott J. Bakal develops tax-planning strategies for closely held family businesses, partnerships, and publicly held corporations with significant domestic and international operations. Scott works closely with high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and entrepreneurial companies to develop elegant, tax-sensitive approaches to their complex business transactions, financial situations, estate planning matters, and real estate investments, as well as to pursue tax efficiency throughout their ...
Juan D. Bendeck is certified by the Florida Bar as a Board Certified Specialist in Wills, Trusts and Estates. Board certification recognizes attorneys’ special knowledge, skills and proficiency in various areas of law and professionalism and ethics in practice. Juan focuses his practice in estate planning, estate administration and asset protection planning. He formulates and drafts tax-efficient estate plans for his clients, including more advanced and novel estate planning techniques ...
A firm member since 1977, Bruce has extensive experience in planning for the sale and purchases of businesses. He also developed a special expertise in complex estate planning, purchases and sales of businesses and tax controversy matters. His clientele includes successful businesspersons, professionals, closely–held businesses, charitable organizations and individuals with special tax planning or estate planning needs. Bruce is a former chairman of The Florida Bar Tax Section and a for...
Christopher W. Boyett co-chairs Holland & Knight's National Private Wealth practice. Mr. Boyett advises domestic and international wealthy families throughout Florida on sophisticated estate planning strategies and options and counsels family businesses on succession planning and tax planning. Additionally, he advises both institutional and individual clients on estate and trust administration issues. He is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Miami School of Law, Graduate Program in...
Joel has over 40 years of experience in tax, business, asset protection, and estate and gift tax planning for high net worth individuals and entrepreneurs. He consults on business entities, including limited liability companies (LLCs), S corporations and limited liability partnerships (LLPs). He structures and prepares shareholder agreements, operating agreements and other business agreements. He also routinely handles sophisticated estate planning including the preparation of wills, revocabl...
Michael Bruno focuses his practice on domestic and international tax planning for multinational companies, funds, and entrepreneurial families. Michael has written numerous articles on international tax planning and frequently submits comments on statutory & regulatory promulgations. As a strong proponent for pro bono legal services, Michael founded the Transactional Equal Justice Program with Legal Services of Greater Miami, which offers free legal advice to non-profits and low-to-modera...
Susan has specialized in tax planning for over 35 years. She has a Masters of Law in Taxation and formerly was Board Certified in Tax Law by the Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization (1995 – 2011). Her practice includes Federal and Florida tax issues related to the formation and operation of corporations (including S corporations), partnerships, and limited liability companies. She also consults with respect to the formation and operation of tax exempt entities. In addition, Susan i...
Curtis B. Cassner is Board Certified by the Florida Bar as a Specialist in Wills, Trusts and Estates as well as a Specialist in Tax. He focuses his practice on helping his clients meet their estate planning goals. As a partner in the firm’s Trusts & Estates Group, Curtis represents clients in trusts and estate planning matters by crafting tailored plans to address each beneficiary’s needs and maximize available tax benefits. He leverages his background as a Certified Public Ac...
Louis T. M. Conti is a partner in the Tampa office of Holland & Knight. Mr. Conti's practice includes serving as outside counsel to businesses of all sizes, mergers and acquisitions, cash flow and asset-based financings, leveraged buy-outs, mezzanine and subordinated debt transactions, public and private equity placements, venture capital and private equity investments, company governance advice, and sophisticated and complex cross-border transactions and joint ventures and strategic alli...
Rebecca G. Doane founded the law firm of Doane & Doane, P.A., in 2003 after being a senior equity shareholder in a prestigious local law firm for many years. UnderMrs. Doane’s guidance and experience, Doane and Doane, P.A., has achieved the high estrating (“AV”) from the premier attorney rating service, Martindale Hubbell. Mrs. Doane is recognized as a specialist practicing in the areas of estate planning, trusts, wills, estate and gift taxation, probate, estate and trus...
Seth J. Entin is a Principal Shareholder with Greenberg Traurig. He concentrates his practice in the area of federal income taxation, with an emphasis on international taxation. Seth has been listed in the Best Lawyers in America , Chambers Global , Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business , Chambers and Partners Latin America , The Legal 500 US and Super Lawyers , and is an Adjunct Professor of International Taxation at the University of Miami School of Law. Seth speaks regularly...
Jeffrey M. Folkman is experienced in all phases of estate and charitable planning for individuals and families, including those where family-owned businesses are involved. Plans range from the modest in size to the very large and sophisticated. He works extensively with corporate trustees, financial planners, insurance agents, accountants and consultants. Jeffrey is also experienced in the administration of trusts and estates. Jeffrey is knowledgeable with stock and asset acquisitions, dispos...
Harry J. Friedman has a wide-ranging experience in the area of general business tax planning, including the formation of joint ventures, limited partnerships and limited liability companies, consolidated tax returns, and mergers and acquisitions of both private and public corporations. In addition, Harry provides advice and counseling to tax exempt organizations including hospitals, private schools, and scientific research organizations on maintaining tax-exempt status, unrelated trade or bus...
Robert Friedman practices in the area of ERISA, employee benefits and executive compensation. Since 1996, he has been the head of the firm's national Employee Benefits, Executive Compensation and ERISA Practice Group. Mr. Friedman is also co-chair of the ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plans) Practice Group. His clients include private, non-profit and governmental employers. He is a frequent speaker on employee benefits, ERISA fiduciary matters and pension and tax planning. Mr. Friedman’...
Jeffrey Gad focuses his practice on representing individuals, with an emphasis on estate planning, probate and trust administration, probate litigation and business planning. His practice integrates the personal and estate tax planning concerns of individuals with tax and business planning for their closely held businesses. As part of his corporate practice, Jeffrey assists businesses with choice-of-entity planning, the formation of business entities, business contracts, such as the preparati...
Vit Gulbis brings an emphasis in tax and business planning to his representation of closely-held businesses and professional practices. His practice integrates the personal and estate tax planning concerns of business owners with business planning. He has represented closely-held businesses throughout their life cycle. He is experienced in the corporate governance and financial concerns of small businesses, and regularly represents clients in their merger and acquisition and financing transac...
Steven Hadjilogiou focuses his practice on international inbound and outbound international tax planning for multinational companies and high net worth individuals. Steven has represented various Fortune 500 companies and major privately held businesses in their tax planning and supply chain projects, and also has substantial experience advising on transfer pricing, tax-related intellectual property matters, Subpart F and foreign investment in US real property. Steven also advises clients on ...
David M. Halpen is Principal-in-Charge of the Palm Beach office of Cummings & Lockwood. David has over twenty years of broad-based legal experience in trusts and estates planning, estate settlement, trust administration, business succession planning, and U.S. and international tax planning for a variety of high net worth clients. Prior to joining Cummings & Lockwood, he was a shareholder with Dunwody, White & Landon in their Naples and Palm Beach offices.
Shane A. Hart is a partner in Holland & Knight's Tampa office and a member of the Private Wealth Services Group. He represents clients in estate planning and estate administration matters. His practice focuses on developing comprehensive estate plans for clients in a way that minimizes transfer taxes while achieving other desired goals. He also counsels personal representatives in the administration of estates, including the preparation of necessary court filings and the estate tax return...
Practice description Stewart Kasner is a Private Wealth Services attorney in Holland & Knight's Miami office, where he focuses primarily in the areas of international taxation, trusts and estates. Mr. Kasner routinely advises foreign and domestic clients on U.S. federal income, gift and estate tax matters associated with their cross-border investments, including U.S. real estate investments and business activities, as well as pre-immigration tax planning. His practice also includes formin...
Mr. Katz’s diverse practice covers federal and state income tax, estate and gift tax planning, and state corporate, limited liability company and partnership law. This experience provides him with the ability to structure transactions to meet the tax and business needs of the Firm’s clients. This representation includes the typical structuring necessary for partnership, joint venture and corporate transactions, as well as, structuring litigation settlements and pleadings (with particular emph...
Edward F. Koren is a partner in Holland & Knight's Tampa and Lakeland offices and leads the firm's Private Wealth practice. His practice is focused on wealth planning and protection for entrepreneurs and multi-generational business owners and serves clients across the country. Mr. Koren is past chair of the American Bar Association's Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section; former American College of Trust and Estate Counsel Regent and past chair of its Estate and Gift Tax Committee;...
Robert L. Lancaster is a Principal in Cummings & Lockwood's Private Clients Group and is based in the Naples office. Rob focuses his practice on the areas of wealth preservation planning, estate planning and business succession planning. Today’s litigious environment compels individuals to proactively engage in strategies to preserve their wealth. Just as physicians are all too familiar with the inherent risks of practicing medicine, so too should entrepreneurs, executives and other...
William R. Lane Jr. is a partner in Holland & Knight's Tampa office and practices in the areas of trusts and estates, tax exempt organizations and family business succession planning. Mr. Lane is the North/Central Florida regional team leader for the firm’s Private Wealth Services Practice Group. Mr. Lane works primarily in the areas of estate planning, family business succession planning, and resolution of disputes involving trusts, estates, their fiduciaries and beneficiaries. He ...
Pete Larsen is the chair of Akerman’s national Tax Practice Group, a team advising clients in global tax compliance and controversy matters, including complex transactions in the middle market. The practice was recognized by Law360 as a “Tax Practice Group of the Year” for its precedent-setting work in the United States. Pete works closely with financial institutions, finance companies, vehicle and equipment lessors, retailers, and telecommunication, software, and technology...
Summer LePree is a tax partner in Winston & Strawn's Miami office. Her practice is focused on advising U.S. and foreign-based private and public companies in connection with their inbound and outbound US international tax planning. She constantly monitors developments in the U.S. and global tax laws, and thoughtfully advises clients on the relevant implications to their businesses. Summer regularly assists clients with Subpart F, GILTI, and FDII planning, FIRPTA issues, treaty planning an...
Jack A. Levine has been with Holland & Knight since 1981. His areas of practice include business and tax planning, and structuring of corporate acquisitions and reorganizations, partnerships, limited liability companies, syndications and joint ventures. Mr. Levine also practices in the tax controversy area, the utilities taxation area, and in several other tax and tax-related areas. Mr. Levine is Board Certified in Tax Law by The Florida Bar. From 1977 to 1981, Mr. Levine worked in the Na...
Joel D. Maser focuses his practice on structuring and negotiating complex real estate joint ventures and investments and general corporate transactions. He regularly represents developers and investors in real estate joint ventures. Joel also advises on Florida state and local tax matters. Joel is an active member and current Chair of the Florida Bar Tax Section. Joel has lectured extensively and prepared educational programs on tax issues including: issues related to Florida Sales Tax, feder...
Paul B. McCawley focuses his practice on sophisticated estate planning for individuals and families. Such planning involves an overall plan for the client and the client’s family relating to the preservation and transfer of wealth while minimizing income taxes and transfer taxes (estate taxes, gift taxes, and generation-skipping transfer taxes) to the extent consistent with the client’s goals. Paul is a Board Certified Wills, Trusts and Estates Lawyer by The Florida Bar.
Craig T. McClung's legal practice involves all aspects of personal wealth and business planning for domestic and international clients, including tax planning, business structuring and estate planning. A substantial portion of Craig's practice involves advanced planning techniques for the preservation of individual wealth and business capital.
Barry A. Nelson, a Florida Bar Board Certified Tax and Wills, Trusts and Estates Attorney and author of Estate Planning and Asset Protection in Florida: A Plan to Survive Unexpected Financial Threats is a shareholder in the law firm of Nelson & Nelson, P.A. in North Miami Beach, Florida. He practices in the areas of tax, estate planning, asset protection planning, probate, partnerships and business law. He provides counsel to high net worth individuals and families focusing on income, est...
Jose Nuñez concentrates his practice in the area of U.S. Federal taxes, international and domestic estate planning and corporate matters. He devotes a large part of his practice to the U.S. Federal tax rules applicable to foreign investors with U.S. businesses and investments, and U.S. investors with businesses and investments abroad. Jose is also quite involved in the formation and operation of domestic and foreign business entities like corporations, partnerships and limited liabilit...
Jennifer E. Okcular , is a shareholder in the law firm of Nelson & Nelson, P.A. in North Miami Beach, Florida, practices primarily in the areas of tax, estate planning, asset protection planning and probate administration. Jennifer is Board Certified by the Florida Bar in Wills, Trusts and Estates and currently serves as a member of the Board Certification Committee of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of the Florida Bar and as an Associate Trusts and Estates Article Editor...
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