Thursday, November 6,
2014
8:30-9:20
am (50 Minutes)
Offshore Tax Compliance: Often Forgotten
Informational Forms and the IRS's Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Programs
In recent
years, a primary focus of IRS has been to identify US citizens and residents
with foreign bank accounts and bring them into compliance with reporting and
payment requirements. On June 18, 2014,
IRS announced significant changes to its Offshore Voluntary Disclosure
Initiative. The speakers will review the
latest modifications and comment on who should utilize the program and who
should come into compliance outside of OVDI.
Speakers:
Severiano “Sev” Ortiz, JD, CPA, CFE,
practices civil and criminal tax controversy and litigation in the Chicago
office of Holland & Knight. Also a
Certified Fraud Examiner, he practiced accounting for ten years before
attending law school. Mr. Ortiz received
his BS and BA degrees from Jacksonville University and his JD degree from the
Northwestern University School of Law.
Guinevere M. “Gwen”
Moore, JD,
practices civil and criminal tax controversy and litigation in the Chicago
office of Holland & Knight. A Super
Lawyers “Rising Star”, she is the Chair of the Current Developments
Subcommittee of the ABA Section of Taxation.
Ms. Moore received her BA and JD degrees from DePaul University.
9:20-10:35
am (75 Minutes)
Global High Wealth Audits - A Game-Changing Strategy for the IRS
Four years ago, IRS created a Global High Wealth Exam Group to examine large
corporations and wealthy individuals.
Although IRS has always audited disproportionately those taxpayers with
the greatest likelihood of raising revenue, global high net worth audits take a
unified look at high wealth families and individuals. The speaker will review the workings of this
new audit program.
Speaker:
Jenny L. Johnson, JD,
a partner in the Chicago office of Holland & Knight, heads the Firm’s Tax
Controversy and Litigation Team. A
“Super Lawyers” rising star, she is an adjunct professor at the Northwestern
University School of Law, teaching criminal tax, and is a frequent speaker on a
wide range of tax controversy topics.
Ms. Johnson received her BA degree from Sewanee the University of the
South and her JD degree from Harvard Law School.
James Fee, Jr., LLM, CPA, is the Senior Level Counsel for the Global
High Wealth Industry in the Large Business and International Division
(LB&I) for the Internal Revenue Service.
Mr. Fee is the legal and technical advisor to the Industry Director and
her staff of managers and revenue agents who focus compliance efforts on high
wealth individuals and their controlled enterprises. He is also
responsible for providing legal support to LB&I’s national Financial Products
program. Previously, he was the Deputy Area Counsel for the Heavy
Manufacturing and Transportation Industry serving as the primary assistant to
the Area Counsel. Mr. Fee has had program oversight for two
national tax shelter projects which involved providing strategic advice on
global settlement initiatives, case development, and litigation.
10:50-12:05
pm (75 Minutes)
Prenuptial Agreements – Representing the
Economically Dominant and Weaker Parties
This
panel of nationally recognized family law attorneys will share their thoughts
on how to represent a client in the drafting of a prenuptial agreement. What
should the economically dominant party be prepared to offer? What should the weaker party expect? How creative can counsel and client be in
drafting a prenuptial agreement?
Panelists:
Joseph E. Cordell, LLM, CPA, current President of the
American Association of Attorney-CPAs, is CEO of Cordell & Cordell, a
national family law firm managed from St. Louis with more than 100 offices and
150 attorneys focusing on the representation of men. He is a frequent writer and speaker on family
law and has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and Time
Magazine. Mr. Cordell received his BS
degree from Oklahoma State University and his JD degree from the University of
Texas School of Law.
Linda J. Ravdin, JD, a principal of the Bethesda,
Maryland, firm of Pasternak & Fidis and a nationally known authority on
nuptial agreements, concentrates her practice in family law for traditional and
nontraditional families. A frequent
speaker and writer of books and articles on domestic relations topics, she is a
follow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. She has received accolades from Best Lawyers
in America, Super Lawyers, Washingtonian magazine and Bethesda magazine. Ms. Ravdin received her BA degree from Ohio
State University and her JD degree from the George Washington University Law
School.
Scott M. Strickler, JD, a principal of the Potomac,
Maryland, firm of Shulman Rogers Gandal Pordy & Ecker, focuses his practice
on all aspects of family law and has a special strength in its financial
aspects. Three times named by Worth
Magazine as one of the top 100 attorneys in the United States, he has won
additional accolades from Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Washingtonian magazine
and Bethesda magazine. A frequent
speaker and mediator in domestic relations matters, Mr. Strickler received his
BS and JD degrees from the University of Maryland.
12:05-1:20pm (50 minute
program)
Luncheon Presentation: New Planning Opportunities for Attorney-CPAs
Named the Most Influential Practitioner by CPA Magazine,
nationally renowned Sidney Kess will reflect on the changes he has seen in
the tax profession during his career.
He will look at the years ahead and suggest planning opportunities for
attorney-CPAs and their clients.
Sidney Kess, LLM, CPA, Counsel to Kostelanetz & Fink,
LLP, in New York, is the most renowned tax professional in the United States
with hundreds of books and thousands of speeches to his credit. The former National Director of Tax at KPMG
Main Hurdman, CPA Magazine has named him the Most Influential Practitioner in
the country and the AICPA has named its teaching award as the Sidney Kess
Award for Excellence in Continuing Education.
Mr. Kess received his BBA degree from Baruch College, his JD degree
from Harvard Law School and his LLM degree from the New York University
School of Law.
David S. De Jong, LLM, CPA., a Past President of the
American Association of Attorney-CPAs, is a principal of the Rockville,
Maryland, law firm of Stein Sperling Bennett De Jong Driscoll PC, with a
focus in tax, estate planning, and business transactions and valuations. An adjunct professor of law at
Washington& Lee University and frequent writer, speaker and expert
witness, he has won accolades from Worth Magazine (top 100 attorneys in the
US), Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, Washingtonian magazine and
Washington Smart CEO. Mr. De Jong
received his BA degree from the University of Maryland, his JD degree from
Washington & Lee and his LLM degree from the Georgetown University Law
Center.
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1:30-3:10
pm (100 Minutes)
Ethics Session: Is Orange Really the New Black – White
Collar Crimes and Their Impact on Society
As the Government’s testifying forensic witness in the trials of the Madoff
accomplices, Bruce Dubinsky has seen the effect of multi-billion dollar crimes
on innocent individuals. He will share
his observations as an expert in numerous cases involving white collar fraud
and other financial greed.
Speaker:
Bruce Dubinsky,
MsT, CPA, CVA, CFE, CFF, MAFF, works in the New York and Washington offices of
Duff & Phelps and is its Global Leader for Fraud and Forensic
Services. He has been a testifying
expert in about 50 trials and 90 depositions, and he recently testified on
behalf of the Government in the “Madoff 5” criminal trial. Mr. Dubinsky received his BS degree from the
University of Maryland and his MS degree in taxation from Georgetown
University.
Friday, November 7
8:00-8:50
am (50 Minutes)
Current Trends in Forensics and Fraud (qualifies for A&A)
An overview of key trends in forensic accounting and fraud issues for the practitioner.
Speaker:
Marta Alfonso, JD, CPA, CFF, CIRA, is a principal in the Miami and New York offices of MBAS, a “top-50” CPA firm. Previously in key positions with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development and in the private sector, she has particular expertise in insolvency, bankruptcy and turnarounds. Ms. Alfonso received her BBA and JD degrees from the University of Miami and her MBA degree from Florida International University.
9:00-11:30 am (150 Minutes)
Symposium at Tax Court
Most tax litigation occurs in Tax Court as it is a forum not requiring
prepayment of alleged liability for access.
Chief Judge Thornton will host an on-site symposium at the Tax Court,
explaining its workings and the activities of its judges.
Please note this will take place at the US Tax Court not the hotel. Transportation is on your own.
Presenters:
The Honorable Michael B. Thornton is Chief Judge of the US Tax Court,
appointed initially to the Court by President Clinton in 1998 and reappointed
by President Obama in 2013. Previously,
he was in private practice in Washington, DC and also worked for the House Ways
and Means Committee and the Department of Treasury. Judge Thornton received his BS degree from
the University of Southern Mississippi, his MA and MS degrees, the latter in accounting,
from the University of Tennessee and his JD degree from the Duke University
School of Law.
Bill Smith, JD, is Managing
Director of the National Tax Office of CBIZ, having previous stints with
Deloitte & Touche, the Department of Justice and in private law
practice. A Washington Smart CEO “power
player”, he has been interviewed and quoted by such publications as the Wall
Street Journal, the New York Times and the Washington Post. Mr. Smith received his BS degree from the
University of Florida and his JD degree from Florida State University.
1:00-1:50
pm (50 Minutes)
How to Value a Business “Down and Dirty”
Accountants are often asked by clients as to the worth of a business. If they are selling, clients hope to hear a
high number but, for divorce and death taxes, they are likely to want a low
number. This presentation will cover the
basics of business valuation and help you converse intelligently on the subject
with your business clients.
Speaker:
Roy H. Meyers, CFA, ASA, is a Managing Director of Management Planning, Inc.,
(MPI) Based in Princeton he values closely held businesses in a wide range of
industries. He has testified as an
expert in US Tax Court. Mr. Meyers
received his BA and MBA degrees from Rutgers.
1:55-2:45
pm (50 Minutes)
The Marketplace Fairness Act & the Destruction of the Commerce Clause
This session will discuss the latest on the
Marketplace Fairness Act before Congress as well as the implications on various
industries if it were to become law. This will go beyond the implications
to e-commerce companies on to manufactures, car dealers, wholesalers, and the
other thousands of businesses that sell across state lines every day. If
you think the Marketplace Fairness Act will not affect your clients, then you
need to attend this session.
Speaker:
James H Sutton, Jr., LLM, CPA is the State and Local
Tax Chairman for the American Association of Attorney – Certified Public
Accountants. He is a Florida licensed CPA and Attorney and a shareholder
in the law firm Moffa, Gainor, & Sutton, PA. Mr. Sutton's primary practice
is Florida tax controversy, with an almost exclusive focus on Florida sales and
use tax. Mr. Sutton worked for the State and Local Tax department of Arthur
Andersen and has been an adjunct professor of law at Stetson University College
of Law since 2002 teaching State and Local Tax and at Boston University College
of Law since 2014 teaching Sales and Use Tax. Mr. Sutton is a frequent speaker
on Florida sales and use taxes for the FICPA, Lorman Education, NBI, the
Florida Society of Accountants, as well as other organizations.
2:55-3:55
pm (60 Minutes)
Ethics session – Past, Present and Future of Rules of
Conduct in the AAA-CPA and the Ibanez Case before the Supreme Court
A distinguished panel will review the rich history of our Association
from founding to today and provide thoughts for the future. A focus will
be on the Ibanez case. Thirty years after the founding of the AAA-CPA to
protect the rights of attorney-CPAs, Silvia Ibanez, as a pro se, argued before
the US Supreme Court that she could use her CPA and CFP designations in
marketing as an attorney. The Court struck down her censure by the
Florida Board of Accountancy 9-0 on the CPA credential and 6-3 on the CFP credential.
Panelists:
Richard
Orin, LLM, CPA is a founding member and past
president of the AAA-CPA. A frequent
lecturer and author on ethics in the accounting profession his book, Professional Ethics
is published by the Foundation for Accounting Education. Mr. Orin received his BS and BA degrees from
the University of Missouri and his JD and LLM degrees from New York University
Law School.
Silvia Ibanez, JD, CPA, CFP, practices estate, tax and business
law in the Orlando, Florida area where she has taught at several local
universities. Prior to starting her law
practice, she practiced accounting. Early in her days as a lawyer, she achieved
national recognition by arguing pro se and winning a decision of the US Supreme
Court allowing her to advertise her CPA and CFP credentials in legal
marketing. Ms. Ibanez received her BBA
degree from the University of Miami and her JD degree from the Universidad de
Puerto Rico.
James
J. Rigos, LLM, CPA, CMA, CFM, owner
of Rigos Professional Education Programs which prepares individuals for bar,
CPA and CMA examinations, is an attorney-CPA who has written and lectured
widely in areas of accounting ethics. He
has been involved as an advocate or consultant in over 200 legal and ethical claims
against CPAs. Mr. Rigos received his BA
degree from the University of Washington and his JD degree from Boston
University.
Sydney S. Traum, LLM, CPA, a Past President of the
American Association of Attorney-CPAs is Of Counsel to the Miami law firm of
Levy Lieberman. A leading authority on S
corporations in the country, author of two books on S Corporations, he has the
longest tenure on the Executive Committee of the AAA-CPA. Mr. Traum received his BBA degree from Baruch
College, his JD degree from Harvard Law School and his LLM degree from the New
York University School of Law.
Saturday, November 8, 2014
8:30-9:20
am (50 Minutes)
Putting Flexibility in Estate Planning
With
estates that may fluctuate in size and tax laws that change at least as rapid,
drafting estate planning documents with flexible provisions is more important
than ever. This program will examine
multiple scenarios where innovative language in a will or living trust can
provide a creative solution to an uncertainty.
Speaker:
Steven A. Widdes, JD, a
principal of the Rockville, Maryland, law firm of Stein Sperling Bennett De
Jong Driscoll PC, is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate
Counsel (ACTEC). He has won accolades
from Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, Legal Times, Washingtonian
magazine and Bethesda magazine. Mr.
Widdes received his BA and JD degrees from Drake University and his LLM degree
from the Georgetown University Law Center.
9:20-10:10
am (50 Minutes)
Estate Planning for Digital Assets
In today’s world, digital assets are quickly replacing tangible assets. Electronic files are making antiques out of
file cabinets. Photo albums are no
longer on paper. Delaware has become the
first state to enact model legislation dealing with the bequeathing of digital
assets. This session will focus on the
drafting of language dealing with digital assets and the probate issues arising
from these items.
Speaker:
Anne W. Coventry,
JD, a principal of the Bethesda,
Maryland, law firm of Pasternak & Fidis, is a Fellow of the American
College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC).
A frequent speaker and writer on various estate planning topics, she has
been named a top estate attorney multiple times by Washingtonian magazine. Ms. Coventry received her BA degree from
Lawrence University and her JD degree from the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at
William and Mary.
10:20-11:10
am (50 Minutes)
Multistate Taxation Issues of Estates
and Trusts
Multistate
taxation issues of fiduciaries are even more difficult than those of
corporations and individuals. An estate
or trust may have nexus with multiple jurisdictions – the source state, the situs
of the decedent or settlor, the situs of the executor or trustee, the residence
of the beneficiary and the “choice of laws” jurisdiction. The program will sort through this maze and
the application of credits when two or more states have the right of taxation.
Speaker:
Thomas W. “TJ” Aldous, Jr., LLM, is a partner of the Richmond,
Virginia, law firm of Williams Mullen with a focus in both estate planning and
administration. A Super Lawyers “Rising
Star”, he is a prolific writer on estate topics. Mr. Aldous received his BA degree from
Brigham Young University, his JD degree from the University of Kansas School of
Law and his LLM degree from the New York University School of Law.