EDUCATION SCHEDULE
Wednesday, July 1
8:30-9:45am (75 minutes)
Exit Stage Left: A Primer on the US Expatriation Tax Regime
Speakers: Summer Ayers LePree, Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP and Daniel Bell, Holland & Knight
With increasing tax compliance burdens in the United States, many individuals have considered relinquishing their U.S. citizenship and/or green cards. In recent years, individuals have been expatriating in increasing numbers, to escape these growing compliance and tax burdens, but many such persons do so without fully appreciating the impact of the U.S. exit tax. This presentation will introduce you to the tax rules that apply to expatriates under Sections 877A and 2801 and provide you with useful information to assist you in advising clients in this area. When the individual expatriation portion of the presentation concludes, we will turn to a discussion of corporate expatriation, a/k/a "the inversion rules." Specifically, this part of the presentation will focus on some selected traps and planning opportunities relating to such inversions. The presentation will not focus on the inversions of publicly traded multinational companies you have been reading about in the news, but rather will highlight the many ways in which the anti-inversion legislation under Section 7874 can apply to seemingly innocuous transactions and catch taxpayers by surprise, yielding unintended consequences.
9:45-10:35am (50 minutes)
International Tax: Basics of Inbound Planning and Compliance
Speakers: David Klasing, Law Offices of David Klasing and Severiano Ortiz, Holland & Knight
This panel will address the basics of what is known in the international tax planning community as inbound tax planning: When does a non-U.S. person become subject to U.S. taxation? What exactly is U.S. source income, effectively connected income (“ECI”), or a U.S. trade or business? And what are some of the statutory or treaty provisions that a non-U.S. person should be aware of that affect how he or she is taxed? This panel will address these basic, yet foundational, elements of tax planning for individuals that the Internal Revenue Code considers to be non-resident aliens or non-U.S. persons.
10:35-10:50am Break
10:50am-12:05pm (75 minutes)
Integrated Estate Plan-What Works and Does Not Work in Today’s Asset Protection Planning Arena
Speaker: Edward Brown, Engel & Reiman PC
Edward D. Brown explains the sound foundation for properly structuring effective strategies for asset protection and estate planning, discusses which clients should strongly consider creating such a plan, addresses the concerns clients raise in setting up such a plan, explains how the plan can work almost seamlessly in the client’s day-to-day activities, and covers the types of assets most conducive to this type of planning. Topics also include: a “walk-through” on how to structure a recommended asset protection and estate planning approach, recent case law opinions that provide a blueprint of what works and does not work in today’s planning, and how the client can maintain control and benefits from the “entrusted” assets without any significant detriment to the effectiveness of the planning.
1:35-2:50pm (75 minutes)
Taxes Dischargeable? Now What? Nuts and Bolts of Filing Adversary Proceeding in Bankruptcy Court
Speaker: John Akard, Jr., Coplen & Banks, P.C.
This practical discussion will provide a brief overview of the dischargeability of federal income taxes, evaluation of whether to bring an adversary proceeding and step-by-step instructions of filing an adversary complaint in bankruptcy court. Attendee participation will be encouraged.
2:50-3:05pm Break
3:05-4:20pm (75 minutes)
Illuminating Inversions
Speakers: Howard Bernstein, Howard O. Bernstein, P.C.
Howard Bernstein will shed light on recent developments affecting tax inversions. Learn the limited circumstances in which inversions may be appropriate for your clients and gain a better understanding of earnings stripping and other tax reduction methods associated with inversions. Session will include a Legislative and Executive update regarding proposed changes to the tax code that are intended to curtail the use of tax inversions.
Thursday, July 2
8:30-10:10am (100 minutes)
Estate Planning for S Corporation Shareholders
Speakers: Jeremiah Doyle, BNY Mellon Wealth Management and Sydney Traum, Sydney S. Traum P.A.
This session: Discusses which entities other than individuals (e.g. estate and trusts) are eligible S corporation shareholders and how to structure estate plans so that S corporation stock goes to an eligible shareholder. Examines the requirements for status as a qualified subchapter S trust (QSST) and an electing small business trust (ESBT). Also reviews how income from a S corporation is reported when an estate or trust is the owner of S corporation stock including the concept of “phantom” income when the distributions received by an estate or trust from an S corporation are less than the taxable income reported to the estate or trust shareholder on the S corporation’s schedule Form K-1.
Friday, July 3
8:30-9:45am (75 minutes)
Views from the Bench: Winning Briefs and Arguments
Speaker: Honorable Duane Benton, United States Circuit Judge
A distinguished jurist -- formerly chief justice of the Missouri Supreme Court, now a judge of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals -- will address winning advocacy. Judge Benton will outline successful strategies, writing pointers, oral-argument tips, effective approaches to issues and claims, and other views from behind the black robe. Session participants will take away invaluable insights that will sharpen their skills, benefit their clients, and improve their professionalism.
9:45-10:35am (50 minutes)
AAA-CPA Hot Issues
Facilitator: David De Jong, Stein Sperling Bennett De Jong Driscoll PC
A lively discussion about the latest issues that concern you in your practice. The topics will be determined by you prior to the conference so the hottest items are hit upon.
10:50am-12:05pm (75 minutes)
Native American Tribes: History, Sovereignty, and Tax Issues Regarding Tribal Lands and Businesses
Speaker: Honorable Charles H. Tripp, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Kaw Nation
Presentation of the relevant social and legal history of Native American Tribes in light of the Native situation in today's world. Focus will be on the evolution or devolution of tribal sovereignty by federal policy, court decisions and state infringement. Finally, the focus will be on the tax status of tribal lands, its citizens and businesses owned by tribes or located on tribal lands.
1:35-2:50pm (75 minutes)
The U.S. Supreme Court Today....and Tomorrow
Speaker: Lee Epstein, Washington University in St. Louis Center for Empirical Research in the Law
In a recent book, The Behavior of Federal Judges (Harvard University Press), William M. Landes, Judge Richard Posner, and I argue that the ideology of Supreme Court Justices influences their votes. My talk explores the role of ideology in several hotly contested areas of the law. I also speculate on how the composition of the Court (and so the law) could change depending on the results of the 2016 presidential election.
2:50-3:05pm Break
3:05-4:20pm (75 minutes)
Wynne-A Postmortem on AAA-CPA Amicus Brief
Panelists: David De Jong, Stein Sperling Bennett De Jong Driscoll PC, John Pramberg, John W. Pramberg, Esq., Michael Breslin, The FulServ Group, LLC and Lee Espstein, Washington University in St. Louis Center for Empirical Research in the Law
The AAA-CPA filed an amicus curiae brief in Comptroller of Maryland v.Wynne, the most important U.S. Supreme Court decision in decades on state taxation of individuals, supporting the position of the taxpayer that a state does not have a boundless right to tax its residents. The panel, consisting of drafters of the brief and a constitutional scholar, will review the Court’s decision and logic as well as discuss the future implications in multistate taxation.
Saturday, July 4
8:30-10:10am (100 minutes)
Federal Tax Update 2014-15
Speaker: David De Jong, Stein Sperling Bennett De Jong Driscoll PC
The session will cover the most important federal tax developments of the last 18 months including new laws, regulations, cases and rulings. While many changes in the “body of tax law” are well publicized, the program will look to inform the attendee of those developments as well as others which may not have received the same initial attention.
AAA-CPA 2015 Annual Meeting & Education Conference Speaker Bios
John Akard Jr. is a Past-President of the AAA-CPA and previously served as President of the Texas and later South Texas Chapters of AAA-CPA from 1998-2006. He is both a Certified Public Accountant who obtained his Texas license in March 1991 and an Attorney licensed in Texas since November 1994.
John is a shareholder in the full-service civil practice firm of Coplen & Banks, P.C. focusing in the areas of bankruptcy, estate planning, probate, and corporate matters. He has handled matters before bankruptcy courts in Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Delaware. Additionally, John serves on the Commonwealth International Series Trust from 2002 - present as an Independent Trustee and Chair and Financial Expert of the Audit Committee. The Business Trust is comprised of the publicly traded Japan, Australia/New Zealand, Global and Real Estate Securities Funds.
John is also a member of the Houston Bar Association (HBA), the HBA Bankruptcy Section; HBA Probate, Trust and Estate Section, the State Bar of Texas (SBT), the SBT Bankruptcy Section, SBT Real Estate, Probate and Trusts Section, Solos Supporting Solos (an ad hoc organization of solo practitioners) and the Houston Estate & Financial Forum. In addition to his professional endeavors, he is currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Episcopal Foundation of Texas and is the Chair of the Foundation’s Finance Committee and Ministry Leader for Adult Christian Formation for St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Cypress Texas. He has also served as Treasurer of St. Mary's and the Norchester Dolphin Swim Team and President and Treasurer of the Aggie Sigma Chi House Corporation.
His wife, Paige, is his primary secretary. They have two children, Abby and John III (aka Jack).
Summer Ayers LePree is a Partner in Bilzin Sumberg's Tax Group, where she focuses her practice on international taxation. She has extensive experience advising clients on international restructurings, treaty planning techniques, and other international and domestic corporate and partnership tax matters, as well as significant experience with international tax planning and structuring for high net worth private clients. Summer is experienced in the taxation of financial instruments and the use of tax treaties in international tax planning. Summer also has substantial experience advising high net worth clients on various cross-border planning matters, including pre-immigration planning, expatriation, US income and transfer tax aspects of foreign trusts and estates and cross-border compliance issues. Summer also counsels clients on FATCA compliance matters.
Summer has represented clients before the Unites States Tax Court, the Internal Revenue Service, and the United States Treasury. She also has assisted many nonprofit entities with obtaining tax-exempt status for US federal tax purposes and counseled such clients on the unrelated business income tax and other related tax issues.
Summer is a prolific speaker and author on various topics in international tax law. She is a frequent lecturer for the New York University Summer Institute in International Taxation and Federal Tax Institute, and regularly sits on panels for various industry organizations, including the American Bar Association and the International Bar Association.
Summer was awarded the 2010 Nolan Fellowship for her exceptional leadership qualities and fundamental contributions as a member of the American Bar Association Section of Taxation. She serves as the Vice Chairperson of the United States Activities of Foreigners and Tax Treaties Committee and the current U.S. National Reporter for the Taxes Committee of the International Bar Association.
Daniel Bell
Daniel (Danny) J. Bell is an associate in the law firm of McDermott Will & Emery LLP and is based in the Firm’s Washington, D.C., office.
Danny focuses his practice on domestic and foreign estate, gift, and income tax planning. He has assisted clients with cutting-edge estate, income and gift tax mitigation strategies, including domestic and offshore tax compliance, tax controversy and litigation, pre-immigration planning, expatriation planning, business succession planning, estate and trust administration, as well as family multigenerational wealth preservation. He has also advised high net worth individuals with sophisticated tax and wealth transfer planning and implementation.
Danny received his LL.M., with distinction, in taxation and certification in international taxation in 2014 from the Georgetown University Law Center, and his J.D., cum laude, in 2013 from William & Mary Law School. He earned his B.S., summa cum laude, in accounting and business administration in 2010 from Elon University.
Danny is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia, Virginia, and before the U.S. Tax Court and the Supreme Court of Virginia.
Judge Duane Benton was appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in 2004. Before his federal appointment, he was a judge on the Supreme Court of Missouri, where he served as Chief Justice from 1997-99. He was appointed to the Supreme Court of Missouri in 1991, and retained in office by the people of Missouri at the November 1992 election.
He is the only Certified Public Accountant serving on any supreme court in America. Before becoming a judge, Judge Benton practiced law as a private attorney in Jefferson City for six years and then served for two years as Missouri's Director of Revenue, during which he wrote the Missouri Taxpayer Bill of Rights, initiated the short-form state tax return, administered income tax refunds to retirees, and led Missouri to ninth place among all states in sales-tax audits of out-of-state firms. He also served on the Multistate Tax Commission, with tax administrators from 32 other states, who eventually elected him chair of the group.
In addition to earning his law degree from Yale and an LL.M. at the University of Virginia, Judge Benton completed the Senior Executives Program at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government as a Danforth Fellow. He has also accomplished the post-graduate Appellate Judges Course at the Institute of Judicial Administration, New York University. He was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws by Central Missouri State University.
At the beginning of his legal career, Judge Benton served with the U.S. Navy as a judge advocate. While in the Navy, he attended Memphis State University and earned a master's in business administration and accountancy. He became a certified public accountant in Missouri in 1983. Judge Benton is a member of the American Bar Association, The Missouri Bar and the Cole County Bar Association; the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants; Association of Government Accountants; National Society of Public Accountants; and Independent Accountants Society of Missouri.
Howard O. Bernstein, Esq. is the current President of the Colorado chapter of the AAA-CPA. He also is a member of the California Society of CPAs and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He has more than 30 years of experience in law, corporate financial management, auditing, accounting, financial analysis, sales, marketing, and management consulting. Howard’s practice emphasizes taxation, international law, small business law, employment, estate planning, probate, and litigation.
Howard lectures on legal ethics, taxation, employment and international law topics for lawyers, and is a regular moderator at the Conference on World Affairs at the University of Colorado. Howard is active in and makes it a priority to give back to the community by serving on the Board of Directors of a local nonprofit, providing pro bono assistance to the community, and raising money for The Children’s Hospital by riding in the annual Courage Classic cycling tour.
Michael E. Breslin, CPA, M.S.T., J.D. is the Managing Partner with FulServ. He joined the firm in 1998 after 10 years of Big Four experience, most recently as a Senior Tax Manager at KPMG LLP. He is both a CPA and an attorney, an unusual and powerful combination.
Mike received his undergraduate business/accounting degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1987, his graduate degree in taxation from DePaul University in 1990, and his law degree from Fordham Law in 1998. Since 2009, he has chaired the IRS Liaison Committee of the American Association of Attorney-CPA's and regularly participates on 2 committees which advise IRS leaders on improving our tax system.
Mike resides in Wyckoff, New Jersey with his wife, Eileen, and his two children, Clair and Michael. In his free time, he enjoys playing golf and ice hockey, and spending time with his family and friends.
Edward D. Brown is a principal in the Denver, Colorado-based law firm of Engel & Reiman PC, founded in 1984. Over the past twenty five years, Ed has developed extensive experience and expertise in the areas of business transactions and planning, taxation, and estate planning. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Finance and Accounting, cum laude, from West Virginia University in 1981, his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Denver in 1984, and his Master of Laws in Taxation from the University of Denver in 1986.
Ed is dually certified as an attorney and a Certified Public Accountant. He is admitted to practice law in Colorado and is a member of the American Bar Association, the Colorado Bar Association, the Denver Bar Association, and the American Association of Attorney-Certified Public Accountants. Ed was voted in Denver Magazine as one of the top 3 asset protection attorneys.
Ed speaks frequently to professional organizations on a wide range of legal subjects including integrated estate planning, asset protection, and related subject matters. He has authored numerous articles on a variety of legal topics that have appeared in local and national publications such as the Journal of Taxation, Trusts and Estates, CPA Journal, Journal of International Taxation, The Tax Adviser, Asset Protection Journal and The Colorado Lawyer. In addition to being a co-author of the first, second and third editions of CCH’s Asset Protection Planning Guide, Ed has also served as a contributing author to Asset Protection Strategies, published by the American Bar Association and The Colorado Estate Planning Handbook (Orange Book Handbook, updated annually) published by the Colorado Bar Association.
David S. De Jong, principal of the Rockville, Maryland, law firm of Stein Sperling Bennett De Jong Driscoll PC and chair of the firm’s Tax Practice group. David helps businesses and individuals with a broad range of tax planning and controversy matters, estate planning, business transactions and valuations.
A CPA with a Master of Laws in Taxation from Georgetown University Law Center, David is accredited in estate planning by the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils and in business valuation by both the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts. With over 35 years of experience, David brings a high level of expertise, sound judgment and personal attention to helping solve his clients’ tax, estate and business matters.
David is a nationally recognized tax authority and speaks to various industry groups throughout the country. Co-author of J.K. Lasser’s book, Year-Round Tax Strategies, for 16 years, he has been frequently quoted in a number of publications, including the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. He has also testified as an expert witness over 50 times in tax, estate and business valuation matters.
Additionally, David is an active member of the American Association of Attorney-Certified Public Accountants, where he formerly served as National President and received the Louis S. Goldberg Memorial Award for lifetime service to the organization, and the Bar Association of Montgomery County and Foundation, which recognized him as an Honorary Life Bar Leader for his many years of committed service.
Outside of Stein Sperling, David is an adjunct professor of law at Washington & Lee University, team teaching a two-week intensive "practicum" in business transactions. He previously taught a miscellany of tax and business courses for four other universities, including American University and the University of Maryland. He is a past Treasurer and Board Member of the Metropolitan Center for the Visual Arts. David also captains a competitive trivia team that has won two state championships.
Jeremiah W. Doyle IV, Esq., Senior Vice President, BNY Mellon Wealth Management, is an estate planning strategist for BNY Mellon's Private Wealth Management group and a Senior Vice President of Bank of New York Mellon. He has been with the firm since 1981. Jere provides high net worth individuals and families throughout the country with integrated wealth management advice on how to hold, manage and transfer their wealth in a tax efficient manner.
Jere is admitted to practice law in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and before the United States District Court, United States Court of Appeals (First Circuit) and the United States Tax Court. He formerly served as a member of the Massachusetts Joint Bar Committee on Judicial Appointments. He is the editor and co-author of Preparing Fiduciary Income Tax Returns, a contributing author of Preparing Estate Tax Returns, a contributing author of Understanding and Using Trusts, a contributing author of Drafting Irrevocable Trusts in Massachusetts all published by Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, a reviewing editor of the 1041 Deskbook published by Practitioner’s Publishing Company and a contributing columnist for Estate Planning Review – The Journal published by Commerce Clearing House.
Jere is a lecturer in law in the Graduate Tax Program at Boston University School of Law. He received a LL.M. in banking law from Boston University Law School, a LL.M. in taxation from Boston University Law School, a Juris Doctor from Hamline University Law School and a BS in accounting from Providence College.
He is a member of the American Bar Association, Massachusetts Bar Association, Boston Estate Planning Council and the Essex County Bar Association. He served as president of the Boston Estate Planning Council and currently serves as a member of its Executive Committee and was a 20-year member of the Executive Committee of the Essex County Bar Association. He is also a member of the steering committee for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Advanced Estate Planning Program.
He was named as the “Estate Planner of the Year” in 2009 by the Boston Estate Planning Council. In 2011 he was elected to the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils (NAEPC) Estate Planning Hall of Fame as an Accredited Estate Planner (Distinguished). He has spoken at numerous professional education programs throughout the country on various topics, been quoted in numerous business publications and has appeared on CNBC, MSNBC and CNN.
Lee Epstein is the Ethan A.H. Shepley Distinguished University Professor at Washington University Law in St. Louis. Before returning to Washington U., she was Provost Professor of Law and Political Science and the Rader Family Trustee Chair in Law at the University of Southern California; the Henry Wade Rogers Professor, a University-wide chair, at Northwestern University; and the Edward Mallinckrodt Distinguished University Professor of Political Science and Professor of Law at Washington University in St. Louis. In 2004, she was designated a Thorsten Sellin Fellow of the American Academy of Political and Social Science; and in 2006 she was named a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. During the 2013-14 academic year, she is also serving as a Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar, a Guggeheim Fellow, and a Lecturer in Law at the University Chicago.
Professor Epstein's interests center on the U.S. Supreme Court, judicial behavior, empirical legal studies, and constitutional law. Her latest book, An Introduction to Empirical Legal Research (with Andrew D. Martin), will be out in Fall 2014 (Oxford University Press). Other recent projects (with William M. Landes and Richard A. Posner) include The Behavior of Federal Judges, which was published by Harvard University Press in 2013; Why (and When) Judges Dissent (Journal of Legal Studies); and How Business Fares in the Supreme Court (Minnesota Law Review).
She is now working on several books, including one that makes use of Justice Blackmun's papers to study agenda setting on the Supreme Court (with Segal and Harold J. Spaeth) and another, with Thomas Brennan and Nancy Staudt, that examines how national and local economic trends affect judicial decisions.
A recipient of 12 grants from the National Science Foundation for her work on law and legal institutions, Epstein has authored or co-authored over 100 articles and essays, as well as 15 books, including the Constitutional Law for a Changing America series (in its 8th edition; winner of the Teaching and Mentoring Award from the Law and Courts Section of the American Political Science Association) and The Supreme Court Compendium (going into its 6th edition; winner of a Special Recognition Honor from the Law and Courts Section of the American Political Science Association and an Outstanding Academic Book Award from Choice). Another book, The Choices Justices Make (co-authored with Jack Knight), won the Pritchett Award for the Best Book on Law and Courts and the 2010 Lasting Contribution Award "for a book or journal article, 10 years or older, that has made a lasting impression on the field of law and courts." Other recent honors include A Best Free Reference Website Award for the U.S. Supreme Court Database, (from Emerging Technologies, Association of the American Library Association), “Exemplary Legal Writing” Honor for On the Perils of Drawing Inferences about Supreme Court Justices from their First Few Years of Service (from Green Bag), the Pi Sigma Alpha Award for the best paper delivered at the annual of the Midwest Political Science Association for Untangling the Causal Effect of Sex on Judging (from the Midwest Political Science Association), and a John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship for her work on diversity in the federal courts.
Professor Epstein is a Co-Editor of the Journal of Law, Economics & Organization; President of the International Society for New Institutional Economics; a member of the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Political and Social Science; chair of the Law School Admission Council’s Grants Subcommittee; and Principal Investigator of the National Science Foundation funded project on the U.S. Supreme Court Database. She is a former chair of the Law and Courts Section of the American Political Science Association and a past President of the Midwest Political Science Association. She serves (or has served) on the Editorial Boards or Advisory Panels of the American Journal of Political Science, the American Political Science Review, American Politics Research, Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, I•CON: The International Journal of Constitutional Law, Law & Policy, Law and Social Inquiry, Law & Society Review, Political Research Quarterly, and Social Science Quarterly.
Epstein regularly directs honors theses and dissertations, and teaches courses on Constitutional Courts, Constitutional Law, Defendants' Rights, Law and Social Change, Research Design and Methods, and the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2011, she received Northwestern University School of Law's Outstanding First-Year Course Professor Award. At Washington University she was named Professor of the Year by the Undergraduate Political Science Association and received a Faculty of the Year Award from the Student Union. Other university awards include the Alumni Board of Governors Distinguished Faculty Award and the Arthur Holly Compton Faculty Achievement Award.
David W. Klasing Esq. CPA M.S.-Tax has earned dual California licenses that enable him to simultaneously practice as an Attorney and as a Certified Public Accountant in the practice areas of Taxation, Estate Planning and Business Law. He is an “A” rated current member of the Better Business Bureau. He has a 10.0 AVVO rating.
He provides businesses and individuals with comprehensive Tax Representation, Planning & Compliance Services and Criminal Tax Representation. He has more than 20 years of professional tax, accounting and business consulting experience, coupled with extensive knowledge about federal and state tax codes, regulations and case law.
As a former auditor, David uses his past experience in public accounting to help his clients avoid tax problems before they develop where possible. As a Combo Attorney CPA he aggressively protects his clients’ interests during audits, criminal investigations or in Tax Litigation. David has assisted thousands of businesses and individuals through the audit / litigation and appeal process, and Mr. Klasing has a proven and sustained record of achieving favorable results for the clients he serves.
David is admitted to practice before all California State Courts, the United States District Court for the Central District of California and the United States Tax Court. His education includes a bachelor’s degree in business administration, with an emphasis in accounting, from California State University Los Angeles, a master’s degree in taxation from Golden Gate University and a Juris Doctor from Western State University College of Law. Having earned a master’s degree in taxation with an emphasis in the gift and estate tax arena, along with having taken classes in Law School on Estate’s, Trusts and California Community Property, Mr. Klasing practices in the estate, trust and accounting areas.
David’s professional involvement includes serving as the current Education Committee Chair for the American Association of Attorney Certified Public Accountants, former chair of the California State Bar Association, Tax Procedure and Litigation Committee, the 2013 chair of the Orange County Bar Association Taxation Section. He is also a member of the American Bar Association Tax Section; the Orange County Bar Association, Tax, Business and Corporate Law, Trust & Estate Sections, and the California Society of Certified Public Accountants State Committee on Taxation.
Severiano Ortiz is an associate in Holland & Knight’s Chicago office. Severiano concentrates his practice in the area of civil and criminal tax controversy and litigation for clients across the country. He has extensive experience in various aspects of tax and accounting consultations, and supports clients, both domestic and international, in individual and business tax planning matters, including treaty interpretation, offshore voluntary disclosure compliance, foreign bank account and asset reporting and estate planning.
Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Severiano worked as a business prosecution clerk for the Illinois
Department of Financial and Professional Regulations where he focused on enforcing professional standards among CPAs, working closely with the Illinois Public Accountant Registration Committee.
Additionally, while at the department, Severiano aided in the redrafting of the Illinois Public Accounting
Act.
Severiano is a CPA, in both Illinois and Florida as well as a Certified Fraud Examiner, with more than 10 years of tax, accounting and finance experience gained prior to attending law school. He has previously worked for large corporations, closely held businesses, and has both owned and managed an accounting practice. He often advised his clients on matters of tax minimization strategies, internal accounting operations, financial controls, entity structuring, and regulatory compliance.
Severiano’s diverse and entrepreneurial background, coupled with years of tax experience, gives him unique insights into professional matters. In addition to his professional focus, He also volunteers on boards in the community and strives to have a positive impact in the larger community by giving back through volunteering at the United States Tax Court and other pro bono projects.
Sydney S. Traum, BBA, JD, LLM, CPA practices law in Miami-Dade County, Florida. He is author of The S Corporation: Planning & Operation and also The S Corporation Answer Book, both published by Aspen Publishers, Inc. Recently he authored articles in The Tax Adviser and the Journal of Accountancy.
The FICPA Editorial Committee named Traum as the winner of the 2011 Writing Excellence Award for his article, “Update on S Corporations,” which was published in the January/February 2011 issue of Florida CPA Today.
A licensed CPA and attorney in both New York and Florida, Traum is a past president of the American Association of Attorney-CPAs; the Dade County Chapter of the Florida Institute of CPAs (FICPA) ; the Greater Miami Tax Institute; and Beth David Congregation in Miami. He is a past chair of The Florida Bar Committee on Relations with CPAs.
He is currently the Board Chairman of the Florida Association of Attorney-CPAs and is Treasurer of the Harvard Club of Miami. Traum serves as a member of the American Association of Attorney-CPAs Executive Committee, the FICPA Federal Taxation Committee, the American Bar Association Tax Section S Corporations Committee, The Florida Bar Probate Rules Committee, the American Institute of CPAs Tax Division S Corporation Technical Resource Panel and on the Board of Directors of the FICPA Miami-Dade County Chapter. He is also Editor of the Baptist Health Foundation Professional Advisory Committee Newsletter.
Traum received his BBA from the Baruch School of the City College of New York, JD from Harvard Law School, and LLM (Taxation) from New York University Law School. He is Florida Bar Board Certified in Taxation and also in Wills, Trusts and Estates. Traum is rated AV (the highest rating possible) by the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory.
Honorable Charles H. Tripp serves as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Kaw Nation in Oklahoma. Judge Tripp is an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation. He is a founding partner of Indian Collaborative Consultants, LLC, established in 2010 and of Legal Advocates in Indian Country, LLP established in 1998. His widely recognized law firm has offices in Oklahoma and Washington. Both firms serve native people, tribes and tribal entities throughout the country.
Judge Tripp has served as district Judge, attorney general and prosecutor/public defender for several tribal judiciaries in Oklahoma, Texas, Nebraska, and Kansas.
He is an alumnus of the University of Tulsa, having received his Bachelor’s Degree in 1988 in Business Administration, a Juris Doctor in 1993 and Master’s Degree in Business Administration in 1995. He is a member in good standing with the Oklahoma Bar Association, Federal Indian Bar Association and has been admitted to practice in numerous tribal courts.