PRACTICE AREAS

We provide domestic and international tax planning for individuals and entities, including corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies from jurisdictions around the world. Tax planning can take many shapes and forms, including: Estate Planning. For many families, the most important element of their tax planning involves their estate plan. A large percentage of our clients have multinational family members with unique wealth, tax and estate planning needs. Our firm provides a number of estate planning solutions including, the preparation of wills, domestic trust structures and the establishment of offshore companies and trusts. Our firm also assists clients with probate proceedings and guardianship proceedings in the State of Florida. Further, we have ample experience with the preparation and submission of Estate Tax Returns to the IRS. Corporate Tax Planning. Our office handles a broad range of corporate tax issues, including pre-incorporation tax advice, consultation services on current corporate tax practices, reorganizations, employer withholding issues, and mergers and acquisitions. Voluntary Disclosures. Our offices has represented numerous clients before the IRS in connection with their Offshore Voluntary Disclosures. We have ample experience with the: Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (formally known as the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Initiative, currently known as the Voluntary Disclosure Practice), Streamlined Domestic Offshore Procedures, Streamlined Foreign Offshore Procedures, Delinquent FBAR Submission Procedures, and Delinquent International Information Return Submission Procedures. We are sensitive to the needs of clients entering the foregoing programs and strive to handle such cases efficiently, professionally and with the least amount of burden to our clients. Audit Representation. Receiving a notice that you or your company has been audited by the IRS can be daunting. Our office has represented clients in connection with an array of audit issues including: estate tax, payroll, income tax return audits. Pre-residency Tax Planning. Deciding to become a U.S. person for tax purposes can be an overwhelming decision, especially for those who have accumulated moderate to substantial wealth. With proper planning, we can make the transition to becoming a U.S. taxpayer a little easier by providing the peace of mind that only preparation can provide.

Our firm manages a wide range of corporate structures including personal holding structures to multinational corporations. Formation and Management Services. Our firm regularly forms business entities, including corporations, limited liability companies, and partnerships in the State of Florida. We also assist our clients with the formation of foreign business entities in jurisdictions such as the British Virgin Islands, Nevis and St. Kitts, the Bahamas, and the Cayman Islands, among others. As many are aware, recent global events have resulted in increased scrutiny of offshore corporations. Various jurisdictions around the globe have responded by increasing the record keeping requirements of regulated financial institutions. The enhanced due diligence requirements are the byproduct of the new global financial environment in which we operate today. We are aware that the efforts to ensure that individuals who seek to use the financial system to launder funds gained from illegal activities and support terrorist activities are weeded out, causes extra strain on those seeking to use the system for legitimate purposes. Unfortunately, the enhanced due diligence requirements are unavoidable. Our office can help navigate you through the evolving requirements of these jurisdictions. Trademark Registration. The protection of intellectual property is a concern to many business owners and entrepreneurs. Our office can assist you with the registration and maintenance of your trademark. Maritime Vessels and Aircraft. Our attorneys are experienced in the negotiation, sale, purchase, financing, lease, and lease return of aircraft. Our firm is also experienced in the negotiation, sale, purchase, financing, registration, and termination of maritime vessel registry. Sale and Purchase of Businesses. Making the decision to purchase a business is a big step. Our firm is equipped to handle all aspects of the purchase and sale of a business, including the rendering of tax advice. Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Applications. The U.S. Department of Transportation's Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (“DBE”) program is designed to remedy ongoing discrimination and the continuing effects of past discrimination in federally-assisted highway, transit, airport, and highway safety financial assistance transportation contracting markets nationwide. The primary remedial goal and objective of the DBE program is to level the playing field by providing small businesses owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals a fair opportunity to compete for federally funded contracts. The DBE application process can be complex, however, our firm can help guide you and your business through this process.

The purchase of real estate must be approached methodically. Our office handles a broad range of real estate transactions, including residential and commercial transactions. We are equipped to perform all aspects of real estate closings, including the issuing of title policies through our underwriter, Old Republic National Title Insurance Company, 1031 exchanges, and assisting with matters pertaining to FIRPTA withholding. We also assist clients with developing and establishing a tax effective structure for holding certain real property.