JULY NEWSLETTER
Ian C. White, Esq., Editor
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MICHAEL J. WILSON LEADS THE TAX SECTION
Florida Bar News: Veteran tax attorney Michael J. Wilson became chair of The Florida Bar Tax Section on July 1, bringing years of leadership experience within the section to its top volunteer post.
Wilson, president of the Sarasota firm Williams Parker, has served on the section's Executive Council and previously chaired the Federal Tax Division, Educational Division, Section Administration Division, and Long-Range Planning Committee.
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Under Wilson's leadership, the Tax Section will hold meetings and conferences during the 2026–27 year in Amelia Island, Sarasota, London, and Palm Beach.
A business and tax lawyer with more than 25 years of experience, Wilson advises clients on business and tax planning, structuring, and transactional matters.
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BRIAN M. MALEC NOMINATED FOR TAX SECTION CHAIR-ELECT
The Florida Bar Tax Section Nominating Committee has nominated Brian M. Malec, a shareholder with Dean Mead in Orlando, to serve as the section's 2027–2028 Chair-Elect.
Malec is Florida Bar Board Certified in Wills, Trusts and Estates and focuses on estate and succession planning.
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He advises individuals, families, and business owners on the implementation of wills, trusts, business entities, and sophisticated wealth transfer strategies designed to achieve clients’ goals in a tax-efficient manner. His practice also includes probate and trust administration, where he counsels fiduciaries throughout the administration process and represents beneficiaries in protecting their interests.
He earned both his Juris Doctor degree and LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Florida and is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC).
A dedicated leader in the Tax Section for more than a decade, Malec has served on the Executive Council and Directors' Committee since 2013. Throughout his service, he has held numerous leadership positions, including Co-Director of the Long Range Planning Committee, Section Administration Division, Federal Tax Division, and Legislation and Regulations Division. He also previously served as the section's Treasurer.
In addition to his work with the Tax Section, Malec serves on the Executive Council of The Florida Bar Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, where he has also held a variety of leadership roles.
If elected, Malec will serve as Chair-Elect during the 2027–2028 Bar year before assuming the office of Chair for 2028–2029.
The Tax Section bylaws provide that petitions setting forth the names of other nominees for the office of chair-elect may be made by any 10 members of the section. Those petitions must be filed with Tax Section Secretary Jeanette Moffa no later than September 15 to allow inclusion on a written ballot. Nominations for the office of chair-elect will not be permitted unless the nominations have been timely made and in the manner described in the Tax Section Bylaws, Article III, Section 2(b). If there is only one nomination for the office of chair-elect, that nominee will become chair-elect.
The term of office of the chair-elect runs concurrently with that of the chair, begins on July 1 after the section's organizational meeting at which the chair-elect is elected, and ends on the succeeding June 30, when the chair-elect automatically assumes the office of chair.
| | TAX SECTION LAUNCHES 2026–27 BAR YEAR AT ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING | | |
The Tax Section kicked off the new Bar year with a successful Organizational Meeting from July 2–4 at the Omni Amelia Island, where members gathered for three days of education, leadership, networking, and family-friendly traditions under the leadership of Chair Mike Wilson of Williams Parker in Sarasota.
During the meeting, Chair Wilson announced that Brian M. Malec of Dean Mead has been nominated to serve as the Tax Section’s 2027–2028 Chair-Elect. He also shared that Mark Brown of Comiter Singer will be honored next spring as the Gerald T. Hart Outstanding Tax Attorney of the Year, while Mark Tober of the IRS Office of Chief Counsel will receive this year’s Marvin T. Gutter Award for Outstanding Public Service. We were also pleased to meet and welcome the Section’s new Florida Bar Administrator, Elizabeth Keeton.
Meeting highlights included the popular Ullman Year in Review CLE coordinated by Abe Smith, the inaugural Women in Tax gathering led by Jeanette Moffa, "Tax Section 101" by former section chairs for newer members, division and committee meetings, and more. Members also celebrated outgoing Chair Gerard "J.J." Wehle for his outstanding service. The weekend concluded with the popular Family Reception and Dinner, featuring an Independence Day celebration, dueling pianos, and fireworks on the beach.
The Tax Section’s annual sponsors are truly appreciated for their continued partnership, especially those who also joined us in person last weekend: John Harris with Coral Gables Trust; Mark Scott with Kaufman Rossin; Roy Meyers and Tracy A. Lamb from MPI; Joe Coconate from Glenmede; Tim Bronza, Mercer Capital; and Jeff Newman from Phylax Legacy Advisors.
A special shout-out goes to section annual sponsor FigTree Insurance Services, and representatives Kurtis Tucker, Stephanie Mo, Mark Schmidt, and Kevin Kimbrough, for bringing a festive red, white, and blue photo backdrop complete with props and swag. It was a huge hit.
Finally, our heartfelt thanks go to longtime Florida Bar professional Willie Mae Shepherd, who graciously stepped in to help ensure another smooth and successful Organizational Meeting. We also want to thank hospitality suite gurus Mike Jorgensen and Ian White for their hard work in setting up and maintaining the family and adult hospitality suites. Their efforts are always tremendously appreciated!
The Tax Section extends its sincere appreciation to its annual sponsors, volunteers, and everyone who attended—especially first-time attendees and their families—for helping launch another outstanding year of service, education, and fellowship.
| | NEW: WOMEN IN TAX NETWORKING MEETINGS | | The Florida Bar Tax Section officially launched Women in Tax this year during the Tax Section's Organizational Meeting in Amelia Island. The inaugural event brought together women from across the Tax Section for networking, professional development, and fun, marking the beginning of a new initiative focused on building connections and supporting women throughout the tax profession. | | | | |
Women in Tax will continue to offer both in-person and virtual programming throughout the year, providing opportunities to expand professional networks, exchange ideas, and become more involved in the Tax Section. Upcoming Zoom events (links below) include:
Future programming will continue to feature a mix of social gatherings, networking opportunities, and discussions on timely tax developments, career advancement, leadership, practice management, and other topics of interest to women in the profession.
If you are interested in attending any of these events or learning more about Women in Tax, please contact Jeanette Moffa at (954) 800-4138 or JeanetteMoffa@MoffaTaxLaw.com
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BAR JOURNAL AUTHORS NEEDED
Are you interested in writing an article for The Florida Bar Journal? The Tax Section regularly submits content for publication, and we would love to include your article. Openings are available for the following Journal issues: July/August 2027 (article due April 15, 2027), September/October 2027 (due June 15, 2027), and March/April 2028 (due December 15, 2027). Please email Editor Charlotte Erdmann at charlotte@erdmannlaw.com if you are interested in securing a spot on the list.
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INTERNATIONAL TAX CONFERENCE AND ITC BOOT CAMP: BUY ONLINE
The 44th Annual International Tax Conference took place on January 22–23, 2026, and the 11th Annual ITC Boot Camp was held on January 21. These programs are hosted by The Florida Bar Tax Section and the Florida Institute of CPAs and are designed to assist international tax professionals in the challenges they face in this dynamic field.
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Both programs are available to buy online in two formats:
In addition, each segment of the ITC and Boot Camp is available to purchase individually as an online seminar (on-demand) and downloadable podcast and can be accessed via the Tax Section’s website. The links within the course numbers direct you to the purchase pages for online seminars. If you prefer downloadable podcasts, select that option during checkout.
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(JULY 29 FREE CLE) CHOICE OF ENTITY: STRUCTURING FOR TAX EFFICIENCY
Don't miss the Tax Section's July FREE CLE offering by Adam Smith, BixTx Law. July 29 at noon, live on Zoom. Course number 9793, “Choice of Entity: Structuring for Tax Efficiency and Business Goals” is approved for 1 CLE, .5 Ethics, .5 Professionalism, and 1 Tax Law certification credit. Non-Section members add $95 at checkout for Section membership.
| | | Choice of entity is a critical component of both tax and business planning, shaping governance, operations, and exit outcomes. This program focuses on aligning legal structure with tax objectives across the business lifecycle, including formation, capital raising, and liquidity events. The session will also touch on select advanced planning considerations, including key issues under Section 1202 (QSBS), as well as ethical and professional responsibility considerations, including identifying the client, managing conflicts, and navigating duties to entities, founders, and investors in structuring engagements. Practical examples will highlight how early entity decisions impact long-term tax efficiency and business outcomes. | | | |
TAX SECTION ANNOUNCEMENTS
Seeking Bulletin Authors. The Section Administration Division is seeking content for the Tax Section Bulletin. Articles should be 500 to 1,000 words each and address timely, relevant topics of interest to tax professionals. If you have an article to be considered for publication, please email the Section Administration Division Co-Directors, Chris Callahan or Trevor Johnson.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
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July 29 FREE CLE—Choice of Entity: Structuring for Tax Efficiency and Business Goals by Adam Smith, BixTx Law. REGISTER
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November 5–7—Tax Section Fall Meeting at The Westin Sarasota
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January 6–8, 2027—ITC Boot Camp and International Tax Conference
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January 21–23, 2027—National Tax Moot Court Competition at Stetson Law in Gulfport
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March 2–6, 2027—Tax Section Directors’ Meeting at Hotel One Mayfair in London (UK)
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May 13–15, 2027—Tax Section Annual Meeting at The Ben West Palm
| | SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: CORAL GABLES TRUST | | |
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Devoted to putting clients’ interests first, CGT strives to provide conflict-free services, personalized advice, open-architecture (no proprietary products), and asset-based fees.
For more information, visit cgtrust.com or contact Managing Director John Harris at (305) 443-2544 or jharris@cgtrust.com.
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ONLINE SEMINARS AND DOWNLOADABLE AUDIO, 24/7 THROUGH FLORIDA BAR INREACH
Looking for great Tax Law CLE? Check out the InReach catalog of courses. We’ve even created an easy-to-remember link—bit.ly/Tax_CLE—that takes you straight to Tax programs.
Here are some links to a few of our recent presentations:
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FREE ZOOM CLE ON YOUTUBE
The Tax Section's monthly free CLE series is a benefit of your section membership. The programs are recorded on Zoom so you can watch them at any time.
Here are the latest additions to the section's YouTube Channel:
- (9642) Charitable Organizations: Florida’s Solicitation of Funds Process and the Honest Services Registry
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(9717) COVID-19 Interest Abatement: Kwong, Abdo, and Section 7508A
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- (9635) Current Estate Planning and Transfer Tax Developments
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(9645) Mathematics of Estate and Tax Planning Part 2
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(9225) Mathematics of Estate and Tax Planning Part 1
- (9480) Series LLCs Come to Florida: The Rise of the Protected Series
- (9236) Federal Tax Procedure Review Part 2
- (9235) Federal Tax Procedure Review Part 1
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BE A PRESENTER
Free CLE is a benefit of membership in the Tax Section, and we need your help to continue providing excellent monthly programming. If you volunteer, you'll present on Zoom.
Interested? Contact next year's Education Division Directors, Richard Vaughn (rvaughan@jonesfoster.com) or Brian Harris (brian@fmhlegal.com).
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TAX SECTION HALL OF CHAMPIONS PODCAST SERIES
The Tax Section's Hall of Champions podcast series is free and is posted on Libsyn.
The purpose of the interview series is to "record and preserve the wisdom of those lawyers who have meant so much to the development of tax law and policy in Florida." Each of the episodes features a tax attorney who has served in a leadership role in the section or who has won the Gerald T. Hart Outstanding Tax Attorney of the Year.
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TAX PRO BONO OPPORTUNITIES
Florida's Low-Income Taxpayer Clinics (LITCs) assist low-income taxpayers with IRS controversies, including collections, liability disputes, and Tax Court petitions. Studies show that representation significantly increases positive outcomes for low-income taxpayers. If you are interested in representing a low-income taxpayer, please contact the LITC nearest you.
| | | Volunteers needed for the U.S. Tax Court Pro Bono Calendar Call Program. The program is designed to have local tax practitioners volunteer their time to pro se taxpayers during calendar call sessions without entering their names as the attorneys of record. If you are interested in participating in the Calendar Call Program, please contact a Tax Section member listed below. | | There are also opportunities to volunteer during "Settlement Days," held a few weeks prior to calendar call. During a "Settlement Day," pro bono practitioners work with a petitioner to try and resolve a case with representatives from the IRS Office of Appeals and IRS Chief Counsel. Neither opportunity requires you to file an appearance in Tax Court if you do not wish to represent the petitioner before the Court. | | You received this email because you are a member of the Tax Section of The Florida Bar or you have an affiliation with our section. You may click below at any time to unsubscribe. | | |
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