About the law firm

Prior To Establishing His Own Law Firm

Bernie was a partner at Shutts & Bowen LLP (2005-2010) and a Director with KPMG (2000-2005), where his practice focused on resolving tax controversies on a wide range of technical and procedural issues.

CONTACT US
Read
our
great
story
Read
our
great
story
Read
our
great
story
About
Our Experiences
Contact
logo Navy
Close
a scales of justice on a table in front of a stage

Before joining KPMG, he was an agent and appeals officer with the IRS (1982-1987) in Houston and a trial attorney with the Chief Counsel’s Office of the IRS (1987-2000) in Miami/ Fort Lauderdale.

Concurrent with his tenure in the Chief Counsel’s office, Bernie was also a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (1992-1997). Bernie has litigated cases on a wide variety of issues, including fraud, profit motive, tax shelters, and depreciation.

OUR experience
Scale icon for section

Bernie received his J.D. degree from the University of Houston and his B.A. degree from the University of Florida. He has been licensed as a Certified Public Accountant in Texas and Florida.

Image of library and knowledge to represent lawyers expertise

He is a member of the Florida Bar and admitted to practice before the: U.S. Tax Court, Court of Federal Claims, U.S. District Court (Southern and Middle Districts of Florida) and U.S. Court of Appeals (11th Circuit).

Bernie was an Adjunct Professor at the University of Miami Law School from 2010-2017, teaching Tax Procedure. Bernie has been an instructor at IRS Continuing Education Programs and has spoken before numerous professional organizations, including the Florida Bar Tax Section and the Tax Executives Institute. He formerly chaired the IRS Collections Committee of the Bar’s Tax Section. Bernie also regularly provides pro bono services on behalf of the Legal Aid Societies of Broward and Miami-Dade County. Prior to his career with the IRS, Bernie was a firefighter and paramedic.

OUR experience

Representative matters
handled include:

  • He is a member of the Florida Bar and admitted to practice before the: U.S. Tax Court, Court of Federal Claims, U.S. District Court (Southern and Middle Districts of Florida) and U.S. Court of Appeals (11th Circuit).

  • Represented (and/or currently representing) more than 30 voluntary disclosure cases involving offshore bank accounts.

  • Represented a Florida school board and a large retirement community in payroll tax disputes.

  • Obtained favorable rulings from the IRS National office on S-Corporation election issues and a stock purchase issue.

  • Resolved a multi-million dollar penalty assertion by the IRS against two foreign trusts.

  • Represented a furniture company in a criminal investigation subsequently discontinued.

  • Represented a trucking company in a dispute with the U.S. Dept. of Labor regarding unfiled pension returns.