People
Jeremy Katz focuses his practice on state and local tax (SALT) controversies, income tax planning, mergers and acquisitions, nexus determinations and voluntary disclosures. He also specializes in sales and use tax audits, exemptions and business planning across various industries. With extensive experience as a SALT expert, Katz possess the expertise to manage the complexities of […]
Alik MacLauchlan is a tax and business consultant with experience providing advice and guidance to corporations and partnerships across a broad spectrum of industries. His clients include manufacturers, professional service firms and retailers. He also has a specialized focus on high-net-worth family groups and entrepreneurs. MacLauchlan has prior experience at a Big Four firm, where […]
Hernando Gomez has more than 20 years of experience advising local and international companies and entrepreneurs. His consultative approach leverages his deep technical knowledge and vast hands-on business experience. Gomez has been involved in dozens of domestic and international transactions and works closely with buyers, sellers, advisors and bankers to bring projects to fruition. As […]
With more than 15 years of experience, Sarah Martin provides federal, state and international tax consulting and compliance services to business owners, corporations and their subsidiaries in the U.S. and abroad. Martin specializes in ASC 740 matters and US GAAP and IFRS tax accounting for U.S. and multinational public and private corporations. Her deep understanding […]
With more than 15 years in the state and local tax profession, Christian Burgos helps clients manage and mitigate their state and local tax burdens. Burgos focuses on nexus determinations, voluntary disclosures, tax controversies, income tax planning, and mergers and acquisitions. He also provides specialized support in sales and use tax audits, exemptions and planning […]
Carl Richie has more than 25 years of experience in direct and indirect state and local taxation for businesses and individuals in the United States. He focuses on income, franchise and sales and use taxes. Richie holds a deep understanding of the full range of state and local tax issues most businesses and individuals face. […]
Robert Schmidt has more than 40 years of experience providing audit and assurance services to public and private companies across a broad spectrum of industries. With more than 20 of these years focused on quality assurance and technical reviews, he maintains the high-quality standards of our assurance services. Schmidt’s experience includes US and international engagements, […]
Steven Lange has more than 25 years of global strategic and tactical leadership experience. His expertise includes accounting and financial management, operational and strategic decision support, tax management and planning services, and acquisition integration. A leader in leveraging technology, business practices and operational management, he services publicly traded, mid-market and entrepreneurial companies in the real […]
Allysa Labianco-Baldoquin provides tax compliance and consulting services to closely held businesses, high-net-worth families and partnerships. She holds specialized experience with consolidated and affiliated groups. Her industry experience includes real estate, hotels and related sectors. She works with many of the firm’s entrepreneurial real estate developers.
James “Jim” Duffy has more than 20 years of experience in the professional services and corporate development industries. He formerly oversaw the practice development efforts at two of Florida’s largest accounting and consulting firms with an established international presence, co-leading the private equity initiative in the Southeast. Duffy has a deep knowledge of the financial, […]
Elizabeth Marks has nearly 20 years of experience providing audit, attest and business consulting services to domestic and international companies in the privately held and publicly traded sectors. She serves clients of varying sizes in a wide range of industries, including cannabis, life sciences and biotechnology, manufacturing and distribution, retail, entertainment, professional services and employee […]
Michael Greenwald has more than 40 years of experience in public accounting. He provides consulting expertise to clients in the financial services, technology and media, manufacturing, wholesale distribution, private equity, real estate, construction and professional services industries. By approaching client challenges with a long-range view, he brings a unique perspective and identifies opportunities. His guidance […]
Lian Brandt has more than 15 years of experience providing audit, accounting and investment banking consulting services to organizations in a wide range of industries, including start-ups, financial services, distribution and manufacturing. Brandt has specialized experience working with SEC clients. She is fluent in Mandarin and Shanghai dialect.
Mark B. Leaheey has more than 15 years of professional experience providing tax and consulting services to clients in the U.S. and abroad. He focuses on self-procurement tax, as well as state and local income franchise tax compliance and consulting. A focus area is research and development credits for a wide range of industries. Leaheey […]
Dylan Stone has nearly 15 years of accounting experience providing business valuation services for estate and gift taxation, minority oppression, divorce and litigation-related matters. Stone also specializes in forensic accounting services for family law disputes. His clients have major holdings in a wide range of industries, including construction, consumer products, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, private […]
Articles
The passage of the SECURE Act 2.0 in 2022 introduced sweeping changes to help enhance taxpayers’ retirement savings opportunities and improve the costs and managerial headaches employers face administering employee benefits plans, including 401(k)s, 403(b) and 457(b) plans. Since that time, employers of all sizes have gained expanded tax credits for establishing employee retirement savings […]
On Aug. 1, 2024, the U.S. Senate failed to pass a tax bill that, among other things, would have restored businesses’ ability to fully deduct specified research and experimental (SRE) expenses in the tax year they are incurred. As a result, businesses that invest in innovation must continue to capitalize and amortize those costs over […]
The research and experimental (R&E) tax deduction under Section 174 of the Tax Code has been a boon to U.S. businesses since its introduction in 1954. However, the rules for how taxpayers may claim a benefit for these costs changed in 2022, restricting short-term cash flow. Now, two years later, Congress may have found a […]
Many of the taxpayer-friendly provisions of the tax code introduced by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) in 2017 are set to expire at the end of 2025, exposing individuals and businesses to the prospect of significantly higher tax liabilities beginning in 2026. While it is possible lawmakers will intervene and extend some provisions […]
Effective Jan. 1, 2024, it is easier for individuals to claim federal tax credits for the purchase of new electric, plug-in hybrid and fuel-cell electric vehicles, but there are fewer cars and trucks that qualify for the full $7,500 credit this year. The clean vehicle tax credit was amended in 2022 as part of the […]
The SECURE Act 2.0, passed into law in 2022, aims to reform the nation’s retirement savings system, making it easier for workers to save for their golden years and simplifying the rules employers must follow to administer retirement benefit plans for their employees. Following are some of the law’s provisions that take effect on Jan. […]
The passage of the Secure Act 2.0 at the end of 2022 ushered in significant changes for employers and how they must administer and annually report information about their employee benefit plans. These new provisions apply to employers’ 401(k) and 403(b) plans for tax years beginning in 2023. Although plans have until the last day […]
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) passed in 2022 ushered in enhanced tax credits for consumers who purchase new and used electric, hybrid and fuel-cell vehicles. However, it has become more difficult to qualify for the full value of the tax credit when you buy a new clean-energy vehicle that you place in service on or […]
The pandemic and subsequent months of economic uncertainty have proven that change is the one constant business leaders must accept and continually prepare for, not only to survive, but also to thrive over the long term. While changes may involve modifications to specific segments of a business, such as narrowing or expanding geographic distribution, products […]
In the aftermath of Hurricanes Fiona and Ian and with Hurricane Nicole taking aim at Florida, we are reminded once again of the importance of preparing for and responding to natural disasters in order to minimize business losses and ensure long-term viability. The actions a business takes during the first few days following a loss […]
Under recent guidance issued by the IRS, retirement plans, including 401(k)s, certain 403(b) plans and individual retirement accounts (IRAs), have additional time to adopt required amendments incorporating new legislation introduced in 2019 and 2020. The new deadline for non-governmental calendar-year plans to adopt these amendments has been postponed from December 31, 2022, to December 31, […]
The July 31 deadline for businesses to file annual employee benefit plan returns (or request a two and a half month filing extension) is right around the corner. While all employers offering defined contribution plans will find a few changes to the information reporting requirements found on IRS Form 5500, those with 100 or more […]
Time is up for private companies to comply with the new lease accounting standards (ASC 842), which require businesses to begin recording the assets and liabilities of all leases, including operating leases, on their balance sheets. For calendar-year companies, the new lease accounting standard is effective on January 1, 2022. Private companies that have already […]
Business owners already struggling with the continued uncertainty surrounding the pandemic are also facing the prospect of higher taxes and a resulting negative impact on company cash flow, profitability and valuations. For some, this environment will accelerate business sales or mergers and require significant alterations to existing estate plans – all of which will require […]
The federal research and development (R&D) tax credit is one of the most valuable tax incentives while also being one of the most misunderstood. Contrary to popular belief, eligibility is not limited to businesses that employ scientists, develop cutting-edge products or make groundbreaking discoveries. Rather, it may apply to businesses, large and small, in a […]
Press Releases
MIAMI, July 15, 2024 – Berkowitz Pollack Brant Advisors + CPAs today announced the promotion of 39 firm members, including four new associate directors. The promoted individuals work in departments across the fine, including tax, assurance, forensics, IT, marketing and finance. Tal Aviv, CPA, was newly promoted to associate director of Tax Services, where he […]
July 15, 2022 – Berkowitz Pollack Brant Advisors + CPAs today announced the promotion of eight professionals to associate directors within the firm’s Tax Services and Assurance and Advisory Services practices. “Our firm was founded on the principle of creating a life-long learning environment, where every firm member receives the tools to cultivate knowledge, enhance […]
BOCA RATON, FL – May 15, 2022 – Berkowitz Pollack Brant Advisors + CPAs today announced that Jeff Stamm, CPA, has joined the firm as director of the Transaction Advisory Services practice. Stamm is joined by a team that will assist business owners, entrepreneurs and private equity firms with mergers and acquisitions. They primarily focus […]
Miami, February 2022– Berkowitz Pollack Brant Advisors + CPAs today announced the addition of five new associate directors to the firm. The new associate directors are Oleg Beloglazov, ASA, CFA, ACCA; Gary L. Curtis, CPA; Liz McGrath, Laura Schulte, JD; and Jason Soman, CPA/ABV, CFE,ASA, CDFA®. Chief Executive Officer Joseph L. Saka commented, “The addition […]
Berkowitz Pollack Brant director promotions
MIAMI, FL, August 10, 2017 – Berkowitz Pollack Brant Advisors and Accountants has promoted three firm members to the associate director level. Guillermo Campos, CPA, associate director of International Tax Services, focuses on matters involving foreign earned income exclusion, U.S. inbound and outbound investments, pre-immigration planning, and foreign and domestic trusts. Campos is a graduate […]
MIAMI, FL, July 15, 2017 – Berkowitz Pollack Brant Advisors and Accountants has promoted two firm members to director. Hector Aguililla, CPA, is a director in the Audit and Attest practice and Anthony Gutierrez, CPA, is a director in the Tax Services practice. Berkowitz Pollack Brant CEO Joseph L. Saka commented, “We are proud to […]
MIAMI, FL, August 24, 2016 – Berkowitz Pollack Brant Advisors and Accountants has promoted six firm members to associate director level. Angie Adames, associate director of Tax Services, provides tax and consulting services to high-net-worth individuals, pass-through entities and businesses in the real estate and manufacturing industries. Laurence Bernstein, associate director of Tax Services, spearheads […]
MIAMI – March 1, 2016 – Four new members, ranging in industry specialization from financial services to business incubation and the nonprofit sector, have been appointed to The Miami Foundation’s Board of Trustees: Richard A. Berkowitz, J.D., CPA, CEO of Berkowitz Pollack Brant Advisors and Accountants and chairman of Provenance Wealth Advisors; Annette Franqui, co-founding […]
MIAMI, FL, Nov. 6, 2015 – Berkowitz Pollack Brant Advisors and Accountants has promoted Cherry Laufenberg, CPA, to associate director in the Tax Services practice. Laufenberg has nearly 15 years of experience providing tax and consulting services to corporations, trusts and foreign entities. With diversified skills and a focus on helping her clients operate more […]
MIAMI, FL, July 15, 2015 – Berkowitz Pollack Brant Advisors and Accountants CEO Richard Berkowitz today announced that David E Kolan, CPA, has been promoted to director-in-charge of the firm’s Audit and Attest Services practice. Kolan has more than 30 years of experience in audit and attest services and firm leadership. He focuses his practice […]
MIAMI, FL, Aug. 15, 2014 – Berkowitz Pollack Brant Advisors and Accountants has promoted Robert C. Aldir, CPA, to associate director in the Audit and Attest Services practice. Aldir has more than 10 years of public accounting experience in the financial services, retail, casinos and gaming, manufacturing and construction industries. A Certified Public Accountant in […]
MIAMI, FL, Nov. 19, 2012 – Berkowitz Pollack Brant Advisors and Accountants has hired Robert Aldir CPA as a senior manager in its Audit and Attest practice. Aldir most recently served as a senior manager in the Audit and Enterprise Risk Services group of the Miami office of Deloitte. He brings more than 10 years […]