Westchester/Rockland Chapters Tax Conference- Part 2

Kevin Matz, Esq., CPA, LLM (taxation), is a partner in the Private Clients, Trusts and Estates Department at the national law firm of ArentFox Schiff LLP, based in its New York City office, where he co-chairs its Family Office Group.  Kevin’s practice is principally devoted to domestic and international estate and tax planning, family office services, estate administration and related litigation. Kevin earned his BS in Accounting from Lehman College (CUNY), his JD from Fordham University School of Law (where he was a Notes & Articles Editor of the Fordham Law Review) and his LLM in Taxation from New York University School of Law. Kevin is currently President of the NYCPA, and is a former chair of both its Estate Planning Committee and its Trust and Estate Administration Committee, the current chair of both the FAE Curriculum Committee and of the NYCPA Professional Liability Insurance Committee, and a past President of the FAE Board of Trustees.  In addition, Kevin is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (“ACTEC”), in which connection he is a past Chair of ACTEC’s Business Planning Committee, the current Vice-Chair of its Washington Affairs Committee and a member of ACTEC’s Board of Regents. Kevin is also currently the Treasurer of the Trusts and Estates Law Section of the New York State Bar Association, and the past Chair of the UJA-Federation of New York’s Trusts and Estates Group (for which he was its Honoree at its 2023 Annual Event). Kevin may be contacted at 914-380-2140 or kevin.matz@afslaw.com.

Eric C. Boughman is a founding partner of ForsterBoughman, a Florida-based business law boutique. His law practice encompasses a wide range of issues affecting businesses, entrepreneurs, and healthcare professionals, including business disputes, risk and regulatory compliance, privacy and technology issues, health and medical law, and asset protection. Eric also oversees the firm’s active communications and public relations activities. Eric has represented clients ranging from multinational corporations to local business owners in all phases of the dispute process, including mediation, arbitration, administrative tax and licensing proceedings, trials, and appeals. His experience in these areas helps him counsel clients to identify and resolve potential problem issues before disputes develop. Eric has also served as general counsel to an off-shore technology company and regularly counsels tech companies, both foreign and domestic. Eric is rated AV–Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell and is a frequent author and presenter in the areas of asset protection, technology, and privacy law. His articles have appeared in multiple American Bar Association (“ABA”) publications, The Florida Bar Journal, Forbes, Accounting Today, Financial Advisor Magazine, and the Daily Business Review, among others. He is the creator and co-presenter of a year- long national seminar series, entitled “The Eleven Commandments of Asset Protection.” His more recent popular seminars have focused on cutting-edge issues involving privacy and healthcare. Eric is also the author of a section on “Intelligent Eavesdropping” for the ABA’s forthcoming book on The Law of Artificial Intelligence, due to be published in 2019. Eric graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School, magna cum laude, where, prior to graduation, he argued before the Minnesota Supreme Court as a Moot Court finalist and wrote the advertising section of the Minnesota Practice Series Business Law Deskbook. Eric earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland while he was serving in the U.S. Air Force where his duty included tours in Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Eric has been admitted to practice law in Florida and Nevada, as well as in the U.S. Tax Court, and pro hac vice for matters in various other states. He is a member of the American Bar Association’s Business Law Section, Healthcare Law Section, Cyberspace Law Committee, Asset Protection Planning Committee. Eric is active in giving back to the community. He is President of the Rotary Club of Lake Mary and has also served on the board for several years. He is a member of the Seminole Action Board; whose mission focuses on addressing homelessness in Seminole County. He and his wife, Heather, are Holiday Fundraising Consultants for Franklin’s Friends, an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting animal welfare in Central Florida. Eric lives with his wife, Heather, two children, Peyton and Ethan, and their faithful dog, Chloe, in Longwood, Florida. In his spare time, he enjoys various outdoor sporting adventures, learning about history and technology, and attending and participating in community activities.

Gita Hecht works as an IRS Senior Stakeholder Liaison under Communications and Liaison. As such, she provides information about the policies, practices and procedures the IRS uses to ensure compliance with the tax laws.

Darol Tucker is the Local Taxpayer Advocate in Brooklyn, New York. He assumed this position with the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) in February 2015. He previously served as a Supervisory Revenue Officer in Albany, NY from 2012 until the beginning of 2015. He started his career with the IRS in October 2005, in Syracuse, NY as a Revenue Officer. From there, he served as a Recruiting Agent with the IRS Recruitment Office from November 2010 until August 2012, where he was responsible for all of the IRS recruiting efforts for both North and South Carolina. Prior to joining the IRS, Darol served and retired from the US Army after 26 years of service from February 1978 to February 2004, where he served in various leadership positions. Darol graduated from Columbia College (Missouri) where he majored in Business Administration.

Suzy Lee is a Senior Tax Manager with Untracht Early LLC. She has over 20 years of experience in public accounting specializing in financial services. Prior to joining Untracht Early, she spent nearly 15 years with a Big Four as an Asset Management Alternative Investments Director where she served as a tax advisor to financial services companies in the private equity funds, commodities and futures, investment advisors, hedge funds, and multinational financial services organizations. Suzy has spoken at various CPE seminars and webinars.

Stacy Palmer is a Principal at Untracht Early LLC’s Florham Park, NJ headquarters (which has additional offices in New York City and Orlando, FL). She brings over 20 years of experience in public accounting to the firm and its clients. Starting her career at a Big 4 firm, Stacy moved to Untracht Early in 2006 where she focuses on Corporate and Individual taxation with specialization in the financial services/special purpose vehicles/hedge fund industry. In addition to her role with the firm, she has given back to the next generation of accountants as an adjunct professor of Individual taxation at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Stacy was recently awarded the NJCPA 2021 Ovation Woman to Watch award in June 2021. Stacy also serves on the board for the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants’ Morris/Sussex chapter, has spoken at various CPE seminars, and has conducted online webinars.