Nassau/Suffolk Chapter Tax Conference

Robert J. Schaffer, CPA is currently a Director at CBIZ in Melville, New York. He works primarily with closely-held businesses, providing them with personalized professional tax and accounting services. He provides services to many types of businesses and individuals. Robert has over 30 years of tax experience. Robert is a member of both the American Institute of CPAs (“AICPA”) and the New York State Society of CPAs (“NYSSCPA”). He was President of the Nassau Chapter of the NYSSCPA during the 2004-2005 year. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the NYSSCPA Career Opportunities in the Accounting Profession Program in Nassau and a member of the NYSSCPA Legislative Task Force, both at the statewide level. Robert is currently Co-Chair of the NYSSCPA Nassau Chapter Taxation Committee and Co-Chairs its Annual All-Day Tax Conference. He has also been chairperson of various other Nassau Chapter committees and has spoken at continuing professional education conferences and at student functions. Robert earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Pace University in New York City and his master’s degree in taxation at the CW Post Campus of Long Island University in Brookville, New York. He lives in Baiting Hollow, New York and enjoys boating, swimming and gardening.

Neil D. Katz, JD, LLM, is the Managing Partner of Katz, Smith & Chwat, P.C., in Melville, N.Y., and is an Special Assistant Professor of Taxation at Hofstra University. His practice focuses on federal and state income tax issues, as well as on matters relating to corporate, partnership, estate, and gift taxation. His experience extends to the strategic planning and drafting of various business agreements and complex estate plans, as well as the negotiation and representation in the acquisitions or sales of business interests. He is frequently called upon to speak before various professional organizations, including the NYSSCPA, the National Conference of CPA Practitioners, the Nassau and Suffolk County Bar Associations, the Financial Planning Association, the Suffolk and Nassau County Estate Planning Councils, as well as many local and regional CPA firms.

Joe counsels clients on a wide range of state and local taxation issues and represents taxpayers in disputes with the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance as well as the New York City Department of Finance. As the Sales & Use Tax Practice Leader, Joe’s practice focuses on sales and use tax issues, especially in the technology (software as a service, cloud computing, digital products, etc.), fine arts and construction industries. Joe is the primary author of our firm’s sales tax blog, All About Sales Tax. Joe is a contributing editor (New York Chapter) of the American Bar Association's Sales and Use Tax Deskbook. Joe also counsels clients regarding personal income tax planning and residency issues. He co-authored, with Mark S. Klein, the 2019 Guidebook to New York Taxes, a reference source of information on this topic and he writes a column for Tax Notes State called “The Endres Assessment." He also advises clients with respect to various federal and state tax incentive-based programs such as the federal renewable energy investment and production tax credits, New York State's Start-Up NY Program, the Excelsior Program, the former Empire Zone Program, the Brownfield Tax Credit Program and the Historical Building Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program. As the Abandoned Property Audits Practice Leader, Joe counsels clients in this area of law and has represented large corporations in complex compliance matters such as multistate abandoned property audits and voluntary disclosures.

Yvonne R. Cort is a Partner at Capell Barnett Matalon & Schoenfeld LLP, where she focuses her practice on resolving Federal and New York State tax controversies. For over twenty years, Yvonne has assisted individuals and businesses with IRS and NYS tax matters including New York State and New York City residency audits, IRS and NYS audits and appeals, unfiled returns, income tax, sales tax, withholding tax, responsible person assessments, liens and levies, innocent spouse, voluntary disclosure, installment agreements and offers in compromise. Yvonne has been selected to New York Metro SuperLawyers, a designation given to only 5% of the lawyers in the state. She has served as Chair of the IRS Downstate New York Practitioner Liaison Group and Chair of the Tax Law Committee of the Nassau County Bar Association. She is a Co-Chair of the Attorneys and Accountants Joint Committee of the New York State Society of CPAs, Nassau Chapter. She is also a member of the New York State Bar Association Tax Section, where she has contributed to policy papers. Yvonne has been honored as a Long Island Business News Top 50 Women in Business, and is a recipient of the Long Island Power Women in Business award from Long Island Press. Yvonne’s numerous articles on tax topics have been featured in accounting and legal publications such as the Journal of Multistate Taxation and Incentives, and the Tax Stringer, published by the New York State Society of CPAs. She is a regular speaker for many professional groups in New York and Florida. Yvonne has been interviewed by various media outlets, and she has been quoted in several leading publications including Bloomberg BNA and Newsday. Yvonne received her B. A. magna cum laude from the University of Rochester, and her J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. Yvonne is admitted to the Bar in New York and Pennsylvania, and admitted to practice before the United States Tax Court.

Jennifer Koo is a Partner with Sales Tax Defense LLC. The firm specializes in sales, use, and transaction taxes. Jennifer has been with the firm for over 5 years. Jennifer previously worked at the New York State Attorney General’s Office and brings her experience to her current position. Areas of Practice Multi-state sales and use tax consulting Sales and use tax audit defense Representation before government revenue agencies and auditors Sales and use tax refunds and recovery Sales tax planning and research Due diligence reviews Representing clients at Bureau of Conciliation and Mediation Services hearings Workers’ compensation assistance Representing clients at Administrative Law Judge hearings

Gregory Matalon’s practice concentrates in the areas of estate planning, estate administration, elder law and Not-for-Profit and Religious Corporations Law. He regularly helps individuals and families plan for the future through the preparation of Last Wills and Testaments, Trusts, Living Wills and Health Care Proxies and Durable Powers of Attorney documents. Greg provides his clients with the tools to create a tax efficient estate plan, while realizing that the Client’s goal/s are primary. Greg also represents Executors and Trustees to navigate the complex Federal and State laws impacting Estates and Trusts. While representing Executors and Trustees, Greg has identified areas of unsettled law and he has either clarified existing law or, in some cases, created new law through his submissions of Private Letter Ruling requests to both the Internal Revenue Service and New York City Department of Finance. He has been successful, on behalf of his clients, in each instance. Gregory regularly lectures on various topics of law including: estate planning and estate administration, Medicaid planning, same-sex couples tax planning and Religious Corporations Law topics He has lectured before prestigious bar associations (of which he is a member) including: the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA), the Nassau County Bar Association and LeGaL and noted accountant organizations including: the National Conference of CPA Practitioners, the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants and the New York Society of Independent Accountants. Greg is also invited to lecture at the Interchurch Center and various community-based organizations. This year Gregory was asked to speak by Lawline, a premier provider of continuing legal education. As a member of the NYSBA, Greg was appointed liaison to the Tax Law Section. In addition, he was granted a seat on the House of Delegates, the policy-making body of the NYSBA. Greg is proud to have represented numerous families who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001, and to have helped to establish Lutheran Disaster Response of New York, a major charitable organization created in the aftermath of the 9/11 tragedies. In addition, to his regular lecture schedule, Gregory has authored numerous articles on estate and tax topics for many professional publications. Greg enjoys serving his community, and has been involved in the following community positions: Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Kew-Forest School, an independent pre-k through 12th grade college preparatory school located in Forest Hills, New York; Former Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of Lutheran Schools Association located; Former Vice Chair of the Small Firm and Solo Practitioners Committee of LeGaL. Education: Hofstra University School of Law, J.D. Skidmore College, B.A. Honors: Lutheran Schools Association 2016 “Spirit of Hope” Award in recognition of the faithful support and the model of service he provides to the children, families and schools of the LSA Transfiguration Lutheran Church, Bronx, New York – “Amigo” award for resolution of a major tax matter Long Island GLBT Services Network, Nassau, New York – named Capell Barnett Matalon & Schoenfeld LLP a 2014 Equality Award Honoree Outside the office: In his spare time, Greg enjoys cycling the five boroughs of New York City, travelling the world and spending time with his family and friends.

Robert S. Barnett, CPA, Esq., is a founding partner of Capell Barnett Matalon & Schoenfeld LLP, Attorneys at Law. His practice is highly concentrated in the areas of taxation, trusts, estates, corporate and partnership law and charitable planning. His experience includes Surrogate’s Court practice, tax dispute resolution, and Tax Court representation. Mr. Barnett frequently assists clients in structuring financial transactions and charitable gifts. Mr. Barnett applies creative and practical solutions to estate and business planning. He has served on many committees and is a frequent lecturer on numerous aspects of tax and business law. He is an active participant and serves on many professional and charitable boards. Mr. Barnett is a frequent lecturer and writer. His articles and lectures encompass a wide variety of topics, including business succession, estate planning, charitable planning, generation-skipping, stock options, effective strategies for removing tax liens, business taxation, utilization of the marital deduction and partnership elections. Mr. Barnett received his juris doctor in 1986 from Fordham University, where he graduated cum laude and was a member of the Fordham Law Review. He graduated magna cum laude from Hofstra University, where he received his Bachelor’s degree in accounting. Mr. Barnett holds a Master’s degree in taxation as the recipient of the highest dean’s award. Mr. Barnett is admitted to practice law in New York, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Member: • Board of Directors of the Long Island Community Foundation.
• Board of Directors of Nassau Academy of Law
• Professional Advisors Committee of the Long Island Community Foundation
• Professional Advisors Committee of the American Heart Association
• Past Education Committee Chairman NCCPAP
• Past President of the NCCPAP Educational Foundation
• Past President of Nassau Chapter NYSSCPA
• Member of Nassau Academy of Law Advisory Board
• CPA Journal Editorial Review Board, May 2017-2020 Awards:
• 2013 Max Block Distinguished Article Award for Technical Analysis
• November 2016 – Samuel A. Dyckman, Excellence in Education Award
• November 2016 – Leadership in Law Award – Long Island Business News
• May 2017 – Distinguished Service Award – NYSSCPAS – Nassau Chapter
• Dean’s Award in Taxation – Long Island University CW Post
• Fordham Law Review
• Fordham University American Jurisprudence Award – Trusts and Estates