Annual Tax Seminar (E1811799)

Nicholas Guerra is an associate in the Tax, Trusts and Estates Department of Cole Schotz P.C., representing high net worth individuals, families and business owners. Nicholas creates business succession and estate transfer plans designed to preserve wealth, minimize taxation and enhance family relationships. To accomplish these goals, Nicholas assists clients in the establishment of protective entity structures, charitable trusts, dynasty trusts, life insurance trusts, foreign and domestic asset protection trusts, and leveraged gifting transactions.

Before joining the firm, Nicholas worked for two Am Law 100 law firms representing actors, directors, writers and producers residing in Los Angeles, CA, start-up companies located in Silicon Valley, CA and hedge fund managers residing in New York, NY.

Nicholas earned his B.A. in Accounting from the University of Florida Fisher School of Accounting in 2005, his J.D. from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2007 and his LL.M. in Estate Planning from the University of Miami School of Law in 2009.

Nicholas is admitted to practice law in Florida, New York and California.

Parag is a tax attorney with the Patel Law Offices in Iselin. His practice concentration is in tax, business transactions and estate planning. He is a board certified estate planning law specialist, a board certified elder law attorney, and a frequent speaker on legal issues affecting tax, offshore tax planning and estate planning. Parag was named a New Jersey Super Lawyer by New Jersey Magazine for tax and estate planning. He has also received an AV rating from the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating System, which is the highest professional rating possible among lawyers. He is the 2011/12 chairman of the Tax Law Committee of American Bar Association’s GP Solo and Small Firm Division. Parag also serves as a part-time municipal court judge for Edison Township. He is a member of the New Jersey State, New York State, Middlesex County and American Bar Associations.

Robert Tandy, Esq. is a New Jersey employment and discrimination attorney in Montvale, New Jersey. Mr. Tandy handles all aspects of employment law litigation, from the initial stages of investigation and discovery through trial. He has extensive experience in a wide variety of employment law issues, including discrimination, sexual harassment, hostile work environment, whistleblower rights, retaliation, and wage & hour issues. Mr. Tandy represents employers and employees providing him with significant insight to the decision making processes of both groups. He regularly provides training for supervisors and managers, as well as non-supervisory employees in all areas of employment law.

Mr. Tandy earned his B.A. (Cum Laude) at St. Peter's College, Jersey City and his J.D. (Cum Laude) at Quinnipiac College School of Law in Hamden, Connecticut. He is admitted to practice law in New Jersey and New York and the U.S. District Court of New Jersey and the U.S. District Court of New York, Southern and Eastern districts.

Geoffrey Weinstein, special counsel in the Tax, Trusts & Estates Department, counsels those with business and personal interests in the greater New York City metropolitan area and South Florida. He is known as a creative advisor and problem-solver who assists in developing tax planning strategies that preserve wealth and a dedicated advocate who resolves tax controversies. Geoff advises on estate planning that involves wills, trusts, powers of attorney and healthcare directives. Following a death, he advises on estate administration and probate litigation. For businesses and individuals, he advises on taxation of executive compensation, including stock option incentives and nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements. He also reviews executive employment and severance agreements for Section 409A compliance. When tax controversies arise, Geoff represents taxpayers before federal, state and local tax authorities at all stages of the administrative process, from audit through administrative appeal. He has discretely handled numerous high-net worth residency cases in New Jersey and New York, consistently netting favorable results through confidential closing agreements that avoid the publicity of litigation. In addition, Geoff works closely with other members of the Cole Schotz team to resolve sales and use and corporate business tax audits with state tax authorities. In cases where taxpayers neglected to file tax or information returns, or have compliance issues involving offshore bank accounts and other assets, Geoff has achieved positive results through participation in federal and state voluntary disclosure programs and procedures. Geoff also represents taxpayers in sensitive “egg shell” tax audits that include exposure to possible criminal charges and/or civil fraud penalties. He has represented U.S. and non-U.S. resident taxpayers from around the world, including Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and India. For those matters that require litigation, Geoff has prosecuted many cases to successful conclusion. Geoff is a frequent lecturer on handling tax controversies at the federal and state level and advising on state tax updates. He is licensed to practice law in New Jersey, New York, and Florida, and has specific admittance to the United States Tax Court and the Southern District Court of New York.