Annual Tax Seminar (E1511709)

Bruce E. Mantell is a Shareholder in the law firm of Mantell Prince & Reynolds, P.C. in New Providence, New Jersey.  The firm limits its practice to tax and business planning, estate planning, estate administration and trust and estate litigation, mergers and acquisitions, tax controversy matters, ERISA and serving as expert and expert witness in tax and trust and estate related litigation.

He is a member of the Essex and Union County Bar Associations, the New Jersey State Bar Association, its Taxation Section (where he is a Past Chair and a member of the Executive Council) and its Probate and Trust Section, and has served as a Member on both the Ad Hoc Committee on Multidisciplinary Practices, and the New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on the Skills and Methods Course.  He is also a Member of the American Bar Association and its Taxation Section.  In addition, Mr. Mantell is a Member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants, and he is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.  He is a former member of both the Board of Directors of the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education and the Board of Directors of The New Jersey Lawyer Newspaper.   He has been listed under two categories, namely, Tax and Trusts & Estates, in The Best Lawyers in America, published by Woodward/White, Inc., since 2001.  He is also listed, since 2005, under the categories of Tax and Trusts & Estates in New Jersey Super Lawyers, published by New Jersey Monthly Magazine.    Mr. Mantell is a frequent lecturer and author on tax, business, estate and pension related subjects for professional associations.  

Mr. Mantell received his B.S. from Lehigh University (1969), his J.D. from Rutgers University School of Law (1973), and his LL.M. in Taxation from New York University School of Law (1977).

Richard Miller, counsel to the firm, is designated as a “Certified Elder Law Attorney” by the National Elder Law Foundation, an organization accredited by the American Bar Association. Mr. Miller concentrates his practice in Elder Law, Guardianships, Planning for Individuals with Special Needs, Estate Planning, Asset Protection, Estate Administration, and Probate Litigation. He also provides fiduciary services, and serves as Executor and Administrator in complex estate matters. Mr. Miller also serves as guardian for disabled individuals, and Trustee for Supplemental Needs Trusts. He is a member of the New Jersey and New York Bar. He is also co-chairperson of the Passaic County Bar Association Elder Law Section, and a member of the New Jersey Bar Association’s Elder Law Section, Real Property, Probate and Trust, American Bar Association, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, and the New Jersey Section of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Mr. Miller is also Past-President and a trustee of the Passaic County Bar Association, and is also a Court-Approved Mediator. Mr. Miller received his undergraduate degree from Rutgers College in New Brunswick, and his law degree from Rutgers Law School in Newark. He is also admitted to practice before the United States Tax Court. He is a frequent lecturer on elder law, government benefit planning, and guardianships before professional, community and financial groups.

Robert A. Stern is an attorney in Sills Cummis & Gross's Business Crimes and Tax Litigation Practice Groups. His practice includes representing clients in connection with federal and state tax controversies, tax litigation and criminal tax issues. Mr. Stern is a former senior trial attorney and general litigation specialist with the Office of District Counsel, Internal Revenue Service, Newark, New Jersey. Prior to joining the Firm, Mr. Stern was a partner in a boutique tax firm specializing in IRS and state tax controversies, tax law, probate litigation and ERISA. Mr. Stern is a frequent lecturer for various professional organizations including the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education, the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants, the National Business Institute, the National Association of Tax Professionals, Morgan Stanley and other professional business organizations.

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.