Multistate Tax Conference (E2311070)

Jay Brower, CPA, is a Partner of corporate and individual tax compliance and research services at Marks Paneth, LLP. He has more than 20 years of professional experience at the federal, state, and local levels.

Mr. Brower's duties also include the development of tax planning and implementation strategies, as well as education and development of the firm's professionals. Mr. Brower provides tax planning and compliance services to clients in the manufacturing, commercial fishing, telecommunications, professional services, retail and transportation industries.

Mr. Brower was recognized by the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants as one of the “40 Under 40: PICPA Members to Watch.” He is a frequent speaker on subjects concerning federal and state tax issues including electronic filing; the domestic production activities deduction; State and Local income taxes and ASC 740/Fin 48.

Karin is a Partner in the Tax Services Group with over 30 years of experience advising corporations and pass-through entities in a variety of industries on state & local tax and escheat matters in both public accounting and corporate roles. Before recently joining Wiss, Karin was responsible for state tax strategy for an international Fortune 500 service company. Karin also gained significant industry experience through prior leadership roles for a large international media group and a Dow 30 manufacturer. Karin is returning to public accounting where she has previously spent a significant portion of her career with the multistate tax practices of leading Big Four and mid-size firms. Most recently, Karin was a Managing Director with a Big Four firm focusing on state tax due diligence and planning for complex corporate and private equity transactions on both the buy and sell side. Karin has also represented numerous businesses and individuals before state tax authorities guiding them through voluntary disclosure, examination and appeals. Karin takes pride in leveraging her broad experience and diverse skill set to provide practical solutions to issues and challenges facing taxpayers.

Steven J. Eller serves as co-head of the State and Local Tax practice. He has over 30 years of professional experience assisting individuals, businesses and estates and trusts in planning and complying with tax rules and regulations.

Steven advises clients with respect to residency, nexus and apportionment issues, sales and use taxes, and payroll taxes, focusing on strategic planning and compliance. His industry expertise includes real estate, private equity, manufacturing and closely-held and family businesses.

Steven’s tax expertise is well-known as evidenced by his being quoted on tax matters in the New York Post, Accounting Today and the Daily Tax Report.

Jim is a shareholder at Kulzer & DiPadova, P.A. He is admitted to practice before the United States Tax Court, is a member of the Bar of the State of New Jersey, and is a member of the Camden County Bar Association, the New Jersey Bar Association and the American Bar Association. Jim is a member of the tax sections of the NJBA and the ABA. In addition, he is a former president of the NJCPA, and has served as chairperson of the State Taxation Interest Group. He is a past president of the Southwest Jersey Chapter Board of Directors. Jim is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and serves on AICPA Council, its governing body. He is also a member of the New Jersey Tax and Fiscal Policy Commission and chaired the New Jersey Corporation Business Tax Review Commission.

John Ficara has been functioning as the Director of the New Jersey Division of Taxation since January 4, 2016. The Director oversees a staff of more than 1,400 who are responsible for the administration, enforcement and collection of 42 individual and business tax types in the State of New Jersey. John was previously Director of Tax and Tax Counsel for Columbus McKinnon Corporation, a Buffalo based global manufacturer of material handling equipment. He also was Corporate Tax Counsel for BASF, a German based global chemical manufacturing company, with US operations based in Florham Park, New Jersey. He has over four decades of experience as a tax professional, including seven years with Ernst & Young, and he has been an Adjunct Professor of Tax in the Fairleigh Dickinson University Graduate Tax program. A licensed Certified Public Accountant and Attorney, John earned his Law Degree from the Fordham University School of Law, and his Master’s in Tax law Degree from the NYU Graduate Law School.

Honored as “Tax Lawyer of the Year” in 2011 by State Tax Notes, Jeff Friedman provides sophisticated state and local tax planning, strategic advice and advocacy to numerous Fortune 100 and industry- leading companies. His comprehensive practice includes state and local tax planning, compliance, legislation and policy, and litigation and controversy matters involving income, franchise, sales and use and property taxes. Jeff’s clients span a variety of industries, including e-commerce, energy, technology and telecommunications.

A recognized thought leader on state and local tax issues, Jeffrey Friedman works on high-profile and precedent-setting litigation and controversy matters across the country. These matters impact critical questions on nexus, apportionment, the Multistate Tax Compact and the equal protection, due process and commerce clauses of the United States Constitution. Mr. Friedman is also a well-respected advocate on issues of tax policy, including the taxation of digital economy transactions.

Prior to joining Sutherland, he was a partner in KPMG’s Washington national tax practice; served as an attorney-adviser in the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Tax Policy, where he assisted with the development of the U.S. government's position on domestic and international electronic commerce tax issues; and served as vice president and counsel of the Committee (now Council) On State Taxation (COST).

James Fruscione is a career public servant with thirty years of experience in State government operations. As the Director of NJDORES, he is responsible for New Jersey's centralized tax return and payment processing facilities, as well as the State’s business registry and non-tax debt collection programs. He now serves as the Department of the Treasury’s Technology Officer as well.

Mr. Fruscione continues his efforts to employ digital technologies to deliver efficient and value-added services to the State’s business and taxpayer communities. In his role as Technology Officer, he seeks to use Treasury’s information technology platform to support Enterprise-level service innovation, enhanced performance and cost savings.

Mr. Fruscione earned a Master of Arts degree in Public Administration from Rider University. He is a Certified Public Manager and Certified Information Professional. He has also earned certificates in citizen-driven performance management and electronic commerce.

David is a partner in Reed Smith's State Tax Group. His practice involves multi-state sales and use and corporate tax appeals. He represents clients before administrative boards and courts in various jurisdictions. David is a frequent speaker on state and local tax issues. He has lectured on New Jersey’s corporation business tax, and has spoken on various issues for the Equipment Leasing Association, Strafford Legal Teleconferences, and the Institute of Professionals in Taxation. David is a regular contributor to the Journal of Multistate Taxation, Tax Analyst’s State Tax Notes, and BNA’s Multistate Tax Report. He is a member of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce’s Taxation Committee and a member of the Pennsylvania and New Jersey Bars. David graduated from Franklin and Marshall College (B.A., 1995) and Temple University School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 2000).

Jennifer is a member in the firm’s Tax, Trusts & Estates Department and focuses her practice in the areas of tax and estate planning. Before joining Cole Schotz, she practiced at a boutique estate planning law firm, where she utilized sophisticated estate planning techniques to assist clients in preserving assets for future generations while minimizing taxes. Most recently, she was named as a “Rising Star” by New Jersey Super Lawyers in 2018, 2020 & 2023.

Eugene Ruvere is a partner in Citrin Cooperman’s White Plains office. Eugene’s central area of expertise is state and local tax. He has provided state income tax review services to both publicly and privately held companies to ascertain savings opportunities and exposures, as well as addressing client issues, from common to obscure, in regards to varied aspects of state and local tax, including income and franchise, sales and use, employment, and property taxes.

He has previously held several important positions within the accounting industry, including serving as tax manager for both KPMG and Polo Ralph Lauren. Before joining the firm, Eugene held the role of senior controller, sales and property tax, at GE Capital.

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.