ATTORNEYS & STAFF

James Schmidt focuses his practice on tax optimization of business operations and investments with a specific emphasis in the areas of tax, international tax, and real estate.

James provides advice on international inbound and outbound tax planning for multinational companies, family offices, private equity and ultra-high net worth individuals. He advises funds, family offices business entities and individuals in connection with complex business and real estate structuring and investment issues, the taxation of partnerships and corporations, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate reorganizations.

Before practicing law, James Schmidt worked as a Certified Public Accountant for eight years in both the audit and tax fields and provided transaction services in public stock and debt offerings. Today, James’ practice caters to parties involved in sophisticated transactions that require transactional and tax advice and prefer to receive it from the same counsel. In his business law practice Mr. Schmidt serves as general counsel to clients on day-to-day legal matters, assuming primary responsibility for their transactional requirements and serving as a liaison with outside counsel when other needs arise. He frequently represents clients in their business negotiations and in the drafting of agreements for mergers and acquisitions, financing transactions, partnerships and joint ventures, asset purchases and sales, leasing, employment, and licensing. This practice also includes the representation of lenders and investors in their lending activities and loan documentation.

James’ tax practice complements his business law practice and offers a valuable solution to parties seeking to gain a comprehensive understanding of the legal and tax consequences of their decisions. His representation also includes rendering tax opinions, and providing a range of advice on federal and state income tax matters. In his compliance practice, he offers a full array of tax form preparation services. He represents clients before tax authorities in controversies, audits, compliance examinations, appeals and protests.
His interdisciplinary approach provides an advantage to parties desiring ensure compliance with the law while achieving tax efficiency and maintaining the highest fidelity to their business objectives.

James is also an active leader in many of the organizations which he belongs to. He is Co-Chairman of the Small Firm Section and the Tax Section of the Hillsborough County Bar Association, Co-Director of the Tax Section of The Florida Bar, and serves on several committees of the Tax Section of the American Bar Association.

He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Tampa Bay Chapter of NAIOP (National Association of Industrial and Office Properties) and previously served as a Director of its Florida organization and on its National Government Affairs Taxation and Finance Sub-Committee. A part of his pro-bono work, he serves as general counsel to Real Estate Lives, Inc., a non-profit entity serving the Tampa Bay area, and as a director to WEDU’s community advisory board.