Best Law Firms in Florida for Litigation and Controversy - Tax

Servicing the South Florida community for many years in one form or another back to the 1980’s, our boutique firm consists of eleven practicing tax, probate and trust, litigation and business attorneys. Our philosophy is to provide the highest level of legal counsel, expertise, and service to our clients. We pride ourselves on the depth of our knowledge, our cumulative years of experience, our creative and client-centric approach to legal issues, the sophistication of our practice, our satisfied clientele, honors and recognition bestowed by ratings services and publications, and our reputation. All matters are handled directly by professionals having expertise in the subject area, which results in the highest quality and highest value legal services.

Approximately half of the firm practices in the areas of tax, business, guardianship, estate & trust planning and administration, and business areas, and half practices in the area of guardianship, trust, estate, and elder financial abuse litigation. This combination of expertise makes us uniquely qualified to practice in these areas and to act effectively to advise, protect, and enhance the business and family wealth of our clients.

All of our senior attorneys have practiced law for at least 30 years. All of our tax attorneys hold, in addition to their law degrees, an advanced law degree in either taxation or estate planning. Our guardianship, estate, trust and elder financial abuse litigators regularly participate in dispute resolution, trials, mediation, and consultation with fiduciaries, beneficiaries, and other parties, and have many years of experience in guiding our clients to the best resolution of their issues.

When other tax professionals needs answers on specific tax, trust and estate, and litigation issues, they turn to the many books, treatises, and journal articles published by our attorneys. Members of our firm lecture extensively in their fields. Our attorneys have served as adjunct professors at the University of Miami School of Law Graduate Tax and Graduate Estate Planning programs, and are regular participants, contributors, and subcommittee chairs in the Tax Section, Real Property, Probate, and Trust, and Litigation sections of the Florida bar and the American Bar Association and the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. The expertise and reputation of our attorneys and the firm is regularly recognized in national publications and through membership in prestigious limited membership organizations.

Our clients and referral sources include major corporations, banks, trust and brokerage companies, attorneys, accountants, high net-worth individuals, entrepreneurs, insurance agents, and closely-held entities.

Since 1973, Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns has served businesses and individuals throughout the Tampa Bay region from offices in St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and Tampa. The firm provides legal counsel and business guidance to help clients address legal issues, evaluate options, and plan for the future.

Our attorneys advise clients across a range of practice areas, assisting with business formation and development, daily operations, transactions, disputes, and long‑term planning. By learning about each client’s objectives and circumstances, we focus on delivering practical guidance and responsive service aligned with their needs.

The firm represents a diverse group of clients, from local entrepreneurs to established regional and national companies. Clients include real estate developers, healthcare providers, accounting and engineering firms, commercial lenders, private equity funds, local governments, special districts, and individuals throughout Florida and beyond.