Walter Primoff, CPA is a Director at Perelson Weiner LLP, Certified Public Accountants. He works with high net worth clients, and their family tax and planning issues, including estates & trusts, taxpayer controversies and exempt organizations. As past deputy executive director of New York’s CPA Society, he led the Society’s programs related to professional practice issues both with members, and in Albany and Washington. Walt was instrumental in developing New York’s LLC/LLP laws. Both Connecticut and New Jersey used this work to enact their LLC statutes. A frequent speaker and writer, Walt received the respective CPA Journal and The Tax Advisor “Max Block” and “Article of the Year” awards. Walt chairs several nonprofit audit committees, is Co-President of UJA/JCC Greenwich, and chairs the audit committee of HoloSail Technologies, creating advanced secure communications technology.

Dean L. Surkin, JD, LLM, is a tax attorney with broad based experience in tax planning and research, has litigated major cases in the fields of taxation, probate and general commercial matters, and has been peer reviewed by Martindale Hubbell. He holds the highest rating for legal ability and ethical standards, AV. Mr. Surkin received his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1973 (double major in mathematics and political science), his J.D. from New York University School of Law in 1976, and his LLM. in taxation from New York University School of Law in 1985. He is admitted to the New York State Bar, the Federal District Courts of the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Tax Court. Mr. Surkin holds the faculty appointment of Professor (Adjunct) at Pace University Graduate School of Business where he currently teaches taxation of entities. He formerly served as Adjunct Associate Professor at the NYU School of Continuing and Professional Studies where he was program coordinator of the Estate and Gift Taxation and Planning Certificate Program. He has also served as Adjunct Assistant Professor at Hunter College, CUNY. He has presented seminars to the Foundation for Accounting Education, the New York State Bar Association, the New York City Bar Association, the American Society of Women Accountants, and many private groups. His published articles on tax law have appeared in peer reviewed journals, practitioners’ journals, and the popular press. He publishes a monthly newsletter for his granddaughters detailing the possibly imagined adventures of the Lighted Collar Gang, a group of neighborhood dogs led by master cheese thief Jazz.

Debra Herman is a partner in the Hodgson Russ LLP's State & Local Tax Practice. She is widely recognized for her experience in state and local taxation. Debra works with a variety of clients to address the state and local tax impact of their multistate activities from both a planning and an audit and controversy viewpoint and on complex transactions, with a focus on New York State tax matters. Debra counsels clients with respect to corporate income and franchise taxes, bank taxes, utility taxes, unincorporated business taxes, sales and use taxes, gross receipts taxes, excise taxes on real property transfers, rent and occupancy taxes, and withholding taxes. She also has extensive experience working with high-net-worth clients on residence and other personal income tax matters and successfully representing clients in all phases of tax disputes, including audits and litigation at the federal, state, and local levels, as well as criminal tax investigations. Debra’s clients have included domestic and global financial service companies, law firms, real estate investment trusts and cooperatives, manufacturers, retailers, airlines, entertainers, high-net-worth individuals, and tax-exempt organizations. Debra served as the chair of the State and Local Tax Committee of the New York City Bar Association and is the past Immediate Chair of the State and Local Tax Committee of the American Bar Association, Tax Section. She is also a nationally recognized author on state tax topics. She co-authored the BNA Portfolio “New York Sales and Use Taxes” and a bimonthly article on New York State and New York City taxation in the New York Law Journal and writes a monthly column in the Journal of Taxation on state and local tax matters before the U.S. Supreme Court. Debra is a frequent speaker on state and local tax issues and has appeared before such groups as Tax Executives Institute, the Institute for Professionals in Taxation, the American Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, the New York City Bar Association, and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants. Debra has twenty-five years of experience representing clients in state tax audits and New York State and New York City tax litigation, obtaining federal and state rulings and advisory opinions, providing tax opinion letters, and assisting with voluntary disclosures and collection matters.

Aliza represents clients in a variety of state tax matters, including corporate income, franchise, sales and use, realty transfer and personal income taxes. Her experience from working in accounting firms, as in-house counsel and as an attorney handling complex state tax litigation provides her with a comprehensive perspective to handling state tax matters. Aliza assists clients with state tax audits, administrative appeals and, when necessary, litigation. She has represented clients in state tax controversy matters before the New Jersey Tax Court, New Jersey Appellate Division, New York Division of Tax Appeals and Tax Appeals Tribunal, New York Appellate Division, Pennsylvania Board of Appeals and Board of Finance and Revenue and Massachusetts Appellate Tax Board. Aliza also provides clients with advice regarding the state tax implications of their everyday business operations as well as mergers and acquisitions. Aliza served as a pro bono attorney for six years with Partners for Women and Justice, a nonprofit public law firm providing legal representation, advice and legislative advocacy that furthers positive change in the lives of domestic violence and sexual assault victims.

Liz is a partner in the firm’s State & Local Tax Practice and leader of the Accountant Professional Practice. She concentrates her practice on individual and business tax issues with a focus on the state and local tax impacts of complex transactions, whether from an individual or business tax perspective at the planning stage, or in a state tax controversy. Liz assists clients with planning and controversy matters in New York State, New York City, and Connecticut, as well as in multistate matters. She regularly advises clients on state tax allocation and apportionment for individuals and businesses; New York City taxes, including Unincorporated Business Tax, General Corporation tax, and Commercial Rent Tax; Pass-Through Entity Taxes; corporate franchise tax; and residency. She works frequently with clients on state tax controversies involving IRC § 1031 exchanges and other complex tax matters. Liz also assists businesses in managing the state tax implications of remote work, working closely with them to address current and future state tax obligations of a multistate workforce. Liz has extensive experience with audits and appeals in New York State, New York City and Connecticut. She has also successfully guided hundreds of clients through the voluntary disclosure process. Liz is a frequent presenter on a wide range of topics including Pass-Through Entity Taxes; Residency; Multi-State Apportionment; and the State Tax Implications of Remote Work. She is a contributor to the American Bar Association’s Sales and Use Tax Deskbook; the New York Residency and Allocation Audit Handbook; the New York Bar Association Tax Section reports; and has published articles in State Tax Notes, Bloomberg Tax, TaxStringer, and Journal of Accountancy.

With 40 years of public accounting experience, Phil London is a valued partner emeritus. Phil brings unique expertise to The Tax Services Group regarding federal, state and local, business, and personal taxes. His deep knowledge of the law informs his work in estate and income tax planning for high net worth individuals, including the use of various types of trusts to maximize overall family wealth. A valued and trusted business advisor, Phil consults with clients on the structuring of prenuptial and divorce agreements, tax planning for real estate transactions, tax-free exchanges, and business transactions dealing with sales, acquisitions and reorganizations. A respected industry leader, Phil speaks on various topics including economic development incentives, mergers and acquisitions, and state, local and multistate income and sales tax matters. As former Chair of the NYSSCPA New York, Multistate, and Local Tax Committee, he has extensive contacts with tax professionals and administrators throughout the U.S. Phil currently serves on the NYSSCPA Legislative Task Force and is also the Vice Chair of the Tax Division Oversight Committee. He’s also a valued source for media including The Wall Street Journal, Crain’s New York Business, Inc. Magazine and various professional publications.

Steven J. Eller, CPA, JD, a Partner at PKF O'Connor Davies, LLP co-heads the firm’s State and Local Tax Group. Mr. Eller has over 30 years of professional experience assisting individuals, businesses, as well as estates and trusts plan for and comply with Federal, State and Local regulations. He advises clients with respect residency, nexus and apportionment issues, sales and use taxes and payroll taxes, , with a focus on strategic planning and compliance. Mr. Eller’s industry expertise includes real estate, manufacturing and closely held and family businesses. Mr. Eller has also been influential in both New York State and New York City tax reform. Mr. Eller received his J.D. from Widener University School of Law (formerly Delaware Law School of Widener University), and his B.S. in Accounting from the University of Delaware. He is a CPA in New York and New Jersey and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (“NYSSCPA”), and the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants. Mr. Eller is a licensed attorney in New Jersey and admitted to practice before the United States Tax Court. He is an active member and former chair of the NYSSCPA’s New York, Multistate and Local Tax Committee and the current Co-chair of its legislative subcommittee. Mr. Eller has chaired and lectured at the Foundation for Accounting Education’s highly acclaimed New York State and Multistate Taxation Conference. He has lectured for CCH, is a contributor to The Trusted Professional and has been quoted in the NY Post, Accounting Today and the Daily Tax Report.

Chaya is a partner and the Lead of Withum's International Business Tax with more than 10 years professional experience, including public accounting and private industry. She has expertise in advising U.S. and foreign multinational companies on the tax implications of their international operations as well as coordinating U.S. tax laws with foreign tax laws to develop an optimal worldwide tax strategy. Chaya is fluent in the rules and regulations regarding controlled foreign corporations, PFICs, withholding taxes, income tax treaty analysis, check-the-box planning, FIRPTA, and foreign informational reporting forms. She is responsible for a variety of assignments with domestic and international companies, including tax due diligence, tax compliance, tax provision and uncertain tax positions; global tax minimization planning; subpart F analysis and computation; foreign tax credit studies; earnings and profit studies; acquisitions and dispositions of operating units; and other related matters. She formerly worked for PwC and global hedge fund Caxton Associates. Chaya is a licensed CPA in the State of New York. She received her MST degree in Taxation from Golden Gate University and her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the State University of New York.

Robert S. Barnett, CPA, Esq., is a founding partner of Capell Barnett Matalon & Schoenfeld LLP, Attorneys at Law. His practice is highly concentrated in the areas of taxation, trusts, estates, corporate and partnership law and charitable planning. His experience includes Surrogate’s Court practice, tax dispute resolution, and Tax Court representation. Mr. Barnett frequently assists clients in structuring financial transactions and charitable gifts. Mr. Barnett applies creative and practical solutions to estate and business planning. He has served on many committees and is a frequent lecturer on numerous aspects of tax and business law. He is an active participant and serves on many professional and charitable boards. Mr. Barnett is a frequent lecturer and writer. His articles and lectures encompass a wide variety of topics, including business succession, estate planning, charitable planning, generation-skipping, stock options, effective strategies for removing tax liens, business taxation, utilization of the marital deduction and partnership elections. Mr. Barnett received his juris doctor in 1986 from Fordham University, where he graduated cum laude and was a member of the Fordham Law Review. He graduated magna cum laude from Hofstra University, where he received his Bachelor’s degree in accounting. Mr. Barnett holds a Master’s degree in taxation as the recipient of the highest dean’s award. Mr. Barnett is admitted to practice law in New York, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Member: • Board of Directors of the Long Island Community Foundation.
• Board of Directors of Nassau Academy of Law
• Professional Advisors Committee of the Long Island Community Foundation
• Professional Advisors Committee of the American Heart Association
• Past Education Committee Chairman NCCPAP
• Past President of the NCCPAP Educational Foundation
• Past President of Nassau Chapter NYSSCPA
• Member of Nassau Academy of Law Advisory Board
• CPA Journal Editorial Review Board, May 2017-2020 Awards:
• 2013 Max Block Distinguished Article Award for Technical Analysis
• November 2016 – Samuel A. Dyckman, Excellence in Education Award
• November 2016 – Leadership in Law Award – Long Island Business News
• May 2017 – Distinguished Service Award – NYSSCPAS – Nassau Chapter
• Dean’s Award in Taxation – Long Island University CW Post
• Fordham Law Review
• Fordham University American Jurisprudence Award – Trusts and Estates

Mike is a Director of Taxes. He has over 20 years of experience in tax planning and structuring for privately held companies. He is a recognized firm wide tax technical resource and is well versed in a broad range of tax areas involving closely-held companies. Mike’s prior experience as a tax partner in a Big Four accounting firm included responsibility for a broad range of U.S. multi-national and foreign-owned clients operating in corporate and joint venture forms, with extensive experience involving all of the tax functions of his clients, including complex transactions, international tax services and tax technical issues. Mike was an Adjunct Professor of Taxation at St. John’s University, Peter J. Tobin School of Business, Queens, New York, Manhattan Campus from 2005 through 2012 where he teaches classes in corporate and partnership taxation. Mike is also a member of the Executive Advisory Board, Department of Accounting and Taxation at St. John’s.

Melissa Wiley has over 20 years of experience in tax controversy and litigation on a wide range of civil tax matters at the federal and state level. She represents clients at all levels of administrative controversy with the IRS, including audits and cases before the IRS Office of Appeals, and has significant experience handling penalty and international information reporting matters. Her experience includes litigation in the U.S. Tax Court, Court of Federal Claims, and various federal district courts, representing clients facing government and third-party subpoenas and investigations. She also counsels on voluntary disclosures of prior tax noncompliance. An actuary by training, Melissa has practiced at a Big Four accounting firm, first as an Assistant General Counsel and later as a Senior Manager in the firm’s National Tax department; as well as in the Tax practice of an AmLaw 20 global law firm. A respected authority on tax controversy topics, Melissa frequently presents on IRS filing requirements, penalties, and enforcement, as well as on ethics and the Corporate Transparency Act. She is active in numerous professional organizations such as the AICPA and the ABA Tax Section, where she previously served as Vice Chair for Committee Operations and is currently a member of the Nominating and Appointments to the Tax Court Committees. She is also the chair of the DC Bar Tax Audits & Litigation Committee and the Regent for the Federal Circuit for the American College of Tax Counsel. Melissa’s pro bono work includes assisting local children and caretakers through the Children’s Law Center, where she served on the board for a decade and has provided pro bono services in custody and abuse/neglect matters for more than 15 years.