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Phone (407) 428-5169
Fax (407) 423-1831
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David J. Akins

Shareholder
Office:

Mr. Akins is a shareholder in Dean Mead’s Orlando office. He provides representation in the area of personal wealth planning, with an emphasis on gift planning, charitable planning, estate planning, probate, and the administration of estates and trusts. A significant portion of his practice is related to planning for family-owned and closely held businesses. He represents taxpayers in gift, estate and GST tax controversies with the IRS. Mr. Akins also represents fiduciaries and beneficiaries in disputes involving estates and trusts.

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Professional and Civic Activities

  • American Bar Association
  • The Florida Bar
    • Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section
    • Executive Council
    • Vice-chair, Estate & Trust Tax Planning Commitee
    • Tax Section
  • Orange County Bar Association
    • Estate, Guardianship, and Trust Committee
  • Real Property, Probate and Tax Law Section
  • Central Florida Estate Planning Council
    • President - 2009-2010
    • Board of Directors - 2005 - 2011
  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
  • Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants
  • Rotary Club of Orlando
  • University of Florida Alumni Association
    • Gator Club Member of the Year - 2001
    • Central Florida Gator Club (a member organization of the University of Florida Alumni Association)
      • President - 2000-2001
      • Board of Directors - 1997-2001

Charitable and Pro Bono Service

  • First Presbyterian Church, Orlando, Florida
    • College of Elders - 1993-Present
    • Session Member - 1993-1995
    • Support Commission - 1993-1995
  • Florida Hospital Foundation Planned Giving Advisory Board
  • Orlando Regional Healthcare System Foundation Planned Giving Advisory Board Member

Education

  • Master of Laws, LL.M. in Taxation: Emory University School of Law, Atlanta, Georgia, 1987
  • Juris Doctorate: University of Florida College of Law, Gainesville, Florida 1984
  • Bachelor of Arts Degree in Accounting: University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 1977

Bar Admissions

  • Florida
  • Georgia

Prior Legal Experience

  • Holland & Knight, LLP, Orlando, Florida, 1998-2005
  • Maguire, Voorhis & Wells, P.A., Orlando, Florida, 1987-1998
  • Merritt & Tenney, Atlanta, Georgia, 1985-1987

Recognition & Awards

  • Named an Outstanding Estate Planning & Probate Attorney in Florida Super Lawyers Magazine, 2006-2011
  • Named an Outstanding Wills, Trusts & Estates Attorney in Florida Trend Magazine’s Legal Elite, 2006, 2008
  • Named an Outstanding Estate Planning Attorney in Orlando Business Journal’s Best of the Bar (Top 5%), 2005-2006
  • Martindale-Hubbell: AV Rating
  • Listed in Leading American Attorneys

Speaking Engagements

  • What Trustees Should Know about Florida’s New Attorneys’ Fee Statute, Trust & Estate Litigation Seminar Series, October 19, 2010
  • Asset Preservation: Protecting Your Client’s Assets in Today’s Litigious Environment, Estate Planning Seminar Series, August 12, 2010
  • Estate Tax Apportionment, Florida Bar Probate Seminar, March 19 and 20, 2009

Publications

  • What Trustees Should Know about Florida’s New Attorneys’ Fee Statute, co-authored by David J. Akins and David P. Hathaway, the Briefs, a publication of the Orange County Bar Association, October 2010