Michael J. Burwick

Overview

Michael Burwick is a shareholder in Becker’s Corporate Practice. With nearly 30 years of expertise in corporate, tax, and securities law, Michael specializes in tax deferral, mitigation, and minimization. He has a proven track record of developing and successfully implementing innovative tax strategies drawn from underutilized sections of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC).

In his role, Michael has been instrumental in assisting businesses of varying sizes, from several million to several hundred million dollars in annual revenue, as well as high-net-worth individuals, families, and trusts, to navigate the timing and payment of both capital gains and ordinary income taxes. Michael’s expertise consistently results in substantial savings for his clients.

Michael’s clientele spans diverse industry sectors. In the realm of sports, media, and entertainment, he collaborates with professional sports agents and advisors, offering specialized tax advice to athletes. This often involves managing tax implications related to their outside businesses and investments funded by career earnings and endorsement income.

With a strong presence in the agricultural sector, Michael leverages specific provisions in the IRC to unlock substantial and rarely tapped tax benefits. His expertise includes various agricultural subcategories, including timber, livestock, fisheries, nurseries, and other businesses falling within the broad IRC definition of agriculture.

Prior to joining Becker, Michael held partner positions at two AM Law 200 firms. His background also includes serving as general counsel to an SEC-registered investment advisory and fiduciary wealth management firm. With over a decade of experience in Big Law across Boston, Florida and Washington, D.C., Michael has also served as general counsel and chief compliance officer for a financial management firm. His government experience includes roles as legal counsel for the U.S. House of Representatives and as Assistant Attorney General in Tallahassee, Florida.

A frequent author and speaker, Michael often shares his insights on tax law, sports law, and other legal and business issues. As the father of three children, one severely disabled, Michael is an active philanthropist and children’s advocate. He serves on boards of directors and in other philanthropic capacities of organizations devoted to childhood welfare, combatting diseases afflicting children, and other causes relating to children’s health and well-being.

PUBLICATIONS

• “U.S. Winery and Vineyard Sellers Can Lean on the Tax Code for Help,” Bloomberg Tax (June 29, 2023)
• “Unfair Tax Regime Puts Farmers Steps Away from Agricultural Ruin,” Bloomberg Tax (February 21, 2023)
• “When Does 180 Equal Zero?” Alternative Investments Quarterly, Volume 16, Issue 4 (Winter 2022)
• “When Does 180 Equal Zero?” The Tax Stringer, (December 1, 2022)
• “The Structured Installment Sale as a Real Estate Tax Strategy,” Bloomberg Tax (November 29, 2021)
• “Capital Gains Tax Mitigation and the Structured Installment Sale,” Bloomberg Tax (November 4, 2021)
• “Professional Athletes, Collective Bargaining Agreements and Injuries Suffered Away from Team Facilities,” Sports Litigation Alert (June 18, 2021)
• “The Evolving Landscape of Capital Gains Taxes Under a Biden-Harris Administration,” Bloomberg Tax (January 27, 2021)
• “Top 10 Traps for the Unwary Crowd-Funding Portal,” Law360 (January 22, 2014)

CHARITABLE AND CIVIC INVOLVEMENT

• Autism Speaks, New England (Board of Directors)
• The New England Center for Children (Donor, Fundraiser)