Bio
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 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.
ARTICLES AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
- Law360 Tax Authority Federal Editorial Advisory Board (2023)
- “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)
- “Taxes Relating to M&A Dispositions and How Best to Mitigate Exposure,” Annual Meeting of Cornerstone International Alliance, San Diego, CA (November 11-13, 2022)
- “Internal Revenue Code Section 453 and Capital Gains Tax Liability,” Barnum Financial Group, Newport, RI (October 13, 2022)
- “Using Internal Revenue Code Section 453 to Time the Payment of Capital Gains Taxes,” Beacon Retirement Planning Group, Inc. and Price Financial Services, Webb City, MO (September 28-29, 2022)
- “Internal Revenue Code Section 453 and the Timing of Capital Gains Tax Payments,” Creative One Financial Webinar, Overland Park, KS (September 28, 2022)
- “Protect Your Hard-Earned Capital Gains,” Realty Speak Podcast, New York, NY (August 2022)
- “Using IRC Sec. 453 to Defer Capital Gains Taxes – A Primer,” New York State Society of CPAs Webinar, New York, NY (July 7, 2022)
- “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)
ACCOLADES
- Top 50 Attorneys of Miami, Attorney Intel (2022)
- America’s Top Lawyers, American Law Society (2019-2020)
- The Top 100 List of American Attorneys, The Top 100 Magazine (2019-2020)
CHARITABLE AND CIVIC INVOLVEMENT
- Autism Speaks, New England (Board of Directors)
- The New England Center for Children (Donor, Fundraiser)
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
- National Basketball Players Association (Certified Player Agent)
- The Sports Lawyers Association
- Alternative & Direct Investment Securities Association
- National Society of Compliance Professionals
- Securities Industry & Financial Markets Association
- New England Business Brokers Association
- Georgetown Law Advisory Board
- Phi Beta Kappa Society