Bryan Howard

Bryan Howard is a tax attorney in Holland & Knight's Nashville office, where he works with ultra-high-net-worth families regarding their estate planning, closely held businesses, tax planning, philanthropy and asset protection matters. Mr. Howard assists clients to ensure an orderly and tax-efficient transmission of their wealth from one generation to the next.

Mr. Howard advises the owners of closely held businesses with respect to entity structure, federal and state income tax minimization, succession planning, as well as an exit from the business. He helps philanthropic clients to determine the appropriate vehicle for accomplishing their charitable objectives while obtaining income tax benefits. Mr. Howard was the principal drafter of the Tennessee Investment Services Trust Act that has enabled many Tennesseans to protect their assets from future creditors.

Many of Mr. Howard's clients have worked with him for a number of years. He often represents two or three generations of a family and/or siblings and cousins of his clients. Mr. Howard regularly works with formal and informal family offices, including their various advisors. These deep and long-term relationships have given him the opportunity to provide advice regarding numerous events that happen in the life cycle of a wealthy family, including:

• the birth of a child
• the death or disability of a loved one
• entering or exiting a marriage
• starting or selling a business
• making a substantial charitable gift
• being involved in a lawsuit or a tax audit
• selecting a financial advisor, a certified public accountant (CPA), a fiduciary such as an executor or trustee, and various other advisors
• establishing a family office