The Florida Bar Tax Section has begun the 2026–2027 Bar year with the installation of Michael J. Wilson as Section Chair and the selection of Brian M. Malec as Chair-Elect-Designate. The leadership announcement marks the beginning of a new Bar year for one of Florida’s largest and most active legal specialty sections. 

The Tax Section serves attorneys, CPAs, academics, government professionals, and other tax practitioners throughout Florida. Through its educational programs, committee work, legislative activities, publications, and conferences, the Section plays a central role in shaping tax practice within the state.

Michael J. Wilson Assumes Office as Section Chair

Michael J. Wilson, president of Williams Parker in Sarasota, officially assumed the role of Chair on July 1. Wilson is a business and tax attorney whose practice focuses on business and tax planning, corporate structuring, and transactional matters.

Wilson brings extensive leadership experience to the position. During his years of service with the Tax Section, he has served on the Executive Council and has chaired several important Section divisions and committees. His leadership roles have included the Federal Tax Division, Educational Programs Division, Section Administration Division, and the Long-Range Planning Committee. 

Brian M. Malec Named Chair-Elect-Designate

The Section also announced that Brian M. Malec has been selected as Chair-Elect-Designate. Malec is a shareholder with Dean Mead in Orlando and is Florida Bar Board Certified in Wills, Trusts and Estates. 

His practice focuses on estate and succession planning, trusts, probate administration, and tax-efficient wealth transfer strategies. He regularly advises individuals, families, and business owners regarding succession planning and fiduciary matters. 

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Malec has maintained an active leadership presence in the Tax Section for more than a decade. Since 2013, he has served on the Executive Council and Directors’ Committee while also holding leadership positions within multiple committees and divisions. His previous roles include Treasurer, Long-Range Planning Committee Co-Director, Section Administration Division Co-Director, Federal Tax Division Co-Director, and Legislation and Regulations Division Co-Director. 

The Executive Council’s Role

The Executive Council serves as the Section’s primary leadership body. Under the Tax Section bylaws, Executive Council membership includes the Directors’ Committee, committee and division leadership, assistant directors, and past Section Chairs. 

The Council includes leadership from the Federal Tax Division, State Tax Division, International Tax Division, Educational Programs Division, Section Administration Division, Sponsorship Committee, Marketing and Membership Committee, New Tax Lawyers Committee, Legislation and Regulations Committee, and Long-Range Planning Committee.

These leaders help shape educational initiatives, conference programming, legislative priorities, publications, membership engagement, and long-term planning efforts. Their work supports the professional development of tax lawyers throughout Florida while helping maintain the Tax Section’s reputation as a leading professional organization within the Florida Bar.

The Section’s leadership team includes Michael Wilson as Chair, Abrahm Smith as Chair-Elect, Brian Malec as Chair-Elect-Designate, Jeanette E. Moffa as Secretary, and Ian C. White as Treasurer. The Directors’ Committee also includes at-large directors Jennifer Wioncek, Charlotte Erdmann, Andrew Comiter, Justin Wallace, Brittany Cobb, and Steven Hadjilogiou, along with Long Range Planning Committee Co-Directors Greg McLaughlin and Andrew Huber. Supporting the Section’s work are committee and division co-directors Brian Harris, Richard Vaughn, Trevor Johnson, Christopher Callahan, Mike Jorgensen, French Brown, Dana Apfelbaum, Chris Weeg, Michael Bruno, Ellina Berdichevsky, Zachary King, Karen Lapekas, Andrea Aguilar, James Schmidt, Micah Fogarty, Donna Longhouse, Adam Smith, and Mark Parthemer, who collectively oversee the Section’s educational programming, publications, legislative initiatives, membership engagement, and strategic planning efforts.