Estate and Succession Planning
Dean Mead’s Estate and Succession Planning Department is one of the largest and most respected groups of estate planning attorneys in Florida. We are frequently…
About David J. Akins
David 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. David also represents fiduciaries and beneficiaries in disputes involving estates and trusts.
- The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel: Fellow
- The Florida Bar: Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, Executive Council, 2004 - Present
- The Florida Bar: Trust Law Committee: Vice-Chair 2019-2023, Chair 2023 - Present
- The Florida Bar: Probate Rules Committee, 2019 - 2022
- The Florida Bar: Estate & Trust Tax Planning Committee: Chair, 2015-2018, Vice-Chair, 2012-2015
- Central Florida Estate Planning Council: President - 2009-2010, Board of Directors - 2005 - 2011
- The Florida Bar: Probate Law and Procedure Committee
- The Florida Bar: Probate and Trust Litigation Committee
- The Florida Bar: Tax Section
- Orange County Bar Association: Estate, Guardianship, and Trust Committee
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
- Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountant
- University of Florida Alumni Association: Gator Club Member of the Year - 2001
- University of Florida Alumni Association: Central Florida Gator Club (a member organization of the University of Florida Alumni Association): President - 2000-2001, Board of Directors - 1997-2001
- Master of Laws, LL.M. in Taxation: Emory University School of Law, Atlanta, Georgia, 1987
- Juris Doctor: University of Florida College of Law, Gainesville, Florida 1984
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Majoring in Accounting: University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 1977
- Top Florida attorneys in Private Wealth Law by Chambers High Net Worth, 2019 - 2024
- Selected by his peers for inclusion in the 2013-2025 Editions of The Best Lawyers in America© for Trusts and Estates
- Selected by his peers for inclusion in the 2013 -2025 Editions of The Best Lawyers in America© for Tax Law
- Best Lawyers® Tax Law ‘Lawyer of the Year’ in Orlando, 2023 and 2025
- Best Lawyers® Trusts and Estates ‘Lawyer of the Year’ in Orlando in 2017, 2021, and 2024
- Outstanding Estate Planning & Probate Attorney in Florida Super Lawyers Magazine, 2006-2024
- Orlando's Best Lawyers by Orlando Magazine, 2013-2021, 2023
- Orlando Family Magazine's Awesome Attorneys, Trusts and Estate Law, 2023
- Top 50 Lawyer in Orlando in Florida Super Lawyers Magazine, 2018-2020, 2022
- Outstanding Wills, Trusts & Estates Attorney in Florida Trend Magazine’s Legal Elite, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2014-2021
- Top 100 Lawyer in Florida in Florida Super Lawyers Magazine, 2019-2021
- Martindale-Hubbell: Preeminent AV Rating
- Sweeping Changes You Need to Know: Impact of The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on Estate Planning, Dean Mead Tax Symposium, Orlando, Florida, January 31, 2018
- Top 10 (or so) Mistakes We See in Estate Planning – and Tips to Avoid Them!, Orange County Bar Association, Orlando, FL, November 5, 2015
- Revisions to Florida’s New Estate Tax Apportionment Statute, The Florida Bar - Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section’s Annual Legislative & Case Law Update Seminar, Palm Beach, FL, July 31, 2015
- A Potpourri of Tax Planning Ideas and Strategies, Orange County Bar Association, Orlando, FL July 22, 2015
- Business Succession Planning for the Next Generation, Orange County Bar Association, Orlando, FL October 30, 2014
- Tax Consequences of Trust & Estate Settlements and Modifications, Orange County Bar Association, Orlando, FL, August 5, 2014
- Income Tax Planning for Estates, Trusts and Beneficiaries, Winter Park Civic Center, Winter Park, FL, June 5, 2013
- Estate Planning After the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, Orange County Bar Association, Orlando, FL, March 13, 2013
- LLCs Liability and Elections and Planning, Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ 2012 Annual Convention, Tampa, FL, June 12 and Orlando, FL, June, 13, 2012
- The End of the Perfect Storm of Estate Planning is Nearing (maybe!) - Planning for the Remainder of 2012, Orange County Bar Association, Orlando, FL, May 23, 2012
- Estate Planning: 2011 Florida Legislative Update, Orange County Bar Association, Orlando, FL, June 21, 2011
- Estate Tax Relief: Its Finally Here!, Orange County Bar Association, Orlando, FL, January 6, 2011
- What Trustees Should Know about Florida’s New Attorneys’ Fee Statute, Orange County Bar Association, October 19, 2010
- Asset Preservation: Protecting Your Client’s Assets in Today’s Litigious Environment, Orange County Bar Association, August 12, 2010
- Estate Tax Apportionment, Florida Bar Probate Seminar, March 19 and 20, 2009
- Holland & Knight, LLP, Orlando, Florida, 1998-2005
- Maguire, Voorhis & Wells, P.A., Orlando, Florida, 1987-1998
- Merritt & Tenney, Atlanta, Georgia, 1985-1987
- Improvements Made to Florida’s Estate Tax Apportionment Statute, authored by David J. Akins of Dean Mead, Keith B. Braun of Comiter, Singer, Baseman & Braun, LLP, and Pamela O. Price of GrayRobinson, P.A. Published in the Summer 2015 edition of ActionLine.
- Analysis of the Obama Administration’s Fiscal Year 2015 Revenue Proposals of Importance to Estate Planners: Part I – Transfer Tax Proposals, article published on Dean Mead’s Trusts & Estates Blog, April 1, 2014
- Community Property in Florida – A Primer, article published on Dean Mead’s Trusts & Estates Blog, April 6, 2012
- 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
- Florida
- Georgia
- First Presbyterian Church, Orlando, Florida - College of Elders - 1993-Present
- First Presbyterian Church, Orlando, Florida - Session Member - 1993-1995
- First Presbyterian Church, Orlando, Florida - Support Commission - 1993-1995
- Florida Hospital Foundation Planned Giving Advisory Board
- Orlando Regional Healthcare System Foundation Planned Giving Advisory Board Member
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