David J. Ottinger Attorney At Law

David’s practice covers business transactions, taxation and estate planning.  He represents both emerging and mature business clients in most aspects of corporate and tax law.  His experience includes the formation of all types of business entities, mergers and acquisitions, financing and leasing transactions, employee and shareholder agreements, and general business agreements relating to his clients’ business operations.

David also has substantial experience in the areas of personal estate planning, asset protection planning, and estate and trust administration.  The focus of much of his work in these areas is planning to minimize income, estate and gift taxation, and structuring proper methods for family wealth transfers and succession of business ownership. 

As a result of David’s representation of businesses and their owners, particularly with respect to mergers and acquisitions and business succession planning, he has developed experience in employee stock ownership plans, having been involved with the establishment or administration of a significant number of ESOPs over the last 10 years.

• Background

  David was born and raised in Lakeland, Florida, and graduated from Lakeland High School in 1972.  He graduated from the University of Florida in 1976 with a bachelor's of science in business administration specializing in accounting.  After college, until leaving to attend law school in the fall of 1978, he worked in the audit and tax departments of Ernst and Ernst, CPAs (now Ernst and Young, LLP) in its Orlando, Florida, office, during which time he became a licensed Florida certified public accountant.  David received his juris doctor from Stetson University College of Law in December 1980.

• Admissions
  • Florida
• Education
  • University of Florida, B.S.B.A. accounting (with honors, 1976)
  • Stetson University College of Law, J.D. (1980)
• Professional Associations and Memberships
  • The Florida Bar
    • Tax Law Section
    • Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section
  • The ESOP Association (National Association and New South Chapter)
  • Hillsborough Bar Association
  • Tampa Bay and Pinellas County Estate Planning Councils
  • Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants
• Civic
  • Tampa Preparatory School, Former Member, Board of Trustees
  • Pinellas County Community Foundation, Former Member of the Board of Governors
  • Leadership St. Pete Alumni Association
• Awards and Recognitions
  • AV Preeminent® rated by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Best Lawyers in America, Tax Law, 2021-2023
  • Tampa "Top Rated Lawyer," Corporate/Tax, 2013
• Presentations and Seminars
  • Interviewed by Bay News 9, October 16, 2018
  • Panelist, Breakfast Panel Discussion, Is Your Client Ready for a Walk-in Offer? XPX Tampa Bay, March 13, 2012