David J. Ottinger Attorney At Law

Preeminent corporate and transactional lawyer providing sophisticated wealth transition counsel to businesses and private clients across Florida. Former Florida Certified Public Accountant. 

David Ottinger has over 40 years of diverse experience representing business entities and individuals in corporate and business, taxation, and estate planning. A sophisticated and cerebral advisor, his focus includes business transactions and corporate and tax law matters. David advises both emerging and mature business clients in the formation of business entities, mergers and acquisitions, financing and leasing transactions, employee and shareholder agreements, operating agreements, business contracts, and corporate governance matters.

Over the past 23 years, David has developed a particular niche of national scope in the establishment and administration of employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) and their related employee benefits issues. These specialized M&A transactions involving companies throughout the United States transitioning to employee ownership now represent a significant part of David’s overall practice. In these transactions, David has represented ESOP-sponsoring companies and their owners, ESOP trustees, and lenders who finance the transactions.

In addition to his business transactional work, David continues to provide advisory services in the areas of personal estate planning, asset protection planning, and estate and trust administration. David works closely with clients to minimize income and estate and gift tax liabilities, as well as structure methods for family wealth transfers and succession of business ownership that align with his clients’ vision, goals, and objectives. 

• Recognition
  • Best Lawyers in America, Tax Law, 2021-2025
  • Tampa "Top Rated Lawyer," Corporate/Tax, 2013
• Insights
  • "ESOP Compliance and Regulatory Update: What You Need to Know to Effectively Manage Risk," The ESOP Association's Florida Chapter Conference, June 25, 2024
• Media
  • Interviewed by Bay News 9, October 16, 2018
• Affiliations
  • The ESOP Association
  • The Florida Bar
    • Tax Law Section
    • Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section
  • Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants, 1977-1995
  • Hillsborough County Bar Association
  • Pinellas County Community Foundation, Former Member
    • Board of Governors, 1993-1999
  • Tampa Preparatory School, Former Member
    • Board of Trustees, 1997-2002
• Credentials
  • J.D., Stetson University College of Law, 1980
  • B.S.B.A., University of Florida, 1976, with honors
• Admissions
  • Florida