Brendan M. Hobbs Attorney At Law

Advising clients on complex transactions, retirement plans, ESOPs, and IRS disputes. Tailoring strategic solutions to complex client needs.

Brendan Hobbs is an accomplished associate in the GrayRobinson Tampa office. He focuses his practice on a range of corporate matters, including transaction structuring and the design and implementation of qualified retirement plans, namely Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), as well as nonqualified plans of deferred compensation. Brendan's practice is a strategic blend of technical acumen and practical problem-solving. He skillfully navigates tax-efficient corporate formations, acquisitions, mergers, sales, and entity dissolutions, serving both corporate clients and nonprofit organizations. Brendan offers practical guidance, a keen understanding of the business implications of tax strategies, and a knowledgeable approach to ESOPs, qualified retirement plans, and executive compensation to help clients achieve their financial objectives.

Prior to joining GrayRobinson, Brendan honed his skills as a judicial law clerk on the United States Tax Court. This experience equips him with a deep understanding of IRS procedures, enabling him to effectively represent taxpayers in disputes and provide clients with well-informed and pragmatic counsel.

• Notable Work
  • Primary responsibility for drafting opinions and both substantive and non-substantive orders resolving motions for summary judgment while serving as a judicial law clerk for two United States Tax Court judges.
  • Represented CFO of emerging tech company in contractual negotiations concerning equity compensation and golden parachute payment issues under Internal Revenue Code section 280G.
• Insights
  • "GrayRobinson: The DEA Proposes Rescheduling of Marijuana:  What It Means for Businesses and the Road Ahead," The Cannabis Law Report, July 3, 2024
  • "GrayRobinson: The DEA Proposes Rescheduling of Marijuana:  What It Means for Businesses and the Road Ahead," The Cannabis Law Journal, July 3, 2024
  • "The Tax Man Cometh… Unless Impacted Businesses Act Now," GrayRobinson Insight, July 8, 2024
  • "ESOP Compliance and Regulatory Update: What You Need to Know to Effectively Manage Risk," The ESOP Association's Florida Chapter Conference, June 25, 2024
  • "For Florida’s Agricultural Growers, Choice of Entity is a Key to Economic Success," GrayRobinson Insight, May 22, 2024
  • “Sustainability: Strategy Choices and How they Affect Participant Accounts,” Co-Presenter, Florida Chapter of The ESOP Association, October 2023
  • “Planning Your Succession: Forming an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) While Managing Tax Consequences,” The Florida Bar Tax Section, September 2023
• Media
  • "Briefings from the Rotunda," INFLUENCE Magazine, Spring 2024 Edition, April 15, 2024
  • "January 1, 2024 On the Move," The Florida Bar News, January 1, 2024
• Affiliations
  • The Florida Bar
    • Tax Section
  • National Center for Employee Ownership
  • The ESOP Association
    • Legislative and Regulatory Committee, Associate Member
  • University of South Florida, Muma College of Business, CEX Program
    • Advisory Board Member
• Credentials
  • LL.M. in Taxation, Georgetown University Law Center, 2022, with distinction
    • Certificate in Employee Benefits Law
  • J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 2021
  • B.A., The University of Alabama, 2018, summa cum laude
• Admissions
  • Florida
  • United States Tax Court