Michael W. Fisher is a native of Jacksonville and a graduate of The Bolles School, The Wharton School of Finance, University of Pennsylvania, and Stetson College of Law. He is the founding and senior partner of the law firm of Fisher, Tousey, Leas & Ball. Mr. Fisher is a past trustee of The Children’s Home Society of Florida Foundation, a board member and past chairman of the Buckner Division of the Jacksonville Children’s Home Society, a past trustee and currently general counsel of The Community Foundation, and past president of Planned Parenthood of North Florida. He lectures and has published articles on income and estate taxation. He formerly practiced as a CPA. Mr. Fisher is a member of both the Tax Section and Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of The Florida Bar, and past chair of the Charitable Organizations and Philanthropic Planning Committee. He has been a speaker for the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section. He is also recognized in the publications The Best Lawyers in America and Florida Super Lawyers.

Michael Fisher is married to Linda McLucas Fisher, formerly a professor of humanities at Florida Community College of Jacksonville. The Fishers have two children, Laura Lee Fisher Corbett and Michael M. Fisher.

Work Experience

• Estate planning for high net-worth individuals.
• Counsel and advice to clients concerning formation and capitalization of corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies and other types of business entities.
• Represent clients in the acquisition or disposition of equity interests or assets of businesses and the dissolution or liquidation of such businesses as well as mergers and other types of tax-free reorganizations.
• Represent clients of ongoing businesses regarding tax, contracts and general business matters.
• Advise clients on the creation and tax exempt status of charitable organizations.

Areas of Practice

• Estate Planning
• Taxation
• Corporate and Business Formations and Sales

Education & Credentials

• Stetson College of Law (J.D. 1967)
• University of Pennsylvania (B.S. 1965)
• The Wharton School of Finance
• Past Certified Public Accountant (Florida 1969)

Author

• “Recent Litigation Highlights New Obstacles for Florida Timber Owners Seeking Long Term Capital Gains Treatment for Receipts Under Timber Cutting Contracts,” The Florida Bar Journal, July 1975; “Regressive Taxation under IRC Sections 121 and 1034,” Taxes – The Tax Magazine, September 1969

Co-Author

• “Florida Homestead, A Difficult Post-mortem Estate Tax Planning Property,” The Florida Bar Journal, January 2002;
• “Charitable Gift Annuities: Opening the Door for Smaller Split Interest Gifts,” ActionLine, June 1999;
• “Charitable Alternatives for Retirement Accumulation,” The Review of Taxation of Individuals, Fall 1992;
• “Administration of Trusts in Florida,” The Florida Bar, 1981

Lecturer

• The Florida Bar Programs: “Charitable Gift Annuities in an Era of Falling Interest Rates,” 2003;
• “Trust Me! The Principles Have Changed! – 2002
• Changes: Principal and Income Act and Trust Accounting Law,” 2002
• Jacksonville Programs: “Charitable Gift Annuities,” 2004;
• “The New Florida Principal and Income Act,” 2002;
• “Homestead and Federal Estate and Gift Taxes,” 2001;
• “Installment Sales to Defective Trust,” 2000; “Gift Annuities,” 1999

Bar Admissions

• Florida

Membership

• The American Bar Association
• The Florida Bar
• Past Chair, Charitable Organizations and Philanthropic Planning Committee, Real Property, Probate and Trust Section
• Member, Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Section
• Member, Tax Law Section
• Jacksonville Bar Association
• Past Chair, Trust and Probate Section 2001-2004
• Estate Planning Council of Northeast Florida
• AV Rated – Martindale Hubbell