Overview
Michael Bruno focuses his practice on advising multinational companies, funds and entrepreneurial families on sophisticated US and international tax planning and transactions. He has written numerous articles on international tax planning and frequently submits comments on statutory & regulatory promulgations. As a strong proponent for pro bono legal services, Michael founded the Transactional Equal Justice Program with Legal Services of Greater Miami, which offers free legal advice to non-profits and low-to-moderate income small business owners, helping them to launch a business.
Michael regularly advises clients on mergers, acquisitions, restructurings, joint ventures and divestitures in a variety of business contexts. He has assisted clients with numerous international tax issues, including navigating anti-deferral (CFC & PFIC) regimes, foreign tax credit planning, FIRPTA, BEAT, FDII and treaty planning, intellectual property migrations, tax-efficient cash repatriation strategies and post-acquisition integration and implementation. He has extensive experience in advising clients in the fields of technology, healthcare, life science and digital health.
Michael also regularly advises entrepreneurial families on strategies for minimizing US income taxation with respect to their closely held businesses and investments, which include Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) planning. Recently, through comments and presentation, Michael successfully advocated on behalf of the Florida Bar Tax Section for the IRS and Treasury to afford the Section 250 deduction to electing Section 962 shareholders that earn Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (GILTI).
Results
- Represented Leo Messi in connection with the formation of the Más+ by Messi sports beverage business, an international joint venture between Mr. Messi and Mark Anthony Presents
- Represented World Kinect Corporation on the sale of Avinode Group and a portfolio of aviation software to Hearst
- Represented UiPath in its acquisition of Re:infer Ltd.
- Represented Ampersand Capital Partners in its investment in Vivitide and its subsequent merger with Biosynth Carbosynth, a UK-based KKR portfolio company, as well as numerous other cross-border acquisitions and mergers
- Represented Cordis in its acquisition of MedAlliance (Swiss)
- Represented WindRose Health Investors in cross-border business combination of Lykan Bioscience and RoslinCT
- Represented Merck KGaA in its acquisition of Exelead
- Represented W. R. Grace in a spinoff transaction in 40 countries, creating a new NYSE company in the process*
- Represented GCP Applied Technologies Inc. as international counsel on the sale of its Darex division in 32 countries to Henkel GmbH*
- Represented numerous entrepreneurs and co-founders on the divestiture of their businesses
- Represented several Fortune 100 companies in matters related to the digital economy
*Matter handled prior to joining McDermott
Recognitions
- Best Lawyers in America, Tax Law, Corporate Law, International Mergers and Acquisitions, 2021–2025
- Chambers USA (Tax), Florida, Band 3, 2022–2024
- Chambers USA (Tax), Florida, Up & Coming, 2020–2021
- Chambers USA (Tax), Florida, Associates to Watch, 2019
- Florida Super Lawyers, Rising Star (Tax), 2017–2024
- Daily Business Review, On the Rise, 2024
- Recipient of Advocates of Pro Bono Commitment Award, Miami Dade County Bar Association, 2016
Community
- Adjunct Professor, Inbound Taxation, University of Miami School of Law
- Chair and Founder of Transactional Equal Justice Program, Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc.
- President, Vice President, The Greater Miami Tax Institute
- Assistant Director, Co-Chair of Inbound Tax Committee, Florida Bar, Tax Section
