Lecturer Bios
Alan S. Gassman, J.D., LL.M
Alan S. Gassman is a board certified Trust and Estates lawyer practicing with the Clearwater, Florida law firm of Gassman, Crotty and Denicolo, P.A., which he founded in 1987. The firm focuses on the representation of high net worth families, physicians, and business owners and their companies in estate planning, taxation, and business and personal asset structuring.
Mr. Gassman is the primary creator and developer of EstateView software, which allows for the design, illustration and analysis of estate tax, estate planning and charitable strategies. Jerry Hesch, Jonathan Blattmachr, Robert Keebler and Mr. Gassman serve as the Creative Team that continues to develop this software.
He is also the lead author of many books, including Gassman and Markham on Florida and Federal Asset Protection Law, The Estate Planner's Guide to Bankruptcy, Florida Law for Tax, Business & Financial Planning Advisors, Eight Steps to a Proper Florida Trust and Estate Plan, A Practical Guide to Kickback & Self-Referral Laws for Florida Physicians, The Florida Power of Attorney & Incapacity Planning Guide, The Florida Advisor’s Guide To Counseling Same Sex Couples, and is co-author of the Legal Guide To NFA Firearms and Gun Trusts, among others.
Mr. Gassman is a frequent speaker for continuing education programs and has published well over 200 peer reviewed articles with publications such as Bloomberg BNA Tax & Accounting, Trusts and Estates Magazine, Estate Planning Magazine, The Florida Bar Journal, Forbes, and Leimberg Information Services Inc. (LISI).
He is also a past President of the Pinellas County Estate Planning Council and has co-chaired over 40 Florida Bar continuing legal education programs, including over 15 years each for Wealth Protection and Representing the Physician. Mr. Gassman is also an Adjunct Professor of Law at Stetson University College of Law in Gulfport, Florida, where he created a course entitled “Law Practice Management and Professional Mastery” and lectures occasionally on estate planning topics. He has also served as an expert witness in tax, creditor protection and estate planning matters in both Federal and State Court.
Mr. Gassman holds a law degree and a Masters of Law degree (LL.M.) in Taxation from the University of Florida, and a business degree from Rollins College. Mr. Gassman is board certified by the Florida Bar Association in Estate Planning and Trust Law and was inducted into the Estate Planning Hall of Fame Class of 2021 and has received the Accredited Estate Planner Designation from the National Association of Estate Planners & Council (NAEPC). Mr. Gassman has maintained an AV rating from the Martindale-Hubbell for over 20 years and is listed in both Best Lawyers in America and Florida Super Lawyers.
John McDonald, MBA
Mr. McDonald is a Senior Managing Director and a co-founder of Hyde Park Capital Advisors, LLC. At Hyde Park, Mr. McDonald originates, executes and manages private equity and debt placements, mergers and acquisitions, fairness opinions and general financial advisory engagements. Prior to founding Hyde Park in January 2000, Mr. McDonald was a Managing Director of the Investment Banking Healthcare Technology/Life Sciences Group at Raymond James & Associates, Inc., where he worked as an investment banker in their corporate finance group for over 11 years.
