Bruce H. Bokor

Experience

Bruce H. Bokor is a partner at Johnson Pope Bokor Ruppel & Burns, LLP and has been a key member of the firm since joining in 1977. For more than five decades, Bruce has advised individuals, families, business owners, and charitable organizations on complex tax, trust, and estate planning matters, earning a reputation for sound judgment, technical precision, and a deeply client-focused approach to the practice of law.

Bruce’s practice encompasses sophisticated estate planning, federal estate gift and tax planning, and high-stakes tax controversy matters. He is frequently called upon to address particularly challenging issues involving significant financial exposure, where careful analysis and strategic resolution are critical. Over the course of his career, Bruce has handled a substantial number of tax matters entrusted to the firm, including a major tax controversy involving hundreds of millions of dollars that was ultimately resolved for a substantially reduced amount through negotiation with the Internal Revenue Service.

Clients value Bruce’s ability to move beyond purely technical solutions and focus on outcomes that work in practice. He regularly works with multigenerational families and closely held business owners to develop planning strategies that preserve wealth, support succession goals, and account for the realities of family dynamics. His approach emphasizes clarity, practicality, and long-term stability, with careful attention to avoiding unintended consequences that can undermine even the most sophisticated plans.

In addition to advising private clients, Bruce serves as special tax counsel to several charitable organizations and frequently collaborates with attorneys across the firm to provide integrated advice on tax-sensitive transactions and planning issues. He has longstanding relationships within the medical and professional communities and is often referred clients by other advisors seeking experienced guidance on complex tax questions.

Representative Matters

• Major Federal Tax Controversy Resolution: Represented a taxpayer in a complex federal tax dispute involving claims exceeding six hundred million dollars, achieving a negotiated resolution with the Internal Revenue Service that significantly reduced the asserted liability.
• Complex Estate Planning for Multigenerational Families: Advised individuals and families on the structuring and implementation of sophisticated estate plans designed to address succession planning, wealth transfer, and long-term family objectives.
• Tax Planning for Closely Held Business Transactions: Provided tax counsel in connection with the purchase and sale of closely held businesses, including transaction structuring and planning to address tax exposure and post-transaction planning considerations.
• Charitable Organization Tax Counsel: Serves as special tax counsel to charitable organizations, advising on tax compliance, governance, and the structuring of charitable entities and planned giving arrangements.
• Tax Advisory for Medical Professionals: Advises physicians and medical practices on tax planning matters related to practice ownership, compensation structures, and transitions, working in coordination with the firm’s healthcare group.

Bar Admissions:

•  Florida, 1972

Education:

• New York University, LL.M., Taxation, 1973
• University of Florida, J.D., with honors, 1972
• University of Florida, B.S., Business Administration, with honors, 1969

 Awards & Recognition:

• Voted “Mr. Clearwater”
• Best Lawyers in America®, Taxation and Trusts and Estates, 38 Years
• Best Lawyers in America® 2025 Lawyer of the Year, listed under Taxation and Trusts and Estates
• Gerald T. Hart Outstanding Tax Attorney of the Year Award Recipient
• Florida Trend’s Florida Legal Elite Hall of Fame
• Super Lawyers®, 2006 – 2026
• Fellow of the American College of Trusts and Estates Counsel
• Fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel

Community & Professional Organizations

• American Law Institute – Member
• Clearwater Bar Association – Member
• American Bar Association – Member
• Morton Plant Mease Hospital Board of Trustees – Former Chairman
• Morton Plant Mease Health Care Foundation – Former Chairman
• Pinellas County Trustees of the Tampa-Orlando Pinellas Jewish Foundation – Former Chairman

Outside the Office

Outside of work, Bruce enjoys spending time with family and friends, golfing, and fishing. He grew up saltwater fishing and now enjoys fly fishing, appreciating both the challenge and the patience the sport requires. While he is quick to note that he golfs with more enthusiasm than precision, he values the time outdoors and the opportunity to unplug.

Bruce also prioritizes staying active and maintaining his health, believing that consistency and perspective matter both in life and in the practice of law.