O. Larkin Skinner

Larkin Skinner focuses his practice on tax, trusts and estates, and corporate and business matters for individuals, closely held businesses, and nonprofit organizations. He advises clients on estate planning, tax planning, business formation, and transactional matters with an emphasis on precision, adaptability, and long-term planning in an evolving legal and regulatory environment.

Tax and estate planning are central to Larkin’s work. He represents clients across a broad spectrum of planning needs, ranging from wills and ancillary documents to more complex trust-based planning. His experience includes advising clients with taxable estates requiring advanced planning strategies, including irrevocable trusts and generation-skipping transfer tax planning. In addition to estate planning, Larkin regularly advises business owners throughout the lifecycle of their companies. His practice includes business formations, ongoing tax compliance, corporate governance, and seller-side mergers and acquisitions for middle-market businesses. He also assists clients in forming and advising public charities, private foundations, and other nonprofit entities seeking recognition under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. This combination of tax, business, and estate planning allows him to provide integrated guidance that aligns personal planning with operational and transactional goals.

Larkin is particularly mindful of the stress that often accompanies estate planning and corporate transactions. Clients frequently come to him during periods of uncertainty, whether navigating complex family dynamics, planning for the transfer of significant wealth, or responding to the demands of a business sale. He is known for helping clients work through these moments with clarity, organization, and realistic expectations, ensuring that plans are both legally sound and practically workable.

In addition to Florida, Larkin is licensed to practice in South Carolina and North Carolina.  Prior to joining Johnson Pope, Larkin worked as a Judicial Law Clerk for the Hon. William H. Seals, Jr. of the South Carolina Circuit Court.

Representative Matters

• Estate Planning and Wealth Transfer. Advised individuals and families on comprehensive estate planning matters, including wills, revocable trusts, and advanced trust structures designed to address taxable estates and multigenerational planning objectives. This work includes planning for clients with complex family dynamics and coordinating strategies to reduce future estate and transfer tax exposure.

• Business Formation and Ongoing Advisor. Counseled closely held businesses on entity formation, restructuring, governance, and ongoing tax compliance, providing support throughout the full lifecycle of the business.

• Middle-Market Business Transactions:. Represented middle-market business owners in seller-side mergers and acquisitions, including transaction structuring, due diligence coordination, and tax planning related to the sale of closely held entities.

• Nonprofit and Charitable Organization. Formed and advised public charities, private foundations, and other nonprofit organizations, including obtaining and maintaining tax-exempt status and advising on governance and compliance matters.

Courts & Admissions

• Florida
• South Carolina
• North Carolina
• U.S. Tax Court

Education

• University of Florida Levin College of Law, LL.M., Taxation
• University of Florida Levin College of Law, J.D.
• Hillsdale College, B.S., Economics

Community & Professional Organizations

• The Hillsborough County Bar Association, Tax Section – Co-Chair (2025-Present)
• The Florida Bar, Tax and Real Property and Probate Sections – Member
• South Carolina Bar – Member
• North Carolina State Bar – Member

Outside The Office

Outside of his practice, Larkin enjoys a wide range of technical and creative pursuits. He is mechanically inclined and spends time building desktop computers and working on hands-on projects. He has a long-standing background in music, having played violin and viola from elementary school through college, and continues to enjoy classical music alongside a wide range of other genres.