Sam holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee, a Juris Doctor from St. Mary’s University School of Law and a Master of Laws (Taxation) from Boston University School of Law; is licensed as an Attorney‑at‑Law in both Connecticut and Texas and has been licensed as a Certified Public Accountant in Connecticut and Texas; is a frequent lecturer and author on taxation and related topics (including the American Bar Association Journal, The Practical Tax Lawyer, The Practical Accountant, American Lawyer Media Publications, The Connecticut Law Tribune and Lexis-Nexis Exchange); and, is active in various community and professional organization activities.
Sam’s practice concentration is in the areas of: Taxation (Federal and State) – Planning, Compliance and Controversy Matters; Closely Held and Emerging Business – Organizations and Planning; Executive Compensation; Mergers and Acquisitions; Estate Planning; Non-profit Organizations; Business Succession Planning; and, White Collar Criminal Defense.
Some of Sam’s community activities have included being: a Member and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Park City Hospital; a Member of the Board of Directors of United Health Care, Inc.; a Member of the Board of Directors of Family Services‑Woodfield; a Member and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Greater Bridgeport Area Foundation; a Founder and Co‑Chair of the Board of Directors of the Trumbull Community Trust Fund; and, a Member of the Trumbull, Connecticut Town Council. Additionally, Sam is a Member of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution; a Fellow of The International Society for Philosophical Enquiry (ISPE); and is a Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) as well as the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI).
Sam’s professional activities have included: the Greater Bridgeport Bar Association (President and Member of the Board of Directors and is currently serving as Chair of the Nominating Committee), Connecticut Bar Association (Member, Executive Committee of the Section on Business Law and the Section on Taxation; Senior Topical Editor (Taxation), The Connecticut Bar Journal; Member – Professionalism and CLE Committee) and the American Bar Association (Section of Taxation: Vice Chair, Professional Services; Tax Section IRS Small Business/Self Employed Division Coordinator; Tax Section Council Director; Chair of the Closely Held Businesses Committee and the Chair of the Professional Services Committee; Member of the Nominating Committee; Member of the Government Relations Committee; Member of the Committee on Committees; and Member of the ABA Section Officers Conference) (Business Law Section:Member of the Corporate Governance Committee; Member of the Director and Officer Liability Committee; Member of the LLCs, Partnerships and Unincorporated Entities Committee; Member of the Nonprofit Organizations Committee; Member of the Professional Responsibility Committee)(Senior Lawyers Division: Member of the Elder Abuse Prevention Committee); Member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; Member of the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants; a Member of the Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants; and is a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA).
Additionally, Sam served as a Member of the Editorial Board of The Practical Tax Lawyer; a Fellow of American College of Tax Counsel; a Fellow of American Bar Foundation; and is a Life Sponsor of the American Tax Policy Institute.
Prior to forming the firm of Braunstein and Todisco in 1989, Sam was a partner in the Bridgeport law firm of Simko, Elstein & Braunstein as well as a partner in the public accounting firm of Milton H. Friedberg, Smith & Co. Prior to those associations, Sam was a Tax Attorney with the Office of the Chief Counsel, Internal Revenue Service and served in Viet Nam while on active duty with the U.S. Army (1964-1968). In addition to his current practice with Braunstein and Todisco, since 2001, Sam has also served as Special Tax Counsel, Office of the City Attorney, Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Sam was recently honored by The Greater Bridgeport Bar Association as its recipient of the Career Service Award at its annual meeting on May 13, 2014. The Career Service Award is presented annually to an attorney who has devoted his/her professional life in the law to representing clients and community, while always upholding the highest ethical standards, demonstrating legal acumen and accomplishment and demonstrating public service to the Greater Bridgeport Community.
In addition to being licensed to practice in the Courts of the State of Connecticut, Sam is also admitted to practice before the Courts of the State of Texas; the U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas; the U.S. Tax Court; the U.S. Court of International Trade; the U.S. Court of Federal Claims; the U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit; the U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut; the U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit; and, the United States Supreme Court.
Contact info:
(203) 254 1118
sam@btlawfirm.com