Biography
Patrick Whitehead was born in Washington D.C. in 1970. Whitehead was raised in New Hampshire, but now considers Florida his home, where he has been since the age of 14. Whitehead began his college studies at Palm Beach Community College and then graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Finance in 1993. He continued his education at the University of Florida, College of Law, where he served as the Senior Research Editor for the Florida Law Review, and graduated with a Juris Doctor with honors in 1996. Whitehead went on to achieve his Master of Laws in Taxation from New York University, School of Law in 1997. Whitehead was admitted to practice law in Florida in 1997.
Patrick Whitehead first practiced law for three years at one of Florida’s largest and most prestigious law firms, Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart, P.A. He worked first in the firm’s Corporate Department specializing in tax law. In this position, Whitehead rendered tax law advice and drafted transactional documents in the areas of corporate, partnership, real estate, and tax-exempt entity transactions. He also rendered tax law advice related to interstate commerce and state imposed taxes; including, Florida’s intangible tax, documentary stamp tax, ad valorem real property tax, and sales and use tax. Whitehead later transferred to the Private Wealth Services Department of Gunster Yoakley. In this position, he rendered legal advice and drafted transactional documents in the areas of estate planning, probate and trust administration, tax-exempt organizations, planned giving, and all matters of estate, gift and generation skipping transfer taxation.
Patrick Whitehead next practiced law for three years with Jones, Foster, Johnston & Stubbs, P.A. He practiced in the Private Client Services Department and served generally as tax counsel to the firm's clients. Whitehead focused primarily in the areas of estate planning, probate and trust administration, private foundations, public charities, planned giving, and all matters of estate, gift and generation skipping transfer taxation.
Patrick Whitehead next became in-house legal counsel for one of Jones Foster’s clients, Palm Beach Atlantic University. Whitehead served as University Counsel, Assistant Vice President, and Director of Planned Giving for Palm Beach Atlantic, a non-profit, Christian University serving approximately 4000 students and having an annual operating budget of approximately $60M. Patrick provided legal counsel on all aspects of general business and non-profit law, including, corporate, tax, employment (ADA, FLSA, OSHA), tort, contract, real property, land use and development, employment, immigration, intellectual property and education law. As Director of Planned Giving, Whitehead was responsible for the administration of the University's charitable trusts and charitable gift annuities. He also advised the University and its donors regarding current gifts, endowed gifts, bequests, charitable gift annuities and charitable trusts. Patrick Whitehead is proud to continue his representation of Palm Beach Atlantic University as its General Counsel.
In October 2008, Patrick Whitehead formed Whitehead Law Offices, P.A. Please read about the firm's formation under History.
Today, Patrick Whitehead resides in West Palm Beach, Florida with his wife, Jessica, and their Boston Terrier, Bentley.