Meet Our Professionals
Daniel Benhayoun
Daniel Benhayoun, Esq. is an international tax attorney who advises his clients on pre and post-immigration tax and estate planning.
His clientele includes international persons with assets in the United States as well as domestic persons with assets outside of the United States. To serve his clients, Daniel designs and implements multi-layered corporate structures for foreign clients with investments or interests in the United States in order to eliminate estate taxes and lower income taxes. Additionally, his knowledge of the complex United States Tax Code allows him to review, analyze, and repair the preexisting structures of clients, if required.
Daniel works closely with Abraham David Benhayoun, Esq., our in-house immigration attorney, in matters related to pre-immigration tax planning, as well as Abraham Benhayoun, Esq., our in-house corporate and estate planning attorney, in matters related to finding the most tax efficient way to create a business, transfer properties, and preserve family assets.
As the founding member of the Benhayoun Law Firm, Daniel practiced law in Venezuela for over 20 years before opening his practice here in the United States. That background and experience has given him an insight into the legal issues that surround international clients, especially those from South America; insights which almost no international tax attorney at his level has.
Daniel is a brilliant attorney who uses his deep knowledge of the United States tax law to advise his clients. He is constantly adapting his practice and reviewing the changes in the tax laws in order to keep up with the ever-changing United States tax environment.
Daniel's goal is to always find the best solution for his client's legal issues, and he does not rest until he does so. He is warm, likeable, and very transparent with his clients. He prides himself on thoroughly explaining the alternatives to his clients and is very confident in every recommendation he makes.
Daniel serves his clients in Spanish, English, Hebrew, and French. He has lived in Venezuela, Morocco, Chile, Israel, and Miami, which helps him understand his client's language, culture and outlook, leading to an excellent attorney-client relationship.
Non-U.S. individuals with investments, properties or bank accounts in the United States.
Non-U.S. individuals with heirs living in the United States.
Non-U.S. individuals planning to immigrate to the United States.
Non-U.S. companies with investments in the United States.
U.S. individuals with taxable estates.
U.S. individuals living abroad.
U.S. individuals or entities with domestic taxable income
U.S. individuals or entities with foreign assets or income
Daniel received his first degree to practice law from Universidad Católica Andres Bello in Caracas, Venezuela.
Later, he obtained his second legal degree, a Juris Doctor (JD), from St. Thomas University School of Law in Miami, Florida, where he graduated magna cum laude and received Dean’s List awards every semester.
Daniel then received his third legal degree, a Master’s degree (LL.M.) in Tax Law, from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in Gainesville, Florida.
Florida Bar, Member
Tax Law Section of the Florida Bar, Member
Colegio de Abogados de Venezuela, Member.
Abraham Benhayoun
Abraham Benhayoun, Esq., focuses his practice on estate planning as well as business and corporate law.
Abraham helps his clients structure their estate in a way that will allow their assets to be transferred to their heirs in the manner his clients want, and as expeditiously and inexpensively as possible. Often such structuring includes the use and drafting of wills, revocable trusts, irrevocable trusts, life insurance, and ownership of property with rights of survivorship.
When a client has a taxable estate, Abraham works closely with Daniel Benhayoun, Esq., to find and implement strategies to eliminate or lower the client’s possible tax liability. To do this, Abraham and Daniel use established and innovative strategies and structures which are tailored for each client’s situation and priorities.
Abraham also advises clients on other important life management documents such as powers of attorney, designations of health care surrogate, living wills, and designations of preneed guardians.
A large portion of Abraham’s practice and experience involves helping clients with their business and corporate affairs. He helps clients understand the complex set of laws surrounding corporations, limited liability companies (LLC’s), and partnerships, and helps his clients see and understand the best way to structure and manage their businesses. He often advises and aids clients in the creation of corporate entities (both domestic and offshore), the drafting of the corresponding bylaws and operating agreements, as well as the planning, negotiating, and drafting of various different contracts and agreements.
Abraham is a detail-oriented, hands-on attorney who gets the job done. He is committed to responding to his clients’ emails and returning his clients’ phone calls in a timely manner.
Abraham prides himself on being very transparent with his clients. His recommendations come with an explanation of why he is making that recommendation and, when appropriate, he will help the client see the pros and cons of different courses of action. He does all this so that his clients can make an informed decision. Additionally, in order to cut the mystery out of the final legal costs of many of legal services, when possible, Abraham bills through flat fees as opposed to hourly billing.
His business-oriented clients find it a relief that Abraham has a business background, including his Bachelor’s degree in Finance, his past and present experience as a business owner and entrepreneur, as well as his serving to manage the businesses of others. This business background allows him to see legal issues from the point of view of a business person as well as attorney and allows him to better advise his clients by taking into account their investment and business concerns.
Most importantly, Abraham treats all of his clients with respect while making them feel comfortable with whatever legal process they are undertaking. This leads his clients to enjoy their interactions with him and has been a big part of his success as an attorney.
Abraham is trilingual and serves his clients in Spanish, English, and Hebrew. Also, his international life experiences, being a native of Venezuela and having resided in Chile, Baltimore, Israel, and Miami, helps him understand his client’s language, culture, and outlook, leading to an excellent attorney-client relationship.
Persons who want to avoid probate
Persons considering opening a business
Persons who have an LLC or corporation
Persons who have an offshore company used for investment purposes
Persons considering joining in business with various partners
Persons investing in real estate
Then, Abraham obtained his Master's degree (LL.M.) in Tax Law from Georgetown University Law Center, where he graduated with both available honors: Graduation With Distinction and Dean's List graduate.
Young Lawyers Section of the Florida Bar, Member
Real Property, Probate & Trust Section of the Florida Bar, Member
Tax Law Section of the Florida Bar, Member
Jose Selanikio
Jose serves as the Benhayoun Law Firm’s associate attorney. He aids each department in the Benhayoun Law Firm with various legal issues. He often aids the firm’s business clients by drafting and reviewing contracts, operating agreements, by-laws, transfer agreements, company resolutions, and IRS filings. Jose also aids the firm’s estate planning attorneys with the drafting, review and execution of wills, trusts, powers of attorneys, and other estate planning documents.
Jose first gained his experience in the legal profession while working in the field of real estate closings which gave him a practical understanding of one of the most popular investment markets in Miami. Jose also gained significant litigation experience in the field of first party property insurance litigation while he served as associate counsel for a local plaintiff’s law firm where he represented the firm’s clients in front of courts in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, as well as through court filings, at depositions, and in settlement negotiations with opposing counsels.
Jose received his Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from Florida International University and then went on to receive his Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the Florida International University College of Law where he received four Dean’s List awards. Jose also served as the Vice President, and then President, of the Jewish Law Student Association at Florida International University.
Ariel Benhayoun
Ariel Benhayoun is an associate attorney at The Benhayoun Law Firm handling corporate, estate planning, and probate matters. In his current role, Ariel works closely with clients to understand their unique needs and objectives. He helps them navigate the complex legal landscape of corporate law, providing guidance on issues such as business formation, contract negotiation, dispute resolution, and corporate governance as well as risk management and liability. Ariel also assists the firm’s estate and tax planning department by drafting and reviewing all necessary legal documents such as wills, trusts, and power of attorney agreements.
Ariel first joined The Benhayoun Law Firm in 2016 as a law clerk and continued in that position while attending law school at The Georgetown University Law Center. Upon his graduation in 2020, Ariel joined the firm full time as an associate attorney. Ariel is a skilled communicator who is adept at explaining legal concepts in plain language, making them more accessible to clients who may not have a legal background. He is dedicated to providing excellent client service and works tirelessly to ensure that his clients’ needs are met in a timely and effective manner. Overall, Ariel is a valuable member of the The Benhayoun Law Firm team, bringing a wealth of legal knowledge and expertise to the table to help clients achieve their goals.
Ariel received his Bachelor in Talmudic Law from the Ner Israel Rabbinical College in Baltimore, MD, and then went on to earn his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from The Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, DC.
Maryland Bar, Member