Tax Section names 2025–2028 fellowship class
Ellina Berdichevsky
Three new attorneys have been selected to participate in the Tax Section Fellowship Program, a three-year leadership initiative designed to encourage active participation and long-term engagement in section work.
The 2025–2028 Fellows are Ellina Berdichevsky of Miami, Bianca Thomas of Miami, and Richard Vaughan of West Palm Beach.
Bianca Lacey Thomas
Now in its 16th year, the Fellowship Program — launched in 2009 by the section’s New Tax Lawyers Committee — is part of a sustained effort to attract and retain new tax lawyers through education, networking, and leadership development.
“The Fellowship Program is one of our most important initiatives,” said Tax Section Chair Mark Scott of Kaufman Rossin in Miami. “It not only helps promising new attorneys build strong professional foundations, but also ensures that the section continues to thrive by nurturing the next generation of tax law leaders.”
Meet the 2025–2028 Fellows:
- Ellina Berdichevsky is a partner at Bilzin Sumberg in Miami where she focuses her practice on international tax and estate planning. A former Certified Public Accountant, she earned dual J.D. and LL.M. degrees in Taxation from the University of Miami School of Law.
- Bianca Thomas is a tax litigation attorney with the Internal Revenue Service Office of Chief Counsel in Miami. Her practice includes tax controversy, partnerships, corporate, and international taxation. She holds an LL.M. degree in International Taxation from Georgetown University Law Center and a J.D. degree from FAMU College of Law.
- Richard Vaughan practices at Jones Foster in West Palm Beach, concentrating on private wealth, estate planning, corporate, and tax law. He earned his J.D. degree from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, and an LL.M. degree from the University of Miami Heckerling Graduate Program in Estate Planning. Richard also holds an MBA from the University of Memphis Fogelman College of Business and Economics.
Richard Vaughan
Eligible members interested in future Fellowships must be Tax Section regular or affiliate members who are either 35 or younger as of July 1 or have been in practice for fewer than 10 years. These attorneys are automatically considered part of the section’s New Tax Lawyers Committee and are encouraged to take advantage of all available section resources and opportunities.
The Fellowship Program provides each Fellow with a $3,000 annual stipend to help cover the costs of attending section meetings, as well as waived registration fees. Each Fellow is paired with an experienced Tax Section mentor to help guide their involvement and integration into section activities. They also participate in Fellowship Sessions and roundtable discussions with Tax Section leaders, with a first-year focus on mentorship and the inner workings of the section.
The program builds professional capacity by offering early-career attorneys opportunities to write articles, serve on committees, host New Tax Lawyer events, and present continuing legal education programs, according to the section. Fellows take on increasing responsibilities each year, culminating in leadership roles within the section.
“Supporting new lawyers is an investment in the future of our profession,” said Brittany Cobb, co-chair of the New Tax Lawyers Committee. “Programs like this provide critical opportunities for mentorship, professional development, and leadership that many newer attorneys may not otherwise be able to access.”
For more information about the Fellowship Program or how to get involved with the New Tax Lawyers Committee, visit floridataxlawyers.org.
