Robert S. Hightower

Robert S. Hightower has built a distinguished career as a private practice lawyer with wide-ranging expertise in general practice, corporate law, estate planning, probate, trust law, taxation, mergers and acquisitions, and real property. He has been admitted to practice since 1975 in Florida, later extending to the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida, and the U.S. Tax Court.

Robert pursued a strong academic foundation, beginning with his J.D. from Florida State University in 1975, where he also served as Notes and Comments Editor of the Florida State University Law Review. He went on to earn an L.L.M. in Taxation from New York University in 1976, further advancing his specialization in tax law. His educational journey continued years later with an M.A. in Russian and Eastern European Studies from Florida State University in 2020.

Robert has contributed extensively to legal scholarship and teaching. He served as Consulting Editor for Taxation volumes of Florida Jurisprudence and co-authored significant articles, including a piece on multistate corporate taxation for the Florida Bar Journal. His dedication to legal education included years as an adjunct professor at Florida State University, teaching advanced courses on land transactions, partnership tax, real estate planning, and gratuitous transfers, as well as estate planning within financial planning programs.

Robert S. Hightower is widely respected for his deep tax law expertise, client-focused approach, and decades of service to both the legal profession and the community. Throughout his career, he has combined sophisticated technical skills with a strong commitment to public service.

He has held key leadership roles in major professional organizations, including The Florida Bar Tax Section and the Tax Certification Committee, and has been an active member of the American Bar Association’s Taxation Section. Beyond his legal practice, Robert has a long record of civic leadership, having served on the Tallahassee City Commission and as Mayor of Tallahassee, as well as on regional planning commissions and multiple nonprofit boards.

Law Office Affiliations

• Attorney, Hightower Law
• Member Executive Council, The Florida Bar, Tax Section
• Member, American Bar Association, Taxation Section

Licensed State

• Florida

Education

• New York University
  LLM in Taxation
• Florida State University
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Florida State University
  MA in Russian & Eastern European Studies

Awards & Badges