Severiano E. Ortiz

Severiano offers a comprehensive range of services in tax law, catering to a diverse clientele that spans from institutional and private entities to ultra high net worth individuals, both within the domestic sphere and on an international scale. His expertise encompasses individual and corporate tax planning strategies, with a heavy focus on cross-border transactions and the implementation of tax-efficient restructuring processes. Severiano keeps his clients up to date on tax developments that may impact their businesses globally and locally. Additionally, his work is dedicated to addressing the nuanced tax planning and restructuring requirements of individuals and families, particularly in matters of pre-immigration, expatriation, and cross-border income, gift, and estate tax, extending to offshore tax compliance.

His advisory is crafted to navigate the complexities of tax law for a clientele that demands and expects the highest level of sophistication and discretion. Severiano generally does not represent clients who are exclusively U.S. persons or U.S. businesses with only U.S. assets or structures. Accordingly, each client has some sort of cross-border component with a U.S. connection.

Severiano founded MNF Legal in response to a growing need for specialized tax related legal services amid the post-pandemic surge in mobility, remote work, and evolving regulations.

Before founding MNF Legal, Severiano worked for global law and accounting firms. First working both as an international private client and tax controversy attorney, and then for international accounting firms advising billion-dollar multinational businesses with their global restructurings, and later returning to private clients and their businesses with their cross-border income, gift, and estate tax planning needs.

His clients have included members of foreign governments; royal families; investment bankers; fund managers; foreign and domestic private equity funds; real estate developers; international hoteliers and insurance companies; renown designers and athletes; trust companies; family offices; entrepreneurs; wealthy families and other professionals.

Severiano is active within his local community and has served as a non-profit Director and Treasurer of the Alexandria Historical Society and as a City Council appointed Member of the Historical Alexandria Resources Commission. Further, Severiano currently serves in a leadership capacity with the American Bar Association’s Section of Taxation, and he is active with both the American Academy of Attorney-Certified Public Accountants (“AAA-CPA”) and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (“STEP”). Severiano is a frequent speaker for several organizations speaking on topics related to cross-border estate and income tax planning, as well as offshore compliance.

Severiano has been recognized, among others, by inclusion in the Private Client Global Elite Directory 2025 and 2026 by ALM | LAW.COM and the Top 50 Tax Professionals 2025 Listing by Citywealth.