Southwest Florida Attorney
with an International Focus

About Sebastian Nye-Schmitz

My name is Sebastian Nye-Schmitz. I was born in Germany and moved to the United States with my family more than 30 years ago. Today, I am proud to call Florida home, where I live with my wife and our three wonderful children. I am licensed in the State of Florida as both a Certified Public Accountant and an Attorney at Law.

One of the greatest advantages I bring to my clients is not only the ability to communicate fluently in both English and German, but also a deep understanding of both American and European culture. This allows me to bridge not only the language barrier for German-speaking clients, but also the cultural and practical differences that often arise when navigating legal, tax, and business matters across borders.

Much of who I am professionally is rooted in the guidance and example of my late father, Werner Schmitz, who passed away in July 2025. He was a Steuerberater (Tax Advisor) in Germany beginning in the late 1970s and built a successful career based on diligence, integrity, and technical expertise. After moving to Florida to pursue a lifelong dream of operating a restaurant, life unexpectedly changed course when our family was involved in a serious car accident that left him unable to continue with the physical demands of the restaurant industry.

Rather than allowing that setback to define him, my father reinvented himself. He immersed himself in the study of the U.S. tax system, mastered the complexities of the tax treaties between the United States and Germany, and ultimately founded SSI Accounting & Tax Service, Inc. in Fort Myers in 1998. Watching him rebuild a professional career from the ground up in a new country left a profound impression on me. His perseverance, work ethic, and commitment to helping others shaped my own approach to both business and life and continue to influence me every day.

Inspired by his determination and entrepreneurial spirit, I began taking H&R Block tax preparation courses in the evenings while still attending high school to learn the fundamentals of tax preparation. After graduating from Fort Myers High School with my International Baccalaureate Diploma in 2001, I joined my father’s firm full-time. What began as helping with office management and basic tax return preparation quickly evolved into a true apprenticeship.

While working full-time at the firm, I earned my Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting & Taxation from Florida Gulf Coast University in three years, followed by a Master of Science Degree in Taxation one year later. In 2007, I obtained my CPA license while continuing to work alongside my father. With his encouragement, I applied to and was accepted by Ave Maria School of Law. In 2009, I transitioned out of the day-to-day operations of the family business to focus on law school while gaining practical experience with a boutique tax law firm in Naples. In 2012, I graduated cum laude from Ave Maria School of Law and successfully passed the Florida Bar Examination.

After the birth of my daughter, my perspective on life and career evolved significantly. In 2013, I started my own legal practice with the goal of building a broader practice focused not only on tax law, but also on helping clients navigate the many interconnected issues that arise in real estate, probate, business, and cross-border matters. It was also at my father’s encouragement that I became involved in the title industry and helped co-found Sandcastle Title, LLC, which continues to operate today.

Today, my practice focuses on the intersection of accounting, law, title, probate, and international tax matters, particularly for German-speaking and international clients with U.S. interests. I also work closely with attorneys, accountants, and other professionals whose skills complement my own, because I firmly believe that clients achieve the best outcomes when the right team is assembled for the situation at hand. Above all, I try to approach my work with the same mindset my father demonstrated throughout his career: work hard, solve problems thoughtfully, treat people fairly, and always strive to do right by the client.