Leadership

James M. Burns, CPA, is a partner of the Accounting & Audit Service Group. He oversees the Marketing Department and is responsible for new business development and client relationship management. He remains active in serving closely-held businesses in the service, light industrial, import/export, and transportation markets. He is proficient in the areas of new business formation, succession planning and estate planning.

Mr. Burns has worked for international and regional CPA firms, and had his own practice for several years before joining Morison Cogen LLP in 1995. He graduated from Temple University in 1973 and holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration, major in accounting. He is licensed to practice accounting in Pennsylvania and is a registered securities representative in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.

Mr. Burns is a member of the American and Pennsylvania Institutes of CPAs. Within the community, he is a member of the board of governors of Manufacturers’ Golf & Country Club, and serves as treasurer.

Alan J. Denis, J.D., CPA is Chairman of Morison Cogen LLP and its Tax Services Group. His practice areas include tax planning, tax compliance, tax controversy and related services to companies, business owners and individuals. His wide-ranging practice covers federal, state, local, and international tax, wealth transfer and litigation support. Mr. Denis serves a diverse clientele of public and privately held clients in many industries such as: manufacturing, distribution, leasing, technology, logistics, telecommunications, real estate, and financial products.

Mr. Denis was a tax partner in a large international accounting firm prior to joining Morison Cogen LLP in 2002.

He received a bachelor of arts degree from Franklin & Marshall College in 1968 and a juris doctor degree from Fordham Law School in 1972. Mr. Denis also attended the N.Y.U. Stern School of Business graduate program.

Mr. Denis is a member of the Board of Directors of Morison International, Limited and Morison International Latin America. He is active in MI’s International Tax Group and has participated in numerous professional organizations including Council of the Tax Section of Philadelphia Bar Association, the Executive Committee of the Philadelphia Tax Conference and the Philadelphia Estate Planning Council. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, its Tax Section and the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Louis Esposito, CPA, is a partner in the Accounting and Audit Services Group. As partner, he advises a diverse client base of public as well as private companies located in the United States and abroad with a concentration on Asian companies listed on the U.S. stock exchanges. Mr. Esposito is the firm's liaison for Morison International Asia Pacific. He also has extensive experience in Securities and Exchange Commission financial reporting and is well versed in the area of mergers and acquisitions including reverse mergers.

Mr. Esposito has been serving businesses in the Philadelphia area since beginning his career in 1990. Prior to joining Morison Cogen’s Accounting and Audit Services Group in 1994, Mr. Esposito worked with a regional CPA and consulting firm.

A graduate of Villanova University, Mr. Esposito holds a bachelor's degree in accounting. His professional associations include the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants and American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

M. Henry, CPA, is a partner in Morison Cogen’s Accounting, Audit & Tax Services Group. He is proficient in the areas of strategic tax and financial planning as well as business planning for the real estate and construction, tour and travel, hotel and hospitality, and light industrial markets. His focus is on advising owners of closely-held businesses on tax, financial, management and operational matters.

Mr. Henry worked at Emanuel Whiting & Company before joining Morison Cogen LLP in 1973. He became a partner in 1983.

A 1971 graduate of The Pennsylvania State University, Mr. Henry holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He is a registered securities representative in Pennsylvania.

Mr. Henry is a member of the American and Pennsylvania Institutes of CPAs, and the National Association of Accountants, Valley Forge chapter. He serves on the board of directors of the Rotary Club of Phoenixville, the Phoenixville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Schuylkill River Heritage Center. He is a financial advisor to the board of directors of the Lower Providence Library and is a member of the National Train Collectors Association of America. Mr. Henry is a past president and treasurer of the Phoenixville Area Chamber of Commerce.

Lee S. Kersey, CPA, is a partner in the Accounting & Audit Service Group. As partner, he ad­vises closely-held businesses and not-for-profit organizations on financial, tax and operational matters. He coordinates Morison Cogen’s recruitment and continuing professional education programs, and is active in its technology enhancement program.

Mr. Kersey began his career at Morison Cogen LLP in 1984, serving as associate, supervisor and manager before being named partner in 2005.

A graduate of Temple University, he holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He is a registered securities representative in Pennsylvania.

He is a member of the American and Pennsylvania Institutes of CPAs, the Association of Non-Profit Financial Officers and the North Penn Chamber of Commerce.

Joseph M. Kistner, CPA is the firm's Chief Operating Officer and a partner of the Accounting & Auditing Services Group. His practice con­centration is in the areas of accounting and auditing with an emphasis on not-for-profit-organi­zations, closely-held businesses and audit of pension plans. He is also a concurring reviewer in the SEC Quality Assurance Group.

Mr. Kistner began his career at Morison Cogen, LLP in 1984, serving as associate, supervisor and manager before being named partner in 2001. He currently serves as the company’s Chief Financial Officer and is a member of the executive committee.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration, major in accounting, from Drexel Uni­versity. He became certified to practice accounting in Pennsylvania in 1986, and is a licensed securities representative.

Mr. Kistner is a member of the American and Pennsylvania Institutes of CPAs, and has served as a board member and treasurer for a number of organizations.

As Chair of the Accounting & Audit Services Group and SEC Practice Group, Joseph J. Lucas, CPA, is proficient in the areas of merger and acquisition planning, bankruptcy and reorganization management, and financial reporting and auditing for publicly-held companies. He represents international businesses in both the public and private sectors, and provides audit services to employee benefit plans.

After serving four years active duty as an officer of the US Navy, Mr. Lucas joined an interna­tional CPA firm. Eight years later he left to manage the audit and SEC practice of a local CPA firm. In 1983, he became a partner of a national firm and joined Morison Cogen LLP in 1994.

He graduated from Saint Joseph’s University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting.

Mr. Lucas is a member of both the American and Pennsylvania Institutes of CPAs, and serves on the latter’s Speakers Bureau. He has made presentations on a variety of financial and accounting topics to trade associations and other business groups.

As a partner of the Accounting & Audit Services Group, Jeffrey S. Silver, CPA, MBA advises public and private US and international businesses on financial, tax and operational matters. He is responsible for corporate and individual financial planning and compliance. His practice concentration in litigation support ranges from forensic accounting services to class action secu­rities litigation and bankruptcy matters.

Mr. Silver graduated from Emory University in Atlanta, GA with a dual bachelor of business administration degree in accounting and finance. He became certified to practice accounting in Pennsylvania in 1994. Mr. Silver also obtained a master’s degree in business administration from Villanova University in 1999. He is a registered securities representative and insurance agent in Pennsylvania.

With 16 years of experience, Mr. Silver began his career in 1992. He served as an associate and supervisor with Morison Cogen LLP for 8 years. He purchased and managed a local accounting firm for 2 years and rejoined Morison Cogen LLP in 2002 as a manager. He was promoted to a partner in 2008.

Mr. Silver is a member of the American and Pennsylvania Institutes of CPAs and an associate member of Certified Fraud Examiners.