Michael Knisely

Michael Knisely

recognized lawyers icon Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2023
Awarded Practice Areas
Litigation - Trusts and Estates
*Named the "Lawyer of the Year" in this practice area in the 2026 edition in Austin.
Awarded Practice Areas
Litigation - Trusts and Estates
*Named the "Lawyer of the Year" in this practice area in the 2026 edition in Austin.
Works at
Osborne, Helman, Scott, Knisely & Stanton LLP

6 Best Lawyers awards

Osborne, Helman, Scott, Knisely & Stanton LLP logo

Biography

Mr. Knisely is a partner of Osborne, Helman, Scott, Knisely & Stanton, LLP. His practice involves representing individuals and institutions in fiduciary litigation, including primarily trust, estate and guardianship disputes. Mr. Knisely also advises fiduciaries and beneficiaries with regard to complex and contentious trust and estate administrations. In addition, he handles appeals of a wide array of civil matters in both state and federal courts, with a focus on appeals involving trust, estate and fiduciary matters, and he has significant experience in insurance matters and in representing charitable organizations in a variety of controversies. After law school, Mr. Knisely served as a law clerk to both the Honorable Reynaldo G. Garza, of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the Honorable Felix Recio, of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas.
Works at
Osborne, Helman, Scott, Knisely & Stanton LLP

6 Best Lawyers awards

Osborne, Helman, Scott, Knisely & Stanton LLP logo

Locations

Languages

  • English
  • Spanish

Education

  • The University of Texas, J.D., graduated 2002
  • Southwestern University, B.A. - History and Communication, graduated 1999
  • University of Valencia

Bar Admissions

  • Texas, State Bar of Texas, 2002

Court Admissions

  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas

Affiliations

  • American Bar Association - Member
  • Ascend Austin (Former) - Director
  • Austin Bar Association - Member
  • Charitable Gift Planners of Austin (Former Board of Directors, Vice-Chair) - Member
  • Federal Bar Association - Member
  • International Bar Association - Member
  • Leadership Round Rock (Class of 2006-2007) - Member
  • National Association of Charitable Gift Planning - Member
  • Pip Start, Inc. (Former) - Director
  • Seton Professional Advisors Council (Former) - Member
  • Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners - Texas Chapter - Member
  • Southwestern Fraternal Education Fund, Inc. (Former) - Director
  • State Bar of Texas - Member
  • Supreme Court of the United States - Member
  • Texas Rising Stars List, sponsored by Thomson Reuters and published in Texas Monthly (2015,2016,2017) - Member
  • Texas Super Lawyers list - Selected 2021, 2022
  • The College of the State Bar of Texas - Member
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit - Member
  • U.S. District Court for the Western, Southern, Eastern and Northern Districts of Texas - Member
  • Williamson County Bar Association - Member

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2026 - Litigation - Trusts and Estates
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Austin (2026)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Litigation - Trusts and Estates

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