Litigation - Trusts and Estates Trusts and Estates
Thomas H. Bergh
Awarded Practice Areas
Biography
Tom has over 30 years of experience in helping clients efficiently and effectively define their estate planning goals and to arrange their affairs accordingly. His expertise includes facilitating the direction of a client-centered and directed strategy and then drafting clear and understandable legal documents to implement it, thereby protecting client wealth, closely-held businesses, and families from taxes, post-mortem chaos and expense, and unnecessary complexity. He has expertise and experience in dealing with the IRS in administrative hearings and litigation, developing creative tailored solutions for business succession planning, charitable trusts and private foundations, and IRA distribution planning.
Tom is a frequent speaker and author on estate planning, employee benefits, charitable planning, and is the past chair of the Financial and Estate Planning Council of Metropolitan Detroit.
Tom is a frequent speaker and author on estate planning, employee benefits, charitable planning, and is the past chair of the Financial and Estate Planning Council of Metropolitan Detroit.
Overview
- Wayne State University, LL.M, graduated 1985
- Wayne State University, J.D., graduated 1980
- Michigan, State Bar of Michigan
- American Bar Association - Taxation Section; Employee Benefits and Closely Held Business Committees
- Oakland County Bar Association - Taxation Committee, Past-Chair
- State Bar of Michigan - Probate and Estate Planning Law Section; Taxation Section; and Business Law Section
- The Financial and Estate Planning Council of Metropolitan Detroit - President
- Thomas Cooley Law School at the Oakland University Campus - Adjunct Professor
- Michigan, State Bar of Michigan
- American Bar Association - Taxation Section; Employee Benefits and Closely Held Business Committees
- Oakland County Bar Association - Taxation Committee, Past-Chair
- State Bar of Michigan - Probate and Estate Planning Law Section; Taxation Section; and Business Law Section
- The Financial and Estate Planning Council of Metropolitan Detroit - President
- Thomas Cooley Law School at the Oakland University Campus - Adjunct Professor
- Wayne State University, LL.M, graduated 1985
- Wayne State University, J.D., graduated 1980
Client Testimonials
Awards & Focus

Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
- Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Troy (2023)
- Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Detroit (2012)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
- Litigation - Trusts and Estates
- Trusts and Estates
Special Focus:
- Estate Planning
Awards:
- Martindale-Hubbell Rated, AV® Preeminent™
- Selected as a Top Rated Lawyer™ in Tax Law, 2013
News & Media
Publications
Your browser is not fully compatible with our automatic printer friendly formatting.
Please use the print button to print this profile page.