Best Lawyers in Alabama, United States for Trusts and Estates

Christopher S. Simmons is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Litigation and Controversy - Tax, Public Finance Law, Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. Christopher S., who practices law in Montgomery, Alabama, has been recognized since 2001. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Christopher S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kay is a member of the firm's Corporate Practice and Estate Planning/Probate Practice groups. She is listed in Alabama Super Lawyers in the Estate Planning and Probate, Closely Held Business, and Tax Law categories of law, and she has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America(r) in the fields of Litigation - Trusts & Estates, Tax Law, and Trusts and Estates (Copyright 2011 by Woodward/Wright, Inc., of Aiken, S.C.). The author of numerous articles regarding tax, corporate ...

Brian Williams’ practice includes estate planning, estate and trust litigation, estate and trust administration, federal and state tax, and corporate and business transactions and issues. He practiced for 6 years as an in house counsel for a publicly traded corporation before entering private practice with his present firm in 1986. Brian graduated cum laude from the University of Alabama in 1976, B.S. degree/accounting major. He obtained his J.D. degree in 1979 from Cumberland School of...

Melinda Mathews is a shareholder in Dentons Sirote’s Birmingham, Alabama office. She serves as the co-chair of the Trusts, Estates and Wealth Preservation practice group. Melinda helps clients navigate complex trust and estate matters to manage and preserve their wealth. She focuses on business and succession planning, estate planning for individuals and families, and prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, as well as probates and trusts. Melinda also taught estate planning as an adjunct...

Leigh A. Kaylor is Counsel in Dentons Sirote’s Trusts, Estates and Wealth Preservation practice, based in Birmingham, Alabama. She concentrates her practice in estate planning and estate administration. She employs a full range of techniques to customize plans for her clients, from basic wills and trusts to more sophisticated spousal lifetime access trusts (SLATs), family-owned limited liability entities, life insurance trusts, and generation-skipping "dynasty" trusts. Leigh’s pra...

Tanya Shunnara is a shareholder in Dentons Sirote’s Birmingham, Alabama office. She is a member of the Trusts, Estates and Wealth Preservation practice group and is one of the youngest shareholders to be named to Dentons Sirote’s board of directors. Tanya focuses her practice on counseling families, family offices, business owners, executives and individuals on all aspects of estate and gift planning, estate and trust administration, wealth transfer issues, charitable planned givi...

Caty H. Richardson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Caty H., who practices law in Montgomery, Alabama, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Caty H. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Amy Davis Adams is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Trusts and Estates. Amy Davis, who practices law in Birmingham, Alabama, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Amy Davis is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Sarah S. Johnston is a Shareholder in Dentons Sirote’s Trusts, Estates and Wealth Preservation practice, based in Birmingham, Alabama. Since 2004, she has advised high-net-worth individuals, families, and businesses on a wide range of matters, including estate and tax planning, trust and estate administration, wealth preservation strategies, trust and estate litigation, business succession planning, and the ongoing support of family offices. She also regularly counsels clients on retire...

Scott Ludwig advises a broad range of clients on corporate and tax issues in corporate acquisitions and sales, including the negotiation, drafting and reviewing of acquisition and sale documents. He is experienced in advising companies in high technology, life sciences, biotechnology and traditional products and services, including start-up and established companies. Scott utilizes a team approach by working closely with each client's advisors. This team approach has, over the years, proven t...

For over 35 years, Greg's law practice has focused on estate planning and probate, with an emphasis on charitable planned giving. Greg is a past chairman and still active on the University of Alabama Planned Giving Advisory Committee, as well as serving on several other boards at the University of Alabama. He currently serves on the Professional Advisors Committee of the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham. Greg is listed in "The Best Lawyers in America®" and "Super Lawyers" in the...

Howard Neiswender is a shareholder in the Firm's Birmingham, Alabama office, where he leads the Dentons Sirote Family Business team. Howard is also a member of the Trusts, Estates and Wealth Preservation practice group. He provides comprehensive wealth planning for individuals and business owners. His representative work includes the use of innovation tax-planning strategies and working with business owners to coordinate their business and personal planning. In addition, Howard works in all a...

Shirley Justice is a shareholder in Dentons Sirote’s Mobile, Alabama office. She is a member of the Trusts, Estates and Wealth Preservation practice. Shirley counsels professionals, business owners and their businesses in contracts, entity structuring, individual, corporate, transactional and personal tax planning and also provides estate planning and wealth preservation advise and services for them and others, to minimize taxes and family and business disputes. She represents clients i...

Scott is a member of the firm’s Trusts and Estates and Tax Practice Groups. Part of Scott’s practice focuses on estate planning strategies designed to minimize estate and other taxes, as well as ensure that assets left under a decedent’s will or trust for family members can be effectively and efficiently managed. In addition, Scott has significant experience in advising clients with respect to the administration of trusts and estates, and handling trust and estate litigation...

Yancey Albert Moore III is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Real Estate, Real Estate Law and Trusts and Estates. Yancey Albert, who practices law in Huntsville, Alabama, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Yancey Albert is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Counselor. Teacher. Lawyer. Dale Stone wears many hats when he assists clients in developing and implementing plans for the effective and efficient disposition of their assets. Dale has over thirty-four years of experience guiding clients through the personal and practical aspects of estate planning and estate administration as well as the legal, economic and tax issues involved. For owners of family businesses, Dale coordinates planning for the preservation and continuation of the business i...