Best Lawyers in America for Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law

Jamie G. Houston, III, was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1976. He has been admitted to practice in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi, and the United States Tax Court. His experience includes practice in corporate and business law, tax and estate planning and administration. Jamie is a Certified Public Accountant (Retired).

Since cofounding Stein Sperling 40 years ago, Millard Bennett has built a robust and varied business law practice, while simultaneously growing and expanding the firm as Managing Partner into one of Montgomery County’s largest and most sought after law firms. In addition to his time tested business acumen, Millard’s intuition, empathy and meticulous attention to his clients’ individual needs has earned him a reputation as a go-to business lawyer. Beyond advising clients on b...

William R. Lane Jr. is a partner in Holland & Knight's Tampa office and practices in the areas of trusts and estates, tax exempt organizations and family business succession planning. Mr. Lane is the North/Central Florida regional team leader for the firm’s Private Wealth Services Practice Group. Mr. Lane works primarily in the areas of estate planning, family business succession planning, and resolution of disputes involving trusts, estates, their fiduciaries and beneficiaries. He ...

Bradley J. Dougherty is a partner in the Corporate Department of the Indianapolis, Indiana office of Barnes & Thornburg. Bradley concentrates his practice in the areas of business transactions, estate planning and estate administration. He represents individuals, closely held businesses and family businesses. Bradley provides services for the formation and operation of corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies, and representation of these entities as corporate/legal couns...

Marjorie Rogers represents businesses, tax-exempt organizations and individuals in the areas of federal taxation, estate planning and administration, including probate litigation, employee benefits and ERISA. She has more than thirty years' experience advising clients on their complex tax issues, wills, trusts, family succession plans, retirement plans, and business entity planning. Marjorie listens to her clients to determine their individual goals and helps clients achieve them with a plan ...

Eugene F. Dauchert, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Corporate Law, Health Care Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Eugene F., who practices law in Durham, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Eugene F. is held by other top lawyers in...

Mr. August is a shareholder in the firm. Mr. August has been with the firm since 1994. He is a certified specialist in the fields of both Taxation Law, and Estate Planning and Probate by The Supreme Court of South Carolina. He is listed in the book The Best Lawyers in America in the fields of Bursiness Organizations, Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Litigation and Controversy - Tax, Tax Law, and Trusts and Estates Law. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree, magna cum laude ...

Joshua E. Husbands is a partner in Holland & Knight’s Portland office and a member of the firm's Private Wealth Services Group. He often serves as outside general counsel for private companies and their owners, representing clients in an array of business, tax, business succession and estate planning matters, including business reorganizations, acquisitions and divestitures. He frequently writes and speaks on business, tax, life insurance and asset protection matters concerning busi...

Brent Rosenthal joined Carlile Patchen & Murphy LLP in July 2007. Brent focuses on representing closely-held businesses and their owners in a broad scope of their legal needs including – business formation and structuring, finance, transactions (including acquisitions and contract preparation and analysis), employment and general business and legal counseling. Brent’s commercial real estate practice includes representing buyers, sellers, landlords, tenants and developers in th...

Published Works · Articles on Litigation (Co-Authored) Representative Cases · IEL Liquidation Proceedings, Wayne C. Metcalf, Insurance v. Gary L. Vose, et al · HIG Rehabilitation, HUI/UNICO Liquidation and Linda v. Hawaiian Electric Co. · State v. Kealakekua Ranch · Maunawili Lessees v. Trustees of Castle Estate · State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Robinol, 699 F.Supp. 819 (D.Hawai'i 1988) · Tilton v. Rivera · Eder v. County of Kauai and ...

Stephanie advises on complex tax issues, investment structures, acquisitions and sales of special assets, trust and probate administration and charitable giving. She serves as a fiduciary consultant on litigation matters for corporate fiduciaries and interfamily disputes. Stephanie also represents taxpayers on contested tax matters, including federal and state audits and administrative appeals. Stephanie’s clients include high net worth individuals, family offices and corporate fiduciar...

Stephen M. Sargent is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Corporate Law and Tax Law. Stephen M., who practices law in Salt Lake City, Utah, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Stephen M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Brad is a member of the Firm’s Trusts and Estates Practice Group. Brad’s practice primarily involves estate and trust planning and administration, with an emphasis on the related income, estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer tax issues. In addition, Brad is actively engaged in representing individual and corporate fiduciaries (executors and trustees) in administrating and litigating estate and trust matters. Brad has more than 15 years experience in advising clients in an ...

Jeffrey J. Pirruccello is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Corporate Law, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Litigation and Controversy - Tax, Nonprofit / Charities Law, Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. Jeffrey J., who practices law in Omaha, Nebraska, has been recognized since 1993. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting...

The cornerstone of Jimmy’s practice is to help people by solving their problems and contributing to their growth and success. His 50 years of legal experience is complemented by an in-depth background in finance, including a number of years working for the IRS as a Revenue Agent and Tax Law Specialist, as well as several years as an investment banker at Legg Mason. With a commitment that the client’s interests always come first, Jimmy takes ownership of and responsibility for thei...

William Walsh is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law. William, who practices law in Fairfax, Virginia, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which William is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.