Best Lawyers in America for Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
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State
Jennifer R. D'Amato 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, Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. Jennifer R., who practices law in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jennifer R. is held by other top lawyers in t...
Michael High was the leader of the firm’s Business and Commercial Services Practice Group for more than 20 years and currently serves as co-leader of the Group. He has extensive experience in representing businesses, investors, lenders and borrowers in a wide range of corporate and commercial matters, including entity formation, shareholder/owner relations, corporate governance, drafting, reviewing and negotiating complex contracts, mergers, acquisitions and dispositions, corporate fina...
W. Verne McGough, 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, Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Litigation and Controversy - Tax, Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. W. Verne, who practices law in Cayce, South Carolina, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in wh...
David Gotlieb is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. David, who practices law in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Nicholas K. Niemann 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, Litigation and Controversy - Tax, Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. Nicholas K., who practices law in Omaha, Nebraska, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Nicholas K. is held by other top lawyers in the s...
Brad Van Hoy brings more than 20 years of experience in advising high-net worth individuals, closely-held business owners, executives, and family offices with their estate, tax, business, and philanthropic planning needs. Brad builds long-term relationships with his clients, guiding them through their unique opportunities and challenges, and helping them to realize, protect, and leave a legacy with what they have worked so hard to build. Whether crafting an estate or tax plan, advising on est...
Clark Luke is a partner in the firm’s Tax and Trusts & Estates practice groups. His practice is primarily focused on estate planning and administration, taxation, corporate law, and M&A. Clark has been listed in Chambers USA High Net Worth Guide , The Best Lawyers in America ®, and Mid-South Super Lawyers . He has an LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Florida Levin College of Law and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Mr. Murrah's practice is concentrated primarily in estate planning, probate, federal transfer taxation, estate and trust administration, and federal income taxation. He advises clients on all elements of wealth transmittal and preservation, including preparation of wills and trusts, closely held business succession issues, asset protection strategies, and techniques for the minimization of transfer taxes. His experience also includes representation of trustees and trust beneficiaries. Mr. Mur...
Don Rafferty combines his experience in the areas of business restructuring, commercial finance, corporate law, and litigation to provide legal and strategic advice to the firm’s business clients on a wide range of issues. Don frequently counsels clients who either are experiencing financial stress or are dealing with distressed companies. He has advised on sales, acquisitions, and restructurings for numerous middle-market companies. Don has significant experience in transactions, dispu...
Allen D. Altman focuses his practice in the areas of complex estate, gift and GST tax planning for high-net-worth individuals and family units. He is experienced in issues dealing with executive compensation, stockholder agreements and nonqualified deferred compensation. Allen proactively develops and implements tax and estate planning strategies for his clients. In addition, he provides practical recommendations and structures that draw on his experience representing a wide variety of family...
Terry is one of the most experienced real estate and restaurant attorneys in Hawaii and is a licensed real estate broker. In his roughly 40 years of practice, Terry has represented a "who's who" list of local and national developers, hoteliers, investors and entrepreneurs on a wide variety of Hawaii real estate acquisition, development, business, hotel and restaurant matters. Terry's current clients include Safeway, Inc., Parallel Capital Partners, Roy's Holdings, Inc., Outback Steakhouse, In...
Paul Tonella practices in Keller Rohrback's business and estate planning group, where he represents individuals, families, and businesses in tax and general legal matters. He brings a wide range of experience in entity formation, contracts, purchases and sales of companies, personalized estate planning and probate and trust administration.
Charles H. Packer is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law and Trusts and Estates. Charles H., who practices law in San Jose, California, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Charles H. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Kathleen W. Bilderback 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 and Trusts and Estates. Kathleen W., who practices law in Clayton, Missouri, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kathleen W. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Patrick K. Perrin is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law. Patrick K., who practices law in Boulder, Colorado, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Patrick K. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.