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

David A. Thompson 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, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Nonprofit / Charities Law, Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. David A., who practices law in Greenville, South Carolina, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhau...

Douglas E. Starcher is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Public Finance Law and Securities / Capital Markets Law. Douglas E., who practices law in Orlando, Florida, has been recognized since 2010. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Douglas E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and lega...

James B. Egle is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law and Real Estate Law. James B., who practices law in Madison, Wisconsin, has been recognized since 2011. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which James B. 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.

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).

David M. Hohman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law and Corporate Law. David M., who practices law in Omaha, Nebraska, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

John J. Griffin III 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, Commercial Transactions / UCC Law, Corporate Law, Litigation - Real Estate, Mergers and Acquisitions Law and Real Estate Law. John J., who practices law in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high e...

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...

I help business owners navigate the sometimes unchartered waters of business ownership and succession planning. As co-founder of our firm’s Startup Team , I assist entrepreneurs with structuring their business entity (drafting and negotiating governing documents) and then taking the company through its growth phase (hiring employees, protecting intellectual property, implementing equity incentive plans for executives and owners, assisting with and positioning the company for institution...

Lindsay M. Cummings 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. Lindsay M., who practices law in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Lindsay M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Education Mr. Coan received his undergraduate degree in Business Administration with honors from the University of Northern Colorado and his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Denver. Admissions & Associations Mr. Coan is admitted to practice before all courts in the States of Arizona, Colorado and North Dakota. Mr. Coan currently serves as the Secretary/Treasurer of the Colorado Bar Association’s Business Law Section Council and is the Co-Chair of the Financial Instituti...

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...

William H. Fallon is a Member of the firm and has been practicing law since 1981. His practice is focused on representing employers in employment and labor matters, including employment litigation. Labor and Employment Law Experience Mr. Fallon helps employers find successful, constructive solutions to their most difficult employment problems, in and out of court. Most employers prefer to stay out of court, which is accomplished by effective early management of potential legal problems. Mr. F...

Robert Van Uden is a Member and Manager of Stubblefield, Yelverton & Van Uden, PLLC. Robert received his undergraduate degree in History from Louisiana State University in 1996, his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Mississippi in 2000, his Chartered Life Underwriter designation (CLU®) from the American College in 2006, his LL.M. in Taxation with Distinction from the University of Alabama in 2010, and is a graduate of the Southern Trust School. Robert is a member of the Mi...

For nearly 30 years, Alan MacEwan has advised businesses, entrepreneurs and investors on a comprehensive spectrum of corporate matters. Alan focuses on mergers and acquisitions, although he prefers to think of his practice more as “buying and selling companies.” He has successfully negotiated over 100 such transactions ranging from $1 million to $300 million, and combines client-specific expertise with creative problem-solving to deliver on his clients’ transaction objective...

Patrick A. Sadowski’s current practice areas include nonprofit organization formation and taxation; estate planning; Medicaid planning; probate, estate and trust administration; estate, trust, gift and income taxation; general business law, including mergers and acquisition and business succession planning; and real estate.