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

High net worth individuals seek Howard’s advice for their complex wealth and estate planning needs. His estate planning experience includes preparing wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, special needs trusts, family limited partnerships, limited liability companies and charitable trusts. In collaboration with those he serves, Howard advises on the design and execution of a transition plan that realizes even the most distinct objectives. He also advises on asset protection planning, ...

Alicia is an experienced litigator who represents clients in all areas of commercial and civil litigation, including complex contract disputes , corporate dissolution proceedings and business divorces , shareholder derivative actions, employment disputes, premises liability, insurance coverage matters , and others. Alicia also defends small and mid-sized businesses in lawsuits filed under the Americans with Disabilities Act. In her more than a decade of private practice, Alicia has been a pro...

Mr. Merline is an Associate in the firm. Mr. Merline has been with the firm since 2015. He is listed in the book The Best Lawyers in America, Ones to Watch, in the field of Trusts and Estates. He received his Bachelor of Since Degree from Clemson University, his Juris Doctor Degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law, and his Master of Laws in Taxation Degree from the Boston University School of Law. He is also a member of the Greenville Estate Planning Council, the Greenville...

Kap has represented buyers and sellers in business acquisitions in a wide variety of industries, including technology, manufacturing, healthcare, energy, hospitality, foodservice, retail, insurance, and aerospace. He is also experienced in private business strategy and planning, including corporate formation, structuring and organization.

For over 25 years, Christopher has been serving the legal needs of businesses and entrepreneurs. He often serves as general counsel to clients and his experience covers the spectrum of the business cycle, from start-up, to investment and growth, to succession planning and exit strategies. Christopher also has considerable experience with business disputes and has successfully handled commercial litigation in both state and federal courts. His clients past and present include biotech and techn...

Joe Camilli is a Shareholder in the Business Practice Group at von Briesen & Roper, s.c. He focuses his practice on business and corporate issues, mergers and acquisitions, and employment matters. Joe enjoys working with entrepreneurs, start-ups, and small businesses. Joe finds the greatest success and joy in helping clients navigate and conquer the challenges and opportunities they face. Whether clients need help selling their business, navigating a challenging employment situation, or r...

Patricia L. Bland 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 and Real Estate Law. She has representative clients in various industries including car dealerships, electrical contracting, and real estate. Her advanced degree of Master of Laws in Taxation allows her to seamlessly advise clients in complicated tax matters involving business organiz...

Court J. Anderson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law and Litigation - Intellectual Property. Court J., who practices law in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Court J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Erin Houck-Toll 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 Tax Law. Erin, who practices law in Fort Myers, Florida, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Erin is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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 ...

Michael Schiavone has provided legal guidance to businesses for 30 years. He concentrates his practice in the areas of business law, commercial real estate, and estate planning. Mr. Schiavone is experienced in regularly counseling clients in a wide array of legal matters, including: Commercial lending and financial transactions Mergers and acquisitions Corporate, partnership, and limited liability matters Business formation Business succession planning Contract negotiation and dispute resolut...

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.

Richard C. Bruder is a business attorney in Troy, Michigan with Kemp Klein who works with entrepreneurs, investors, and closely held companies on complex business transactions and long-term growth planning. His practice focuses on Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law , Mergers and Acquisitions Law , and Venture Capital Law . Richard represents growing companies, angel investors, venture capital funds, and second-stage busin...

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...

At Withers Bergman LLP, Steven focuses his practice on estate planning, trust and estate administration, charitable giving and representing tax-exempt organizations. He has designed and used computer modeling to show the economic consequences of various estate planning and charitable giving techniques. Steven is also experienced in the area of executive compensation, focusing on compensation and intermediate sanctions issues for tax-exempt organizations. Steven has represented exempt organiza...

Steven I. Klein 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, Franchise Law, Litigation - Real Estate, Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Litigation and Controversy - Tax, Nonprofit / Charities Law, Real Estate Law, Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. Steven I., who practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on ...