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

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.

Maxwell N. Barnes is a Member in the firm’s business section and has been practicing law since 1997. He concentrates his practice on advising clients in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and general business matters. General Business/Transactional Experience Mr. Barnes assists businesses of all sizes and their owners in addressing their day-to-day legal needs. This involves counseling clients on organizing and structuring new entities, employment issues, equity i...

Robert C. Rutgers, 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 and Family Law. Robert C., who practices law in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Robert C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal pract...

Gregory F. Monday 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 and Trusts and Estates. Gregory F., who practices law in Madison, Wisconsin, has been recognized since 2003. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Gregory F. is held by other top lawyers in the same geograp...

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...

David Wong is a partner in the firm's Honolulu office and a member of its Tax, Estate Planning & Pension Practice Group. His practice emphasizes federal and Hawai‘i tax aspects of commercial transactions and business enterprises. Mr. Wong has done extensive work in the areas of business organizations, entity structuring, acquisitions, divestitures, and debt workouts. He is listed in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business 2018 for Corporate/Commercial: Tax (Band 1) . Da...

Michael R. Griffin 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. Michael R., who practices law in Nashville, Tennessee, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

A highly respected Seattle business and estate planning/probate attorney, George Holzapfel’s practice is concentrated in business law with an emphasis on tax and estate planning. George serves as general counsel to more than 320 corporations, LLC’s, partnerships and sole proprietorships, as well as many individuals and families. Businesses represented include accountants, architects, advertisers, apartment and commercial building owners, computer companies, contractors, distributo...

Stacey D. Spivey's practice focuses on estate planning and trust and estate administration and litigation. Ms. Spivey works with individuals to prepare and implement their estate plans to meet family, tax and other goals, including business succession planning. She also works with individuals and fiduciaries on the management and settlement of trusts and estates, including probate administration, preparation of federal estate and gift tax returns, and estate and trust litigation matters. Ms. ...

Richard O. Kissel II is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law. Richard O., who practices law in Indianapolis, Indiana, has been recognized since 2015. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Richard O. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Susan Beckert Bock is a partner of Stoel Rives who counsels clients from the firm’s Portland and Boise offices in the administration of estates and trusts, as well as estate, corporate, tax and financial planning. Susan’s practice includes advising clients in the areas of income, estate, and gift taxes, counseling trustees and beneficiaries, charitable planning, international estate planning and trust administration, and working with families and closely held businesses to achieve...

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.

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.

Jordan Butler is a Partner with Carlile Patchen & Murphy. Jordan helps individuals and business owners with tax advice and planning, business transactions, mergers and acquisitions, real estate transactions, trademark registrations, and other commercial and business matters. His experience includes drafting and negotiating, asset and equity purchase agreements, real estate purchases, income tax settlements, lease agreements, and various business contracts. Jordan also has experience with ...

Andrew provides sophisticated estate, gift, generation skipping, and other tax-optimized wealth transfer strategies, business succession planning, trust administration, as well as customized “family office” solutions to high-net worth individuals, families, and private businesses across the Pacific Northwest. He serves as outside general counsel to many private businesses, guiding legal strategy for significant and complex matters associated with the business and legal affairs of ...

Stephen J. Knerly, Jr. focuses his practice on matters involving art transactions, nonprofit corporate law, closely held and family-owned businesses and international commercial transactions. Josh serves as Co-Chair of the Firm’s Non-Profit Institutions section. In his art law practice, Josh has represented museums, foundations, trusts and collectors in the acquisition, disposition, lending and borrowing of and estate planning for works of art, including domestic and international trans...