Best Lawyers Near You in Fairfield, Connecticut for Trusts and Estates
Ellen focuses her practice on elder law and trusts and estates. She assists her clients in meeting their estate planning goals and protecting their assets for their loved ones. Ellen has significant experience in navigating the complicated long-term care system, and preparing for and filing Medicaid long-term care applications. She regularly works with clients who are able to plan for asset preservation, as well as those who must act immediately to access public benefits systems. Ellen repres...
Leslie Grodd is a seasoned tax attorney representing high-net-worth individuals in tax and estate planning, and probate matters. He also handles real estate and business transactions such as commercial and residential property closings, creating optimal corporate structures for new companies, selling, and acquiring companies, and purchasing investments. In addition to managing transactions, he counsels and helps his clients navigate potential tax and estate planning consequences. Les has had ...
Richard Diviney is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Richard specializes in providing comprehensive legal solutions for individuals and families in matters concerning asset management, estate planning, and probate administration in the Firm's Trusts & Estates group. With expertise in drafting wills, trusts, and other essential documents, Richard is committed to safeguarding clients' assets and ensuring that their estate planning goals...
Edward F. Rodenbach is based in the Greenwich office. He has served as the Partner-in-Charge of the Greenwich office, a member of the Firm's Board of Directors and it's Vice Chairman, and co-Chair of the Firm's Private Clients Group. Ed's practice has included estate planning for high net worth individuals and families; all aspects of estate settlement and administration; and trust planning, formation and administration. Today, Ed spends most of his time as an executor and trustee for numerou...
DAVID R. HERMENZE is a principal of Brody Wilkinson and a member of the firm’s Trusts & Estates Group. He practices in the areas of estate planning and trust and estate administration. Dave uses plain language to help clients understand how they can structure their affairs to achieve the transfer of wealth to family members in the most tax-effective manner, and to protect family wealth from divorce and the claims of creditors. Dave is a Martindale-Hubbell AV-rated attorney. He is ad...
HEATHER J. LANGE is a principal of Brody Wilkinson and is a member of the firm’s Trusts & Estates and Probate Litigation Groups. Heather focuses on problem-solving, whether that entails assisting high net worth individuals and family groups with their estate planning or advocating for clients in trust and fiduciary litigation. In addition, Heather has developed a niche practice in equine law where she bridges her legal capabilities and equestrian interests. Heather is admitted to pr...
JENNIFER A. BASCIANO is a principal of Brody Wilkinson and is a member of the firm’s Trusts & Estates Group. Jennifer guides clients through their estate planning options and works with them to develop individualized estate plans that are tailored to the goals of each client. In addition, Jennifer has particular expertise advising clients in the area of Estate Settlement for both Connecticut and New York estates, which provides her with a unique perspective and allows her to provide...
LISA F. METZ is a principal of Brody Wilkinson and a member of the firm’s Trusts & Estates Group. She practices in the areas of estate planning and trust and estate administration in Connecticut and New York. Lisa represents a range of clients, including high net worth individuals who are providing for multiple generations, recently divorced women, and couples with young children. For all clients, she takes the time to ensure that their questions are answered and they fully understa...
Eva V. Kliegman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Eva V., who practices law in Greenwich, Connecticut, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Eva V. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area. Eva V. Kliegman is a Principal in Cummings & Lockwood’s Private Clients Group and is based in the firm’s ...
Rachel B.G. Sherman is a Principal in Cummings & Lockwood’s Private Clients Group and is based in the Stamford office. She joined the Firm in 1999. Rachel works with high net worth individuals and families to address their estate planning needs, including the preparation of wills and trusts, tax planning, multi-generational planning, planning for retirement benefits and real estate holdings, gifting and preparation of gift tax returns. Rachel also focuses her practice on estate admi...
Howard S. Tuthill III (Terry) is a Principal with Cummings & Lockwood in its Stamford office and a member of the Firm's Private Clients Group. Terry joined Cummings & Lockwood in 1993 after practicing for 14 years with the New York law firm of Kelley, Drye and Warren and seven years with the Connecticut law firm of Cross, Brodrick & Chipman.
David Lehn is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Trusts and Estates. David practices law in Greenwich, Connecticut Best Lawyers has recognized David Lehn since 2025. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which David Lehn is held by other lawyers.
James B. Stewart practices in the areas of estate planning and trust and estate administration. While Jim is primarily engaged in various aspects of trusts and estates law, he also handles real estate transactions associated with the settlement of trusts and estates and oversees the firm’s activities with regard to the preparation of personal and fiduciary income tax returns. He also has lectured before the Connecticut Society for Certified Public Accountants on Connecticut estate settl...
ALYSSA V. SHERRIFF TRAMONTANO is a principal of Brody Wilkinson and a member of the firm’s Trusts & Estates Group. She practices in the areas of estate planning and trust and estate administration. Alyssa advises individuals and families with varying estate planning needs and goals. When working with clients, her goal is to make the process approachable and to work directly with them to ensure they understand the plan being put in place and that the documents truly reflect their wis...
Daniel P. Fitzgerald is a Principal in Cummings & Lockwood's Private Clients Group and Principal-in-Charge of the Greenwich office. His practice focuses on estate planning, estate administration, taxation, partnerships, probate litigation and defending tax audits. Dan's extensive estate administration experience allows him to develop estate plans that address issues and concerns before they become problematic. He has worked with a broad range of finance, accounting, hedge fund and private...
Ed is partner in the private client and tax team at Withers Bergman LLP. He focuses on domestic and international private client matters. Ed provides legal advice on US and international estate planning, income maximization strategies, FLP and LLC planning, wealth preservation, business succession planning, international tax planning for entities and individuals, trust structures and estate administration. Ed often uses sophisticated domestic and offshore insurance strategies to solve client ...
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.