Best Lawyers Near You in Westport, 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...
Richard has forty years' experience advising clients in tax matters, estate planning and administration, and business law. His clients include closely held corporations, partnerships, funds, tax-exempt organizations and high net worth individuals. Prior to entering the practice of law, Richard practiced as a Certified Public Accountant. His extensive knowledge of tax law enables him to counsel clients with respect to complex estate planning issues as well as the formation, operation, and sale...
Luke T. Tashjian is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law, Litigation and Controversy - Tax, Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. Luke Tashjian is an estate planning , tax , and corporate attorney. He advises his clients on estate planning, tax structuring, and transactional matters. He also represents individuals and businesses ranging from local brick and mortar businesses to multinational corporations in tax controversy matters at the state and feder...
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...
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 ...
Rachael E. Spina is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. Rachael E., who practices law in Westport, Connecticut, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Rachael E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
George L. Smith is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. George L., who practices law in Greenwich, Connecticut, has been recognized since 2006. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which George L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area. George practices in all areas of estate and trust planning and administration, including advising individuals on th...
Tatiana F. DaSilva is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Elder Law and Trusts and Estates. Tatiana F., who practices law in Bridgeport, Connecticut, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Tatiana F. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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...
David Lehn is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. David, who practices law in Greenwich, Connecticut, has been recognized since 2025. 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.
Ann L. Fowler-Cruz is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Elder Law and Trusts and Estates. Ann L., who practices law in Danbury, Connecticut, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ann L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Douglas H. Olin is a Principal in Cummings & Lockwood's Private Clients Group and is based in the Greenwich office. Doug joined Cummings & Lockwood in 1999 and became a Principal in 2001. His practice focuses on estate planning, family business succession planning, and estate and trust administration. Doug speaks frequently on estate and tax planning topics before both lawyer and non-lawyer audiences.
Jessie A. Gilbert is a Principal in Cummings & Lockwood's Private Clients Group and is based in the Greenwich office. Jessie advises high net worth individuals on estate and tax issues, helping them with succession, generation-skipping and asset protection planning. She also represents executors and trustees with respect to probate, estate and trust administration matters, as well as with estate and fiduciary income taxes. Jessie is a frequent writer and lecturer on estate planning and ad...
PETER T. MOTT is a principal of Brody Wilkinson and a member of the firm’s Trusts & Estates Group. Peter practices in the areas of estate planning and trust and estate administration. He assists individuals with tax and charitable gift planning, business owners with succession planning, and families planning for aging or incapacitated family members. Peter leverages his decades of experience to implement sophisticated yet practical estate plans for his clients. The depth of his know...
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...
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.