Best Lawyers in America for Litigation - Trusts and Estates
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State
Pierce Atwood Trusts and Estates partner Deborah DiNardo advises individuals and multiple generations of families on preserving and protecting their assets. Deborah's work includes reducing transfer taxes, both during lifetime and after death, with sophisticated planning techniques such as lifetime gifts to grantor trusts and using charitable trusts and private foundations. She advises clients regarding planning opportunities to protect significant retirement accounts from the creditors of de...
Bryan C. Thompson is a highly skilled attorney with extensive experience in elder law, estate planning, guardianship, corporate law, and health care law. A native of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Bryan joined Robinson & Lawing, LLP in 2023 after more than two decades of distinguished legal practice. His broad expertise spans estate administration, trust management, and representation of clients in state and federal courts, as well as before regulatory bodies. Bryan earned his J.D., cum l...
Paul J. Spadafora is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Trusts and Estates. Paul J., who practices law in Seattle, Washington, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Paul J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Bob Kirkland is a founding partner of Kirkland Hochstetler PLLC and practices in Kansas City, Missouri. He is licensed to practice law in Missouri, Kansas and Florida. Mr. Kirkland represents individuals, families, and fiduciaries in a wide range of trusts and estates matters, including estate planning, trust formation, and estate and trust administration. His work includes the preparation of wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, durable powers of attorney, charitable trusts, and trusts fo...
Robert Selsor is committed to representing, counseling, and protecting his clients in a variety of estate and trust disputes, including trustee claims, will and trust contests, estate asset recovery, contested guardianships, and a variety of other fiduciary claims at the trial and appellate levels. Bob also regularly advises and guides trustees and beneficiaries regarding ongoing trust administration to help them to avoid liability issues before disputes have fully materialized. He is also an...
Timothy C. Sullivan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Banking and Finance and Litigation - Trusts and Estates. Timothy C., who practices law in Cincinnati, Ohio, has been recognized since 2006. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Timothy C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Phillip B. Visnansky is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Elder Law and Litigation - Trusts and Estates. Phillip B., who practices law in Phoenix, Arizona, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Phillip B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
With over forty years of experience in litigation, John’s primary focus is on helping individuals and families who need his experience to navigate estate, trust or guardianship issues. He also works with businesses in evaluating contracts and handling commercial disputes. John’s experience representing individuals and families includes helping them navigate the difficult issues relating to the death of a family member, disputes arising out of an estate plan or will contest, and is...
Stephanie M. Rippee is admitted to the Mississippi and Tennessee Bars. For more than 20 years she has sought to creatively and efficiently resolve legal matters for clients. Her practice focuses on commercial litigation and product liability litigation. She is a recognized public speaker and author and has been selected by Mid-South Super Lawyers as one of the Top 50 Lawyers in Mississippi.
Kimberley Ann Murphy is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Trusts and Estates. Kimberley Ann, who practices law in Fairfax, Virginia, has been recognized since 2014. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kimberley Ann is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Nora Jones is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Elder Law, Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Trusts and Estates. Nora, who practices law in Phoenix, Arizona, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Nora is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Scott R. Manuel brings over 30 years of experience practicing in the areas of fiduciary litigation, estate planning, probate, trust and guardianship law to Kembell Woods & Martinsen LLP. Prior to joining KWM, Scott served as the Probate Commissioner for the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri starting in November 2014 following his initial appointment as the court’s Deputy Probate Commissioner in January 2014. Prior to his appointment to the bench, Scott was a shareholder with...
Calvin J. Karlin is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Banking and Finance, Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Trusts and Estates. Calvin J., who practices law in Lawrence, Kansas, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Calvin J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
T.J. Ryan's practice encompasses virtually all aspects of family estates, from estate and business planning, to probate and trust administration, to litigating contested estates – an area in which he has achieved a strong track record for positive results. His commitment to excellence in estate controversy and estate planning matters has earned his election as a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC). T.J. focuses his practice on personal and business plannin...
Nathan R. Olansen is the Managing Shareholder in the law firm of Midgett Preti Olansen. His practice is focused on estate planning, probate and trust administration, IRS and state and local tax audit and tax collection cases, as well as individual and entity tax planning, asset protection and a variety of related transactional matters such as business succession planning, business entity start-ups and tax planning for divorce. Nathan has extensive experience in drafting and implementing all t...
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.