Best Lawyers in America for Litigation - Trusts and Estates
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State
Peter Wright is a shareholder in Dentons Sirote’s Birmingham, Alabama office, where he is a member of the Trusts, Estates and Wealth Preservation practice group. Peter's practice focuses on trust and estate litigation matters, with particular emphasis on will contests, estate and trust administration matters, joint account or joint ownership of property disputes, power of attorney litigation, and general representation of fiduciaries (including trust institutions or corporate trustees) ...
Carol Vaughn is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Elder Law, Family Law, Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Trusts and Estates. Carol, who practices law in Seattle, Washington, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Carol is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Marc M. Stern is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law, Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Trusts and Estates. Marc M., who practices law in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized since 2010. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Marc M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Brian Duffy is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Real Estate and Litigation - Trusts and Estates. Brian, who practices law in Charleston, South Carolina, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Brian is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Alison Zizzo is a Shareholder at Midgett Preti Olansen and concentrates her practice in trust and estate litigation, including fiduciary disputes, beneficiary representation, guardian and conservatorships, and elder law. Ms. Zizzo has extensive civil litigation experience and can handle a variety of general litigation matters, including business disputes, collection and defense of debts and contract disputes. In addition, Ms. Zizzo handles complex trust and estate administration matters, assi...
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...
Alan Freer is a member of the firm’s management committee, where he focuses his practice primarily on trust and estate litigation. Alan also handles all aspects of trust and estate administration, and routinely represents beneficiaries and fiduciaries in contested matters. He has substantial experience in challenging and defending the validity of estate planning documents, including wills, codicils, trusts and amendments. Alan routinely prosecutes and defends claims for breach of fiduci...
Stanberry Foster Jr. is a Seattle-based attorney who focuses on trusts and estates, including estate planning, wealth transfer, and trust and estate administration. He advises individuals and families on strategies for the control, management, and protection of assets across a wide range of estate sizes. His practice includes the preparation of wills, trusts, and community property agreements, as well as guardianships, elder law matters, and gift and tax planning. He also handles the administ...
John’s practice is almost exclusively in the context of business and commercial disputes, with a particular emphasis on litigating limited liability company, shareholder, and partnership disputes, state and federal securities claims, construction contract and lien enforcement actions, and probate and trust matters in Oregon and Washington. He has tried dozens of cases to verdict and litigated hundreds of cases through arbitration, summary determination, or other successful adjudication.
Tyler Chance Yarbro brings her extensive experience in courtroom advocacy to advise and assist clients with their litigation needs. She maintains a diverse litigation practice, in areas involving employment law, probate, personal injury, and criminal defense. Yarbro has been selected by her peers for inclusion in the 2016-2018 Editions of The Best Lawyers in America©. She is currently listed in the three fields including labor and employment litigation. She was a member of the 2012 TBA L...
Michael J. Goecke is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Real Estate and Litigation - Trusts and Estates. Michael J., who practices law in Bethesda, Maryland, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Hirschel Abbott concentrates his practice in estate planning, closely held businesses and entity selection, fiduciary litigation, charitable planning, and tax-exempt organizations. He currently serves as a co-chair of the firm’s Tax, Trusts and Estates Practice Group. As a Board-Certified Tax Law Specialist and a Certified Public Accountant, Hirschel counsels businesses and other high net worth individuals and families on matters related to property, tax, and estate planning. He also ad...
Rachael Pirner represents clients in trust and probate-related litigation. She has represented clients in probate as well as civil courts in matters involving trust accountings and malfeasance issues, will contests, contested guardianship and conservatorship matters, and contested adoptions. Rachael also assists individuals in connection with assisted reproduction, handling all aspects, from the contract work to the establishment of paternity and/or maternity. Rachael has practiced 20 years a...
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.
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.