Best Lawyers in America for Litigation - Trusts and Estates
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Paul joined the Firm in 1996 and became a Partner in 2003. He works with individuals, businesses, and foundations, and his practice emphasizes estate planning and administration; trust administration; income taxation of estates, trusts, and individuals; planning for charitable gifts and foundations; and business succession planning. Paul is a frequent speaker and author on a wide range of estate planning topics. In particular, he has a strong expertise in qualified retirement plans and IRAs, ...
Named by Best Lawyers in America as the “2012 Atlanta Lawyer of the Year” in the exempt organizations area and as the “2013 Atlanta Lawyer of the Year” in the trusts and estates litigation area, Ben White's practice emphasizes exempt organizations of all kinds, as well as estate and tax planning. As a partner in the largest and most comprehensive exempt organizations practice in the Southeast, Mr. White is widely known for his successful representation of exempt organi...
Allison J. Cornwell practices in the areas of estate and gift taxation as well as corporate and real estate planning and transactions. She also counsels private clients on estate and trust matters, including probate administration. Allison is a former lecturer on estate and gift taxation at the University of Little Rock Bowman School of Law. Allison was recently elected as a Fellow by the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC). This appointment demonstrates her high level of exp...
John A.C. Keith is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants, Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Trusts and Estates. John A.C., who practices law in Fairfax, Virginia, has been recognized since 2006. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John A.C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
James R. George practices in the areas of fiduciary litigation, including litigation arising from estates, trusts and guardianships. Mr. George often serves as an expert witness and as mediator in trust and estate matters. Mr. George earned his undergraduate degree from the University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto and his J.D., with Honors, from the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School. Mr. George is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Est...
Daniel Rubin is a trusts and estates lawyer whose practice focuses on domestic and international estate planning, asset protection planning, and estate administration for private clients, including but not limited to family business owners and corporate executives. In addition, Daniel represents many founders and entrepreneurs, often from the technology sector, who seek out Daniel for his practical income tax planning advice, especially in connection with the qualified small business stock (Q...
Robert N. Downer is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law, Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Trusts and Estates. Robert N., who practices law in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has been recognized since 1995. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Robert N. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
With his deep knowledge and breadth of experience in law and taxation, Mr. William R. Culp, Jr. helps clients structure their business affairs to maximize their wealth. Mr. Culp represents a wide variety of clients, from entrepreneurs and private investors to large corporate clients. Clients look to him for guidance in structuring complex business arrangements and transactions, and for solutions to the most challenging business problems. Mr. Culp's practice includes real estate and partnershi...
Phillip Martin 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, Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. Phillip, who practices law in Greenville, South Carolina, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Phillip is held by other top lawyers in the same...
Sarah Patterson has practiced law for 18 years and is a part of the Trust and Estate Planning Practice Group with the firm. Her focus is on estate, trust and tax matters for individuals, as well as entity formation and business planning. She also advises non-profit and tax-exempt organizations on formation, planning and tax issues.Sarah has represented many varied estates over the years, including probate proceedings and trust administration. She has assisted the executor or trustee in distri...
RANDY E. FISHER is an attorney with the law firm of Thomas & Fisher, P.A. in Greenville, South Carolina. He practices in the areas of taxation, estate planning, trusts and estates, probate, partnership, limited liability company and corporate law, and mergers and acquisitions. He is a certified specialist in the fields of both Taxation Law, and Estate Planning and Probate Law by The Supreme Court of South Carolina. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America in the fields of Taxation Law,...
Ms. Hunt is a Partner of Osborne, Helman, Scott, Knisely & Stanton, LLP. She focuses her practice in the area of fiduciary litigation, primarily involving trusts, estates, family limited partnerships, powers of attorney, community property and financial account disputes. Ms. Hunt currently serves as a Board Member for the Texas Real Estate & Probate Institute (“T-REP”), and is Chair of Estate and Trust Legislative Affairs for TREP, where she participates in the development...
Curtis Elliott has practiced tax law for more than 25 years. He helps entrepreneurs and family business owners address their tax, estate planning, trusts and estates and business succession planning goals. Mr. Elliott has deep experience helping business owners develop estate planning structures for their family businesses. His clients range from closely held companies to large industrial enterprises owned and actively managed by multiple family generations. His work involves the use of share...
Patrick S. Williams is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Trusts and Estates. Patrick S., who practices law in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Patrick S. 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.