Best Lawyers in America for Litigation - Trusts and Estates
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EDUCATION University of Florida (L.L.M., Taxation, 1979) Creighton University (J.D., Cum Laude, 1978) Creighton University (B.S., Cum Laude, 1975) PRACTICE EMPHASIS Estate Planning & Probate Tax Law Corporate & Business Law Real Estate HONORS & AWARDS University of Florida Richard B. Stephens Award for Outstanding Student (1979) Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel Great Plains Super Lawyers The Best Lawyers in America
J. Michael Young is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Trusts and Estates. Michael, who practices law in Sherman, Texas, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which he is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area. Prior to moving to North Texas in 2006, Mike represented the interests of large corporations and insurance companies, ...
Michael Calcagni is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Trusts and Estates. Michael, who practices law in Garden City, New York, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Bernard A. Jackvony is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Trusts and Estates. Bernard A., who practices law in Johnston, Rhode Island, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Bernard A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Julian Modesti is Co-Leader of the Business Litigation practice group at Harris Beach Murtha, based in Syracuse, New York. With over 30 years of experience, Julian has a substantial background in both state and federal court matters related to commercial litigation. These include handling disputes among shareholders, partners, and members, addressing business separations, lease and land-use issues, contract disputes, and safeguarding trade secrets as well as dealing with unfair competition an...
Sumeeta Krishnaney is a member of the Trusts and Estates Section at von Briesen & Roper, s.c. She concentrates her practice on estate planning, including special needs planning and guardianships, charitable estate planning and business succession planning. She focuses on the preparation of trusts, including first and third party special needs trusts, wills, marital agreements, financial powers of attorney, and healthcare powers of attorney. She represents clients in all matters relating t...
David Pratt is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. David, who practices law in Boca Raton, Florida, has been recognized since 2005. 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.
Robert C. Barton is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Trusts and Estates. Robert C., who practices law in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Robert C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jason L. Odom is an attorney with Gould Cooksey Fennell PA in Vero Beach, Florida. His practice includes Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs and Litigation – Trusts and Estates. He serves individuals and families throughout the Vero Beach area and surrounding communities, handling a wide range of litigation-related matters. Jason has been recognized by Best Lawyers since 2024 for his work in Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs and Litigation – Trusts and Estate...
John N. Bisanz, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Employment Law - Management, Litigation - Banking and Finance, Litigation - Labor and Employment and Litigation - Trusts and Estates. John N., who practices law in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John N. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and...
Ashton Bizzarri is a Partner in the Firm’s Trusts & Estates Practice Group. She focuses her practice in the areas of estate planning and trust and estate administration, while also representing clients in trust and estate litigation. Prior to joining the Firm, Ashton was an Associate Attorney at two Akron law firms, focusing exclusively on estate planning and trust and estate administration. She was also a Trust Officer at Key Private Bank, where she handled trust administrations, w...
Griff Leschefske’s practice centers on estate planning, charitable giving, and probate, trust, and fiduciary litigation, in which he represents individuals, families, fiduciaries, and institutional clients in all aspects of trust and estate planning, administration, and controversy. Griff also represents charitable organizations, educational institutions, and corporate clients with respect to planned giving and philanthropy matters. In his estate planning practice, Griff provides counse...
About LeClairRyan \ Attorneys Charles M. Sims Riverfront Plaza, East Tower 951 East Byrd Street, Eighth Floor Richmond, Virginia 23219 Phone: 804.343.5091 Fax: 804.783.7655 charles.sims@leclairryan.com vCard Biography Charles M. Sims is a partner with and heads up LeClairRyan’s Business Litigation Practice. Mr. Sims regularly litigates in federal and state court all manner and types of complex commercial disputes, including claims for officers’ and directors’ liability and p...
Mr. Jones specializes in wills, estates and trust, and is Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. His practice is concentrated in litigation and controversies arising from wills, trusts, guardianships and powers of attorney. Mr. Jones has been named a Super Lawyer, sponsored by Thomson Reuters as printed by Texas Monthly magazine from 2003-2015, and has been named in The Best Lawyers in America. He is a fellow of the American College of Trust...
Stephen Brown focuses his practice on business formation and structuring, wealth transfer planning, and litigation involving fiduciaries, trusts, estates and guardianships. He is a Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law. Stephen regularly advises individuals on a range of estate planning strategies, including the use of simple and complex trust arrangements to achieve their personal and charitable objectives in a tax advantaged manner. He also has extensive experience a...
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.