Best Lawyers in America for Litigation - Trusts and Estates

Aaron Evans is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Trusts and Estates. Aaron practices law in Denver, Colorado Best Lawyers has recognized Aaron Evans since 2024. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Aaron Evans is held by other lawyers.

Joel Boxer, one of the founders of the Bird Marella, has 40 years of experience as a lawyer representing parties in complex civil trials in the state and federal courts, and in arbitrations. Mr. Boxer has particular experience and expertise in handling suits involving accounting or other complex issues requiring the presentation of expert opinion testimony. These cases often involve real estate, entertainment industry, contract, probate or trust issues or the representation of lawyers and law...

John Barnosky is a trusts and estates lawyer advising families, individuals, banks, foundations, and other institutions. Jack handles the full range of estate planning, probate and administration, as well as taxation matters. John also represents clients in litigated trusts and estates matters, including will contests, disputes over the validity of trusts, contested accounting proceedings, and tax disputes before the Surrogate’s Courts and other courts throughout New York. A longtime le...

Philip V. Howard is a partner in the Fort Myers office. He focuses his practice in the areas of Trust and Estate Litigation, Guardianship Litigation, Fiduciary Litigation, and Estate Planning. Philip has significant trial experience in the areas of inheritance disputes, fiduciary disputes, contested wills and trusts, guardianship disputes, elder exploitation injunctions and elder exploitation lawsuits and other contested probate matters. Although Philip focuses his practices on the 20th Judic...

Keith Lapuyade has more than 30 years of litigation experience. His knowledge of insurance law and bad faith, coupled with his extensive understanding of medical issues, is of particular value in medical malpractice litigation and often brings this special skill-set to bear in the personal representation of physicians, attorneys, and other professionals for purposes of establishing their rights with respect to their insurance coverage and financial well-being. Keith Lapuyade, of the law firm ...

Scott Ludwig advises a broad range of clients on corporate and tax issues in corporate acquisitions and sales, including the negotiation, drafting and reviewing of acquisition and sale documents. He is experienced in advising companies in high technology, life sciences, biotechnology and traditional products and services, including start-up and established companies. Scott utilizes a team approach by working closely with each client's advisors. This team approach has, over the years, proven t...

B. Steven Messick is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Family Law and Litigation - Trusts and Estates. B. Steven practices law in Woodbury, Minnesota Best Lawyers has recognized B. Steven Messick since 2022. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which B. Steven Messick is held by other lawyers.

Audrey Patrone specializes in litigation and trust and estate matters, offering guidance and counsel to individuals and families in Pittsford, New York and the surrounding areas. She assists with asset transitions during life and after death, handling transfers and sales of family-owned businesses, and managing trust and estate administration. Her practice includes creating essential documents such as wills, revocable trusts, irrevocable trusts, and pre-nuptial agreements. Audrey is committed...

Brian has specialized in fiduciary litigation for over 20 years, representing individuals and corporate fiduciaries involved in disputes concerning estates, trusts, wills, guardianships, conservatorships, and partnerships. Brian practices in Probate, State, and Federal Courts throughout the state of Georgia and has served as lead counsel in over 25 successful jury trials and hundreds of hearings. Brian’s representation includes personally advising clients through all phases of litigatio...

Matt is an effective, strategic, and solution-oriented attorney who has been an integral part of the Elam & Burke team for nearly two decades. He joined the firm in 2003, and in 2009 he became a shareholder and has served on the firm’s Executive Committee for 15 years. Matt is currently serving, for a second time, as the firm’s Managing Director. Born and raised in Montana, Matt learned the value of hard work at a young age where he spent much of his childhood working on a far...

David C. Greer is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Litigation - Intellectual Property, Litigation - Patent, Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. David C. practices law in Dayton, Ohio Best Lawyers has recognized David C. Greer since 1983. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and ...

Lee H. Ayres is principally a trial lawyer. He has extensive experience in civil litigation, including business and commercial disputes, oil and gas litigation, property disputes, natural resources litigation, products liability claims, professional malpractice defense, trucking defense, personal injury claims, fraud claims, insurance coverage, and insurance bad faith defense. Lee received his undergraduate and law degrees at Louisiana State University Law Center, where he was a member of the...

JULIA B. MEISTER is a partner in Taft's Litigation, Health & Life Sciences, and Private Client practice groups and heads the firm's Cincinnati Estates, Trusts and Fiduciary Litigation practice. She counsels clients and represents them in business, commercial, estate, guardianship, trust, and fiduciary matters and professional ethics and discipline matters before courts, administrative tribunals, and arbitrators. Julia advises clients on a variety of health care issues, including privacy, ...

Joseph Legere is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Litigation - Trusts and Estates. Joseph practices law in Dallas, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized Joseph Legere since 2024. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Joseph Legere is held by other lawyers.

Michael P. Kaelin is a Principal in Cummings & Lockwood's Litigation Group, and Family Office and Closely Held Business Group. Mike represents individuals, fiduciaries and businesses in commercial, employment, employee benefits, probate, trusts and estates, conservatorship, guardianship, and investment disputes, including wrongful discharge and discrimination claims, will contests, fiduciary removal proceedings, contested accountings, fee disputes, construction proceedings, undue influenc...

Brian Steadman is a member of the firm’s management committee and focuses his practice in the areas of tax planning, estate planning, business planning and asset protection. Brian has extensive experience in assisting clients with all areas of tax, estate and charitable planning, including: Wills, Revocable Living Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Special Needs Trusts, Trust Decanting, Gift Trusts for Children and Grandchildren, Generation-Skipping Trusts, Special Needs Trusts, Qualified Pers...