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Best Lawyers in America for Litigation - Trusts and Estates
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Brian P. Corrigan is an accomplished litigation attorney who, for well over 20 years, has achieved numerous victories for his clients in complex trust and estate disputes. Through his seasoned judgment, aggressive advocacy and sound strategies, Brian secures successful court decisions and jury verdicts for his clients. Brian is equally adept at obtaining advantageous results for his clients through negotiated settlements or effective motion practice. Brian’s years of experience in the c...
Hillary P. Gagnon is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Trusts and Estates. Hillary’s practice is devoted exclusively to probate, trust, estate, guardianship, and conservatorship matters, as well as estate planning and the mediation of probate and trust disputes. Hillary has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Hillary is held by...
Eric W. Penzer is a trust and estate litigator representing high-net-worth individuals and families. Eric is a trusted advisor for clients involved in complex challenges related to generational wealth and asset transfer. As an experienced trial lawyer, Eric provides strategic representation in contested probate proceedings, fiduciary accounting disputes, discovery and turnover proceedings, and other trust and estate matters. He is known for being responsive, fair, and committed to achieving f...
Matthew Gershman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Real Estate and Litigation - Trusts and Estates. Matthew, who practices law in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Matthew is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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...
Bart spent the first part of his career as an insurance advisor and securities analyst. He later became a lawyer and developed his skills as a litigator and trust attorney. This wide range of experience enables him to give his clients a comprehensive view of financial planning not often found in estate planning attorneys. Bart Leonardi is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law by the Ohio State Bar Association. His practice is concentrated in the areas of estate plan...
Richard J. Guggenhime is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Trusts and Estates. Richard J., who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Richard J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Arthur E. Gibbs III is a partner in the Trusts and Estate Planning Group and is licensed to practice law in Ohio and Florida. Art is an Ohio State Bar Association Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law and focuses on providing creative estate, tax and business planning advise to business owners and other wealthy individuals, as well as representing individuals, financial institutions, and non-profits in estate disputes. Art is a past Chair of the firm’s Cle...
Michael V. Ciresi is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Copyright Law, Litigation - Intellectual Property, Litigation - Patent, Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs, Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs, Patent Law, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. Michael V., who practices law in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has be...
DOUGLAS R. BROWN is a principal of Brody Wilkinson and a member of the firm’s Trusts & Estates and Dispute Resolution Groups. Mr. Brown practices in the areas of estate planning, estate settlement, and probate, trust and fiduciary litigation. He represents individual clients in all aspects of estate planning and estate settlement to maximize the transfer of wealth, minimize the effect of estate and gift taxes, plan for incapacity, and plan effectively for disabled family members thr...
George J. Nassar, Jr., concentrates his practice in the areas of estate planning, probate, tax planning and business transactions. He currently serves as Chair of the firm's Business, Tax and Estate Planning Practice Group. Mr. Nassar has over 30 years of experience in the practice of law. His areas of expertise include estate planning and formulation of sophisticated tax planning and wealth transfer techniques for clients with significant domestic and international holdings. He counsels clie...
Steven E. Gurdin is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law and Litigation - Trusts and Estates. Steven E., who practices law in Boston, Massachusetts, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Steven E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Kimberly Civins has worked with wealthy individuals, families, executors and trustees for over 20 years and utilizes that expertise to assist clients with accomplishing their goals for wealth structuring and transfers. Kim concentrates her practice in: Estate planning Estate administration Trusts Tax exempt entities (including public charities and private foundations) Transfer tax (estate, gift and generation skipping transfer taxes and IRS audits) Business succession planning Federal and sta...
Counselor. Teacher. Lawyer. Dale Stone wears many hats when he assists clients in developing and implementing plans for the effective and efficient disposition of their assets. Dale has over thirty-four years of experience guiding clients through the personal and practical aspects of estate planning and estate administration as well as the legal, economic and tax issues involved. For owners of family businesses, Dale coordinates planning for the preservation and continuation of the business i...
Deborah S. Mallgrave is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Deborah S., who practices law in Irvine, California, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Deborah S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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...
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.