Best Lawyers Near You in Bethesda, Maryland for Trusts and Estates
Melinda focuses on providing holistic multi-generational income and wealth transfer tax planning advice and estate and trust services to high net worth individuals, families, and business owners. She also advises fiduciaries and beneficiaries on probate and estate and trust administration, and serves as a technical expert working closely with the firm’s Litigation group on estate and trust litigation matters. Melinda brings a unique and diverse perspective from her work in private law p...
Paula Calimafde chairs the firm’s Retirement Plans , Employee Benefits and Government Relations practice groups and is also a senior member of the Estate Planning , Tax and Nonprofit groups. She has more than 35 years of experience advising companies and tax-exempt organizations on qualified and non-qualified retirement plans and employee benefits, including non-qualified deferred compensation, welfare benefit and cafeteria plans. She is a nationally recognized leader in the field of cr...
Frank Baldino is an estate planning attorney who co-chairs Lerch, Early & Brewer’s Estate Planning & Probate group in Bethesda, Maryland. His focus is on protecting the assets of high net worth individuals to minimize federal and state tax liability. Individuals seek Frank’s counsel to develop estate planning and tax strategies that will allow them to protect their assets for their families and future generations. He often works closely with clients’ accountants and ...
Eric Core, an attorney with Lerch, Early & Brewer, co-chairs the firm's Estate Planning & Probate group. Widely respected for his extensive knowledge of estate and tax law, Eric has been helping people with estate plans and trust and estate administration for more than 30 years. Eric works closely with personal representatives and trustees on all aspects of estate and trust administration to ensure they fulfill their fiduciary responsibilities. Eric also has an extensive background in...
Wayne Eig refers to himself as a business and tax lawyer for individuals and closely held entities, providing advice to clients involved in various business, investment, financial and succession planning activities. Sometimes, his clients are individuals or families, sometimes entities and often a combination of individuals/families and affiliated entities working together. Sometimes, these businesses have great value, sometimes they do not – but all of these clients have needs which re...
Amanda Sauer is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Amanda, who practices law in Bethesda, Maryland, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Amanda is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jennifer S. Pope is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Jennifer S., who practices law in Bethesda, Maryland, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jennifer S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Cailin Talbert is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Cailin, who practices law in Bethesda, Maryland, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Cailin is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Patrick J. Howley is a shareholder in the Firm’s Trusts & Estates Department. His practice focuses on estate planning for individuals and families, as well as representation of fiduciaries in the administration of estates and trusts. Mr. Howley counsels clients on the use of Wills, Revocable Trusts, Financial Powers of Attorney, Health Care Powers of Attorney and Living Wills to accomplish their estate planning objectives. He also advises on the use of advanced techniques designed t...
David B. Torchinsky is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. David B., who practices law in Rockville, Maryland, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
My approach in my practice is one of empathy and support. I provide my clients with peace of mind as I help them plan for the future and guide them through difficult times. Creating an estate plan can be daunting, and it is tempting to put it off. I make the process as easy and stress-free as possible, and my clients leave feeling a sense of accomplishment and relief. My team and I also guide families through the handling of the estate after the death of a loved one. We understand how difficu...
Chair of Stein Sperling’s nationally regarded tax law group, David De Jong is a recognized and highly sought industry authority with more than 40 years of experience. Raised in Montgomery County, David always intended to practice law in his “home town”. He has been instrumental in maintaining Stein Sperling’s collegial, small-firm feel while helping its tax department grow into a regional powerhouse. David has a gift for putting himself in his clients’ shoes to g...
Micah Bonaviri is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Micah, who practices law in Rockville, Maryland, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Micah is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jeffrey A. Kolender chairs the firm’s Estate Planning and Estate & Trust Administration practice groups. He concentrates primarily in those areas and also advises small businesses in tax business planning. A former chairman of the Estates and Trusts Section of the Montgomery County Bar Association, Mr. Kolender has participated as lecturer and co-author of outlines for several continuing legal education seminars regarding estate planning. His topics have included “Advising Cli...
Jay Eisenberg provides his clients with much more than sound trust and estate planning services. His 30+ years of advising clients have given him a great understanding of family dynamics, enabling him to offer a personalized, unique assessment based upon each family’s specific needs. Jay is able to anticipate potential issues and friction points among heirs and identify solutions before problems arise. Applying his vast experience to ever-changing tax and retirement laws, he collaborati...
James C. Crosland is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Litigation and Controversy - Tax, Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. James C., who practices law in Rockville, Maryland, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which James C. 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.