Best Lawyers in Massachusetts, United States for Trusts and Estates
Sue Abbott, a partner in Goodwin’s Trusts & Estate Planning practice, is the chair of the firm’s Exempt Organization group, former chair of the firm's Higher Education practice, and a member of the firm's Impact and Responsible Investing practice. She focuses her practice on tax-exempt organizations, probate and trust law, and estate planning, with a particular emphasis on charitable planning. She advises tax-exempt organizations on issues related to their formation, operation...
Deborah Anderson is a partner in the Private Clients group. She represents individuals, trusts, partnerships, limited liability companies and corporations with respect to estate, income and gift tax planning matters and trust and estate administration. What do you focus on? I focus my practice on two main areas, utilizing over twenty years of experience in these specialties, to provide an integrated approach to estate and trust practices. Estate Planning I provide estate, gift and integrated ...
Brenda S. Diana is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Brenda S., 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 Brenda S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
David Scott Sloan co-chairs Holland & Knight's National Private Wealth practice. Mr. Sloan serves as general counsel to wealthy individuals, their families and their businesses. He works closely with clients throughout the United States to design and implement sophisticated strategies integral to family wealth planning. High-net-worth individuals, including principals of private equity, venture capital and hedge fund firms, private and public company executives, real estate developers, en...
Alyssa Fitzgerald is a counsel in the firm's Trusts and Estate Planning practice. She focuses her practice on advising tax-exempt organizations. She provides guidance to tax-exempt and taxable entities on a variety of issues ranging from formation, sale of assets, mergers, joint ventures and partnerships, foreign activities, political campaign activity and lobbying, charitable sales promotions and corporate sponsorship, planned giving and compliance with intermediate sanctions and self-dealin...
Sara Goldman Curley is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Sara Goldman, who practices law in Boston, Massachusetts, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Sara Goldman is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Nikki Marie Sherwood is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Nikki Marie, who practices law in Boston, Massachusetts, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Nikki Marie is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Shari A. Levitan is a partner in Holland & Knight's Boston office and chairs the firm’s New England Private Wealth Services Group. She is widely regarded as an authority on wealth and tax planning and business succession planning matters and has been interviewed by NPR, Reuters, Financial Times and the Associated Press . Ms. Levitan’s work involves counseling high-net-worth individuals, developing and implementing tax-efficient wealth transfer strategies that are consistent wi...
Lawrence Hunt counsels clients throughout the estate planning process, educating and guiding them through the various options that address their unique circumstances in order to realize their goals of transferring their wealth and values to the next generation. Larry is Chair of the firm's Trusts & Estates Practice Group. Larry regularly assists clients in communicating their wishes to their children and families, often participating in family discussions. He advises clients on using will...
Mary-Kathleen O'Connell is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Mary-Kathleen, who practices law in Boston, Massachusetts, has been recognized since 2005. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Mary-Kathleen is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Stephanie A. Bruno is a partner in the Private Clients Group. Stephanie counsels families and individuals from the US and abroad on their estate planning needs, developing both tax-efficient and practical wealth transfer strategies. Stephanie also represents fiduciaries regarding estate and trust administration matters, with a specific focus on issues relating to charitable trusts. My focus I help families develop sophisticated estate plans tailored to meet their specific planning goals. In d...
Eric P. Hayes is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Eric P., who practices law in Boston, Massachusetts, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Eric P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Thomas P. Jalkut is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Thomas P., who practices law in Boston, Massachusetts, has been recognized since 1995. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Thomas P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Bill Kirchick focuses on estates, trusts and business succession planning. He has extensive experience in the areas of estate planning and taxation, gift and generation-skipping transfer tax planning, probate and trust administration, and probate law, including advanced planning techniques, domicile audits and premarital agreements. His clients include owners of closely held businesses, corporate executives, self-employed professionals and families with inherited wealth. Bill has lectured on ...
Martin Hall is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Martin, who practices law in Boston, Massachusetts, has been recognized since 2009. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Martin 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.