Best Lawyers in Michigan, United States for Trusts and Estates
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Katie has a broad practice that allows her to serve many different individuals and families. She creates estate plans of all types – from those with estate tax issues and succession planning for business owners to young families planning to protect their young children. Katie helps families determine what steps to take after the loss or incapacity of a loved one and works through any probate, guardianship and conservatorship, or trust administration that may be required. She has signifi...
Neil P. Jansen received his bachelor's degrees in Political Science and International Studies from Michigan State University in 1984 and his law degree from Wayne State University in 1988, where he was a member of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court team and Chancellor of the Moot Court Program. Neil practices in the areas of civil and real estate litigation, probate litigation, estate planning and eminent domain. He is a member of the Grand Rapids and American Bar Associations,...
Fred is a member of the Estate Planning Practice Group. He has been assisting his clients with their estate planning needs since he first began his practice, and he has during that time handled a wide variety of estate settlements and estate settlement issues. His particular focus is on counseling clients on techniques to minimize estate and gift taxes, and drafting the documents to accomplish that objective. Fred is also a trusted personal advisor to many of the families he has worked with o...
Ms. Lentz concentrates her practice in representing high net worth individuals in estate planning, probate, and trusts. She regularly advises nonprofit and tax exempt organizations regarding obtaining and maintaining exempt status, corporate governance, and general operational issues. Ms. Lentz has been named 2016 "Lawyer of the Year" for Trusts and Estates by The Best Lawyers in America. She is listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2008-2017 under Trusts and Estates and in Michigan Super Law...
Pam helps individuals, families, and business owners preserve their legacy through proper estate planning and by working with them to resolve family strife during times of disability or death. This includes listening and understanding the client’s concerns so that she can recommend and prepare proper estate plans, establishing guardianships and conservatorships where appropriate, working through various potential tax issues, attending hearings and other matters at the probate court when...
Raj A. Malviya has been practicing law since 2005. His practice is focused on estate and tax planning and asset protection for individuals and organizations, planning and tax compliance for individuals and families with foreign ties, and all aspects of estate and trust administration. Estate and Wealth Transfer Planning Mr. Malviya works with private clients such as business owners and licensed professionals in high risk professions including physicians, dentists, chiropractors, architects, a...
Bill Acker is a shareholder, director and corporate vice president. He maintains an “AV” peer review rating with Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, the highest peer review rating for attorneys. He was also selected for inclusion in the 2010-2019 issues of Michigan Super Lawyers magazine featuring the top 5% of attorneys in Michigan in the practice area of Estate Planning & Probate. He has also been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2020 in...
Tom has over 30 years of experience in helping clients efficiently and effectively define their estate planning goals and to arrange their affairs accordingly. His expertise includes facilitating the direction of a client-centered and directed strategy and then drafting clear and understandable legal documents to implement it, thereby protecting client wealth, closely-held businesses, and families from taxes, post-mortem chaos and expense, and unnecessary complexity. He has expertise and expe...
Joel S. Golden is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Joel S., who practices law in Southfield, Michigan, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Joel S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
David Malson has more than 30 years of experience in estate planning for high net worth clients; business succession planning for owners of privately owned companies; and the representation of dentists, orthodontists and other doctors regarding practice purchases and sales, general business advice and dispute resolution. David also serves as outside general counsel for privately and publicly held companies. David works on estate plans ranging in size from moderate to extensive. Typical projec...
Jeff’s practice focuses on business law, real estate, and estate planning. He works with many small- and medium-sized companies and handles all of their legal issues, including business transactions, financing, contracts, licensing matters, and real estate transactions. Jeff has special expertise in commercial real estate development and financing and in the ownership, management and transfer of family cottages, farms and vacation properties. He also represents clients in the agricultur...
Shirley A. Kaigler is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Shirley A., who practices law in Southfield, Michigan, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Shirley A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Robert Labe ’s trusts and estates and business law practice is among the most highly regarded in the state. He possesses extensive experience in estate planning, estate and trust administration, contested estate and trust matters, business law, business succession planning and tax planning. Robert is a frequent lecturer and prolific author. He speaks at seminars before legal and professional groups, including as a lecturer at the Institute of Continuing Legal Education at the University...
Kara Ferrara is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Kara, who practices law in Troy, Michigan, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kara is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
William C. Lentine is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. William C., who practices law in Southfield, Michigan, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which William 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.