Best Lawyers in New York, United States for Trusts and Estates
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Jonathan Byer concentrates his practice in estate and tax planning for individuals and families, the representation of fiduciaries and the administration of estates and trusts. He frequently designs plans for high-net-worth individuals to help them both achieve personal goals and leverage their gift, estate and generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax exemptions to preserve and protect family wealth. He also works with young individuals and families to address their current estate planning need...
Brianna Johnson-King is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Brianna, who practices law in New York, New York, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Brianna is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Based in Pittsford, New York, Brendan focuses on estate planning, estate and trust administration, and related tax and business succession matters. He develops tax-efficient wealth transfer strategies to meet his clients' individual needs and preferences. Brendan employs various tools such as spousal lifetime access trusts, life insurance planning and irrevocable life insurance trusts, charitable trusts, dynasty trusts, asset protection techniques, and vacation home planning. He works collabo...
Aline Recktenwald is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Aline, who practices law in New York, New York, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Aline is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Samantha (Lelito) Beresford is an associate at Rupp Pfalzgraf LLC. Samantha focuses her practice on estate planning and estate and trust administration. My focus is working with clients to develop custom estate plans, including drafting wills, durable powers of attorney, health care proxies, revocable trusts, and irrevocable life insurance and gifting trusts. Each plan is specifically tailored to meet the unique needs and desires of the individual or family. I also assist fiduciaries with est...
Bridget A. Williams is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Bridget A., who practices law in Buffalo, New York, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Bridget A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Debbie R. Dembinsky is a trusts and estates attorney who advises high-net-worth individuals and families on tax planning, wealth preservation and asset protection. Debbie’s legal practice is focused on structuring and implementing comprehensive strategies designed for QSBS stacking, domestic and offshore asset protection, and estate, gift and income tax minimization. Debbie is also a New York State licensed psychotherapist with a private practice in Long Island, New York. Her combined e...
Thomas Hart is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. Thomas, who practices law in New York, New York, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Thomas is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Yi W. Stewart represents clients in trusts and estates matters. Yi handles cases involving probate and trust contests, accountings, discovery proceedings, construction and reformation proceedings, and fiduciary litigation. Providing thoughtful, efficient advice and litigation tactics, she helps clients obtain resolutions through negotiation, mediation, and litigation. When managing cases for her clients, Yi conducts legal research and pretrial discovery, and drafts motion papers and appellate...
Avigail Goldglancz is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Avigail, who practices law in New York, New York, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Avigail is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Richmund is a trusts and estates lawyer advising high-net-worth individuals and families. Rich counsels clients throughout the estate planning process and also handles trust and estate administration. He advises clients to apply sophisticated tax planning techniques for productive wealth preservation using wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney, advance directives, and similar instruments. Rich also practiced as a licensed attorney and certified public accountant in the P...
Brett Rosecan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. Brett, who practices law in New York, New York, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Brett is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Kelly A. Zerillo is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Kelly A., who practices law in New York, New York, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kelly A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Lauren C. Enea, Esq. is a partner at Enea, Scanlan & Sirgnano, LLP. She concentrates her practice on Wills, Trusts and Estates, Medicaid Planning, Special Needs Planning and Probate/Estate Administration. She believes that it is never too early or too late to start planning for your future and enjoys working with individuals to ensure that their plan best suits their needs. In addition to her client successes, Ms. Enea plays a key role in the firm’s growth. She recently led Enea, Sc...
Talia G. Metson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Nonprofit / Charities Law and Trusts and Estates. Talia G., who practices law in New York, New York, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Talia G. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
John S. Kiely is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. John S., who practices law in New York, New York, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John S. 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.