Best Lawyers in Ohio, United States for Litigation - Trusts and Estates

Stephen H. Gariepy is a partner and National Co-Chair of Hahn Loeser’s Estate Planning, Wealth Transfer & Preservation Section. Steve focuses his practice on leading-edge estate planning techniques. His ability to design creative and comprehensive plans – and make them practical and understandable – has attracted clients nationwide from the ranks of Forbes 400, business owners, families and nonprofit organizations. Steve regularly counsels owners of privately held compan...

Erica K. Williams brings more than 25 years of comprehensive and sophisticated estate planning services to high net-worth individuals and families. She earned the designation as an Accredited Estate Planner® (AEP®) by the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils, awarded to estate planning professionals who meet stringent requirements of experience, knowledge, education professional reputation, and character. Erica is experienced in all aspects of tax planning, including...

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...

James E. Arnold is recognized as one of Ohio's top trial lawyers. He was recognized by Best Lawyers as Central Ohio's "Securities Litigation Lawyer of the Year" in 2012, as the "Bet-The-Company Litigation Lawyer of the Year" in 2013, 2016, 2021, 2024 and 2026, and as the "Intellectual Property Litigation Lawyer of the Year" in 2014. Since 2001 he has consistently been recognized by Best Lawyers in multiple fields, including bet-the-company, personal injury (plaintiffs and defense), commercial...

Chuck Adler joined the Firm in 1993 and became a Partner in 1995. He has a special interest in planning for individuals, families, and closely held businesses. Chuck counsels individuals and families on complex estate, charitable, financial, and retirement planning matters; on estate, gift, and generation-skipping taxes; and on the organization and operation of private foundations. He also works with owners of closely held and family businesses on succession planning. Before joining the Firm,...

David P. Williamson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Construction, Litigation - Municipal, Litigation - Real Estate and Litigation - Trusts and Estates. David P., who practices law in Dayton, Ohio, has been recognized since 2003. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and ...

Aaron Kaplan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Nonprofit / Charities Law and Trusts and Estates. Aaron, who practices law in Cincinnati, Ohio, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Aaron is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Adam Fried is an attorney with Fried Law Group LLC in Beachwood, Ohio whose practice focuses on disputes involving estates , trusts , and fiduciary responsibilities. His work centers on helping individuals and families address complex probate and estate conflicts while protecting their legal rights and financial interests. Adam’s practice includes Elder Law, Litigation – Trusts and Estates, and Trusts and Estates matters throughout Ohio. Adam has served as trial counsel in numerou...

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...

James F. Contini is a director of Krugliak, Wilkins, Griffiths & Dougherty Co., L.P.A., and currently serves as a member of the firm’s management committee. His focus is primarily in estate planning, business succession planning, probate, estate and trust administration, elder law, business law, and real estate law.

Jim Brun focuses his practice on estate planning as well as probate and trust administration. Prior to joining Keating Muething & Klekamp, he was a partner with a large Cincinnati law firm where he practiced for more than 21 years, concentrating his practice in the estate planning and personal tax areas. Jim served as a law clerk to the Honorable George H. Palmer, Judge of the Court of Appeals for the First Appellate District of Ohio from 1976-1978.

Taylor Carlucci (née Smoske) is an associate in Hahn Loeser’s Trusts and Estates Practice Area, where she focuses her practice on probate and fiduciary litigation, estate and trust administration, and estate planning. Taylor is licensed in both Ohio and New York. Probate and Fiduciary Litigation Taylor specializes in handling adversarial probate matters, including contested trust and estate administrations, will and trust contests based on claims undue influence, lack of capacity...

Dan Baron is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Elder Law, Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Trusts and Estates. Dan, who practices law in Independence, Ohio, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Dan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kurt Friedmann is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law, Elder Law, Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Trusts and Estates. Kurt, who practices law in Cincinnati, Ohio, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kurt is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.