Best Lawyers in Ohio, United States for Trusts and Estates

Dave Swift is an of-counsel at Carlile Patchen & Murphy LLP and a Family Wealth & Estate Planning Group member. He practices estate planning, estate and trust administration and also engages in the representation of tax-exempt organizations. Dave represents individuals, business owners and families concerning estate planning, tax planning and business succession planning.

Peter Slater brings more than 30 years of experience helping individuals, families, and business owners navigate the complexities of estate planning, wealth transfer, and business succession and related income tax matters. He works closely with clients to develop practical, tailored strategies that reflect their values, protect their assets, and support their long-term objectives. Peter's practice encompasses estate, gift, and tax planning, charitable giving strategies, asset protection plann...

Pursuant to a merger with the firm in which he was a principal since 1985, Alan has been a Partner at Carlile Patchen & Murphy LLP since 2015. He primarily works with closely held and family businesses of all types and the individuals and families who own those businesses. Alan’s practice areas cover a broad range of business and personal matters, including – tax-exempt nonprofits; real estate; estate planning and estate & trust administration; planning, structuring, and f...

Justin L. Stark is Chair of the Trusts & Estates Practice Group at Schneider Bell. Justin provides estate planning solutions to high-net-worth individuals and families. This includes preparing full estate plans, from Wills to Revocable and Irrevocable Trusts, as well as handling probate and tax matters. Prior to joining the Firm, he worked at one of America’s largest financial institutions, where he spearheaded a team of experts in investment management, financial and estate plannin...

Jamie McHenry is a Partner in the Trusts & Estates Practice Group, focusing in the areas of probate, estate planning, and tax matters. Her particular experience focuses on assisting clients with charitable planning and trust and probate administration matters. Jamie also contributes to the Trusts & Estates group by providing assistance to clients on legal matters involving estate planning and administration, estate and gift tax planning, nonprofit law, and trust administration. She ha...

Mr. Mire’s practice is concentrated in the areas of corporate and business law, real estate law, and probate. He has extensive experience counseling clients in connection with mergers and acquisitions of numerous businesses. Terry has also represented sellers and purchasers in commercial real estate transactions. He frequently appears in Ohio probate courts on estate matters. Terry has served as local counsel in business and real estate transactions.

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...

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...

Rick is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. He is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law and a Certified Elder Law Attorney. For both 2009 and 2010, Rick has been included in the “Top 100 Lawyers” for the state of Ohio by “Ohio Super Lawyers” and (a joint publication of Law & Politics, Cincinnati Magazine, and NorthernOhioLive. ) Rick is a member of the Estate Planning, Probate, and Trust Law Council of the Ohio State Bar Association and...

As an elected Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), Kyle has years of experience counseling multi-generational families, business owners, fiduciaries, entities, family offices and beneficiaries regarding: Administration of estates and trusts (including tax compliance, selection of investment counsel, discretionary distributions and fiduciary accountings) Asset protection and titling Beneficiary representation Business succession Charitable giving (including priva...

Geoffrey Kunkler joined Carlile Patchen & Murphy LLP in 2014 and has been a Partner since 2018. His practice is centered around estate planning for individuals and business owners, as well as asset protection planning for retirees. He focuses primarily on the areas of estate planning, elder protection, estate administration, charitable and philanthropic planning and special needs planning. He also has extensive experience in conducting educational seminars on legal topics related to his e...

Joe Gibbons joined the Firm in May 2005 and became a Partner in January 2006. Prior to joining the Firm, Joe spent the majority of his career with McGinty, Gibbons, Hilow & Spellacy Co., LPA, and Carney & Broadbent, both located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. Over the years, Joe has represented a variety of individuals, businesses, institutions, and governmental entities. His primary practice areas include estate planning, estate and trust administration and related litigation, real est...

Aaron Kaplan is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Litigation - Trusts and Estates, Nonprofit / Charities Law and Trusts and Estates. Aaron practices law in Cincinnati, Ohio Best Lawyers has recognized Aaron Kaplan since 2025. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Aaron Kaplan is held by other lawyers.

Service to clients and to his life-long community are Mr. Jacobs' focus and passion. Frank D. Jacobs concentrates his practice in the areas of estate planning, general tax planning, charitable planned giving, business structuring, business succession planning and planning for qualified retirement plan beneficiary designation payouts. Mr. Jacobs is admitted to the bar of Ohio and to practice in the federal courts, including the United States Supreme Court. Additionally, he holds a Certified Pu...

Sarah Worley is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Trusts and Estates. Sarah practices law in Troy, Ohio Best Lawyers has recognized Sarah Worley since 2025. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Sarah Worley is held by other lawyers.

Joan M. Gross is Senior Counsel to the firm’s Estate Planning, Wealth Transfer and Preservation Section, working out of the Cleveland office. For over 40 years, Joan has assisted clients in transferring their wealth, in a tax efficient manner, to the individuals and charities they wish to benefit. Joan is an OSBA Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law. She is also listed in the 2005-20 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and the 2008-20 editions of...