Best Lawyers in Texas, United States for Litigation - Trusts and Estates
Mr. Jones specializes in wills, estates and trust, and is Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. His practice is concentrated in litigation and controversies arising from wills, trusts, guardianships and powers of attorney. Mr. Jones has been named a Super Lawyer, sponsored by Thomson Reuters as printed by Texas Monthly magazine from 2003-2015, and has been named in The Best Lawyers in America. He is a fellow of the American College of Trust...
M. Spencer Turner is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Litigation - Trusts and Estates. M. Spencer practices law in Dallas, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized M. Spencer Turner since 2027. 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 M. Spencer Turner is held by other lawyers.
Jessica Guobadia is a litigation attorney and mediator with Kean Miller in Houston, Texas, representing individuals and families in matters involving Elder Law, Trusts and Estates , and Litigation related to trusts and estates. Her practice focuses on guardianship, probate, and mental health commitment proceedings, where she works closely with clients to protect individual rights while helping families and caregivers navigate emotionally complex legal processes. Jessica regularly handles prob...
Julie K. Blankenship is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Trusts and Estates. Julie K. practices law in Dallas, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized Julie K. Blankenship since 2021. 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 Julie K. Blankenship is held by other lawyers.
Cindy Saiter is a litigation attorney with Scott Douglass & McConnico LLP in Austin, Texas. Her practice focuses on complex commercial litigation and litigation involving trusts and estates, including disputes related to fiduciary duties, probate matters, officer and director liability, and legal malpractice defense. Cindy represents individuals, businesses, and companies in Austin’s technology and emerging growth sectors in matters involving fraud claims, breach of licensing agreem...
Donald E. Godwin is considered one of the most respected and tenacious trial lawyers in Texas. For over 40 years Don has tried significant jury cases in courts throughout Texas and across the United States. He has the ability to translate complex matters of law and fact into easily understandable language for courts and juries. Don's practice covers a broad range of areas with an emphasis on complex litigation, including oil and gas, environmental, fiduciary duties, will contests, major famil...
Ms. Hunt is a Partner of Osborne, Helman, Scott, Knisely & Stanton, LLP. She focuses her practice in the area of fiduciary litigation, primarily involving trusts, estates, family limited partnerships, powers of attorney, community property and financial account disputes. Ms. Hunt currently serves as a Board Member for the Texas Real Estate & Probate Institute (“T-REP”), and is Chair of Estate and Trust Legislative Affairs for TREP, where she participates in the development...
Joseph Legere is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Litigation - Trusts and Estates. Joseph practices law in Dallas, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized Joseph Legere since 2024. 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 Joseph Legere is held by other lawyers.
Mr. Knisely is a partner of Osborne, Helman, Scott, Knisely & Stanton, LLP. His practice involves representing individuals and institutions in fiduciary litigation, including primarily trust, estate and guardianship disputes. Mr. Knisely also advises fiduciaries and beneficiaries with regard to complex and contentious trust and estate administrations. In addition, he handles appeals of a wide array of civil matters in both state and federal courts, with a focus on appeals involving trust,...
Frank N. Ikard, Jr. is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Trusts and Estates. Frank N. practices law in Austin, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized Frank N. Ikard, Jr. since 1983. 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 Frank N. Ikard, Jr. is held by other lawyers.
Troy Ford is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Trusts and Estates. Troy, who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Troy is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area. For over twenty years, clients have relied on Troy to help them navigate complex business disputes. ...
Ms. Watkins is a Partner of Osborne, Helman, Scott, Knisely & Stanton, LLP. She focuses her practice in the area of fiduciary litigation, primarily involving trust, estate, and guardianship disputes, representing parties on both sides of the docket. Ms. Watkins also represents fiduciaries and beneficiaries in connection with probate procedures, trust and estate administration, guardianship administration, and trust terminations and modifications. Additionally, Ms. Watkins handles appeals ...
Laurel M. Smith is a litigation attorney with Kean Miller in Houston, Texas, focusing her practice on trusts and estates matters . She represents individuals, families, and corporate fiduciaries in probate, trust, and guardianship disputes, as well as in related court proceedings and mediations. Her work includes both contested and uncontested matters, from estate and guardianship administration to complex litigation involving fiduciary obligations. Litigation involving estates and family rel...
Suzanne Perry is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Trusts and Estates. Suzanne focuses her legal practice on probate, trust, and guardianship administration and fiduciary litigation. She also provides estate planning services, including the preparation of wills, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and related documents. Suzanne, who practices law in Houston, Texas, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is...
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.
