Best Lawyers in America for Trusts and Estates
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State
Nicholas K. Niemann is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law, Litigation and Controversy - Tax, Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. Nicholas K., who practices law in Omaha, Nebraska, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Nicholas K. is held by other top lawyers in the s...
Chris utilizes his extensive tax and accounting background to assist high-net-worth individuals and closely held businesses with establishing and implementing sophisticated wealth transfer strategies, charitable planning, and business formation and restructuring. He also has extensive experience in tax controversy, the purchase, sale and operation of private aircraft, and tax planning for real estate transactions. Given the personal nature of his work, Chris takes the time to understand each ...
Attorney Janet L. Lowder has devoted her career to defining, promoting, and protecting the legal rights of the elderly and of persons with mental and physical disabilities. Janet's activities have encompassed individual representation, litigation on a local and state-wide scale, representation of agencies and county programs serving people with disabilities and the elderly, legislation, and publication in professional journals. Janet is a recognized authority on Medicaid issues and estate pla...
Michael (Mike) J. Sorrow focuses his practice on tax, estate planning, family business and trust and estate administration matters. Mike regularly advises wealthy individuals and families on all aspects of wealth and tax planning matters. In addition, Mike works extensively with families that control significant public and private businesses, counseling them and their family offices on matters relating to effective tax planning, succession and governance planning and the intra-family issues t...
John Paul Michaelson is the owner and managing partner of Michaelson Law. Since joining the firm in 2003, he has enjoyed helping thousands of clients build and protect their businesses and estates. John is an active member of WealthCounsel, ElderCounsel, and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys – all organizations that are dedicated to fostering excellence in the legal community or service. Previously, John also served as president of the Nevada WealthCounsel Forum and general co...
Shannon Crew is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Shannon, who practices law in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Shannon is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Shaun B. Adrian is a senior partner at MacDonald Illig and a member of the firm's Estates and Trusts Group. He works with individuals and families to establish estate plans tailored to the client's needs, personal goals and tax objectives during life and after death. Shaun concentrates his practice in the areas of estate planning, estate and trust administration, and elder law. Shaun's practice includes the preparation of wills, trusts, trusts for children with special needs, durable powers o...
Named by Best Lawyers in America as the “2012 Atlanta Lawyer of the Year” in the exempt organizations area and as the “2013 Atlanta Lawyer of the Year” in the trusts and estates litigation area, Ben White's practice emphasizes exempt organizations of all kinds, as well as estate and tax planning. As a partner in the largest and most comprehensive exempt organizations practice in the Southeast, Mr. White is widely known for his successful representation of exempt organi...
Amy L. Hespenheide is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Amy L., who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Amy L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jamie G. Houston, III, was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1976. He has been admitted to practice in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, the United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi, and the United States Tax Court. His experience includes practice in corporate and business law, tax and estate planning and administration. Jamie is a Certified Public Accountant (Retired).
Linda N. Engleby, a partner with Donnelly Kelly Blackwell & Galligan, LLC, is an Estate Planning and Trust and Estate Administration attorney skilled in designing sophisticated tax-sensitive documents that address the important role family and business relationships play in the lives of her clients. Ms. Engleby tailors each estate plan individually, accounting for the complex tax issues and intrafamily matters that can arise when transferring assets from one generation to the next. She co...
April D. Wise is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Elder Law and Trusts and Estates. April D., who practices law in Montgomery, Alabama, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which April D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Scott Sherman practices in the areas of estate planning, probate and trust law. EDUCATION B.A., Dartmouth College, 1973 J.D., Southern Methodist University, 1977 — Member, Phi Delta Phi Board Certified, Estate Planning and Probate Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization, since 1983 PROFESSIONAL AV Rated, Martindale-Hubbell Listed in The Best Lawyers in America®for Litigation Trusts & Estates and Trusts & Estates Admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Texas, the Un...
Katherine N. Barr is Counsel in Dentons' Birmingham, Alabama office. She is a member of the Trusts, Estates & Wealth Preservation practice group and leads the Dentons Sirote Special Needs Planning team. As a lawyer in the Trusts, Estates & Wealth Preservation practice group, Katherine advises clients in planning their estates to accomplish their goals for asset distribution to beneficiaries while minimizing their estate and income tax liabilities. Katherine handles all aspects of esta...
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.