Best Lawyers in America for Trusts and Estates
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Laura Nichols is a Shareholder in Buchalter’s San Diego office, and a member of the Tax, Benefits and Estate Planning practice group. Ms. Nichols is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization and is also certified as an Accredited Estate Planner® by the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils. Only approximately five percent of California’s attorneys are certified as specialists...
Tom’s practice includes design and implementation of sophisticated estate plans, active administration of trust accounts, settlement of decedent’s estates, estate taxation, and charitable gift planning. He advises many of Varnum's family business owners and is a member of our Family Business Team. Tom currently serves as the Firm's Executive Partner, one of our two Managing Partners. Previously, he served five years as the chair of the Firm's Estate Planning, Tax, and Employee Ben...
Anne Marie Robbins is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Anne Marie, who practices law in New Providence, New Jersey, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Anne Marie is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Andrew J. Art is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Andrew J., who practices law in Columbus, Ohio, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Andrew J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jim Bright has been practicing law since 1976. He applies his considerable expertise to advising individuals and families on estate planning, tax planning (including income and estate, gift, and generation-skipping taxes), and charitable gift planning. He also provides counsel to trustees of private foundations on administration, initial formation, and tax qualification. Prior to the formation of SSSB, he served as President of Spieth, Bell, McCurdy & Newell Co., L.P.A. Jim is a Fellow of...
Brad advises on family and closely held business issues that range from the routine to the complex, including creation, financing, acquisitions, buy/sell arrangements, negotiation of contracts and joint ventures, sale of assets and stock and succession planning. In addition, he helps clients plan the distribution of their assets in a variety of areas beyond the typical trusts and wills, counseling on the advantages of sophisticated tax and charitable planning, leveraged gifting and foreign as...
Aen Walker Webster dedicates her practice to estate planning and administration. She counsels clients on estate planning matters including charitable planning and business succession planning and advises fiduciaries on the administration of estates and trusts. Aen works frequently with individuals and families to maintain family assets and family harmony across generations. Aen draws on a multi-disciplinary background and her years of counseling clients to identify and bring solutions for com...
Wendy S. Rusch is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Wendy S., who practices law in Waukesha, Wisconsin, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Wendy S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Akane R. Suzuki is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. Akane R., who practices law in Seattle, Washington, has been recognized since 2011. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Akane R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Paul Tonella practices in Keller Rohrback's business and estate planning group, where he represents individuals, families, and businesses in tax and general legal matters. He brings a wide range of experience in entity formation, contracts, purchases and sales of companies, personalized estate planning and probate and trust administration.
Daniel L. Lindsey, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. Daniel L., who practices law in Montgomery, Alabama, has been recognized since 2009. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Daniel L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
My practice is concentrated on trust and estate planning and administration and business succession planning for principles and shareholders of closely held businesses. My practice also includes addressing clients' philanthropic goals, including providing counsel to clients on all aspects of nonprofit corporate governance, and structuring charitable trusts and private foundations.
Richard M. Horwood has devoted his practice to business and financial planning, including business law, taxation and estate planning. His extensive experience has allowed him to develop the resources that make him an acknowledged authority in these areas. He advises business owners, non-profit organizations, donors and collectors on a variety of complex planning issues. He advises art collectors regarding key issues such as authentication/provenance, collection management, tax matters, dispos...
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.