Best Lawyers in America for Trusts and Estates
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State
Paul B. McCawley focuses his practice on sophisticated estate planning for individuals and families. Such planning involves an overall plan for the client and the client’s family relating to the preservation and transfer of wealth while minimizing income taxes and transfer taxes (estate taxes, gift taxes, and generation-skipping transfer taxes) to the extent consistent with the client’s goals. Paul is a Board Certified Wills, Trusts and Estates Lawyer by The Florida Bar.
Bill Kirchick focuses on estates, trusts and business succession planning. He has extensive experience in the areas of estate planning and taxation, gift and generation-skipping transfer tax planning, probate and trust administration, and probate law, including advanced planning techniques, domicile audits and premarital agreements. His clients include owners of closely held businesses, corporate executives, self-employed professionals and families with inherited wealth. Bill has lectured on ...
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...
RANDY E. FISHER is an attorney with the law firm of Thomas & Fisher, P.A. in Greenville, South Carolina. He practices in the areas of taxation, estate planning, trusts and estates, probate, partnership, limited liability company and corporate law, and mergers and acquisitions. He is a certified specialist in the fields of both Taxation Law, and Estate Planning and Probate Law by The Supreme Court of South Carolina. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America in the fields of Taxation Law,...
Alan S. Watenmaker is the managing member of the Firm. He practices in the areas of tax, estate planning, trust administration and probate, and charitable planning. Mr. Watenmaker has twice been recognized as one of the “Top 100 Lawyers” in Southern California by “Super Lawyers” and has been selected as a “Southern California Super Lawyer” every year since 2004, when the list was first determined. He has also been listed in Best Lawyers in America every yea...
Born in Vero Beach, Florida, Todd W. Fennell is the managing partner of our firm and a valued member of the Estate Planning & Tax Group. He focuses his practice on sophisticated estate and tax planning strategies for high net worth individuals and families. He is “AV” rated by Martindale-Hubbell’s peer review rating system, the highest such rating available to any individual lawyer. Mr. Fennell’s areas of practice include tax planning strategies for high net worth ...
A technically skilled, North Carolina State Bar certified specialist in estate planning and probate law and a frequent speaker on tax and estate planning topics, Mark Horn takes a comprehensive, proactive approach to his high net worth clients’ estate and tax planning situations, making recommendations in plain English and implementing the desired planning efficiently and responsively. Also serving many closely-held businesses, Mark often acts as the trusted adviser to multiple generati...
Carol Johnston works with individual clients to develop sophisticated planning techniques for the preservation and protection of family wealth. Her advice covers an array of estate and tax planning issues, and she represents fiduciaries and handles administration of estates and trusts. Widely recognized in legal industry publications as a leading lawyer for trusts and estates, Carol is praised by peers as "knowledgeable" and someone who "works well with others." Carol is recognized as a leadi...
“Being sincerely invested in you and having your best interests at heart is what fuels my passion for estate planning. It takes a personal approach to create a positive experience and that is the foundation of my practice.” I feel privileged to assist with your estate planning and grateful to be allowed into your life. Experiencing a variety of life events with clients builds trust, and I am proud of the long-standing relationships I have developed over the past 23 years. I work c...
David Allen helps high-net-worth individuals and families with all their legal needs. With an approach that seamlessly integrates estate planning, tax minimization and concierge lawyering, David's advice allows his clients to spend less time managing advisors and more time focusing on their passions, their businesses and their families. From restructuring valuable art collections to coordinating legal services for multibillion-dollar family businesses and family offices, David is often the fi...
Shirley A. Kaigler is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Shirley A., who practices law in Southfield, Michigan, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Shirley A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Christine Rew Barden is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Christine Rew, who practices law in Madison, Wisconsin, has been recognized since 2017. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Christine Rew is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
G. Rice Byars, Jr. is an attorney with Harris Shelton PLLC in Memphis, Tennessee who focuses his practice on Trusts and Estates . He has been recognized by Best Lawyers for his work in this area and advises individuals, families, and business owners on estate planning and probate-related matters. With more than 30 years of legal experience, Rice assists clients with estate planning, probate administration, and asset protection strategies. His work often involves structuring complex and high-v...
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.