Best Lawyers in America for Trusts and Estates
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Patrick J. Howley is a shareholder in the Firm’s Trusts & Estates Department. His practice focuses on estate planning for individuals and families, as well as representation of fiduciaries in the administration of estates and trusts. Mr. Howley counsels clients on the use of Wills, Revocable Trusts, Financial Powers of Attorney, Health Care Powers of Attorney and Living Wills to accomplish their estate planning objectives. He also advises on the use of advanced techniques designed t...
Alyssa Fitzgerald is a counsel in the firm's Trusts and Estate Planning practice. She focuses her practice on advising tax-exempt organizations. She provides guidance to tax-exempt and taxable entities on a variety of issues ranging from formation, sale of assets, mergers, joint ventures and partnerships, foreign activities, political campaign activity and lobbying, charitable sales promotions and corporate sponsorship, planned giving and compliance with intermediate sanctions and self-dealin...
Larry George focuses his practice in the areas of corporate and tax planning, estate planning, trust, and probate law. He works with individuals, families, privately owned companies, and charitable organizations in the U.S. and abroad with tax planning and business planning. He frequently teams with other lawyers at Crain Caton & James, utilizing their knowledge and experience to best serve the needs of the client. His valued counsel includes helping clients identify and mitigate the issu...
Melissa was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1968. She attended Colorado State University (graduating in 1990 with a B.A. in Political Science) and obtained her law degree from the University of Denver in 1994, where she served as an Editor on the Denver Journal of International Law and was a recipient of the American Jurisprudence Award in Estate and Gift Taxation. Melissa studied overseas and attended the University of London while serving as an intern in the House of Commons in London, England i...
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.
Todd J. Preti is a Founding Shareholder in the Law Firm of Midgett Preti Olansen. Mr. Preti is a graduate of Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia, and earned his Juris Doctor degree from the T.C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond. While at the T.C. Williams School of Law, Mr. Preti was a merit scholar and was named to the University of Richmond Law Review and the Moot Court Board. Mr. Preti practices in the areas of estate planning, estate and trust administration, f...
Bart spent the first part of his career as an insurance advisor and securities analyst. He later became a lawyer and developed his skills as a litigator and trust attorney. This wide range of experience enables him to give his clients a comprehensive view of financial planning not often found in estate planning attorneys. Bart Leonardi is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law by the Ohio State Bar Association. His practice is concentrated in the areas of estate plan...
John M. Carnahan III is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. John M., who practices law in Springfield, Missouri, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Richard C. Milstein concentrates his practice on complex, not so complex, and high conflict trust, probate, estate, and guardianship litigation and administration, and family law matters. With Richard’s over four decades of experience in these areas, he ably assists clients and members of families, whether related or not, with resolution of their issues in a caring and sensitive manner. In addition to litigation and administration services, Richard provides life and estate planning advi...
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...
Lois Tilton is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Lois, who practices law in New York, New York, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Lois is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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.