Best Lawyers in America for Trusts and Estates
Select a location from the list below to find the best legal talent for your needs.
State
Roy Breitenbach serves as a dedicated trial lawyer concentrating on health care and commercial litigation at Harris Beach Murtha in Uniondale, New York. With a focus on health care law, litigation related to health care, and trusts and estates, he assists health care providers and related entities in navigating complex business disputes, medical staff concerns, investigations, hearings, regulatory matters, as well as employment-related litigation and patient access issues. Roy’s practic...
Stanley Heyman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. Stanley, who practices law in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Stanley is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Susan E. Wheatley is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Susan E., who practices law in Cincinnati, Ohio, has been recognized since 2006. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Susan E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Tudor Goldsmith is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Trusts and Estates. Tudor, who practices law in Portland, Maine, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Tudor is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Mr. Carney's practice is grounded in federal, state, and local tax codes and regulations. He works directly with clients in employee benefits, tax planning, and estate planning. He understands the need to navigate these complex laws while providing options for each unique situation. His practice areas include but are not limited to the following: Employee and welfare benefit plans of private, tax-exempt, and governmental employers Other post-employment benefit trusts Executive compensation Co...
Chang H. Chae is a member of the firm, practicing in the areas of estate planning, trust administration and probate, entity formation and tax and charitable planning. Mr. Chae is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law (certified by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization) and is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC). He is a former Co-chair of the Executive Committee of the Trusts and Estates Section of the Beverly Hil...
Linda B. Hirschson focuses her practice on virtually all aspects of estate planning and administration and is a past member of the Board of Regents of the American College of Trusts and Estates Counsel (ACTEC). Linda develops estate plans for high net worth individuals, enabling them to dispose of their assets during life and at death in a manner that meets their personal goals and as tax efficient as possible. In the course of doing so, she helps form and administer private foundations and c...
Louis P. Karol is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Louis P., who practices law in Garden City, New York, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Louis P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Danielle Diebert is a Senior Counsel in the Firm’s Sacramento office and a member of the Litigation and Tax, Benefits and Estate Planning practice groups. She is certified by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization as a Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law. Ms. Diebert represents individuals, corporate fiduciaries, and professional fiduciaries throughout the State of California in all aspects of trust and estate administration, with a special focus on t...
Martin Kalb is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. Martin, who practices law in Miami, Florida, has been recognized since 1995. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Martin is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Rachel B.G. Sherman is a Principal in Cummings & Lockwood’s Private Clients Group and is based in the Stamford office. She joined the Firm in 1999. Rachel works with high net worth individuals and families to address their estate planning needs, including the preparation of wills and trusts, tax planning, multi-generational planning, planning for retirement benefits and real estate holdings, gifting and preparation of gift tax returns. Rachel also focuses her practice on estate admi...
Timothy J. Ritchey is a partner at Peck Ritchey, LLC who concentrates his practice in estate and trust litigation , elder law , and guardianship . Tim has been appointed Special Assistant Attorney General in numerous matters to represent the State’s interests in actions relating to Illinois healthcare and disability law. In 2014, Tim wrote legislation and testified as an expert before the Illinois Senate on an amendment to the Illinois Probate Act regarding elder abuse and financial exp...
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.