Best Lawyers in America for Trusts and Estates
State
Jordan Klein’s broad-based trust and estate practice encompasses all aspects of estate planning, trust and estate administration and settlement, wealth transfer, philanthropy and fiduciary counseling services. His clients include corporate executives, families with dynastic wealth, privately held business owners, professionals, fund managers, family offices and private foundations. Jordan has significant experience designing creative solutions to achieve his clients’ estate planni...
Sarah Connolly is a partner in the Private Clients group focusing on estate planning, wealth transfer and tax strategies. She works with clients in all phases of the life cycle who wish to transfer their assets effectively and efficiently during life or on death. What do you focus on? In my fifteen plus years of practice, I have developed three areas of focus: Estate and Tax Planning I focus on estate and tax planning for individual clients. I have extensive experience in sophisticated gift, ...
JULIA B. MEISTER is a partner in Taft's Litigation, Health & Life Sciences, and Private Client practice groups and heads the firm's Cincinnati Estates, Trusts and Fiduciary Litigation practice. She counsels clients and represents them in business, commercial, estate, guardianship, trust, and fiduciary matters and professional ethics and discipline matters before courts, administrative tribunals, and arbitrators. Julia advises clients on a variety of health care issues, including privacy, ...
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...
Kimberly Civins has worked with wealthy individuals, families, executors and trustees for over 20 years and utilizes that expertise to assist clients with accomplishing their goals for wealth structuring and transfers. Kim concentrates her practice in: Estate planning Estate administration Trusts Tax exempt entities (including public charities and private foundations) Transfer tax (estate, gift and generation skipping transfer taxes and IRS audits) Business succession planning Federal and sta...
Michael chairs the firm’s estate and tax practices, assisting clients in the areas of estate planning, estate counseling, estate administration, elder law, Medicaid planning, long-term care and special needs planning, and transactional tax planning. His work encompasses tax considerations, the structuring of wealth preservation strategies, and the preparation of estate planning documents such as wills, living wills and medical care directives, powers of attorney, revocable and irrevocab...
Katrina Crafton Fluet is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Trusts and Estates. Katrina practices law in Menlo Park, California Best Lawyers has recognized Katrina Crafton Fluet since 2026. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Katrina Crafton Fluet is held by other lawyers.
Brian R. Jenney is an attorney with Kemp Klein in Troy, Michigan who advises individuals and families on matters involving Elder Law , Trusts and Estates , and Tax Law . His practice focuses on helping clients plan for the future while addressing the legal and financial considerations that arise as families age or experience major life changes. Mr. Jenney works with clients on estate planning strategies designed to protect assets, address health care and financial decision-making, and provide...
Jordan Linn is a partner in Tannenbaum Helpern’s Trusts and Estates (T&E) practice. With more than 20 years of T&E experience, Jordan brings a wealth of knowledge and sophisticated legal counsel to his clients. He advises business owners, real estate families, and other high net-worth individuals regarding: the structuring and execution of complex gift, estate, and generation skipping tax planning techniques the preparation of last will and testaments, trusts agreements and adva...
Thomas P. Ward is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Trusts and Estates. Thomas P. practices law in Chicago, Illinois Best Lawyers has recognized Thomas P. Ward since 2027. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Thomas P. Ward is held by other lawyers.
LISA F. METZ is a principal of Brody Wilkinson and a member of the firm’s Trusts & Estates Group. She practices in the areas of estate planning and trust and estate administration in Connecticut and New York. Lisa represents a range of clients, including high net worth individuals who are providing for multiple generations, recently divorced women, and couples with young children. For all clients, she takes the time to ensure that their questions are answered and they fully understa...
In his law practice, HFM Partner Bruce O’Brien’s focuses on all aspects of federal and state taxation, with a particular emphasis on tax controversies, partnerships, limited liability companies, and business planning. Mr. O’Brien represents taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service, Franchise Tax Board, and State Board of Equalization. He also represents clients before the United States Tax Court, and he is a certified specialist in Taxation Law. Additionally, Mr. O&rsqu...
Danielle Miller focuses her practice in the areas of estate planning; probate and trust administration; related income, gift, estate and property tax matters; and entity formation. Her clients include high net worth individuals and families, fiduciaries, and closely held businesses. She advises clients on the drafting of revocable and irrevocable trusts, business succession planning, charitable gift planning, and all aspects of estate administration and probate procedures. Recently, Danielle ...
George E. Riedel, Jr. practices in the areas of trusts and estates, elder law, estate administration, estate planning, guardianships, and adoptions. Mr. Riedel is a director (from 1995 to present) and past secretary for the 100 Club of Buffalo. He is also a director (from 1999 to present) of the Western New York-Jamaica Partners of Americas. He was elected a fellow of the New York Bar Foundation in January 2001. He also serves on the advisory board of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the ...
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.
