Best Lawyers in America for Trusts and Estates
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My approach in my practice is one of empathy and support. I provide my clients with peace of mind as I help them plan for the future and guide them through difficult times. Creating an estate plan can be daunting, and it is tempting to put it off. I make the process as easy and stress-free as possible, and my clients leave feeling a sense of accomplishment and relief. My team and I also guide families through the handling of the estate after the death of a loved one. We understand how difficu...
Jim Brun focuses his practice on estate planning as well as probate and trust administration. Prior to joining Keating Muething & Klekamp, he was a partner with a large Cincinnati law firm where he practiced for more than 21 years, concentrating his practice in the estate planning and personal tax areas. Jim served as a law clerk to the Honorable George H. Palmer, Judge of the Court of Appeals for the First Appellate District of Ohio from 1976-1978.
Stephen H. Gariepy is a partner and National Co-Chair of Hahn Loeser’s Estate Planning, Wealth Transfer & Preservation Section. Steve focuses his practice on leading-edge estate planning techniques. His ability to design creative and comprehensive plans – and make them practical and understandable – has attracted clients nationwide from the ranks of Forbes 400, business owners, families and nonprofit organizations. Steve regularly counsels owners of privately held compan...
Julie Miraglia Kwon advises wealthy individuals, families, closely held businesses, charities and corporate fiduciaries on all aspects of estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer tax planning, trust and estate administration, business succession, charitable planning and governance, and contested trust and tax matters. Read full biography: https://www.mwe.com/people/kwon-julie-miraglia/
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...
Thomas Parent is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Thomas, who practices law in Lafayette, Indiana, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Thomas is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Denise L. Iocco's practice focuses primarily on estate and gift tax planning, charitable giving, and trust and estate administration. Ms. Iocco advises high net-worth individuals and families in all aspects of estate planning. She has extensive experience in developing tax-advantageous transfers, as well as advising fiduciaries in connection with the management of estates and trusts. Ms. Iocco is often called upon in situations where sophisticated and sensitive planning is necessitated by mul...
Verlan Y. Kwan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Trusts and Estates. Verlan Y., 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 Verlan Y. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Rachel Harris counsels clients in connection with all aspects of domestic and international estate planning for individuals and families, pre-immigration planning prior to arrival in the U.S., trust and estate administration, trust and estate income taxation, charitable giving, and operation of tax-exempt organizations. Her practice extends to all facets of estate and gift tax planning and encompasses multijurisdictional and international matters. Highly regarded for her breadth of experience...
Clint’s real estate practice includes real estate transactions with an emphasis on real estate finance, commercial acquisitions, dispositions and leasing. Clint's business practice consists of general business planning, along with issues of organization, operation, mergers and acquisitions, and liquidation of limited liability companies, corporations, partnerships, limited partnerships and joint ventures. Clint 's tax practice focuses on federal and state tax issues relating to business...
Chair of Stein Sperling’s nationally regarded tax law group, David De Jong is a recognized and highly sought industry authority with more than 40 years of experience. Raised in Montgomery County, David always intended to practice law in his “home town”. He has been instrumental in maintaining Stein Sperling’s collegial, small-firm feel while helping its tax department grow into a regional powerhouse. David has a gift for putting himself in his clients’ shoes to g...
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.