Best Law Firms in Florida for Trusts and Estates

Founded in 1955, Gould Cooksey Fennell is a respected Vero Beach, Florida law firm serving individuals, families, and businesses throughout Indian River County, St. Lucie County, the Treasure Coast, and across Florida. For more than 70 years, generations of clients have trusted our attorneys for experienced legal representation, personal attention, and a longstanding commitment to the communities we call home.

Our firm brings together established legal practices in Personal Injury & Medical Malpractice, Trusts, Estates & Tax Law, Trust & Estate Litigation, Real Estate Law, and Family Office Services. This breadth of experience allows our attorneys to collaborate across practice areas, providing clients with comprehensive legal guidance through life's most important decisions, challenges, and opportunities.

Personal Injury & Medical Malpractice

Our personal injury attorneys represent individuals and families throughout Florida in serious car accidents, truck accidents, catastrophic injury cases, wrongful death claims, and medical malpractice litigation. Led by Board Certified Civil Trial attorneys, our team has secured significant multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements for clients. We combine extensive trial experience, thorough investigations, and local knowledge to advocate for people whose lives have been changed by negligence.

Trusts, Estates & Tax Law

Our estate planning attorneys advise individuals, families, business owners, and high-net-worth clients on sophisticated estate planning, wills, trusts, probate and trust administration, wealth preservation, business succession, and complex tax matters. With advanced legal degrees, Florida Bar Board Certifications, and decades of combined experience, our attorneys help clients protect their assets, navigate complex financial and legal decisions, and preserve wealth for future generations.

Trust & Estate Litigation

Our trust and estate litigation attorneys represent beneficiaries, trustees, personal representatives, and families in complex probate and trust disputes throughout Florida. Our practice includes contested wills and trusts, breach of fiduciary duty claims, trust administration disputes, undue influence allegations, and other estate-related litigation. Combining extensive courtroom experience with the knowledge of our estate planning and tax attorneys, we help clients navigate sensitive disputes involving family relationships, significant assets, and the administration of estates and trusts.

Real Estate Law

Our real estate attorneys represent individuals, investors, developers, and businesses in residential and commercial real estate matters throughout the Treasure Coast. Our practice includes real estate acquisitions, sales, closings, commercial transactions, development, and complex property matters. With decades of experience in the local real estate market, our attorneys provide practical legal guidance to help clients protect their investments and accomplish their objectives.

Family Office Services

Gould Cooksey Fennell's Family Office Services team provides coordinated legal and strategic guidance to high-net-worth individuals and families with complex financial, business, and personal needs. Our services encompass multigenerational wealth planning, estate and tax strategies, business succession, family governance, and coordination with trusted financial and professional advisors. By bringing together experience across multiple legal disciplines, we help families preserve wealth, manage complexity, and plan confidently for future generations.

Professional Recognition & Community Commitment

Gould Cooksey Fennell has earned recognition in Best Law Firms® for more than a decade. The firm has received metropolitan Tier 1 rankings in Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, Tax Law, and Trusts and Estates, along with a Tier 2 ranking in Litigation – Trusts and Estates.

Our attorneys have also received individual recognition in The Best Lawyers in America®, including David M. Carter, who has been named Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs "Lawyer of the Year" for the Orlando region.

What distinguishes Gould Cooksey Fennell goes beyond legal experience and professional recognition. Our roots in Vero Beach run deep, and our commitment to the Treasure Coast extends well beyond our office. Through local nonprofit organizations, community initiatives, charitable giving, and civic involvement, we remain invested in the people and places we have served for generations.

For more than 70 years, our reputation has been built on the relationships we develop, the trust we earn, and the people we serve.

Ask someone you trust about the attorneys at Gould Cooksey Fennell.

www.gouldcooksey.com

Servicing the South Florida community for many years in one form or another back to the 1980’s, our boutique firm consists of eleven practicing tax, probate and trust, litigation and business attorneys. Our philosophy is to provide the highest level of legal counsel, expertise, and service to our clients. We pride ourselves on the depth of our knowledge, our cumulative years of experience, our creative and client-centric approach to legal issues, the sophistication of our practice, our satisfied clientele, honors and recognition bestowed by ratings services and publications, and our reputation. All matters are handled directly by professionals having expertise in the subject area, which results in the highest quality and highest value legal services.

Approximately half of the firm practices in the areas of tax, business, guardianship, estate & trust planning and administration, and business areas, and half practices in the area of guardianship, trust, estate, and elder financial abuse litigation. This combination of expertise makes us uniquely qualified to practice in these areas and to act effectively to advise, protect, and enhance the business and family wealth of our clients.

All of our senior attorneys have practiced law for at least 30 years. All of our tax attorneys hold, in addition to their law degrees, an advanced law degree in either taxation or estate planning. Our guardianship, estate, trust and elder financial abuse litigators regularly participate in dispute resolution, trials, mediation, and consultation with fiduciaries, beneficiaries, and other parties, and have many years of experience in guiding our clients to the best resolution of their issues.

When other tax professionals needs answers on specific tax, trust and estate, and litigation issues, they turn to the many books, treatises, and journal articles published by our attorneys. Members of our firm lecture extensively in their fields. Our attorneys have served as adjunct professors at the University of Miami School of Law Graduate Tax and Graduate Estate Planning programs, and are regular participants, contributors, and subcommittee chairs in the Tax Section, Real Property, Probate, and Trust, and Litigation sections of the Florida bar and the American Bar Association and the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. The expertise and reputation of our attorneys and the firm is regularly recognized in national publications and through membership in prestigious limited membership organizations.

Our clients and referral sources include major corporations, banks, trust and brokerage companies, attorneys, accountants, high net-worth individuals, entrepreneurs, insurance agents, and closely-held entities.

At Hahn Loeser, our people form the core of our firm. We have assembled a team of highly skilled attorneys and staff across the United States. Our focus on collaborative efforts and creative business solutions sets us apart. We prioritize the needs of our clients and our team members alike, emphasizing a supportive environment. The diverse backgrounds of our attorneys represent Hahn Loeser's enduring commitment to diversity. This has spurred a broad practice range and has helped us foster strong relationships within various community segments over the years. We strive to understand your business and personal goals to help you achieve them according to your specific needs.

Hahn Loeser's client-centered approach is facilitated by our dedicated team of attorneys and staff who operate across different practice areas and office locations nationwide, working together to devise innovative solutions for client challenges.

With more than 140 attorneys, we have established a national presence, expanding to eight strategic locations across the country, including Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio; Naples, Fort Myers, Tampa, and Sarasota, Florida; San Diego, California; and Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1920, Hahn Loeser has grown to become one of the 500 largest law firms in the United States as recognized by The National Law Journal. We are equipped to manage complex litigation and transactions while offering our clients highly personalized service.

Since 1973, Johnson, Pope, Bokor, Ruppel & Burns has served businesses and individuals throughout the Tampa Bay region from offices in St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and Tampa. The firm provides legal counsel and business guidance to help clients address legal issues, evaluate options, and plan for the future.

Our attorneys advise clients across a range of practice areas, assisting with business formation and development, daily operations, transactions, disputes, and long‑term planning. By learning about each client’s objectives and circumstances, we focus on delivering practical guidance and responsive service aligned with their needs.

The firm represents a diverse group of clients, from local entrepreneurs to established regional and national companies. Clients include real estate developers, healthcare providers, accounting and engineering firms, commercial lenders, private equity funds, local governments, special districts, and individuals throughout Florida and beyond.

Jones Walker LLP is among the largest 145 law firms in the United States. With offices in Alabama, Arizona, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, New York, and Texas, we serve local, regional, national, and international business interests. The firm is committed to providing a comprehensive range of legal services to major multinational public and private corporations, Fortune® 500 companies, money center banks, worldwide insurers, and emerging companies doing business in the United States and abroad.

Since 2012, The BTI Consulting Group has named Jones Walker to its Client Service A-Team, which identifies the top client service firms in the nation. The firm has previously been named to both the A-Team and BTI's Client Service 30, a list of top 30 firms in the country for dedication to client service. Clients have recognized Jones Walker for consistent excellence in areas such as client focus, anticipating the client's needs, and understanding the client's business.

McDermott Will & Schulte is an international law firm serving businesses, institutions and individuals across a wide range of legal matters. With offices throughout the United States and Europe, including Chicago, New York, London, Paris, Frankfurt and Washington, D.C., the firm advises clients on complex transactions, regulatory concerns, litigation and industry-specific challenges. Since first earning attorney recognition in 1983, the firm has continued to build a broad legal practice shaped by changing markets and evolving client needs.

The firm is known for its work in corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, banking and finance, tax law, health care law, intellectual property and high-stakes litigation. Its attorneys also counsel clients in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence law, fintech, privacy and data security, biotechnology and life sciences. McDermott Will & Schulte represents clients ranging from growing companies to multinational organizations, helping them navigate business decisions, disputes and regulatory matters with practical legal guidance.

McDermott Will & Schulte has earned recognition across numerous practice areas in Best Law Firms rankings, including bankruptcy and restructuring, employment law, real estate law, securities regulation, patent law, antitrust law and international trade and finance law. The firm also has 357 lawyers recognized by Best Lawyers, reflecting peer-reviewed acknowledgment across a broad range of legal disciplines.

Clients turn to McDermott Will & Schulte for counsel that is strategic, business-minded and tailored to the industries they serve. Whether handling cross-border transactions, intellectual property disputes, health care compliance or complex commercial litigation, the firm focuses on delivering clear legal solutions that align with each client’s long-term objectives.

Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick LLP is a leading law firm with 136 lawyers recognized by Best Lawyers across 60 practice areas. The firm's tenure with Best Lawyers began in 1983. Having lawyers recognized in Best Lawyers' purely peer review process emphasizes the lawyers credibility and reputation for their practice amongst their peers in their practice area and region. It displays professional validation of the legal talent that Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick LLP has on their team. The firm has lawyers recognized in practice areas including: Litigation - Labor and Employment, Litigation - Environmental, Litigation - First Amendment, Arbitration and Litigation - Construction.

Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick LLP is also ranked by Best Law Firms in 46 practice areas. The Best Law Firms rankings are founded on a time-tested and transparent research process that has remained consistent since Best Lawyers launched it in 2010. Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick LLP has 96 rankings in 46 practices. Echoing their Best Lawyers awards and team of top legal talent.

Smith Hulsey & Busey is a long-established, full-service Florida business law firm. We have a proven track record of sound counsel, innovative problem solving and successful dispute resolution.

Our clients with national and international operations provide us experience in major transactions and dispute resolution throughout the world. As a result, we offer a depth of experience and expertise unparalleled in North Florida. Our clients value being able to obtain the very best legal services from us, with an efficiency not typical in larger firms.

At Taft, we work together across offices and practice areas to help clients address legal and business challenges efficiently and strategically. Our attorneys focus on practical solutions designed to support clients’ goals, whether they are managing day-to-day operations, navigating complex transactions, or resolving disputes.

With 1,300 attorneys, Taft serves clients from offices in Chicago, Illinois; Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, and Delaware, Ohio; Aspen, Denver, and Colorado Springs, Colorado; Detroit and Southfield, Michigan; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Indianapolis, Indiana; Covington, Kentucky; Phoenix, Arizona; Stuart and West Palm Beach, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; and Washington, D.C.

Taft represents individuals, privately held businesses, public companies, nonprofits, and institutions across established and emerging industries throughout the United States and internationally.

The firm advises clients in a broad range of practice areas, including:

• Business
• Bankruptcy and Restructuring
• Employment and Labor Relations
• Energy
• Environmental
• Health Care
• Intellectual Property
• Lending and Finance
• Litigation
• Private Client
• Real Estate
• Tax

Since 1885, Taft has remained focused on delivering responsive legal counsel and client service tailored to the needs of businesses, organizations, and individuals.

Affiliated Businesses

Taft attorneys regularly collaborate with affiliated businesses to provide clients with additional consulting and advisory services in a variety of industries and operational areas. These affiliated businesses include:

• Ginovus
• Taft Advisors LLC
• Taft Business Consulting
• Taft Infrastructure Advisors

Through these organizations, clients have access to consulting services related to planning, forecasting, government relations, infrastructure, and public policy matters.

Awards and Honors

Taft and its attorneys have received recognition from legal industry publications and ranking organizations, including:

Main Areas of Practice:

Business: Taft represents public, private, and nonprofit clients in industries including banking, construction, finance, health care, insurance, manufacturing, private equity, real estate, retail, transportation, and utilities. The firm advises clients ranging from emerging businesses to Fortune 500 companies on local, national, and cross-border matters.

Bankruptcy and Restructuring: The firm represents debtors, lenders, creditors’ committees, trustees, suppliers, developers, landlords, buyers, sellers, and other parties in restructuring matters, insolvency proceedings, transactions, and related litigation across multiple industries.

Employment and Labor Relations: Taft advises employers on labor and employment matters, including workplace policies, litigation, labor relations, employee benefits and ERISA compliance, workplace safety, immigration matters, and workers’ compensation issues.

Energy: The firm represents energy providers, utilities, developers, independent power producers, transmission companies, and other participants in the energy sector on regulatory, transactional, and operational matters.

Environmental: Taft handles environmental litigation, regulatory compliance, enforcement matters, environmental due diligence, toxic tort claims, Superfund matters, Brownfields redevelopment, and administrative proceedings before state and federal agencies.

Health Care: The firm advises hospitals, physicians, health systems, research institutions, and medical device, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical companies on business, regulatory, reimbursement, litigation, employment, and compliance matters.

Intellectual Property: Taft counsels clients on patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, licensing, and intellectual property litigation, including matters involving pharmaceuticals, life sciences, software, and internet-related technologies.

Lending and Finance: The firm represents lenders and borrowers in a wide range of financing transactions, including asset-based lending, acquisition finance, mezzanine financing, real estate finance, equipment leasing, regulatory compliance, and consumer financial services matters.

Litigation: Taft represents clients in state and federal courts, arbitration proceedings, and regulatory matters involving commercial disputes, antitrust, bankruptcy, construction, environmental claims, intellectual property, securities, product liability, white collar defense, and other complex litigation matters.

Private Client: The firm advises individuals, families, and business owners on estate planning, wealth transfer strategies, succession planning, trusts and estates, charitable planning, and tax-related matters.

Real Estate: Taft represents clients in matters involving acquisitions, dispositions, financing, leasing, development, land use, construction, property management, and real estate litigation.

Tax: The firm advises corporations, financial institutions, nonprofit organizations, joint ventures, and individuals on tax planning, employee benefits, executive compensation, mergers and acquisitions, international tax matters, state and local taxation, and tax controversy matters.