DEPARTMENT PROFILE

Holland & Knight LLP

Private Wealth Law

7 ranked individuals

Band 2

USA

High Net Worth 2021 View ranking table

chambers review

department information

Ranked Individuals

Chambers Review

Chambers Research is conducted by 200 Research Analysts, across 200 jurisdictions and provides nearly 6,000 rankings tables. Annually we collect hundreds of thousands of responses from clients, the majority via in-depth interview. Learn more about our methodology.

Holland & Knight are "heavyweights" in the national trusts and estates market. A source says: "They have an extremely large, perhaps the largest, estate planning practice across the country. They seem to have very nice collaboration. They have a depth of experience they can draw on if and when needed."

The firm also wins praise for its fiduciary litigation capabilities, and acts for clients on the full range of trust and estate disputes, including will contests, claims of undue influence, elder abuse and breaches of fiduciary duty. An impressed observer says their "litigators are terrific."

Notable practitioners

Christopher Boyett advises on domestic and cross-border wealth planning matters. One source says he is "a clear communicator and effective at following through with plans and initiatives," while another comments that "he has a great bedside manner" and "excellent judgement."

David Scott Sloan handles estate planning, complex taxation, and charitable and business succession planning. A commentator says he is "very good and very capable - he knows what he is doing." Another source notes that "David is a great leader of the practice as well as a great lawyer. He draws people into conversations; he always gets people involved."

Edward Koren founded the firm's private wealth services practice group. A fellow attorney says he is "spectacular," while another says: "He is very experienced and highly skilled."

Joshua Husbands is "top drawer," according to fellow estate planners, who add:"He could very well be president of the American College of Trust & Estate Counsel one of these years." Husbands assists high net worth clients with tax, estate and business succession issues, as well as life insurance planning.

Shari Levitan "is an expert in all things related to trust and estate law," according to a source. Another interviewee says: "Shari is really great - she is obviously very knowledgeable, but I think she is very diligent, very thorough and very detailed. She is great at sussing things out and brainstorming, and handles complex client matters extremely well."

Vivian Thoreen is extremely well versed in trust and estate disputes, as well as contested conservatorship and guardianship matters. A litigator says Thoreen is a "very powerful oral advocate," while another market insider says: "Vivian is really personable; she comes across as a friend to everyone. She is tough but manages to negotiate situations that might lead others to scream, without any drama."

Department Information

This content is provided by Holland & Knight LLP.

Overview

Largest and most sophisticated estate planning group in the USA

Fully integrated, nationwide practice

Estate Planning and Administration

- represent ultra-high-net-worth clients worth > $100 million who often are entrepreneurs, public company executives, private equity principals, hedge fund managers, venture capitalists, family offices, owners of major sports franchises, closely held businesses and multi-generational families

Dispute Resolution

- resolve a wide range of highly nuanced trust and estate disputes, actions for breach of fiduciary duty, conflicts of interest, complaints for removal of fiduciaries, will and trust contests, and tax audits

Family Offices

- private general counsel to families, form the appropriate family office structure, develop the documentation for its governance and suggest best practices for day-to-day management

International Private Clients

- lawyers in our international private client group focus on domestic and foreign estate and tax planning and offshore criminal tax evasion cases

Charitable Planning

- complex charitable planning, creation and funding of private foundations, private operating foundations, supporting organizations, charitable remainder trusts and charitable lead trusts

Closely Held Companies

- guide family business owners through the entire life cycle of their company, from entity formation, financing and corporate governance issues to tax planning, transfer of wealth and business succession planning