Trusts and Estates Litigation

LITIGATION

Trusts and Estates Litigation

Our trusts and estates practice encompasses all aspects of litigation. We have represented trustees, beneficiaries, attorneys, executors, administrators, and bank trust departments in trials, appeals and alternative dispute resolution proceedings. Our practice includes all phases of estate and trust litigation, including defense of creditor claims, will contests, probate and trust administration disputes, and trustee removal actions, in addition to the trial of some of the largest charitable trust cases in history.

Ron Malone, our senior trust partner, is listed in The Best Lawyers in America in the Trust and Estates category and has successfully tried, to defense judgment, charitable trust cases with more than a billion dollars at risk, and has successfully defended will contests on behalf of some of the largest estates in United States against claims including undue influence, conflict of interest, and breach of fiduciary duty. Notable cases include:

Lead trial counsel for the Executor and Investment Co-Trustee in the landmark Buck Trust cy pres trial (six month trial)
Lead counsel for the Chairman of Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate in Hawaii
Kalmanovitz will contest ($500 million, 10 week trial)
Kalmanovitz $100 million oral trust claim (6 week trial)
Representation of a major oil company in state and federal courts in a $350 million lawsuit brought by beneficiaries of a trust which owned the land on which a major oil spill occurred. Currently on appeal in the Ninth Circuit, following favorable judgments in state and federal court
Lead trial counsel for the Robertson family in the closely-followed case in Trenton, New Jersey, seeking to sever Princeton University’s ties to the $800 million Robertson Foundation for breaches of fiduciary duty and to recover for the foundation in excess of $200 million in past spending in violation of the terms of the gift (see www.robertsonvprinceton.org)

HIGHLIGHTS

Princeton Faces Trial Over Use of Gift Now Worth $880 Million more >>

Seven Shartsis Friese partners were chosen as The Best Lawyers in America 2008 by Woodward/White, Inc. more >>

“Poisoned Ivy”: Charitable trust case against Princeton highlighted in WSJ. more >>

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