Inside the State’s Leading Private Wealth Practices
Florida’s distinctive combination of substantial high-net-worth resident population, no state income tax, favorable trust law environment, growing ultra-wealthy population from Wall Street South migration, and substantial Latin American family wealth presence has produced one of the most sophisticated estate planning legal markets in the United States.
The estate planning practice areas that matter most — sophisticated wealth transfer planning, multi-generational trust structures, business succession planning, charitable planning, asset protection, and increasingly cross-border international estate planning — have drawn substantial legal industry investment to Florida, with both Florida-headquartered firms and major out-of-state firms building substantial private wealth practices serving the state’s distinctive client base.
This article highlights three estate planning law firms that have earned consistent recognition across authoritative ranking systems including Chambers High Net Worth Guide and Best Lawyers — representing different points on the spectrum from genuinely global firms with substantial Florida private wealth practices through specialty boutique operations focused exclusively on private wealth work.
This article is for informational and educational purposes only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Estate planning involves complex legal, tax, and personal considerations that vary substantially based on individual circumstances. Always consult qualified licensed attorneys, qualified tax professionals, and qualified financial advisors before making any estate planning decisions affecting your family or wealth.
What to Look for in Florida Estate Planning Counsel
Before profiling specific firms, the criteria that distinguish leading estate planning practices deserve attention. Sophisticated estate planning typically requires:
Florida Bar Board Certification — Florida Bar certification in Wills, Trusts and Estates represents a substantial credential indicating demonstrated expertise. Tax certification often accompanies estate planning specialization for substantial matters.
Substantive Practice Depth — Estate planning intersects with tax law, business law, real estate law, family law, and other areas. Lawyers and firms with genuine depth across these intersecting areas typically produce better results than narrow specialists.
Client Wealth Range Match — Estate planning needs vary dramatically across wealth levels. Match counsel to your specific situation — ultra-high-net-worth families need different capabilities than high-net-worth families, who need different capabilities than middle-class clients.
Independent Industry Recognition — Recognition by Chambers High Net Worth Guide, Best Lawyers, ACTEC fellowships, and similar peer-reviewed authorities provides meaningful signal about practice quality.
International Capabilities — For families with international wealth, Latin American connections, or cross-border considerations, international estate planning expertise matters substantially.
Long-term Relationship Capability — Estate planning relationships typically extend across decades and multiple generations. Firm institutional stability matters.
Brian’s Take: Florida’s Estate Planning Industry Has Become Genuinely Sophisticated, But the Right Firm for Each Client Varies Substantially.
The estate planning legal industry in Florida includes outstanding firms across substantially different positioning — major global firms with comprehensive private wealth practices, mid-sized regional firms with strong wealth planning capabilities, and specialty boutiques focused exclusively on private wealth work. The right firm for any specific client depends substantially on the wealth level involved, the complexity of the planning needs, the international or cross-border considerations, the family business or succession dynamics, and dozens of other factors specific to individual circumstances. Sophisticated clients invest meaningful time researching estate planning counsel before engagement rather than defaulting to the first firm they encounter.
— Brian
1. Holland & Knight LLP
Florida Connection: Co-headquartered in Tampa with offices statewide Industry Position: Nationally recognized private wealth practice with Florida headquarters
Holland & Knight represents one of the most consequential American law firms for estate planning work, with substantial Florida operations anchoring a genuinely national private wealth practice.
Holland & Knight is praised by market sources for its nationwide reach and the quality of service provided by its private wealth attorneys. The team specializes in domestic and international estate planning and administration. Holland & Knight has a nationally recognized trusts and estates practice. The team advises prominent high net worth individuals and their families on a range of wealth planning matters including estate and trust matters and tax planning.
What distinguishes Holland & Knight for estate planning:
- Tampa headquarters with substantial Florida office network
- Comprehensive Florida coverage through multiple major Florida offices
- National private wealth practice recognized by Chambers High Net Worth Guide
- International estate planning capabilities appropriate to cross-border family wealth
- Substantial domestic estate and trust administration experience
- Tax planning integration appropriate to sophisticated estate planning matters
- Charitable planning expertise
- Business succession planning capabilities
- Established multi-generational client relationships
- Substantial private client team depth providing institutional capability
For Florida high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth families requiring comprehensive estate planning combined with the institutional resources of a major firm, Holland & Knight represents one of the most established options available.
2. Greenberg Traurig LLP
Florida Connection: Founded in Miami; substantial Florida operations Industry Position: Major global firm with deep Florida heritage and private wealth capabilities
Greenberg Traurig combines substantial private wealth practice capabilities with the firm’s distinctive Miami founding heritage and continued substantial Florida operations.
The team at Greenberg Traurig advises on estate planning and administration, charitable planning and business succession. Greenberg Traurig has a strong presence across the USA and advises prominent wealthy individuals on their estate planning and tax matters.
What distinguishes Greenberg Traurig for estate planning:
- Miami founding heritage with continued substantial Florida operations
- Substantial Florida office network across multiple major Florida markets
- Comprehensive private wealth practice including estate planning, administration, and charitable planning
- Business succession planning capabilities appropriate to family business clients
- Strong Latin American practice leveraging Miami’s hemispheric position for international family wealth
- Tax planning integration supporting sophisticated estate planning
- Major global office network supporting clients with international wealth considerations
- Established ultra-high-net-worth client relationships
For Florida families with substantial wealth, particularly families with Latin American connections, international wealth considerations, or business succession planning needs, Greenberg Traurig’s combination of Florida heritage and global reach provides distinctive advantages.
3. Nelson & Nelson, P.A.
Florida Connection: North Miami Beach (with Tampa satellite office) Industry Position: Specialty boutique trusts and estates practice with consistent Band 1 Chambers ranking
Nelson & Nelson represents the distinctive specialty boutique option among leading Florida estate planning firms — focused exclusively on trusts and estates work and earning consistent top-tier recognition despite being substantially smaller than the major full-service firms.
Nelson & Nelson is a well-regarded boutique trust and estate practice based in Miami. The team focuses on estate planning, asset protection and multigenerational planning. Clients have praised the firm for its professionalism, responsiveness and ability to handle complex matters.
Three attorneys of the firm — Barry A. Nelson, Jennifer E. Okcular, and Cassandra S. Nelson — have been recognized as leading attorneys in Private Wealth Law in Florida. Barry A. Nelson, a shareholder, has been recognized as one of the top notable practitioners in Florida Private Wealth Law, maintaining his consecutive Band 1 ranking since the inaugural Chambers High Net Worth Guide edition in 2016.
While Nelson & Nelson, P.A. may be the smallest, in terms of firm attorneys, among the law firms ranked in the area of Private Wealth Law in Florida, each member of the firm is dedicated to providing personalized attention to the firm’s clients and uses a team approach to serving such clients most effectively and efficiently.
What distinguishes Nelson & Nelson for estate planning:
- Exclusive focus on trusts and estates work — not a department within a full-service firm
- Consistent Band 1 Chambers High Net Worth ranking for the firm’s lead attorney since 2016
- North Miami Beach headquarters with Tampa satellite office serving statewide clients
- Florida Bar Certification in both Taxation and Wills, Trusts and Estates by lead attorneys
- Asset protection specialization beyond pure estate planning
- Multi-generational planning expertise
- Personalized boutique attention with team approach to client matters
- Author credentials including Barry A. Nelson’s published estate planning treatise
- Substantial Florida-specific expertise appropriate to Florida law and tax considerations
- Established peer recognition among Florida private wealth attorneys
For Florida families seeking specialty estate planning expertise with personalized attention rather than large-firm institutional services, Nelson & Nelson represents one of the most consistently recognized boutique options available.
Brian’s Take: The Three Firms Profiled Represent Genuinely Different Approaches to Florida Estate Planning.
Holland & Knight, Greenberg Traurig, and Nelson & Nelson represent three meaningfully different approaches to Florida estate planning practice — major full-service global firm with Florida headquarters, major global firm with Florida founding heritage, and specialty boutique focused exclusively on private wealth work. Each approach has distinct advantages depending on client circumstances. Sophisticated clients evaluate the differences thoughtfully rather than assuming any single approach fits every situation. The right firm depends entirely on the specific needs, complexity, and preferences of the client family rather than any objective ranking that applies universally.
— Brian
Disclaimers and Methodology
Methodology and Selection Criteria. The three firms profiled were selected based on consistent recognition in authoritative peer-reviewed legal industry rankings — particularly Chambers High Net Worth Guide rankings for Florida Private Wealth Law, Chambers USA Private Wealth rankings, Best Lawyers / Best Law Firms rankings in Trusts and Estates, and Florida Bar Board Certification of lead attorneys — combined with intentional diversity across firm types (major full-service firm with Florida headquarters, major global firm with Florida founding heritage, and specialty boutique). All three firms maintain substantial established Florida operations with attorneys licensed in Florida and recognized expertise in Florida-specific estate planning, tax, and trust law considerations.
Important Limitations. This article is not a definitive ranked listing of the best Florida estate planning firms, a comprehensive evaluation of all qualified firms, an endorsement for any specific client situation, or a substitute for qualified professional consultation. Many additional excellent Florida estate planning firms exist beyond those profiled here — including Akerman, Gunster, Carlton Fields, Shutts & Bowen, Day Pitney, McDermott Will & Emery, Proskauer Rose, White & Case, Cummings & Lockwood, Dunwody White & Landon, and dozens of others. Rankings vary substantially across methodologies, practice strength varies by sub-specialty (basic estate planning, sophisticated wealth transfer, asset protection, charitable planning, business succession, international planning, fiduciary litigation, elder law), and individual attorney expertise often matters more than overall firm name. Information reflects publicly available sources at time of writing; firm operations, attorney rosters, and rankings evolve continuously. Always verify Florida Bar licensing through floridabar.org, conduct independent research using multiple sources, interview multiple firms before engagement, and consult qualified licensed attorneys, CPAs, and financial advisors for advice specific to your circumstances. The author and publisher disclaim any liability for outcomes resulting from the use, application, or interpretation of information in this article.
Resources & Further Reading
- The Florida Bar — Find a Lawyer — The official Florida Bar attorney referral and verification resource for confirming attorney licensing status and finding qualified Florida-licensed counsel.
- Florida Bar Board Certification — Information on Florida Bar Board Certification including the Wills, Trusts and Estates and Taxation specialties relevant to estate planning practice.
- Chambers High Net Worth Guide — Florida Private Wealth Law — The authoritative Chambers ranking of Florida private wealth law firms based on independent research and client feedback.
- American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) — Major national professional organization for trusts and estates attorneys; ACTEC fellowship represents significant peer recognition in the field.
- Holland & Knight — Official firm website with information on private wealth and estate planning capabilities.
- Greenberg Traurig — Official firm website with information on private wealth and estate planning capabilities.
- Nelson & Nelson, P.A. — Official firm website for the specialty boutique trusts and estates practice in North Miami Beach.
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