Cummings & Lockwood Garners the Top Spot in Private Wealth Law and Private Wealth Disputes in Connecticut in the Chambers 2021 High Net Worth Guide
July 23, 2021
Cummings & Lockwood is pleased to announce that it has been selected as a Tier 1 firm in Private Wealth Law in Connecticut in Chambers High Net Worth Guide 2021 for the six consecutive year. The Guide, which is based on objective and independent research, recognizes the world’s leading high net worth advisers.
Eight of the Firm’s trusts and estates principals have also been recognized as notable practitioners, including Howard (Terry) S. Tuthill III , Paul L. Bourdeau, Heather J. Rhoades, Laura Weintraub Beck, B. Cort Delany, Douglas H. Olin, Kelley Galica Peck and Daniel G. Johnson. In addition, Michael P. Kaelin, a Principal in the firm’s Litigation Group, has been identified as a top tier attorney in Private Wealth Disputes.
“We are very proud to have been named one of the top private clients practices in Connecticut and that so many of our attorneys have been recognized for their significant expertise and outstanding client service,” noted Jonathan B. Mills, Firm Chairman and Managing Director of Cummings & Lockwood.
According to a commentator, Cummings & Lockwood "are an institution in Connecticut. They are excellent in the trust and estates field - this is what they do and they do it best." Another interviewee says that the firm is "in a category of their own," adding: "I have worked with many estate attorneys over my career and have yet to find one that compares with Cummings & Lockwood."
"They have such a wonderfully talented bench of lawyers - all of their lawyers are very skilled," an interviewee enthuses; "if I have a case with complexity, I always refer to Cummings & Lockwood." Another source remarks: "They are organised, efficient and responsive. They are practical to deal with and have a real wealth of knowledge. They have tremendous expertise when it comes to complex trust and estate matters. They are my go-to firm."
The following Cummings & Lockwood attorneys were identified as notable practitioners:
Cort Delany "is an absolute star attorney in this area," according to one interviewee, who adds: "He has a phenomenal way with clients, he is incredibly bright and super responsive." Delany is well regarded for his experience in estate planning and administration and business succession planning. An impressed source states: "He is a fantastic lawyer, truly phenomenal. I love to work with him because he always gets straight to the point. He is good at assisting clients with special needs planning and he has a lot of technical expertise."
Daniel Johnson "is a phenomenal trust and estate lawyer," says a source, adding: "He is very practical and a really good lawyer." He assists high net worth clients with estate planning, business succession planning and trust administration. A commentator says: "He has an excellent manner with his clients. He is very knowledgeable and very effective."
Greenwich-based Douglas Olin is "really great for sophisticated planning," says an interviewee. Olin advises high net worth individuals on estate and trust planning and administration. A source comments: "Doug is a great lawyer. He is knowledgeable, easy to work with and always super hands-on with matters."
Heather Rhoades is well known for advising high net worth clients on estate planning, trust administration and charitable planning. "She is that rare combination of a lawyer that can speak in English, doesn't make things overly complicated and is always upbeat and cheerful," says a source, before continuing: "She is really top notch. She has a good ability to explain super complicated matters and boil complex matters down into the A, B and C of things." Another interviewee states that "she is a brilliant combination of knowledge and great communication skills. She really relates to clients on an extraordinary level; she really gets her clients and they adore her."
Stamford-based Howard (Terry) Tuthill is widely admired for his wealth of experience advising high net worth clients on a range of matters. A local interviewee comments: "Terry is respected throughout Connecticut for his experience handling trust and estate matters. His area of expertise is estate planning matters; he is fantastic for estate planning."
Kelley Galica Peck advises affluent individuals and families on contentious and non-contentious private wealth matters."She is a strong planner but someone who is very capable of fighting for people in probate litigation matters," states a source. "She is very knowledgeable and very up to date with changes in legislation related to trusts and estates," says an interviewee, and another remarks: "She is incredibly knowledgeable and super effective. I would never hesitate to recommend her."
Laura Beck "is a strong practitioner for high net worth clients," according to a source. She is well regarded for her trust and estate work, but also well known for her probate litigation. "She gives clients strong guidance and recommendations," says an interviewee. "She is exceptional," states a commentator, explaining: "You either have it or you don't, and Laura has it. She knows the law exceptionally well. What separates her from others is her interpersonal skills: her client care is phenomenal. She is detail-oriented and thorough."
Michael Kaelin is a highly rated litigation lawyer with significant experience handling contentious trust and estate disputes. One source comments: "He is a very capable and smart litigator. He is certainly someone I would recommend, I think very highly of him." Another says: "He does a phenomenal job on contested matters. He performs excellently."
Paul Bourdeau enjoys a strong reputation among interviewees for his comprehensive trust and estates practice. Sources describe him as "very intelligent" and "a good technical lawyer." "I think in this area he is just encyclopaedic, he knows everything there is to know," states a commentator, adding: "He really is the best lawyer in Connecticut for trust and estate matters."