Services

Protection and Representation of Fiduciaries

We represent professional fiduciaries in all aspects of trust and estate administration. We understand the fiduciary's need to provide the highest quality services to its customers and beneficiaries and protect itself from liabilities while operating a profitable and efficient business. Combining extensive experience in estate planning, business succession planning, taxation, probate administration, conflict resolution and litigation, our lawyers work with fiduciaries to recognize and manage risks. When a dispute occurs, our assistance may help the fiduciary resolve it without litigation. When litigation is unavoidable, we can help protect the trustee's position.

The Lawyer's Lawyers

For the sophisticated professional fiduciary, Thompson Hine serves as the "lawyer's lawyers," addressing the specialized tax and planning issues inherent in the high value estate or trust, the corporate and tax law issues arising from fiduciary management of closely held business interests, and the interpretation of ambiguously written instruments. We help the fiduciary adopt a strategy suited for the particular circumstance, whether that strategy involves working quietly in the background or assuming a more visible position. We understand that the professional trustee operates an ongoing business dependent on its reputation and public perception, and we are proud of our ability to help enhance those values.

Litigation

When litigation is required, our extensive litigation experience and capacity is available to help protect the trustee's interests. We are able to staff litigation of all sizes and degrees of complexity with lawyers who are trained and experienced in the substantive law as well as trial practice.

State and Federal Regulatory Matters

Thompson Hine's experience representing banks, including trust departments, has covered all types of state and federal regulatory matters. For example, when the state of Ohio rewrote its banking and trust law, it relied on one of our banking lawyers as its special counsel. We bring our experience in banking law, trust and estate taxation and administration, and litigation to the service of professional fiduciaries.