Florida Bar Board Certified Wills, Trusts and Estates Attorney

Florida Bar Board Certified Wills Trusts and Estates LogoForrest is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Wills, Trusts and Estates. Board certification in the area of Wills, Trusts and Estates is a distinction held by only 0.3% of all lawyers in the state of Florida. Forrest serves as a member of the Firm’s executive committee.

Sophisticated Estate Planning

Forrest handles all aspects of estate planning, with an emphasis on estate tax planning for high net worth individuals and families, complex estate situations, and family business succession. He routinely handles revocable and irrevocable trust planning, estate tax planning, incapacity planning, and philanthropic planning.

Expert Probate and Trust Administration Representation

Forrest handles the administration of complex estates and trusts, federal estate and gift tax returns, and representation before the IRS regarding estate, gift and generation skipping transfer tax issues.

Trusted Counsel

Forrest maintains deep relationships with his individual clients and multi-generational client families. His role often extends beyond being their lawyer—Clients consider him their advisor, general counsel, and fixer. He navigates complex and nuanced issues for them with the highest degree of discretion and judgment. Forrest’s counsel is also sought after by other lawyers, accountants, and financial advisors.

Representative Experience

  • Representation of multiple clients with wealth in excess of $50,000,000 in the design and implementation of sophisticated estate planning techniques resulting in substantial tax savings and wealth preservation for future generations.
  • Successfully obtained IRS private letter ruling for client resulting in estate tax savings in excess of $2,000,000.
  • Representation of successful business owners, farmers and ranchers in the development of succession planning.
  • Successful completion of judicial and non-judicial modifications of trusts.

Education

  • Boston University School of Law, Master of Laws (LL.M.), Taxation
  • Stetson University College of Law, Juris Doctor
    • Stetson law Review, Recent Developments Editor
    • Federal Judicial Intern, United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida
    • Research Assistant, Dean Theresa J. Pulley Radwan
    • Teaching Fellow, Legal Writing Clinic
  • Flagler College, Bachelor of Arts, cum laude

 

Bar Admissions

  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Pennsylvania
  • United States Tax Court

Honors & Accolades

  • Graduate, Florida Fellows Institute of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (“ACTEC”)
  • AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
  • Best Lawyers in America, 2024
  • Florida Super Lawyers, Rising Stars 2016-2023
  • Kentucky Colonel, Honorable Order of the Kentucky Colonels
  • Mensa International
  • Burton Award for Legal Achievement, Distinguished Writing Award in Law (presented by the Burton Foundation in association with the Library of Congress)
  • Suzanne Armstrong Award for Excellence in Legal Writing and Professional Conduct,
  • St. Petersburg Times Award for Best Write-On Competition Paper, Stetson Law Review

Memberships

  • Member, The Florida Bar
    • Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Section
    • Tax Section
  • Member, The Georgia Bar
    • Fiduciary Law Section
    • Tax Law Section
  • Past Chair and Current Member, Florida Bar Wills, Trusts and Estates Board Certification Committee
  • Past Chair, Florida Bar Grievance Committee, Twentieth Judicial Circuit, Group C
  • Past President and Current Member, Charlotte County Bar Association
  • Past President and Current Member, Charlotte Estate Planning Council

Community Involvement

  • General Counsel, Punta Gorda Symphony

Personal

Forrest is a Florida native. He and his wife have three sons. They enjoy working on their rural land and spending time outdoors.