Florida Bar Board Certified Wills, Trusts and Estates Attorney

Florida Bar Board Certified Wills Trusts and Estates Logo

Forrest is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Wills, Trusts and Estates— a distinction held by fewer than one percent of Florida attorneys. This certification reflects the highest level of competency, professionalism, and commitment to excellence in estate planning, trust and estate administration, and tax matters.

Bespoke Planning for Complex Wealth

Forrest advises clients on all estate, trust and tax planning matters, with a particular emphasis on tax-efficient wealth transfer strategies, complex estate structures, business continuity and legacy preservation with a focus on:

  • Structuring and implementing revocable and irrevocable trusts
  • Advanced estate and gift tax planning
  • Risk mitigation and asset protection
  • Family office governance and legacy planning
  • Prenuptial agreements tailored to protect family wealth
  • Philanthropic giving and private foundation structuring

Trusted Counsel

Forrest maintains deep relationships with high net worth clients, multi-generational client families and their other professional advisors. Clients rely on him as their legal counsel, advisor, general counsel, and fixer. He navigates complex and sensitive matters for them with the highest degree of loyalty, discretion and judgment. Forrest’s counsel is also sought by other attorneys, accountants, and financial advisors to collaborate on high stakes trust, estate and tax matters.

Expert Estate and Trust Administration Representation

Forrest is regularly engaged to handle complex estate and trust administration matters, including:

  • Managing the settlement of complex, high-value estates and administration of multigenerational trusts.
  • Expert guidance to fiduciaries including trustees, personal representatives and executors in fulfilling their fiduciary responsibilities, legal compliance and tax obligations.
  • Preparation of federal estate and gift tax returns and representation before the IRS.

Representative Experience

  • Counsel to former senior executives of publicly traded companies in developing and implementing comprehensive estate and legacy plans, incorporating advanced trust structures and significant philanthropic giving.
  • Counsel to U.S. Ambassador and other public officials in the design of complex estate plans requiring confidentiality, multi-jurisdictional coordination, and integrated tax strategies.
  • Counsel to multi-generational families who own and operate closely held businesses, involving agriculture, manufacturing, government contracts and real estate enterprises, on succession planning and governance frameworks.
  • Guided multiple clients with estates exceeding $50 million through the execution of strategic wealth transfer plans, resulting in substantial long-term tax efficiencies.
  • Secured an IRS private letter ruling for a high-profile client, achieving over $2 million in estate tax savings related to closely held business interests.
  • Structured and completed judicial and non-judicial modifications of irrevocable trusts to adapt to changing family needs, shifting tax laws, and evolving investment structures.

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
  • Texas
  • 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 2016-2025
  • 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 homestead and spending time outdoors.