Wolfish & Newman, P.C. Attorneys & Staff
Lawrence M. Wolfish
Larry has been recognized for many years as being one of the top estate planning and tax attorneys in North Texas. Since 2003 he has been consistently named to the list of Texas Super Lawyers selected by Thompson Reuters and featured in Texas Monthly. In addition, Larry has been selected as one of the Best Lawyers in America by American Lawyer Media 2007-2015 and in D Magazine as one of the Best Lawyers in Dallas from 2005-2013.Mr. Wolfish has been Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1986, is a Certified Public Accountant, and has served on the Board of Directors of the Probate, Trusts and Estates Council of the Dallas Bar Association and the Dallas Estate Planning Council.
Among his community activities, Mr. Wolfish serves on the Board of Advisors for The Dallas Foundation, the Board of Advisors for the Communities Foundation of Texas, the Board of Advisors for Southwestern Medical Foundation, the Board of Advisors for the Baylor Healthcare System Foundation, and the Board of Trustees of The Legacy Senior Communities, Inc. He is also a past President of Congregation Shearith Israel in Dallas.
Mr. Wolfish is married and has two sons.
Email: lwolfish@wolfishlaw.com
Direct Dial Number: 972 248-4656
Education:
Southern Methodist University, Juris Doctor (1978)
Southern Methodist University, MBA (1978)
Syracuse University, B.Sc. Finance (1974)
Certifications:
Board Certified, Estate Planning and Probate Law
Certified Public Accountant
Honors:
Highest Rating (AV), Martindale-Hubbell
D Magazine, Best Lawyers in Dallas 2005 - 2013
Texas Monthly, Texas Super Lawyers 2005 - 2014
American Lawyer Media, The Best Lawyers In America 2010 - 2014
Memberships:
State Bar of Texas
Dallas Bar Association
Probate, Trusts and Estates Council of the Dallas Bar Association
Dallas Estate Planning Council
Board of Advisors, The Dallas Foundation
Board of Advisors, Communities Foundation of Texas
Board of Advisors, Southwestern Medical Foundation
Board of Directors, Baylor Healthcare System Foundation
Board of Trustees of The Legacy Senior Communities, Inc.
Lisa R. Newman
Lisa Newman’s practice centers on representing individuals in all phases of estate planning matters, as well as a large probate practice. Lisa’s goals are to listen to her client’s objectives, and then design and implement an individualized estate plan consistent with those objectives. Lisa’s probate practice consists of representing Executors in the administration of estates and the preparation of federal estate tax returns. “I especially like estate planning and probate work,” she says, “because I have the unique opportunity to help individuals and their families in a way that really matters – by helping them to create a meaningful legacy, to leave their mark on the world. The probate process can be very stressful and I like the idea of guiding Executors through the entire administrative process.” Lisa was born in Norfolk, Virginia. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Economy from Tulane University in 1989. She earned her Juris Doctor in 1992 from Penn State’s Dickinson School of Law, and her Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation in 1993 from Georgetown University.
In 2005, Lisa was named as a Texas Rising Star in the Super Lawyers edition published by Law and Politics Media. According to the publication, at that time only 2.5% of all Texas attorneys under the age of 40 or with less than 10 years of experience in the profession were afforded this honor.
Lisa is a member of the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Texas, and the Dallas Bar Association. Lisa currently serves as a Vice-Chair of the Dallas Jewish Community Foundation and as a board member for the Probate, Estate, and Trust Section of the Dallas Bar Association. Lisa has previously served on the board of the Dallas Estate Planning Counsel and Jewish Family Service of Greater Dallas.
Lisa is married and has one daughter.
Email: lisa@wolfishlaw.com
Direct Dial Number: 972 248-1893
Education:
Georgetown University, Washington D.C.
Master of Laws (LLM) in Taxation (1993)
Penn State’s Dickinson School of Law, Carlisle, PA
Juris Doctor (1992)
Tulane University, New Orleans , LA
Bachelor of Arts in Political Economy (1989)
Honors:
Texas Rising Star, Super Lawyers editions, Law and Politics Media 2005
Memberships:
American Bar Association
State Bar of Texas
Dallas Bar Association
Probate, Trusts and Estates Section of the Dallas Bar Association
Roxanna Olvera Hall
Roxanna Olvera Hall combines her experience as a tax accountant with her specialization in estate planning and probate law. Before joining the practice of law, Ms. Hall earned her Certified Public Accountant designation and practiced as a tax accountant with an international accounting firm.
She received her Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the University of Texas School of Law and was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 2002. Before moving to Dallas, Ms. Hall practiced estate planning and probate law in San Antonio for four years.
She has practiced estate planning and probate law with Wolfish & Newman since 2006.
Ms. Hall previously served on the Board of Directors for the Dallas Running Club and remains active in Dallas’ running community.
Email: roxanne@wolfishlaw.com
Education:
The University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas
Doctor of Jurisprudence (2002)
Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
Professional Program in Accounting
Master of Science in Accounting (1997)
Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting, Cum Laude (1997)
Certifications:
Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization (2009)
Certified Public Accountant
Texas (1999)
Memberships:
Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law Section, State Bar of Texas
Dallas Bar Association
Honors/Awards:
Recognized by Texas Super Lawyers magazine as a "Rising Star" in the area of Estate Planning & Probate (2012 - 2015)
Member of the College of the State Bar of Texas
Kristen Sillers
Kristen Sillers combines her experience as a corporate attorney with her specialization in estate planning and probate law. Kristen received her Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Southern Methodist University and was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 2010. Following law school, Kristen's practice focused primarily on merger and acquisition transactions, securities compliance work, corporate governance matters, and private equity transactions. She has practiced estate planning and probate law with Wolfish & Newman since 2012.
Email: kristen@wolfishlaw.com
Education:
Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law
Doctor of Jurisprudence (2010)
• Magna Cum Laude, Order of the Coif
• SMU Law Review Association, Managing Editor
The University of Texas at Austin
Bachelor of Business Administration (2006)
Memberships:
Real Estate, Probate and Trust Law Section, State Bar of Texas
Dallas Bar Association
Laurie Kmieciak
Firm paralegal Laurie Kmieciak is board certified in estate planning and probate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization (1998). She has been an estate planning paralegal since 1981, and during that time has worked with some of the most respected estate planning attorneys in the Dallas area.
“I enjoy reading and writing, and that helps me in the drafting process of complex wills and trusts,” Ms. Kmieciak says. “I like things organized and under control and to have documents available for client review well in advance of filing deadlines.”
She joined Wolfish & Newman in 2003. Ms. Kmieciak graduated magna cum laude from Southern Methodist University, and earned her paralegal certificate from Southwestern Paralegal Institute (ABA approved) in Houston, Texas.
An avid participant in AKC dog agility, obedience, and retriever training, her special interest is providing financial security for clients’ pets in accordance with the recently adopted Section 112.037 of the Texas Trust Code.
Email: laurie@wolfishlaw.com
Education:
Southwestern Paralegal Institute, Houston, Texas
Paralegal Certificate
Southern Methodist University
Magna cum laude
Memberships:
State Bar of Texas Paralegal Division
Dallas Area Paralegal Association
Susan Silberberg
Susan Silberberg is the assistant to Lawrence M. Wolfish and Laurie Kmieciak.Email: susans@wolfishlaw.com
Kathy Busby
Kathy Busby is assistant to Lisa R. Newman, Roxanna Olvera Hall and Kristen Sillers.Email: kathy@wolfishlaw.com