Richard R. Gans, a shareholder in the law firm of Fergeson Skipper, P.A., has been named a 2017 Florida Legal Elite. This is the tenth consecutive year he has been selected as a Florida Legal Elite by his peers. The attorneys chosen for this prestigious honor represent fewer than 1.5% of the active Florida Bar members who practice in Florida.
Actively practicing Florida attorneys were asked to name attorneys they hold in high regard and would recommend to others. Stringent voting guidelines were followed and only attorneys currently licensed and practicing in Florida were eligible for selection. Those attorneys receiving top votes were further examined using membership status and histories provided by The Florida Bar. A panel of previous Legal Elite winners, representing different practice areas in cities across the state, also reviewed the selection process and the list of finalists.
Gans is certified by The Florida Bar as a specialist in wills, trusts and estates, is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, and has an AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rating from the attorney rating site Martindale-Hubbell, which is the highest rating available for an attorney’s legal ability and professional ethics. He was named Best Lawyers® 2016 and 2018 “Lawyer of the Year” for Trusts and Estates Law in the Sarasota metropolitan area and the 2012 “Lawyer of the Year” for Trusts and Estates Law in the Tampa metropolitan area. He was named to the Best Lawyers In America© list from 2010-2018. He has been recognized as a Florida Super Lawyer (2007-2017) and a Five Star Wealth Manager. He was named to the Florida Super Lawyers “Top 100” list in 2016 and to Chambers USA, America’s Leading Lawyers for Business list in 2011.
He is a frequent lecturer on topics relating to wills, trusts, and estate planning, and his published works have appeared in legal and peer-reviewed publications. His professional affiliations include serving as a former President of both the Southwest Florida Planned Giving Council and Southwest Florida Estate Planning Council, as well as serving on various committees of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of The Florida Bar. He has served on the boards of numerous non-profit organizations and is currently Board Chair of both the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Inc. and the Woman’s Exchange, Inc.
About Fergeson Skipper, P.A.
Fergeson Skipper, P.A., has provided legal support to clients for over 41 years. Founded in 1976, it is a full service law firm concentrating in the areas of federal taxation, wills, trusts and estates, civil, trial, business, and real estate law. All shareholders at the firm are certified by The Florida Bar as a specialist in their areas of expertise. The Florida Bar’s certification process is rigorous, requiring years of legal experience, extensive peer review, and passage of a comprehensive written examination. The firm is located at 1515 Ringling Boulevard, Sarasota, Florida; telephone 941-957-1900. For information, visit www.fergesonskipper.com.