June 8, 2022 – Ulmer & Berne LLP is proud to announce that James A. Goldsmith, Partner and Group Leader of the firm’s Trusts & Estates practice, has been selected as the 2022 recipient of the Estate Planning Council of Cleveland’s (EPC) Distinguished Estate Planner Award. Goldsmith will receive the notable honor tonight during a special awards celebration at The Shoreby Club in Bratenahl, Ohio.
The Distinguished Estate Planner Award is presented annually to a member of the EPC for his or her outstanding contributions in the field of estate planning. Goldsmith was selected as this year’s honoree for the way he helps others develop a better understanding of estate planning, promotes cooperation and fosters strong relationships among estate planners, and furthers the education of council members and the public in the field of estate planning.
“We are thrilled that Jim is being honored by his peers for his exceptional achievements and service in trusts and estates law,” said Patricia A. Shlonsky, Partner-in-Charge of Ulmer’s Cleveland office. “His deep commitment to his clients and passion for helping them achieve their estate planning goals are hallmarks of his practice and he is incredibly deserving of this honor.”
Goldsmith’s clients benefit from his more than 40 years of experience in all aspects of trust and estate planning, administration, and succession planning. In his practice, he counsels clients in matters involving disputes among beneficiaries and fiduciaries, and defends claims filed in state courts against both corporate and individual fiduciaries. He has also served as special counsel and as an expert witness in matters involving estate planning and administration issues. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trusts and Estates Counsel.
He is recognized for his impact throughout Northeast Ohio and is extensively involved with several community and charitable organizations, including serving as Co-Director of the Joyce M. Stielau and Herbert W. Stielau Foundation, on the Cleveland Advisory Board of Facing History and Ourselves, as a member of the Case Western Reserve University Estate Planning Advisory Council, and as a Trustee for the Hockey Humanitarian Award Foundation. Goldsmith is also a longtime member and former Chair of the University Hospitals Diamond Advisory Group, which brings together volunteer legal, financial, real estate, and insurance professionals in helping benefactors of the hospital achieve their financial and philanthropic goals.
Respected for his skill in complex matters, Goldsmith has been named to The Best Lawyers in America® for Trusts and Estates Law every year since 2001 and has been consistently selected to the Ohio Super Lawyers list. He also received the Distinguished Advisor Award from University Hospitals for his commitment to his clients in assisting their generosity, foresight, and civic vision.