All too often, the complex and expansive duties, priorities, and pressures of serving as a fiduciary intersect with claims by beneficiaries and other interested parties that a trustee, guardian, personal representative, or other fiduciary has failed in their responsibilities or breached their trust. Even when they are above reproach, a fiduciary may become entangled in disputes regarding the validity or interpretation of a will or trust. These conflicts can be costly and disruptive, fraying family relationships, diminishing the value of an estate, or thwarting the intent of a decedent or testator.
The attorneys in Tydings’ Fiduciary Litigation Practice Group are exceptionally well-versed in the myriad legal nuances, financial concerns, and sensitive personal dynamics implicated by such disputes. For institutional and individual fiduciaries and beneficiaries alike, we provide representation focused on simultaneously protecting our clients’ rights and interests while also seeking resolutions that efficiently bring clarity and closure while also navigating sensitive personal dynamics.
The collective experience of our lawyers extends to almost every type of fiduciary-related dispute. In countless successful matters in state and federal courts and alternative dispute resolution forums, we have demonstrated our comprehensive grasp of the issues and the skillfulness of our advocacy. Our fiduciary litigators can also leverage the multidisciplinary insights of Tydings attorneys in other practice groups, as well as an extensive network of accounting and financial professionals and experts who supplement and inform our efforts.
Expansive Fiduciary Litigation Capabilities
Our Fiduciary Litigation practice includes the representation of parties in lawsuits and claims involving:
- Allegations of breaches of fiduciary duty, including improper asset management, self-dealing, conflicts of interest, and improper administration and distributions, as well as accounting disputes.
- Guardianship and incapacity issues and litigation.
- Will contests and trust disputes, including claims of lack of testamentary capacity, undue influence, fraud, and failure to follow required formalities.
- Litigation involving powers of attorney.
- Elder financial fraud and abuse.
- Representation of charitable entities related to their interests in estates and trusts.
- Litigation involving the interpretation of a will or trust.
- Removal of fiduciaries and defense of fiduciaries against such actions.
Leadership
Tydings’ Fiduciary Litigation Practice Group is led by partner Michael Lentz, who has established himself as one of Maryland’s most accomplished and respected advocates. Over his three decades of practice, Michael has pursued or defended scores of claims involving wills, trusts, guardianships, powers of attorney, and breaches of fiduciary duty. He has amassed an impressive record of favorable outcomes, with clients reaping the benefits not only of his professional skills but also his sense of empathy and appreciation of the personal and emotional aspects of these often sensitive and contentious matters.