Michael B. Knisely
Michael B. Knisely

Michael B. Knisely

Partner

email

mbknisely@ohsks.com

email

(512) 542-2042

Profile

Mr. Knisely is a partner of Osborne, Helman, Scott, Knisely & Stanton, LLP. His practice involves representing individuals and institutions in fiduciary litigation, including primarily trust, estate and guardianship disputes. Mr. Knisely also advises fiduciaries and beneficiaries with regard to complex and contentious trust and estate administrations. In addition, he handles appeals of a wide array of civil matters in both state and federal courts, with a focus on appeals involving trust, estate and fiduciary matters, and he has significant experience in insurance matters and in representing charitable organizations in a variety of controversies. After law school, Mr. Knisely served as a law clerk to both the Honorable Reynaldo G. Garza, of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the Honorable Felix Recio, of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas.

Education

  • University of Texas at Austin (J.D., 2002)
  • Southwestern University (B.A., History and Communication, 1999)
  • Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain (Summer 1998)

Professional Memberships and Honors

  • Member, State Bar of Texas
  • Member, American Bar Association
  • Selected to the Texas Super Lawyers list, sponsored by Thomson Reuters and published in Texas Monthly (2021 - 2023)
  • Selected to the Texas Rising Stars list, sponsored by Thomson Reuters and published in Texas Monthly (2015, 2016, 2017)
  • Recognized in the 29th – 31st Editions of The Best Lawyers® in America in the practice area of Trusts and Estates Litigation (2023 to present)
  • Member, Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) – Texas Chapter
  • Member, International Bar Association
  • Member, The College of the State Bar of Texas
  • Member, Austin Bar Association
  • Member, Williamson County Bar Association
  • Member, Federal Bar Association
  • Member, Board of Visitors, Southwestern University
  • Member, National Association of Charitable Gift Planning
  • Member, Charitable Gift Planners of Austin (Former Board of Directors, Vice-Chair)
  • Member, Supreme Court of the United States
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Western, Southern, Eastern and Northern Districts of Texas
  • Leadership Round Rock (Class of 2006-2007)
  • Director, RTG Foundation
  • Director, Pip Start, Inc. (Former)
  • Director, Ascend Austin (Former)
  • Director, Southwestern Fraternal Education Fund, Inc. (Former)
  • Member, Seton Professional Advisors Council (Former)
STEP
International Bar Association
The College of the State Bar of Texas
Super Lawyers, Michael B. Knisely, 2024
Best Lawyers, 2025, Michael B. Knisely

Select Publications and Presentations

Asset Protection: Domestic and International Law and Tactics (four volumes; updated quarterly)

West Group
Publication
Contributing Author/Co-Editor
1995

A Brief History of Asset Protection Trusts

ALI CLE Estate Planning Course Materials Journal, January 2022
Publication
Author
2022

Truth, Transparence, and The Right of Privacy

The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel Law Journal, Volume 46, Number 3, Summer 2021
Publication
Author
2021

The Financial Action Task Force and the Legal Profession

New York Law School Law Review, 2014/15, Volume 59, Number 3
Publication
Author
2015

Asset Protection Trusts Under Attack – Views from the Bench and Bar

49th Annual Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning, Orlando, Florida
Presentation/Publication
Co-Author/Presenter
2015

Asset Protection Trust Planning Using Traditional Estate Planning Techniques

Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico, 32nd Annual Estate Planning Institute, Las Cruses, New Mexico
Presentation/Publication
Co-Author/Presenter
2015

The Financial Action Task Force and The Good Practices Guidance

New Mexico State Bar 2012 Bridge the Gap, Albuquerque, New Mexico; The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel Southeast Regional Meeting, Savannah, Georgia; The National College of Probate Judges, Jekyll Island, Georgia; Connecticut Bar Association Probate Section Meeting, New Haven Connecticut; The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel New England Regional Meeting, Mashantucket, Connecticut
Presentation/Publication
Author/Presenter
2011

The Financial Action Task Force and Its Impact on The Practice of Law

33rd Annual Advanced Estate Planning and Probate Course, Houston, Texas (2009); 44th Annual Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning, Orlando, Florida
Presentation/Publication
Author/Presenter
2009

Asset Protection: Trust Planning

American Law Institute – American Bar Association Course of Study, Planning Techniques for Large Estates, New York, New York (April, 2009)
Presentation
Co-Author/Presenter
2009

Converting an Asset Protection Trust into a Tax-Efficient Wealth Reserve

U.S. Taxation of International Operations
Publication
Co-Author
2003

The Influence of Spanish and Mexican Laws on the Property and Probate Laws of Texas

The International Academy of Estate and Trust Law, Santiago, Chile
Presentation/Publication
Co-Author/Presenter
2003

Publications and Presentations

All Publications and Presentations

Navigating the Duty to Disclose in Trust, Estate, and Family Law Cases

Navigating the Duty to Disclose in Trust, Estate, and Family Law Cases

State Bar of Texas, Fiduciary Litigation Course, San Antonio, Texas
Presentation/Publication
2023

Fiduciary Relationships at the End of a Marriage

Fiduciary Relationships at the End of a Marriage

State Bar of Texas, Fiduciary Litigation Course, San Antonio, Texas
Presentation/Publication
2022

Strange Bedfellows: Fiduciary Relationships at the End of a Marriage

Strange Bedfellows: Fiduciary Relationships at the End of a Marriage

State Bar of Texas, Fiduciary Litigation Course, San Antonio, Texas
Publication
2022

Recent Trends in Trust and Estate Litigation: Insights for Estate Planners

Recent Trends in Trust and Estate Litigation: Insights for Estate Planners

Austin Bar Association Estate Planning & Probate Law Section All-Day CLE
Presentation/Publication
2021

Disclosure: A Guide for Fiduciaries

Disclosure: A Guide for Fiduciaries

Texas Bankers Association Trust and Estate Forum, Zoom
Presentation/Publication
2021

Recent Trends in Trust and Estate Litigation: Insights for Estate Planners

Recent Trends in Trust and Estate Litigation: Insights for Estate Planners

Midland Odessa Business and Estate Council, Zoom
Presentation/Publication
2021

Language to Include in Your Estate Planning Documents: Suggestions from Trust and Estate Litigators

Language to Include in Your Estate Planning Documents: Suggestions from Trust and Estate Litigators

State Bar of Texas, Estate Planning and Probate Drafting
Publication
2020

Language to Include in Your Estate Planning Documents: Suggestions From Trust and Estate Litigators

Language to Include in Your Estate Planning Documents: Suggestions From Trust and Estate Litigators

State Bar of Texas Estate Planning & Probate Drafting Course
Presentation/Publication
2020

Drafting Settlement Agreements to Resolve Trust & Estate Disputes

Drafting Settlement Agreements to Resolve Trust & Estate Disputes

State Bar of Texas Estate Planning & Probate Drafting Course, Dallas, Texas
Presentation/Publication
2018

Trust Modifications: Balancing Competing Interests

Trust Modifications: Balancing Competing Interests

University of Texas School of Law Estate Planning, Guardianship, and Elder Law Conference, Galveston, Texas
Presentation
2017

Complete Truth: Fiduciary Relationships and the Duty of Full Disclosure

Complete Truth: Fiduciary Relationships and the Duty of Full Disclosure

State Bar of Texas Intermediate Estate Planning and Probate Course, Houston, Texas
Presentation/Publication
2017