Michael B. Knisely
Partner
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 – 30th Edition of The Best Lawyers® in America in the practice area of Trusts and Estates Litigation (2023 - 2024)
- 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)
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
Recent Developments in Bad Faith Litigation in the Workers’ Compensation Setting
Recent Developments in Bad Faith Litigation in the Workers’ Compensation Setting
Publication
2006
In Memory of Reynaldo G. Garza
In Memory of Reynaldo G. Garza
11 Tex. Hisp. J. L. & Pol’y 1 (Fall 2005)
Publication
2005
