Michael L. Kaufman

Partner, Dallas
214.953.5734
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Biography

Michael L. Kaufman’s practice involves wealth planning, estate and trust administration, and tax-exempt organizations. Michael has worked on a wide range of individual and family wealth planning settings, including the design, drafting, and implementation of family limited liability entities, wills, insurance trusts, revocable (or “living” trusts), and other taxable and nontaxable gift transactions. Michael’s experience ranges from planning for the disposition of small simple estates through planning for the management and disposition of complex estates with assets in excess of one billion dollars. In the tax-exempt area, Michael has worked with public and private charitable entities, and charitable lead, and remainder trusts, in issues involving establishment, qualification, governance, and administration, as well as generation of revenue from program services, unrelated business income questions and proper structuring of operations to obtain desired outcomes.

Education

B.A., University of Texas at Austin
J.D., University of Texas School of Law

Bar Admissions

Texas

Professional Certifications

Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law
Fellow, American College of Trust & Estate Counsel

  • The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), 2015-2025
    • Lawyer of the Year – Dallas, Trusts and Estates, 2020
    • Trusts and Estates, 2015, 2017-2025
  • Texas Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2003-2024
  • “Best Lawyers in Dallas” List, D Magazine, 2009, 2013-2016, 2018-2019, 2021-2025

  • American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, Fellow
  • Jewish Family Service of Dallas, Past President
  • Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, Steering Committee
  • Anti Defamation League, Board Member Texoma Region
  • Texas Pride Impact Funds, Steering Committee
  • Congregation Shearith Israel, Adult Choir

Dallas Texas skyline

April 25, 2025
Attorney News

Jackson Walker Congratulates 21 Attorneys Named Among 2025 “Best Lawyers in Dallas”

Jackson Walker congratulates the 21 attorneys recognized among D Magazine’s list of the “Best Lawyers in Dallas” for 2025. For recognition in the list, Dallas attorneys must be nominated by their peers on the basis that they offer unmatched counsel in one of 40 categories.

Texas Super Lawyers 2024

September 17, 2024
Attorney News

Jackson Walker Congratulates Its “Texas Super Lawyers” of 2024

Jackson Walker proudly announces the selection of 71 attorneys to Thomson Reuters’ 2024 “Texas Super Lawyers” list.

Each year, less than 5% of attorneys in Texas are named to the list. Selection is based off of peer nominations that are then reviewed by a research team. Each nominee is evaluated on his or her professional accomplishments, peer recognition, and community involvement.

Best Lawyers 2025 edition graphic - 306 attorneys recognized, 81 specialty areas, 75 Ones to Watch, and 9 Lawyers of the Year

August 15, 2024
Attorney News

‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Features 306 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2025 Edition, Including 9 “Lawyers of the Year” and 75 “Ones to Watch”

The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 306 Jackson Walker attorneys across 81 specialty practice areas in its 2025 edition, including 9 Lawyers of the Year and 75 Ones to Watch. In this year’s guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (75 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (55 attorneys) and the addition of 27 attorneys as Best Lawyers.

Best Lawyers in Dallas 2024 D Magazine

April 19, 2024
Attorney News

Jackson Walker Congratulates 23 Attorneys Named Among 2024 “Best Lawyers in Dallas” List

Jackson Walker congratulates the 23 attorneys recognized among D Magazine’s list of the “Best Lawyers in Dallas” for 2024. For recognition in the list, Dallas attorneys must be nominated by their peers on the basis that they offer unmatched counsel in one of 40 categories.

Flags flying at the Texas Capitol

September 19, 2023
Attorney News

Jackson Walker Congratulates Its “Texas Super Lawyers” of 2023

Each year, less than 5% of attorneys in Texas are named to the list. Selection is based off of peer nominations that are then reviewed by a research team. Each nominee is evaluated on his or her professional accomplishments, peer recognition, and community involvement.

USA flags

August 17, 2023
Attorney News

‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 287 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2024 Edition, Including 12 “Lawyers of the Year” and 80 “Ones to Watch”

The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 287 Jackson Walker attorneys across 5 offices and 82 specialty practice areas in its 2024 edition, including 12 Lawyers of the Year and 80 Ones to Watch. In this year’s guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (66 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (60 attorneys) and the addition of 35 attorneys as Best Lawyers.

Jackson Walker Best Lawyers in Dallas 2023

April 25, 2023
Attorney News

Jackson Walker Congratulates 24 Attorneys Named Among 2023 “Best Lawyers in Dallas” List

Jackson Walker congratulates the 24 attorneys recognized among D Magazine’s list of the “Best Lawyers in Dallas” for 2023. For recognition in the list, Dallas attorneys must be nominated by their peers on the basis that they offer unmatched counsel in one of 40 categories.

September 21, 2022
Attorney News

Jackson Walker Congratulates Its 64 “Texas Super Lawyers” of 2022

Each year, less than 5% of attorneys in Texas are named to the list. Selection is based off of peer nominations that are then reviewed by a research team. Each nominee is evaluated on his or her professional accomplishments, peer recognition, and community involvement.

August 18, 2022
Attorney News

‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 214 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2023 Edition, Including 11 “Lawyers of the Year” and 41 “Ones to Watch”

The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 214 Jackson Walker attorneys across 6 offices and 79 specialty practice areas in its 2023 edition, including 11 Lawyers of the Year and 41 Ones to Watch. Best Lawyers listings are based on an exhaustive peer review survey of thousands of attorneys who vote on the legal abilities of others in their practice areas.

Jackson Walker - D Magazine Best Lawyers in Dallas 2022

April 25, 2022
Attorney News

Jackson Walker Congratulates 21 Attorneys Named Among 2022 “Best Lawyers in Dallas” List

Jackson Walker congratulates the 21 attorneys recognized among D Magazine’s list of the “Best Lawyers in Dallas” for 2022. For recognition in the list, Dallas attorneys must be nominated by their peers on the basis that they offer unmatched counsel in one of 40 categories.

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