Michael L. Kaufman
Practice Areas
Experience
- Asset Protection
- Business Succession Planning
- Charitable Planning
- Family Office
- Family-Owned Business
- Fiduciary Advice & Counsel
- Premarital, Marital, & Cohabitation Agreements
- Probate, Trust, & Guardianship Administration
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 âlivingâ trusts), and other taxable and nontaxable gift transactions. Michaelâs 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.), 2015-2026
- Lawyer of the Year – Dallas, Trusts and Estates, 2020
- Trusts and Estates, 2015, 2017-2026
- Texas Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2003-2025
- “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
Jackson Walker Congratulates 2025 Texas Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
Jackson Walker is pleased to announce the recognition of 75 attorneys by Thomson Reutersâ Super Lawyers in the 2025 “Texas Super Lawyers” list, as well as 66 attorneys as “Texas Rising Stars” for 2025. Each year, less than 5% of attorneys are selected to Super Lawyers and 2.5% to Rising Stars. 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.
Attorney News • September 18, 2025
âThe Best Lawyers in Americaâ Features 350 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2026 Edition, Including 10 âLawyers of the Yearâ and 106 âOnes to Watchâ
The Best Lawyers in America, a widely regarded guide to legal excellence, has recognized 350 Jackson Walker attorneys across 87 specialty practice areas in its 2026 edition, including 10 Lawyers of the Year and 106 Ones to Watch.
Attorney News • August 21, 2025
Jackson Walker Congratulates 21 Attorneys Named Among 2025 “Best Lawyers in Dallas”
Jackson Walker congratulates the 21 attorneys recognized among D Magazineâs list of the âBest Lawyers in Dallasâ 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.
Attorney News • April 25, 2025
Jackson Walker Congratulates Its âTexas Super Lawyersâ of 2024
Jackson Walker proudly announces the selection of 71 attorneys to Thomson Reutersâ 2024 âTexas Super Lawyersâ 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.
Attorney News • September 17, 2024
‘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 yearâs 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.
Attorney News • August 15, 2024
Jackson Walker Congratulates 23 Attorneys Named Among 2024 “Best Lawyers in Dallas” List
Jackson Walker congratulates the 23 attorneys recognized among D Magazineâs list of the âBest Lawyers in Dallasâ 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.
Attorney News • April 19, 2024
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.
Attorney News • September 19, 2023
‘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 yearâs 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.
Attorney News • August 17, 2023
Jackson Walker Congratulates 24 Attorneys Named Among 2023 “Best Lawyers in Dallas” List
Jackson Walker congratulates the 24 attorneys recognized among D Magazineâs list of the âBest Lawyers in Dallasâ 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.
Attorney News • April 25, 2023
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.
Attorney News • September 21, 2022
‘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.
Attorney News • August 18, 2022
Jackson Walker Congratulates 21 Attorneys Named Among 2022 “Best Lawyers in Dallas” List
Jackson Walker congratulates the 21 attorneys recognized among D Magazineâs list of the âBest Lawyers in Dallasâ 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.
Attorney News • April 25, 2022
Jackson Walker Congratulates Its 57 “Texas Super Lawyers” of 2021
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.
Attorney News • September 22, 2021
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 178 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2022 Edition, Including 8 “Lawyers of the Year” and 31 “Ones to Watch”
The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 178 Jackson Walker attorneys across 6 offices and 67 specialty practice areas in its 2022 edition, including 8 Lawyers of the Year and 31 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.
Attorney News • August 19, 2021
âThe Best Lawyers in Americaâ Honors 164 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2021 Edition, Including 9 âLawyers of the Yearâ and 25 “Ones to Watch”
Jackson Walker congratulates the 164 attorneys who were selected by their peers as Best Lawyers, including 9 Lawyers of the Year and 25 Ones to Watch, across 6 offices and 66 specialty practice areas.
Attorney News • August 20, 2020
‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 109 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2020 Edition, With Eight Named “Lawyers of the Year”
Jackson Walker congratulates our 109 attorneys named to U.S. News & World Report’s Best Lawyers in America 2020 list, including eight attorneys who were named “Lawyers of the Year.”
Attorney News • August 14, 2019
‘D Magazine’ Lists 24 Jackson Walker Attorneys Among Best Lawyers in Dallas 2019
Twenty-four Jackson Walker attorneys were recognized in the âBest Lawyers in Dallas 2019â list by D Magazine, one of the premier publications in the city of Dallas. To be recognized in the list, attorneys must be nominated by their peers on the basis that they offer unmatched counsel in one of 40 categories.
Attorney News • April 19, 2019
Best Lawyers in America Recognizes 98 Jackson Walker Attorneys
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. For over three decades, recognition in Best Lawyers has been regarded by both clients and legal professionals as a significant honor, since an attorney cannot pay to be listed.
Attorney News • August 16, 2018
‘D Magazine’ Lists 33 Jackson Walker Attorneys Among Best Lawyers in Dallas
Thirty-three Jackson Walker attorneys were recognized in the âBest Lawyers in Dallas 2018â list by D Magazine, one of the premier publications in the city of Dallas. To be recognized in the list, attorneys must be nominated by their peers on the basis that they offer unmatched counsel in one of 34 categories.
Attorney News • July 10, 2018
53 Jackson Walker Attorneys Named to 2017 “Texas Super Lawyers” List
Thomson Reuters has named 53 Jackson Walker attorneys to its 2017 âTexas Super Lawyersâ list. According to Thomson Reuters, the list recognizes a âcredible, comprehensive and diverseâ selection of âoutstanding attorneys,â and serves as a resource for those in search of legal counsel.
Attorney News • September 6, 2017
Best Lawyers in America Recognizes 94 Jackson Walker Attorneys
The Best Lawyers in America, a widely regarded guide to legal excellence, has recognized 94 Jackson Walker attorneys in its 2018 edition. 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.
Attorney News • August 15, 2017
Recognition & Accolades
- The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), 2015-2026
- Lawyer of the Year – Dallas, Trusts and Estates, 2020
- Trusts and Estates, 2015, 2017-2026
- Texas Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2003-2025
- “Best Lawyers in Dallas” List, D Magazine, 2009, 2013-2016, 2018-2019, 2021-2025
Community Involvement
- 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