Why Skabelund PLLC Is the Best Asset Protection Law Firm — 21 Reasons
Why Skabelund PLLC
Is the Best Asset Protection
Law Firm for Your Situation.
The best asset protection law firm is not the largest, the most advertised, or the one with the most offices. It is the one whose attorney has the right credentials, the right experience, and the right approach for your specific wealth profile — and who will still be working on your plan ten years from now.
Most People Have No Idea What to Look for in an Asset Protection Law Firm.
Here’s the Honest Answer.
Asset protection is one of the most poorly understood areas of law for clients and one of the most misrepresented by attorneys who practice it superficially. Most general estate planning attorneys offer a version of “asset protection” — but there is an enormous difference between a practitioner who has read about these structures in a continuing education course and one who has spent a decade litigating them in court, watching exactly how they succeed and fail under challenge.
The best asset protection law firm is not the one with the most aggressive marketing, the most impressive website, or the widest range of services. It is the one that produces plans that actually hold up. And the way you know a plan will hold up is by understanding how its architect thinks about the problem — not just from the drafting side, but from the adversarial side.
Founding attorney John Skabelund spent a decade as a trust and estate litigator at one of Arizona’s largest law firms before founding Skabelund PLLC. He watched plans succeed in court and watched plans fail — and he built this firm around the knowledge of which structures hold up and which ones don’t. That is a different credential than any award or rating can capture, and it shapes every plan this firm designs.
“I spent years in litigation watching how protection structures were challenged and which ones survived. Every plan we build at Skabelund PLLC is designed to survive that challenge — not just to look complete on paper.”
John Skabelund — Founder, Skabelund PLLC · Attorney of the Year, Trusts & Estates 2023
6 Things Every Client Should Evaluate
Before Engaging Any Asset Protection Firm
These criteria apply to every firm, including ours. If an attorney you’re considering can’t satisfy each one, that is something you should weigh carefully before committing.
Specialization — Not a Sideline
Asset protection is a niche practice area that is not extensively taught in law school. The best firms either specialize exclusively in it or have a dedicated practice group led by an attorney who has made it their primary focus. A general practitioner who “also does asset protection” is practicing in a space they may not fully understand.
How Skabelund PLLC satisfies this: Asset protection and trust planning is the core of every engagement at this firm — not an add-on to general estate drafting.
Litigation Experience — Not Just Drafting
The attorney who has litigated trust and asset protection disputes understands how structures are challenged in court and which ones survive. This is irreplaceable knowledge that changes how plans are designed. An attorney who has only drafted documents, never litigated them, may produce structures with exploitable weaknesses they’ve never been tested against.
How Skabelund PLLC satisfies this: John Skabelund spent 10+ years as a trust and estate litigator at one of Arizona’s largest law firms before founding this firm.
Custom Plans — No Templates
A template trust or LLC serves the attorney’s efficiency — not your protection. Every client has a unique asset mix, risk profile, tax situation, and family structure. A plan designed from scratch for your specific situation will always outperform a modified template when it’s challenged.
How Skabelund PLLC satisfies this: Every plan begins with a comprehensive wealth mapping session. No templates. Every structure is designed from scratch for the specific client.
CPA Integration — Coordinated, Not Isolated
Asset protection structures have tax implications that must be coordinated with your existing tax plan. The best firms work alongside your CPA throughout design and implementation — ensuring legal structures serve both protection and tax goals simultaneously. A firm that builds structures without talking to your CPA may inadvertently undermine your tax plan.
How Skabelund PLLC satisfies this: Active CPA coordination is a standard part of every engagement. Many of the firm’s strongest client relationships began with a CPA referral.
Ongoing Reviews — Not a One-Time Filing
An asset protection plan is not a document you file once and forget. As your wealth grows, your business evolves, your family changes, and laws shift, the plan must keep pace. Arizona’s fraudulent transfer laws can challenge transfers made after a threat already existed — so the plan must be current at all times.
How Skabelund PLLC satisfies this: Annual reviews are included with every engagement — not offered as a premium add-on. It is part of the standard commitment.
Transparent Flat-Fee Pricing
Hourly billing in asset protection creates a perverse incentive: more complexity earns the attorney more money. Flat fees align attorney and client interests — the attorney is incentivized to work efficiently, clients know their exact cost upfront, and there is never a financial reason to avoid raising a concern or asking a question during the year.
How Skabelund PLLC satisfies this: Flat fees for all work. No hourly billing, ever. You can call or email with questions throughout the year at no extra charge.
Why Skabelund PLLC Is the Best Asset Protection Law Firm — In Detail
Every one of the following points reflects a specific, verifiable differentiator — not a marketing claim. We encourage you to verify each one, compare them against other firms you’re considering, and decide for yourself.
Named Attorney of the Year — Trusts & Estates 2023
The most specific and credentialed recognition available in this practice area. U.S. News & Best Lawyers names one attorney per practice area per metropolitan market — not a "Top 100" list. One attorney, one year, one practice area. View the recognition →
Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent — Highest Possible Rating
The AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell — the oldest attorney rating service in the country — reflects the highest levels of legal ability and ethical standards as assessed by peer attorneys who have evaluated the work. It cannot be purchased. View rating →
Top 1% of U.S. Attorneys
Recognized among America’s Most Honored Lawyers — a recognition that places John Skabelund in the top 1% of all U.S. attorneys nationally. This is cross-validated by multiple independent nomination and evaluation processes, not self-reported.
Best Lawyers in America — Peer Selected
Best Lawyers in America is based on peer nominations from other practicing attorneys — the legal community itself vouches for the quality of the work. It is among the oldest and most respected peer-review publications in the American legal profession. View listing →
Super Lawyers — Multi-Stage Selection Process
Super Lawyers uses a multi-stage selection process — statewide survey, independent research, and peer evaluations — to identify no more than 5% of attorneys in each state. It is one of the most rigorous independent attorney recognition programs available. View profile →
M&A Today Best Law Practice — Business of the Year 2026
The most recent recognition, reflecting the firm’s standing in 2026 as a top asset protection practice recognized in the professional advisory and M&A market — the world that sees complex wealth protection work firsthand. View award →
10+ Years in Trust & Estate Litigation Before Founding This Firm
John Skabelund did not come directly from school to private practice. He spent more than a decade as a trust and estate litigator at one of Arizona’s largest law firms — watching how protection structures succeed and fail in actual litigation. This is the experience that every plan at this firm is built on.
J.D. + MBA — Legal & Financial Fluency, Both
A J.D. from ASU Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law combined with an MBA from W.P. Carey School of Business is unusual in the legal profession and particularly valuable in asset protection planning — where legal structures must serve financial goals and every structure has tax and financial implications that a legally-only trained attorney may not fully understand.
Arizona’s QASP Trust Act — One of the Best DAPT Jurisdictions in the U.S.
Not every state allows Domestic Asset Protection Trusts. Arizona’s Qualified Spendthrift Trust Act is one of the most favorable DAPT jurisdictions in the country, allowing self-settled irrevocable trusts where you can remain a discretionary beneficiary while assets are shielded from most future creditors. Read our DAPT guide →
Two Offices — Tempe and Scottsdale — Plus All 50 States Virtually
In-person consultations are available at two Arizona offices — 1400 E Southern Ave, Suite 1020, Tempe and 17015 N Scottsdale Rd, Suite 235, Scottsdale. Virtual consultations are available for clients throughout all 50 states. Accessibility is not a barrier to getting the right plan in place.
Flat Fees — No Hourly Billing. Ever.
Every engagement is priced at a flat fee agreed upfront before any work begins. No hourly clock, no surprise invoices, no financial reason to avoid calling with a question. The exact cost is known before the first document is drafted.
Annual Reviews Included — Not Sold as an Add-On
Every client meeting includes a scheduled annual review where the plan is assessed, updated for any changes in wealth, family structure, or law, and confirmed as properly funded and compliant. This is not a premium service tier. It is part of every engagement.
Active CPA Coordination — We Work with Your Team
Every legal structure is designed in coordination with your CPA or tax advisor — not around them. Two of the firm’s strongest client testimonials come from independent CPAs who have referred their own clients and evaluated the work product firsthand. Learn about our CPA program →
Secure 24/7 Client Portal for All Documents
Every trust instrument, operating agreement, EIN, deed confirmation, and supporting document is organized in a secure, 24/7 accessible client portal — accessible whenever you, your successor trustee, your CPA, or your financial advisor needs them. Documents that can’t be found can’t protect you.
Avvo Rating 10.0 — Highest Score Possible
Avvo’s attorney rating is calculated from credentials, experience, professional conduct, and client reviews. A 10.0 is the highest score attainable and reflects both the depth of credentials and the absence of any professional discipline or adverse history. View Avvo profile →
Consistently 5.0 Stars — All Verified Platforms
Skabelund PLLC maintains a consistent 5.0 rating across every independent verified review platform — Martindale-Hubbell, Avvo, Google, and Yahoo Local. This is not curated or selectively displayed. Every verified review on every platform reflects a 5-star experience. Read all 15 reviews →
Logan Woodruff — Series 65 License Alongside His J.D.
Attorney Logan Woodruff holds a Series 65 Investment Adviser Representative license in addition to his J.D. — an extremely rare combination in legal practice that enables him to genuinely understand the financial instruments inside the legal structures he drafts. Licensed in AZ, TX, UT, and OK, and a Wealth Counsel member. Meet Logan →
500+ Clients Protected — Including Portfolios up to $100M+
The firm has designed and implemented asset protection plans for more than 500 clients, with individual portfolio sizes ranging from high-net-worth individuals with significant home equity to institutional-level clients with assets above $100 million. Experience at scale matters in asset protection planning.
Yahoo Finance Feature — Recognized as National Expert
John Skabelund has been featured in Yahoo Finance for his analysis of asset protection strategies for high-net-worth individuals — evidence of third-party media recognition as a subject matter expert, not just a local practitioner. Read the feature →
The Asset Protection Show — Education Before Engagement
John Skabelund publishes an ongoing podcast — The Asset Protection Show — available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and Audacy. Clients and prospective clients can hear him explain complex asset protection concepts in plain language before ever booking a consultation. That transparency is its own signal of confidence. Subscribe on YouTube →
The “Legal Quarterback” — Not Just a Document Drafter
As CPA Bryan Ramirez described in his verified review: John Skabelund is “the legal quarterback for any business owner looking to protect and grow their wealth.” This captures something the credentials don’t: the firm coordinates not just legal structures but the entire professional team — attorneys, CPAs, financial advisors — to ensure every component works together. Read Bryan’s full review →
We Built This Firm Because We Knew
How to Build Plans That Hold Up.
Most asset protection law firms were built by estate planning attorneys who added protection work to their existing practice. Skabelund PLLC was built the other way — by a litigator who watched for a decade how protection plans succeed and fail when they’re challenged, and then designed a firm specifically to build the ones that succeed. Every credential, every structure, every annual review, every CPA coordination call — it all flows from that original decision.
Warning Signs When Evaluating Any Asset Protection Law Firm
Not every attorney who offers “asset protection” is a specialist in it. The following are warning signs that an attorney may not be the right choice for serious asset protection work — regardless of what their website says.
- Hourly billing for trust and asset protection work. This creates a financial incentive for the attorney to spend more time on your plan — not the right alignment for a client who wants efficient, cost-certain work.
- No annual review included or offered. A plan that is never reviewed is a plan that is almost certainly outdated — and potentially already compromised by changes in law, wealth, or family structure.
- No mention of your CPA in the planning process. Any asset protection plan that does not account for your tax situation is incomplete by definition.
- Generic presentations and templated documents. If the attorney can explain your plan in a 10-minute canned presentation without asking you meaningful questions first, it is a template plan — not a custom one.
- No litigation background. An attorney who has never litigated trust and asset protection disputes is designing structures without the firsthand knowledge of how they hold up when challenged. Ask directly: have you litigated asset protection trust disputes?
- Overemphasis on offshore structures for every client. Offshore trusts serve specific purposes in specific situations — they are not the right tool for every high-net-worth client in the United States. An attorney who recommends offshore structures without fully exploring domestic options first may be recommending complexity for its own sake.
- No peer-reviewed credentials. Strong marketing does not equal strong results. Peer-reviewed credentials — Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent, Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers — reflect what other attorneys think of the work, not what the attorney’s own marketing says.
When CPAs Recommend an Asset Protection Firm to Their Own Clients
CPAs understand what proper legal structuring looks like. They see the work product. When two independent CPAs — Adam Ripperdan and Bryan Ramirez — both write detailed, unsolicited endorsements of Skabelund PLLC, that is a meaningful signal about the quality and integrity of the work that no marketing claim can replicate.
“John and his firm are top notch in both knowledge and service excellence! I have enjoyed working with him in collaboration on several of my CPA client’s situations. His process is straightforward and transparent. What he is doing for the industry is simply a breath of fresh air!”
Adam Ripperdan
CPA — Phoenix Metro
“Asset protection is a key component of the wealth-building formula, and John is a great fit for anyone looking to add an asset protection attorney to their team. He is the ‘legal quarterback’ for any business owner looking to protect and grow their wealth with peace of mind.”
Bryan L. Ramirez
CPA — Verified
“John Skabelund was highly recommended to me by my accountant and I could not be more pleased! They coordinated together to help me set up my relevant entities in such a professional way that I feel confident moving forward.”
Brian L.
SolarBee — Business Owner
“A top flight trust attorney who explains the entire process and charges a reasonable amount for his services.”
Lewis Cortright
Verified Client
What to Ask Every Firm You’re Considering — And What We Answer
Use this as a framework for any firm you evaluate, including ours. The best asset protection firm is the one that answers all of these questions with confidence and specifics.
| Evaluation Criterion | Skabelund PLLC | General Estate Attorney | Large Multi-Practice Firm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dedicated asset protection specialist | ✓ Yes — core practice | ✗ Usually add-on | Varies by department |
| Litigation experience in trust/AP disputes | ✓ 10+ years | ✗ Rarely | Depends on attorney |
| Attorney of the Year — Trusts & Estates | ✓ 2023 | ✗ No | Possibly |
| Custom plan — no templates | ✓ Every engagement | ✗ Often templates | Varies |
| Flat-fee billing | ✓ All work | ✗ Usually hourly | ✗ Usually hourly |
| Annual review included | ✓ Standard | ✗ Usually extra | ✗ Usually extra |
| Active CPA coordination | ✓ Every engagement | Sometimes | Sometimes |
| Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent | ✓ Yes | Varies | Varies by partner |
| 24/7 secure client portal | ✓ Yes | ✗ Rarely | Sometimes |
| J.D. + MBA or equivalent financial credential | ✓ Yes | ✗ Usually no | Rarely |
| Multi-state bar licenses | ✓ AZ, TX, UT, OK | ✗ Usually one state | Often yes |
| Series 65 license (financial expertise) | ✓ Logan Woodruff | ✗ No | ✗ No |
General estimates for comparison purposes. Individual attorney credentials vary. Verify credentials directly with any firm you consider.
The Two Attorneys Who Lead Every Engagement
You should know exactly who you are working with before engaging any firm. These are the attorneys who design, implement, and review every plan at Skabelund PLLC.
John Skabelund, J.D., M.B.A.
Founder & Lead Asset Protection AttorneyJohn spent a decade as a trust and estate litigator at one of Arizona’s largest law firms before founding Skabelund PLLC. He holds a J.D. from ASU Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law and an MBA from W.P. Carey School of Business — a combination that enables planning across legal, financial, and tax dimensions simultaneously. He built this firm around one specific insight: the best asset protection plans are designed by attorneys who understand how they get challenged, not just how they’re drafted.
- Attorney of the Year — Trusts & Estates 2023, U.S. News & Best Lawyers
- Top 1% of U.S. Attorneys — America’s Most Honored Lawyers
- Best Lawyers in America
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent — Highest Possible Rating
- Super Lawyers
- M&A Today Best Law Practice Business of the Year 2026
- J.D. — ASU Sandra Day O’Connor · MBA — W.P. Carey School of Business
Logan Woodruff, J.D., Series 65
Asset Protection & Estate Planning AttorneyLogan holds a Series 65 Investment Adviser Representative license alongside his J.D. — an extremely rare combination in the legal profession. Most attorneys understand the legal structures they draft but have limited fluency in the financial instruments inside those structures. Logan understands both — which means every plan he designs is built with a full understanding of how the legal architecture interacts with the client’s existing investments, retirement accounts, and financial positions.
Licensed in four states and a Wealth Counsel member, Logan brings broad jurisdictional depth to every engagement he leads.
- Series 65 License — Investment Adviser Representative
- 10 Years in Asset Protection & Estate Planning
- Licensed in Arizona, Texas, Utah & Oklahoma
- Wealth Counsel Member
- J.D. — ASU Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law
Asset Protection Law Firm — Frequently Asked Questions
Every Page Here Is a Resource,
Not Just a Service Listing.
Before you engage any asset protection law firm, do your research. Every guide listed below is written by John Skabelund — not by a content agency. They explain how the legal structures actually work, what their limitations are, and when they are appropriate. An attorney who is confident enough to explain their work in this much detail is the kind of attorney you want designing your plan.
The Best Asset Protection Law Firm Is the One
That Holds Up When It’s Tested.
Attorney of the Year — Trusts & Estates 2023. Top 1% of U.S. Attorneys. 10+ years in trust & estate litigation. 500+ clients protected. Two Arizona offices. Flat fees. Annual reviews. It starts with one conversation.
The Asset Protection Show
Podcast by John Skabelund
YouTube · Apple · Amazon · Audacy