Richards, Layton & Finger and Four Directors Earn High Marks in Private Wealth Law
July 24, 2025
Firm News| Commercial Litigation| Fiduciary Litigation| Intellectual Property| Tax| Trusts & Estates
WILMINGTON, Delaware (July 24, 2025) – Richards, Layton & Finger’s trusts and estates practice and directors have been recognized in the 2025 edition of Chambers HNW, the international guide to the world’s leading high-net-worth advisors. The firm directors recognized for excellence are F. Peter Conaty Jr., Beth Gansen Knight, and W. Donald Sparks II, named in Private Wealth Law, and Chad M. Shandler, listed in Private Wealth Disputes.
Chambers HNW reported that “Richards, Layton & Finger is the gold standard firm in the space, has a great reputation, and does excellent work.” Richards Layton’s trusts and estates team represents financial institutions, corporate fiduciaries, and high-net-worth individuals in sophisticated estate planning, trust and estate administration, tax issues, and fiduciary matters. The firm’s fiduciary litigation attorneys have won significant cases in court involving private wealth disputes.
Peter Conaty, Jr. represents high-net-worth individuals in complex estate planning matters and advises individuals and corporate fiduciaries regarding estate and trust administration and Delaware trust law. He “has particular expertise in advising trust companies on sophisticated Delaware trust structuring” (Chambers HNW, 2025). Peter is a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. In addition to his Chambers HNW ranking, Peter has consistently been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America and as a Delaware Today Top Lawyer.
Beth Knight advises high-net-worth individuals in implementing sophisticated estate plans. Her practice also includes estate administration, tax planning, and wealth preservation. Beth is considered “an excellent trusts and estates attorney” who is “very knowledgeable” (Chambers HNW, 2025). She has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America and as a Delaware Today Top Lawyer, as well as in Chambers HNW.
Chad Shandler is chair of Richards Layton’s Litigation Department. “A tough litigator and a strong advocate for his clients” (Chambers HNW, 2025), Chad has achieved significant victories in all of Delaware’s courts, handling business litigation and intellectual property disputes as well as complex trusts and estates disputes in which he represents financial institutions, trust companies, and high net worth individuals. In addition to his recognition in Chambers HNW, Chad is listed in Benchmark Litigation and The Best Lawyers in America.
Donald Sparks is renowned for his “broad knowledge in private wealth law and deep experience advising high net worth individuals, banks, and trust companies on estate planning, trusts structuring, and tax” (Chambers HNW, 2025). Don represents banks, trust companies, and high-net-worth individuals in sophisticated estate planning and fiduciary matters. He specializes in trusts and estates, focusing on estate administration, tax-exempt organizations, and fiduciary litigation. Don is a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, and, in addition to Chambers HNW, he has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, and as a Delaware Today Top Lawyer.
About Richards, Layton & Finger
Richards, Layton & Finger has been defining Delaware law since 1899. Delaware’s largest law firm and one of its oldest, Richards Layton helps sophisticated clients navigate complex issues and the intricacies of Delaware law. We advise global companies, business partnerships, leading financial institutions, local businesses, and individuals across a wide range of practices, including corporate law, alternative entities, commercial law, bankruptcy and corporate restructuring, intellectual property, tax, trusts and estates, commercial real estate, and litigation.