Michael B. Knisely
Michael B. Knisely

Michael B. Knisely

Partner

email

mbknisely@ohsks.com

email

(512) 542-2042

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)
STEP
International Bar Association
The College of the State Bar of Texas
Super Lawyers, Michael B. Knisely, 2024
Best Lawyers, 2024, Michael B. Knisely

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

The Role of the Guardian Under Texas Law

The Role of the Guardian Under Texas Law

Legislative Update, Guardianship Certification and Guardianship Workshop Seminar, San Antonio, Texas
Publication
2017

Overcoming Common Roadblocks to Estate Planning

Overcoming Common Roadblocks to Estate Planning

Publication
2015

Avoiding Will Contests: Practical Advice For Your Estate Planning Clients

Avoiding Will Contests: Practical Advice For Your Estate Planning Clients

State Bar of Texas Intermediate Estate Planning and Probate Course, Dallas, Texas
Presentation/Publication
2015

What Every Planned Giving Professional Needs to Know About the Estate Planning Process

What Every Planned Giving Professional Needs to Know About the Estate Planning Process

Planned Giving Council of Central Texas
Presentation
2014

Accessing and Managing Digital Assets after Death

Accessing and Managing Digital Assets after Death

Austin Bar Association Estate Planning & Probate Law Section Meeting
Presentation/Publication
2013

An Introduction to Powers of Attorney

An Introduction to Powers of Attorney

Texas Parent to Parent Annual Conference, San Marcos, Texas
Presentation/Publication
2013

Avoiding Trust and Estate Controversies

Avoiding Trust and Estate Controversies

Financial Planners Association of Austin
Presentation
2012

Will Contests: Helping Your Estate Planning Clients Avoid the Quagmire

Will Contests: Helping Your Estate Planning Clients Avoid the Quagmire

Austin Bar Association, Estate Planning and Probate Section
Presentation/Publication
2010

Judicial Profile: The Honorable Felix Recio

Judicial Profile: The Honorable Felix Recio

The Federal Lawyer
Publication
2008

Fall 2007 Update On Bad Faith Insurance Litigation

Fall 2007 Update On Bad Faith Insurance Litigation

Presentation/Publication
2007

Bad Faith Insurance Litigation

Bad Faith Insurance Litigation

Williamson County Bar Association Annual Civil Law and Probate Conference
Publication
2007