David T. Lewis

For affluent individuals, successful business owners, and their families across North Carolina, the complexities of wealth management, intergenerational transfers, and protecting one's legacy require not just legal counsel, but strategic foresight and a deeply personal approach. Navigating intricate tax laws, business succession, and potential family disputes demands an attorney with extensive experience and a track record of handling the most sophisticated matters. In Charlotte, NC, David T. Lewis stands as one of the most experienced and highly respected Trusts & Estates attorneys in the Carolinas, renowned for his strategic, intensely personal approach to safeguarding his clients' assets and intentions.

A partner at Johnston, Allison & Hord, P.A., David T. Lewis has dedicated over 25 years to helping generations of families with their most important and complex wealth management needs. His practice is uniquely positioned to handle both proactive planning and reactive litigation, ensuring clients are prepared for all eventualities. Whether it's crafting a meticulous estate plan, facilitating a tax-efficient sale of a closely held business, or representing fiduciaries and beneficiaries in high-stakes probate disputes, David combines precise technical skill with a compassionate understanding of sensitive family relationships. For North Carolina residents seeking to preserve their wealth, secure their businesses, and ensure their intentions are honored, David T. Lewis offers unparalleled expertise and dedicated advocacy.

David T. Lewis practices as a partner at Johnston, Allison & Hord, P.A., a prominent law firm conveniently located in Charlotte, North Carolina. Their office is easily accessible for clients throughout the Charlotte metropolitan area and broader North Carolina region, providing a professional and welcoming environment for complex legal discussions. You can find their office at:

1065 E Morehead St, Charlotte, NC 28204, USA

This address places the firm in a central and well-regarded area of Charlotte, making it straightforward for clients to reach, whether they are driving from local neighborhoods or surrounding counties. The accessible location on East Morehead Street ensures that individuals and families seeking sophisticated trusts and estates, or business succession planning services, can easily schedule and attend appointments, minimizing any logistical challenges. This convenience is part of the firm's commitment to providing client-focused legal services to the North Carolina community.

David T. Lewis's practice at Johnston, Allison & Hord, P.A. is highly specialized, focusing on comprehensive solutions for wealthy individuals, families, and business owners in the realm of trusts, estates, and related business and tax matters. He has two primary areas of focus: proactive planning/estate administration and reactive fiduciary and probate litigation. His key services include:

• Trusts & Estates Planning: Designing and implementing sophisticated estate plans tailored to high-net-worth individuals and families. This involves drafting wills, establishing various types of trusts (e.g., revocable, irrevocable, multi-generational), and developing strategies to minimize transfer and income taxes, protect assets, and ensure wealth passes efficiently to intended beneficiaries.

• Estate Administration & Probate: Guiding executors, trustees, and beneficiaries through the complex process of administering estates and trusts after a death. This includes handling legal and tax issues, managing assets, interpreting will and trust language, and navigating family dynamics to ensure a smooth and proper distribution of assets.

• Fiduciary & Probate Litigation: Representing fiduciaries (executors, trustees) and beneficiaries in contentious disputes. This includes handling will contests (caveats), trust modifications, disputes over alleged breaches of fiduciary duties, and cases involving the interpretation of complex estate documents. David's goal is to preserve the testator's or grantor's true intentions and prevent unjust results.

• Business Succession Planning & Business Transactions: Assisting business owners with the creation and implementation of plans for transferring their closely held companies to the next generation of family members or key employees. He also advises on the most tax-efficient sale strategies to unrelated purchasers, including drafting essential documents like buy-sell agreements and shareholder agreements.

• Taxation (Complex Transfer & Income Tax Planning): Developing advanced tax planning strategies for high-net-worth individuals and families to minimize exposure to estate, gift, generation-skipping transfer, and income taxes, ensuring maximum wealth preservation.

• Asset Protection Planning: Structuring assets and entities to shield wealth from potential creditors, lawsuits, or other unforeseen claims, utilizing various legal tools to safeguard family wealth for future generations.

• Charitable Planning & Exempt Organizations: Advising clients on how to integrate philanthropic goals into their estate plans, including strategies for charitable giving and the formation or management of tax-exempt organizations and foundations.

• Elder Law & Special Needs Planning: Providing legal solutions for the unique needs of elderly clients and individuals with disabilities, including guardianship matters, special needs trusts, and long-term care planning.

David T. Lewis is recognized as a leader in his field due to several outstanding features and professional accomplishments:

• Preeminent Experience and Specialization: With over 25 years in practice, David is recognized as one of the most experienced trusts and estates attorneys in the Carolinas. His focus on wealthy business owners and executives allows him to tackle highly complex and sophisticated wealth management needs.

• Highly Acclaimed by Peers and Publications: David T. Lewis is consistently recognized in top legal directories. He has been selected to Super Lawyers® North Carolina for Estate Planning and Probate from 2006-2007 and 2012-2025, and consistently listed in The Best Lawyers in America© for Trusts and Estates Law (2007-2025), Tax Law (2007-2025), and Litigation - Trusts and Estates (2021, 2023-2025). Notably, he was named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers© for Trusts and Estates Law multiple times (2016, 2019, 2021) and for Tax Law (2013) and Litigation-Trusts and Estates (2022).

• Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC): This is a highly selective professional organization of preeminent trust and estate lawyers in the United States, signifying exceptional expertise and experience in the field. David's leadership within ACTEC, including serving on committees and as North Carolina State Chair (2016-2021), underscores his influence and standing.

• Dual Focus on Planning and Litigation: David's unique strength lies in his ability to expertly handle both proactive estate planning and the complexities of fiduciary and probate litigation. This comprehensive approach ensures continuity of care for clients, whether they are planning for the future or resolving disputes over existing plans.

• Strategic and Personal Approach: David's strategic and intensely personal approach to fulfilling client goals is a unique differentiator. He prioritizes understanding his clients' long-term objectives and family dynamics to craft bespoke solutions, especially for asset protection and complex wealth transitions.

• Former COO/General Counsel of a Hedge Fund: His prior experience as the Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel for a multi-strategy hedge fund provides him with invaluable real-world business and financial acumen, enhancing his ability to advise wealthy clients effectively on business succession and tax planning.

While a highly specialized practice like that of David T. Lewis, particularly serving high-net-worth clients, typically does not advertise traditional "promotions" or discounted rates, the value he provides transcends such offers. His profound expertise and strategic approach to trusts, estates, and business succession inherently offer long-term financial benefits and peace of mind that far outweigh any short-term discount. By meticulously planning to minimize tax liabilities, avoid costly litigation, and ensure smooth wealth transfers, David's services represent an investment in the secure and efficient preservation of generational wealth.

Interested individuals and families in North Carolina are encouraged to contact Johnston, Allison & Hord, P.A. to arrange a consultation. This initial discussion provides an opportunity to explore your specific needs and learn how David T. Lewis’s exceptional experience and strategic insight can be applied to secure your financial future and legacy.

For those in North Carolina seeking premier legal counsel in trusts, estates, wealth management, and business succession planning, you can connect with David T. Lewis and the team at Johnston, Allison & Hord, P.A. using the following contact details:

• Address: 1065 E Morehead St, Charlotte, NC 28204, USA

• Phone: (704) 998-2208

Reaching out is the first step toward securing sophisticated and personalized legal strategies for your most important financial and familial matters. The firm’s professional staff is prepared to assist you in scheduling a consultation with David T. Lewis.

For wealthy individuals, executives, and business owners across North Carolina, especially those in the Charlotte area, David T. Lewis offers an unparalleled level of expertise and a truly tailored approach to trusts, estates, and business succession planning. His designation as one of the most experienced trusts and estates attorneys in the Carolinas, coupled with his consistent recognition in top legal publications and his prestigious fellowship in ACTEC, clearly demonstrates his standing as a leader in his field. He is particularly suited for locals who require sophisticated guidance on complex wealth management, asset protection, and tax-efficient transitions of closely held businesses.

David’s unique ability to bridge the gap between proactive planning and assertive fiduciary litigation provides comprehensive security, ensuring that client intentions are honored and wealth is preserved for future generations. His intensely personal approach means he invests in understanding each client's unique family dynamics and long-term goals, crafting bespoke solutions that go beyond generic legal advice. For North Carolina residents seeking to navigate the intricate world of wealth and legacy planning with confidence, strategic insight, and a trusted advisor who truly understands their needs, David T. Lewis is an exceptional and highly recommended choice, ensuring that your most important assets are managed with the utmost care and foresight.