Legacy Protection Lawyers, LLP has received the 2026 ELA Award for Best Probate Litigation Firm, presented by Expert Law Attorneys. The award recognizes the St. Petersburg, Florida firm for representing families in contested estates and probate disputes.
About the 2026 ELA Awards
The 2026 ELA Awards highlight law firms that deliver for the people they represent. The program recognizes firms across a wide range of practice areas for their experience, their reputation with clients, their professional conduct, and their service to their communities.
Why Legacy Protection Lawyers, LLP Earned the Recognition
Legacy Protection Lawyers, LLP is a boutique estate planning, probate and trust law firm in St. Petersburg serving individuals and families throughout the Tampa Bay area, with probate administration and litigation handled across Florida. The firm’s partners are founding partner William Battle McQueen, Joseph W. Fleece, III and Nicole S. Bell Cleland. McQueen, a Florida Bar Board Certified Wills, Trusts and Estates attorney, is also a CPA who began his career at Arthur Andersen, and he holds a J.D. with high honors from the University of Florida and an LL.M. in estate planning from the University of Miami.
He was named St. Petersburg’s Lawyer of the Year in Trusts and Estates by Best Lawyers and served as president of the St. Petersburg Bar Association. The firm handles estate planning through wills, trusts, asset protection and business succession planning, along with probate and trust administration and estate and trust litigation, including will and trust contests and inheritance disputes. The firm has been recognized by Best Lawyers and Best Law Firms, and its attorneys have earned Super Lawyers and Martindale-Hubbell recognition.
What the Award Means for Clients
For anyone dealing with a contested estate, the ELA Award is a helpful signal when comparing firms. It reflects the experience, client service, and professionalism Legacy Protection Lawyers, LLP brings to each matter. The best next step is always a conversation with the attorney about your specific situation.