John K. Round

Member

Biography

After more than 40 years in the practice of law, there isn’t much that John Round has not helped his clients navigate. John’s clients consider him their trusted advisor and confidant and appreciate that he is a respectful straight shooter. Individuals, families, and closely-held businesses turn to him for all areas of estate and wealth planning, including the preparation of wills and the planning, implementation, and management of trusts. John’s wealth of estate planning experience is especially beneficial in high stakes, and often emotional, estate and trust litigation involving contested wills and breach of fiduciary duties.

John shares his knowledge with his colleagues, both as a mentor and as a sought-after speaker with more than 600 presentations under his belt. He is Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.

Representative Experience

Organized and counseled clients regarding tax-exempt charities
Counseled clients on all phases of estate planning and the preparation of wills and trusts
Designed and implemented family-limited partnerships
Represented business owners with buy-sell agreements
Counseled physicians, attorneys, and CPAs in the purchase/sales of professional practices
Advised clients on the preparation of special needs trusts and related documents
Represented taxpayers in gift, estate, and income tax audits and appeals
Represented clients in will contests and probate, trust, partnership, and corporate litigation and mediations
Represented executors and trustees in estate and trust controversies, fiduciary duties, and analysis and interpretation of trust documents
Counseled clients on premarital and post-marital agreements

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Licensed In

Texas

Education

J.D. St. Mary’s University School of Law

LL.M. University of Florida
B.B.A. Texas Tech University

Memberships

American Cancer Society – Texas Division, Former Director, Income & Development Committee and Chair, Legacy & Planned Giving Committee, Former Chair
Dallas Bar Association, Probate Trusts and Estates Section
Dallas Foundation, Advisory Board Member
Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Texas, Board Member
Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, Board Member (2004-2010)
Southwestern Medical Foundation Estate Planning Council, Member
State Bar of Texas, Trust Code Committee, Former Member
Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization

Achievements

The Best Lawyers in America®, Family Law (2025), Litigation – Trusts and Estates (2011-Present), Tax Law (2013-Present), Trusts and Estates (2010-Present)
Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel
The Best Lawyers in Dallas, D Magazine (2013-present)
Best Lawyers® 2021 Dallas, TX Litigation – Trusts and Estates, Lawyer of the Year
Super Lawyers®, Estate Planning & Probate Law, Tax Law, Closely Held Business Law, Dallas, TX (2003-2023)
Five Star Wealth Manager – Texas Monthly (2011-present)

Speaking Engagements

Advanced Estate Planning and Probate Course for the State Bar of Texas
Advanced Drafting: Estate Planning and Probate Course for the State Bar of Texas
AICPA Practitioners Symposium
Advanced Estate and Financial Planning Conference of the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants
The Center for American and International Law – Short Course on Estate Planning
John Round is a sought-after speaker and often speaks at the Dallas Estate Planning Council, San Antonio Estate Planning Council, the Dallas Bar Association’s Tax Section, and a number of tax symposiums

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