William T. Hennessey

• Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC)
  • Fiduciary Litigation Committee
  • Professional Responsibility Committee, Chair
• The Best Lawyers in America®
  • Trusts & Estates, Litigation, 2011-25
  • Trusts & Estates, 2010-25
  • Business Edition: The Litigation Issue, 2021
  • Trusts & Estates "Lawyer of the Year" in West Palm Beach, 2013, 2016, 2018
• Chambers High Net Worth Guide
  • Private Wealth Disputes: Florida, 2022-24
  • Private Wealth Law: Florida, 2016-21
• AV Rated as independently determined by Martindale-Hubbell
• Florida Super Lawyers, 2008-09, 2012-24
• Palm Beach Illustrated, "Top Lawyers," Trusts and Estates, 2018, 2020-21, 2023
• Jupiter Magazine, "Top Lawyers," Trusts and Estates, 2021
• South Florida Legal Guide, Top Lawyer Florida Trend, Legal Elite, 2011, 2013

• “Ethically Navigating Declining Capacity and the Challenge of Aging Clients,” 20^th Annual Sophisticated Trusts and Estates Law Institute in New York City, New York State Bar Association, November 2024
• “Ignorance Isn’t Always Bliss…Conflict of Interest Considerations for Trust and Estate Lawyers,” Florida Bar RPPTL Probate Litigation and Trust Law Symposium 2023, ACTEC 2022, 19th Annual Sophisticated Trusts and Estates Law Institute 2023, and Florida Fellows Institute 2024
• "Shifting Sands: Navigating Joint Defense Agreements in Fiduciary Litigation," ACTEC Fall Meeting, October 2023
• "Professionalism, Civility and Ethics," The Probate Team 2023, Florida Legal Education Association Probate Team, October 2023
• "Thanks, But No Thanks – The Ethics of Clients’ Gifts," ActionLine, Florida Bar RPPTL Section, Summer 2023
• “Setting the Table for Successful Retention and Billing (Ethics),” ACTEC 2023 Summer Meeting Washington D.C., June 2023
• “Ethical and Liability Considerations for an Estate Planner Serving on Charitable Boards,” ACTEC Professional Responsibility Committee, June 2022
• “The Living Dead: Digging Into the Estate Planner’s Duty When the Client Dies,” Florida Legal Education Association Probate Team, 2022
• “Who Am I to Say? A Lawyer’s Duty to Assess Capacity in Estate Planning,” ALI CLE’s Estate Planning Course Materials Journal, January 2022
• “So Gramps Has a New Friend? Ethically Navigating Declining Capacity and the Challenge of Aging Clients,” Naples Estate Planning Council 2023, Florida Legal Education Association Probate Team, 2021
• "Get it in Writing: Letters Every Lawyer Should Have When Accepting or Recommending Fiduciary Appointments," Florida Bar RPPTL Section, Legislative Update, August 2020
• "Who Am I to Say? A Lawyer’s Duty to Assess Capacity in Estate Planning," ACTEC, June 2020
• "On the Hot Seat – Estate Planning Attorney as Fact Witness Ethics and Practice in Probate," Florida Legal Education Association, October 2019
• “Electronic Wills . . . the future of estate planning?,” Florida Bar RPPTL Section, 2018
• “It Better Be in Writing: the Florida Supreme Court Now requires Lawyers to Make Written Disclosures for Fiduciary Appointments,” Florida Bar RPPTL Section, 2018
• “How Much and When? The Legal & Practical Considerations of the Exercise of Discretion,” Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning, 2018
• “A Tempting But Dangerous Marketing Strategy – Wills on Wheels – Don’t Be Caught By an Unauthorized Practice of Law Claim,” ACTEC, 2017
• “I See Dead People” – Ethics and Malpractice Considerations for a Drafting Lawyer,” FFI ACTEC, 2017
• “Who Controls What? The Tug of War Between Guardianships and Trusts,” Palm Beach County Bar Association Guardianship Boot Camp, 2017
• "Look Before You Leap! Planning at the Cliff of the Client's Capacity," Ave Maria School of Law Estate Planning Conference, 2016
• "I See Dead People! Attorney Liability and Conflict of Interest Considerations in Estate Planning…From a Litigator’s Perspective,” St. Petersburg/Clearwater Bar Association, 2016
• "Ten Pounds of Duty in a Five-Pound Bag! Attorney Liability and Conflicts of Interest Considerations in Estate Planning,” Pilot Legis Annual Risk Management Conference, 2015
• “What’s Hot in Florida,” An Update From a Litigator’s Perspective, Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning, 2015
• “A Primer on Multijurisdictional Practice” or “How to Cross the Border Without Getting Caught,” ACTEC 2015
• “Got Civility,” Lawyer Professionalism, Florida Bar RPPTL Section, Estate and Trust Law Symposium, 2015, and Florida Legal Education Association, 2014
• “Make Love Not War – Guardianship Fraud Prevention,” Florida Bar RPPTL Section, 2014 Legislative and Case Law Update, 2014
• “The Unofficial 2014 Legislative Wrap Up – A Report from the Firing Line,” Collier County Bar Association, 2014
• “Danger, Will Robinson: Ethical and Conflict of Interest Considerations in Estate Planning,” Naples Estate Planning Council, 2014
• “Risky Business: Ethical Considerations for Drafting Attorneys (Part Deux),” Florida Legal Education Association, 2013
• “Thanks, But No Thanks: The Ethics of Client Gifts,” Florida Bar RPPTL Section, 2013 Legislative and Case Law Update, 2013
• “The South Indian Monkey Trap: The Ethics of Client Gifts,” Florida Bar RPPTL Section, Attorney Trust Office Liaison Conference, 2013
• “Facing Reality: Practical Tips and Tools for the Preservation of Electronically Stored Information (ESI) for the Fiduciary Litigator,” American College of Trusts and Estate Council, 2013
• “Attorney and Fiduciary Liability: Ten Pounds of Duty in a Five Pound Bag,” Florida Bar RPPTL Section, 2013
• “2012 Legislative Update: Tales from the Sausage Works,” Palm Beach County Bar Association, 2012
• “You Want to Give Me What? Ethical Considerations for Drafting Attorneys,” Florida Bar RPPTL Section, 2012
• “2011 Legislative Update: The Future Ain’t What is Used to Be!” Palm Beach County Bar Association, 2011
• “The First Line of Defense?! Know Your Client, Probate Team,” Florida Legal Education Association, 2011
• ”Strings Attached: Enforcing Your Donor Intent,” Palm Beach and Martin County Community Foundation, 2011
• “Fiduciary Litigation in an Era of Rapidly Changing Technology: Will You Be the Last Samurai?” ACTEC, 2010
• “It Was Right Here – a Little While Ago … and I’m Sure It Said… Lost , Destroyed and Altered Wills,” Florida Legal Education Association, 2010
• “Avoiding the Grinch: Drafting, Enforcing and Challenging Charitable Pledges,” Planned Giving Council/East Coast Estate Planning Council, 2009
• “On the Hook, Ineffective Delegation of Fiduciary Functions,” Florida Bankers Association, 2009
• “Out With the Old, In For the New: Succession of Fiduciaries,” Florida Legal Education Association, 2009
• “Chinks in the Armor – How Much Protection Do Exculpatory Clauses and Waivers of the Provident Investor Rule Really Provide,” Florida Bankers Association, 2009
• “Till Death Do Us Part: Challenging the Validity of Marriage in Probate Proceedings,” Your 2007 Trust & Estate Symposium (Florida Bar), Florida Fellows Meeting, ACTEC, 2008
• “Conflicts Quagmire I: Payment of Trustee Attorneys’ Fees When Defending Breach of Duty Claims,” Florida Bar RPPTL Section, Legislative Update 2008
• “Tangled Web – Attorney-Client and Fiduciary Conflicts,” Probate Team, Florida Legal Education Association, 2008
• “Your 2008 Trust and Estate Symposium – Litigation Under the New Trust Code,” Program Chair, Florida Bar, Probate and Litigation Trust Symposium
• “Conflicts Quagmire II: Recognizing and Addressing Conflicts for Your Fiduciary Clients,” Your 2006 Trust & Estate Symposium of the Florida Bar
• “Uncivil War: Navigating the Minefields of Probate and Trust Litigation,” Florida Bar RPPTL Section, Wills, Trusts and Estates Certification Review Course
• “What’s Good for the Goose… Elective Share and Other Spousal Rights,” Florida Bar RPPTL Section, Wills, Trusts and Estates Certification Review Course
• “Probate and Trust Litigation: When the ‘Ties That Bind’ Unwind,” Florida Bar RPPTL Section, Wills, Trusts and Estates Certification Review Course
• “Be Careful What You Wish For – Gifts to Drafting Attorneys,” ActionLine Vol. XXXIV, Fall 2012
• “Intestate Succession,” Litigation Under Florida Probate Code, (3rd - 13th ed.)
• “Will Construction,” Litigation Under Florida Probate Code, (3rd - 13th ed.)
• “Elective Share,” Practice Under Florida Probate Code, (3rd - 11th ed.)
• “Establishing the Guardianship,” Florida Guardianship Practice (12th ed.)

Professional Associations & Memberships

The Florida Bar's Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section (RPPTL)

• Past Chair
• Probate and Trust Division, Past Director
• Probate and Trust Litigation Committee, past Chair
• Ad Hoc Estate Planning Conflicts of Interest Committee, Chair
• Legislative Committee Past Chair, 2012-15
• CLE Committee Past Chair, 2015-16
• Secretary, 2016-17
• Executive Council, 2004-present
• Probate Rules Committee
• Probate Law and Procedure Committee
• Trust Law Committee
• Ad Hoc Jurisdiction and Venue Committee
• Guardianship of Advanced Directives Committee

Civic & Community Service

• Community Foundation of Palm Beach and Martin Counties, Executive Committee of Professional Advisors