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Michael Joseph Payne, Frankel, Rubin, Klein, Payne, & Pudlowski
Staff Report//September 11, 2025//
Partner, St. Louis
Michael Joseph Payne has practiced law for 23 years specializing in estate planning and fiduciary litigation. He focuses on strategic problem-solving in contentious fiduciary matters, including disputes over estates, trusts, and shareholder disagreements.
Payne’s practice encompasses estate planning for blended families, succession planning for family-owned businesses, legacy planning through trusts, and complex litigation involving breaches of fiduciary duties. His clients include multi-generational families, business owners, trustees and beneficiaries.
Active in professional organizations including The Missouri Bar, the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, St. Louis County Bar Association and The American Bar Association, Payne emphasized his commitment to mentoring younger attorneys through formal and informal relationships, sharing practical insights on client services and ethical practices.
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