With over fifty years of dedicated practice, Paxson John’s proficiency extends to complex tax planning and litigation, encompassing income, gift, and estate tax matters. His work includes the meticulous preparation of both revocable (living) and irrevocable trusts, intricate estate administrations, life insurance trusts, and trusts designed for minors. He is also adept at crafting wills, establishing and managing charitable trusts and foundations, advising on foundation governance and executive employment agreements, and preparing durable powers of attorney for healthcare and financial decisions. Furthermore, his practice covers custodianships, conservatorships, and guardianships. Paxson John’s profound knowledge has also made him a sought-after expert witness in trust and estate disputes. His broad legal acumen extends to business matters such as corporate shareholder agreements and personal agreements including pre- and post-marital arrangements.
John Latourette’s academic credentials include an LL.M in Taxation from New York University School of Law (1976), a law degree from Rutgers School of Law (1973), where he contributed to the Rutgers Law Journal, and a B.S. degree from New York University (1970). He began his career as a law clerk for the Honorable John J. Kitchen of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. Admitted to practice in New Jersey (1973), Pennsylvania (1974), and New York (2014), Paxson John has held significant leadership roles within Dilworth Paxson, including many years on the firm’s Executive Committee. His contributions to the legal community are further highlighted by his membership on the Editorial Board of the Philadelphia Orphans Court Newsletter and his former role on the Executive Committee of the Probate Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association.
Representative Experience
- Provides counsel to one of the nation’s largest private charitable foundations, advising on complex legal and strategic matters.
- Serves as counsel to a private foundation with an endowment exceeding $400 million, specializing in the operation of a high-profile retreat center.
- Acted as Executor for the estates of two globally recognized philanthropists, managing substantial and complex estate settlements.
- Represented high-ranking officials including a President of a major university, a CEO of a leading medical institution, and a President of a major non-profit organization in critical contract negotiations.
- Holds the position of Trustee for multiple trusts with combined assets surpassing $400 million, demonstrating trusted fiduciary responsibility.
- Served as General Manager for one of the largest charitable foundations in the United States, overseeing significant operational and strategic initiatives.
- Held the role of General Manager for a substantial private operating foundation, managing day-to-day operations and long-term planning.
- Provided expert witness testimony in numerous trust and estate proceedings across various jurisdictions, including Orphans’ Courts in Montgomery, Bucks, Chester, Cumberland, and Susquehanna Counties in Pennsylvania, and in state court in Anchorage, Alaska. Notably, his expert involvement in the Chester County Orphans’ Court proceeding, Estate of John Thouron, Deceased, and the Estate of John R. H. Thouron, Deceased, is a matter of public record, reported at 65 Ches. Co. Rep. 357 (2017).
Professional Recognition
- Honored as Philadelphia Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” in Trusts and Estates Law, 2023.
- Consistently listed in The Best Lawyers in America® for Trusts and Estates, 2017–Present.
- Recognized in Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, 2005–Present.
Disclaimer: Rankings criteria are available via these links. No aspect of these rankings has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
