M. Elizabeth Monihan
Partner
Practice Areas:
Biography
Lisa Monihan is a Partner in the Trusts & Estates Practice Group, and she also serves as a practice group co-coordinator. Her practice is focused on wealth transfer planning for individuals and fiduciaries, including income, gift, estate, and generation-skipping transfer tax planning; trust and estate administration; multi-generational family issues; retirement planning; succession planning for closely-held businesses; and charitable planning.
A client once told Lisa that the decision to hire her was made because “[she] really listened to what I had to say; the other lawyers I interviewed were too busy trying to impress me with how smart they were.” Lisa establishes personal, long-term relationships with her clients and guides them through the legal, tax, financial, and family issues in their unique situations with empathy and compassion.
Lisa is a frequent speaker to professional and community groups on estate planning and related topics.
Elizabeth Monihan is knowledgeable in the area, but she is also a good counsellor to her clients and develops longstanding relationships… She is very intelligent, has good judgement and is good with people.
Education
- Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, 1984, J.D.
- John Carroll University, 1979, B.S. in Economics
Admissions & Associations
- State of Ohio
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
- U.S. Tax Court
- U.S. Supreme Court
Articles & Presentations
- Ohio Update, Estate Planning Council of Cleveland, December 2023
- OSBA Update, CMBA Hot Topics in Estate Planning 2023, June 2023
- Ohio Law Update, ACTEC Great Lakes Regional Meeting, Chicago, December 2022
- Legislative Update, Park National Bank Estate Planning and Ethics Seminar, November 2022
- Ohio Legislative Update, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Estate Planning Institute, October 2022
- Ohio Legislative Update, Marvin Pliskin Advanced Probate and Estate Planning Institute, September 2022
- Summary of Written Testimony before Ohio House of Representatives Civil Justice Committee in opposition to H.B. 339, Probate Law Journal of Ohio, November/December 2021
- Opposition Testimony on behalf of the Ohio State Bar Association concerning Proposed Electronic Wills Legislation, Ohio House of Representatives Civil Justice Committee, October 12, 2021
- Making a Difference - The Ohio Legislative Process and Recent Developments for Estates and Trusts, Boy Scout Estate Planning Seminar, September 14, 2021
- Ohio Enacts a Legal Malpractice Statute of Repose, Probate Law Journal of Ohio, May/June 2021
- Starting Out: The Initial Client Interview, Fiduciary Responsibilities, Conflicts of Interest and Fees, Ohio State Bar Association, Annual Presentation 2019-2023
- The Inside Scoop on Choosing an Estate Planning Lawyer, Crain’s Cleveland Business-Estate Planning, November 2020
- Planning for Elderly Clients Below the Exemption Amount, Probate Law Journal of Ohio, July/August 2020
- Dilemma for Executors and Survivors: Should Cares Act Economic Impact Payments to Decedents be Returned? Probate Law Journal of Ohio, July/August 2020
- Estate Planning for Clients Below the Exemption Amount, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel Ohio Regional Meeting, Columbus, Ohio, May 4, 2019
- The Art of Inheritance - Planning for Children of Assisted Reproductive Technology following Enactment of Substitute Senate Bill 232, West Shore Bar Assn., July 20, 2018
- To Be an "Heir" or Not to Be an Heir" - That is the Question, Ohio State Bar Association, April 2017
- Increase in Value and Number of Vehicles Which May be Selected by Surviving Spouse, Probate Law Journal of Ohio, January/February 2017
- Assisted Reproductive Technology (Art) and Inheritance Rights, Akron Tax and Estate Planning Council, January 2017
Professional Involvement
- American Bar Association, Member
- Ohio State Bar Association, Member
- Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law Section Council, Executive Committee and Immediate Past Chair, '23-'25
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Member
- Estate Planning, Probate, and Trust Law Section, Former Chair, 2008-2009
- Ohio Women’s Bar Association, Member
- The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), Fellow; State Laws Committee, Technology in the Practice Committee
- Marvin R. Pliskin Advanced Probate and Estate Planning Seminar, Member, Planning Committee
- Probate Law Journal of Ohio, Editorial Advisory Board, 2015-current
- Estate Planning Council of Cleveland, Member and Former President 1994-1995
Community Activities
- Cleveland Council on World Affairs, Development Committee, 2016-present
- Union Club Foundation Board, Secretary 2017–current
- Catholic Charities Corporation Board of Trustees, 2003–2014
- Volunteer Council of The Cleveland Orchestra-President, 1998-2001
- The Junior Committee of The Cleveland Orchestra-President, 1997-1999
- The Women’s Committee of The Cleveland Orchestra-Board of Trustees, 2000-2003
- Cleveland Museum of Art Planned Giving Committee
- Lawyers Guild of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland
- Hathaway Brown Parent Association-President 2013-2014
- University Hospitals, Diamond Advisory Group
- Case Western Reserve University, Professional Advisory Group
Awards & Honors
- Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent®
- Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® since 2018 for Practice Areas:
- Litigation - Trusts and Estates
- Tax Law
- Trusts and Estates
- Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
- Tax Law, Cleveland 2024
- Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
- Trusts and Estates, Cleveland 2023
-
Chambers High Net Worth: Private Wealth Law, 2018-present
- Selected to the Ohio Super Lawyers list: 2006-present
- Accredited Estate Planner® - National Association of Estate Planners & Councils
- Distinguished Estate Planner 2013 - Estate Planning Council of Cleveland
- Selected to the Ohio Super Lawyers® list: 2006-present
- Top 50: Women Ohio Super Lawyers list: 2024-2025
- Top 25: Women Cleveland Super Lawyers list: 2024
- Crain's 2022 Notables In Law
Focus Areas
