Attorney Biographies
John W. West III
In addition to his continued AV Preeminent® Peer Rating, Mr. West has received the Judicial Edition recognition from Martindale-Hubbell, reflecting outstanding evaluations from both his peers and members of the judiciary.
The Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent® Rating represents the pinnacle of professional excellence and represents a Legal Ability Rating of Preeminent and an Ethical Standards Rating of Very High. Judicial Edition recognition further signifies exceptional ratings from members of the judiciary. Less than five percent of all of the attorneys in the country have obtained an AV rating.
John West is a Board Certified Tax Attorney. The Florida Bar has designated that a Board Certified attorney is a specialist who has obtained the highest level of competency and experience. Board Certification in Tax includes federal and state tax issues involving income, estate, gift and other taxes. Less than 250 attorneys in the state of Florida are currently Board Certified in Tax law.
John West is also a Florida Certified Public Accountant.
Mr. West has extensive estate planning experience. Prior to forming his own law firm, Mr. West was a partner in a national AV rated tax and estate planning tax law firm. Mr. West is a native of Akron, Ohio. He graduated from the University of Akron with a degree in accounting and obtained a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Akron School of Law. He received his LL.M. in Taxation degree from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
Mr. West is licensed to practice before all courts in the state of Florida, the United States Tax Court, United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, United States Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the District of Columbia. He is a member of the Sarasota County Bar Association and the Tax Section of the Florida Bar and the American Bar Associations. Mr. West is a frequent speaker on tax and estate planning issues at seminars hosted by brokerage firms, banks, insurance agencies and charities.
John West is a past member of The Planned Giving Advisory Committee of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. He is the past Chairman of the Pines of Sarasota Foundation and the past Chairman of the United Way Foundation's Planned Giving Advisory Council. He has also served on the Board of Directors of the Van Wezel Foundation, The Diocese of Venice Stewardship & Development Committee, The Diocese of Venice Finance Advisory Board, the Catholic Community Foundation of Southwest Florida and the Catholic Community Foundation of Southwest Florida’s Planned Giving Advisory Council.
Nicholas T. Shook
Nicholas Shook is an estate planning and tax attorney concentrating on sophisticated wealth transfer planning, federal and Florida tax matters and tax controversy representation.
Mr. Shook advises individuals, families, business owners, and fiduciaries on estate planning, tax-efficient wealth preservation, business succession considerations, and complex tax issues affecting estates and closely held interests. He assists clients with federal tax disputes, tax controversy and IRS collection matters.
Originally from northeastern Ohio, Mr. Shook earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science Pre-Law from Ohio University in 2019.
Mr. Shook began his legal studies at the University of Akron Law School before transferring to St. Thomas University College of Law in Miami, Florida, where he earned Dean’s List honors every semester and graduated in the top 10% of his 2025 class.
Mr. Shook received CALI Awards in Tax Clinic and Tax Procedure, presented to the student earning the highest grade in an individual course.
During law school, Mr. Shook was an active member in the Tax Law Society, Public Interest Law Society, and the Inns of Court serving both the Miami-Dade and Broward legal communities.
He received an LL.M. in Taxation degree from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Mr. Shook graduated on the Dean’s List and earned the Georgetown Estate Planning Certificate. He was selected to participate in the EUCOTAX Winter Course, collaborating with law students and tax scholars from over fifteen countries on emerging international tax policy issues. He was also a member of Georgetown University’s Tax Council.
Outside of his law practice, Mr. Shook enjoys reading about American history, is an avid skier, and enjoys cooking, music, and sporting events. As a longtime lacrosse player and enthusiast, he looks forward to supporting and growing youth lacrosse in Sarasota.
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Our team of estate planning attorneys have years of experience and expertise in the field. We have helped countless clients protect their assets and plan for the future.
