Wayne F. Wilson

Partner

As chair of the Tax, Benefits, and Wealth Planning practice group, Wayne focuses his practice on complex trust and estate matters, transactional matters and strategic business advice. His engaging approach and ability to build relationships with clients ensures their objectives are met efficiently and practically.

Understanding that effective estate planning requires the ability to balance tax and estate law with business savvy, Wayne works shoulder-to-shoulder with clients to analyze the short and long-term impacts of their decisions. As a former trust officer, he has developed a niche advising individual and corporate trustees on trust administration matters, including questions of interpretation, court actions to reform or modify trusts and disputes with beneficiaries. He also has extensive experience in handling complicated estate administration matters, ranging from large insolvent estates to closely-held business interests to estate tax exposure matters, including interfacing with the IRS and advising on audits.

In addition to his clients, he routinely works with their advisers, including personal accountants and investment advisers, coordinating their efforts and ensuring that the client’s interests are protected at every turn. Just as importantly, he also is adept at managing the sensitive family dynamics that often come into play during estate planning and administration matters, working carefully to tailor his approach to fit each unique situation.

In building lasting relationships with clients, Wayne also leverages his background in tax and finance to provide general counsel to clients on a wide variety of business matters. He has extensive experience in the business arena, where he advises closely held businesses, community banks and physician practice groups on strategic decisions, mergers and acquisitions and contract negotiation.

Credentials

Education

Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville (J.D., 1997)

Transylvania University (B.A., 1993)

Bar admissions

  • Kentucky

Affiliations and memberships

  • University of Kentucky Southeast Estate Planning Institute, faculty
  • American College of Trusts and Estates Counsel, fellow
  • Louisville Bar Association, Trusts and Estates and Business Law Sections
  • Kentucky Bar Association

Distinctions

  • Peer Review Rated AV in Martindale-Hubbell
  • Kentucky Super Lawyers®
    • For Estate & Probate (2021)
  • Top Estate Planning Attorney in Louisville Magazine
  • “Top Lawyers” list by Louisville Magazine (2013, 2016)
  • Best Lawyers® 
    • Litigation – Trusts and Estates (2022-2024)

Publications
  • May 10, 2022

    Kentucky Businesses Impacted by Sweeping Tax Reform

  • July 22, 2020

    Kentucky Community Property Trust Act Provides Significant Basis Planning Opportunities for Married Couples

News
  • August 21, 2025

    260 Dinsmore Attorneys Listed as 2026 Best Lawyers®, Ones to Watch

  • August 15, 2024

    250+ Dinsmore Attorneys Named 2025 Best Lawyers ®, Ones to Watch

  • December 29, 2023

    32 Dinsmore Attorneys Named 2024 Kentucky Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

  • August 17, 2023

    200+ Dinsmore Attorneys Named 2024 Best Lawyers®, “Ones to Watch”

  • December 29, 2022

    Kentucky Super Lawyers Honors 30 Dinsmore Attorneys; Three Partners Named in Top 25 Women List

  • August 18, 2022

    2023 Best Lawyers® List Recognizes 190 Dinsmore & Shohl Attorneys

  • December 30, 2021

    Dinsmore & Shohl Attorneys Top 2022 Kentucky Super Lawyers Lists

  • August 19, 2021

    Best Lawyers® Recognizes 191 Dinsmore & Shohl Attorneys

  • December 8, 2020

    Dinsmore & Shohl Attorneys Top 2021 Kentucky Super Lawyers Lists

  • August 20, 2020

    Best Lawyers® Recognizes 180 Dinsmore & Shohl Attorneys