Recognized as a leading estate and trust lawyer for more than 30 years, John Provo advises clients in regard to a variety of sophisticated estate and trust planning matters. He led one of the Twin Cities’ premier estate and wealth management groups for many years before serving as the General Counsel of one of the nation’s largest family offices until 2017.

John has an “AV Preeminent®” rating by Martindale-Hubbell, an independent rating service that has ranked attorneys nationwide for more than a century. An “AV Preeminent” rating is given to attorneys ranked at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal expertise, communication skills and ethical standards, and is awarded to fewer than 5% of all lawyers in the United States. This rating is reserved for lawyers who are recognized by their peers as having preeminent legal ability, exemplified by adherence to professional standards of conduct, ethics, reliability, diligence and other criteria relevant to the performance of their professional responsibilities.

John has also been a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) since 1994. Fellows of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel are elected by their peers for demonstrated excellence and the highest levels of integrity, commitment and competence in trust and estate practice.

AV Preeminent® is a Certification Marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell® certification procedures, standards and policies.

EDUCATION:

University of Minnesota Law School
J.D., 1983 magna cum laude; Editor, Journal of Law and Inequality

Stanford University                                                  
B.A. 1980, summa cum laude
Honors: Highest honors

Bar Admissions: 

Minnesota, 1983
U.S. District Court, Minnesota, 1983

U.S. Tax Court, 1984

AREAS OF PRACTICE:

  • Estate Planning, Wills & Trusts

  • Charitable Giving & Foundations

  • Estate & Gift Tax Strategies

  • Retirement Benefit Planning

COMMUNITY AND PRO BONO ACTIVITIES:

  • Board Member, Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota

  • Ethics Committee, Second Judicial District

  • Mentor, Society of Retired Executives - Saint Paul Chapter

  • MMSA Capital Campaign Co-Chair (2010)

  • Leadership Minnesota, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce (2009-2010)

  • Board Chair, Maternity of Mary/St. Andrews School (2000-2002)

  • Board Member, Maternity of Mary/St. Andrews School (1998-2002)

  • Board Member, Catholic Charities Community Law Center (1998-1999)

John Provo's Bio (print version)

Fellow The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel

AV Preeminent® is a certification mark used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell® certification procedures, standards and policies.