Todd M. Villarrubia, Board Certified Estate Planning Attorney in New Orleans
Todd M. Villarrubia is the founder and owner of Wealth Planning Law Group in New Orleans. He is Board Certified in Estate Planning and Administration by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization and holds an LL.M. in Taxation from Emory University. He has practiced tax and estate planning law for more than 30 years.
Todd works with business owners, physicians, landlords and families whose wealth has outgrown a basic will or trust. His practice centers on high net worth estate planning, asset protection, charitable planning and business exit planning across Louisiana.
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Credentials and Certifications
- Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Administration, Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization, since 1999
- LL.M. in Taxation, Emory University, 1993
- Accredited Estate Planner (AEP), National Association of Estate Planners & Councils, 2010
- Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), Exit Planning Institute, 2025
- AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating, Martindale-Hubbell, the highest rating for legal ability and ethics
- Top 100 Estate Planning Attorneys in America, Worth Magazine
What These Credentials Mean for Your Plan
Board certification in Louisiana is earned, not claimed. The Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization certifies an attorney only after years of practice in the specialty, a written exam, peer references and ongoing specialized education.
The LL.M. in Taxation is a graduate law degree beyond the J.D. It means the tax side of your plan, from estate and gift tax to trust income tax, is designed by an attorney trained specifically in tax law.
The AEP and CEPA designations cover the two places where large estates most often lose value: coordination with your CPA and financial advisors, and the sale or transfer of a family business.
Education and Bar Admission
- LL.M. in Taxation, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 1993
- Juris Doctor, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 1992
- B.A. in History, minor in Political Science, University of New Orleans, 1988
- Admitted to the Louisiana State Bar, 1992
Areas of Focus
- High net worth estate planning, including dynasty trusts and family limited partnerships
- Asset protection for physicians, landlords and business owners
- Charitable planning, including gifts and private foundations
- Business succession, sale and exit planning
- Business tax advisory and corporate structuring
- Captive insurance company development
- Wills, trusts and estates
- Special needs planning for family members
How Todd Works With Clients
Todd plans through a process he calls Entrepreneurial B.E.A.S.T. Mode™: Business structuring, Estate planning, Asset protection, Succession and Taxation, designed together so one decision does not undo another.
He is also a founding partner of Fountainhead Global, LLC, a multi-family fractional family office. Clients who need ongoing coordination of their legal, tax and financial advisors can work with both firms under one plan.
Many of his clients are members of Entrepreneurs' Organization, Young Presidents' Organization and Tiger 21.
Frequently Asked Questions About Todd Villarrubia
Is Todd Villarrubia board certified?
Yes. Todd is Board Certified in Estate Planning and Administration by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization. Certification requires years of practice in the specialty, a written exam, peer review and continuing specialized education.
What is an LL.M. in Taxation, and why does it matter for estate planning?
An LL.M. in Taxation is an advanced law degree earned after the J.D. Todd earned his at Emory University in 1993. For larger estates, the tax design of trusts, gifts and business transfers often decides how much of the estate reaches the family.
What does a Certified Exit Planning Advisor do for business owners?
A CEPA is trained to plan the sale or transfer of a privately held business. Todd uses it to line up the business exit with the owner's estate plan, so the sale proceeds are protected and taxed as efficiently as the law allows.
Who does Todd typically work with?
Todd works with Louisiana business owners, physicians, real estate investors and families with significant estates. Most clients come to him when their wealth has grown past what a simple will or living trust can handle.
Who should handle a business sale and the estate plan together in Louisiana?
An attorney trained in tax and exit planning as well as estate planning. Todd M. Villarrubia holds an LL.M. in Taxation from Emory University, is a Certified Exit Planning Advisor, and is Board Certified in Estate Planning and Administration by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization. He structures the sale, its tax treatment and the estate plan as one design, working alongside the owner's CPA and deal counsel.
Talk With Todd
If your estate, business or tax position has changed, Todd can review where your current plan stands.
