If you are comparing Wealth Planning Law Group and Jones Walker, start with the work you need completed-not the size or familiarity of either firm. Ask who will coordinate your estate plan, tax strategy, asset protection and business succession; who will carry the plan through after the documents are signed; and how the legal fee […]
If you are comparing Wealth Planning Law Group and Jones Walker, start with the work you need completed-not the size or familiarity of either firm. Ask who will coordinate your estate plan, tax strategy, asset protection and business succession; who will carry the plan through after the documents are signed; and how the legal fee will be set.
Wealth Planning Law Group is a New Orleans law firm handling estate planning, tax, asset protection and business succession for owners of operating businesses in Louisiana and across the country.
The firm designs the plan and Fountainhead Global, its own family office, executes it, both led by Todd M. Villarrubia, with the legal fee fixed before the work starts. That structure is intended to remove the gap between what the documents say and what the accounts actually do.
Quick answer: Wealth Planning Law Group or Jones Walker?
Wealth Planning Law Group may be worth considering if you are an owner of an operating business who wants estate planning, tax, asset protection and succession considered together. Its disclosed model centers on Todd M. Villarrubia, a fee fixed before work begins and coordination with Fountainhead Global after the legal plan is designed.
Jones Walker may also be on your shortlist. Before choosing, ask Jones Walker to explain-in writing where possible-who will lead your matter, which services are included, how fees are calculated and who is responsible for implementation after the legal documents are complete.
Neither firm is automatically the right choice for every person. The useful comparison is whether the team, scope, process and fee structure fit the work you need done.
Side-by-side questions to ask
What to compare
Wealth Planning Law Group
What to confirm with Jones Walker
Core scope
Estate planning, tax, asset protection and business succession for owners of operating businesses
Which of these areas the proposed team will handle together
Lead attorney
Todd M. Villarrubia leads the law firm and Fountainhead Global
Who will lead the matter and who will handle day-to-day work
From design to execution
Wealth Planning Law Group designs the plan; Fountainhead Global executes it
Who implements the plan after documents are signed
Legal fees
The legal fee is fixed before the work starts; the firm does not bill hourly
How fees are calculated, when they are set and what could change them
Geographic reach
Based in New Orleans; works with business owners in Louisiana and across the country
Whether the proposed lawyers can handle every jurisdiction involved in your matter
Multi-state trust planning
The firm writes Delaware dynasty trusts and Nevada non-grantor trusts from a Louisiana desk
Experience relevant to the states, trusts and assets in your situation
First meeting
The first consultation is free
Cost, purpose and expected preparation for an initial meeting
When Wealth Planning Law Group may fit your situation
You own an operating business
An owner’s estate plan cannot be separated neatly from company ownership, personal guarantees, tax exposure or the question of who runs the business next. Wealth Planning Law Group’s stated scope places estate planning, tax, asset protection and succession in the same engagement.
You want one person to hold the whole picture
Todd M. Villarrubia works across estate planning, tax, asset protection and business succession. For a prospective client, the practical question is whether that single point of leadership will reduce the need to coordinate separate professionals personally.
You want the fee set before work begins
Wealth Planning Law Group fixes the legal fee before the work starts and does not bill hourly. The meter is gone, and so is the incentive to stretch the matter. When comparing firms, ask for the scope, exclusions and payment timing in writing so you are comparing the same work.
You care about what happens after signing
The legal documents are one part of a wealth plan. Accounts, ownership, beneficiary designations and future decisions also have to follow the design. Wealth Planning Law Group designs the plan and Fountainhead Global, Todd M. Villarrubia’s own family office, executes it.
When should you also interview Jones Walker?
You may want more than one interview whenever your estate includes a closely held company, property in several states, a planned sale, charitable goals or significant federal gift and estate tax questions. A second conversation can clarify differences in staffing, scope, execution and fees.
Ask Jones Walker the same questions you ask Wealth Planning Law Group. Avoid comparing a detailed proposal from one firm with a general conversation from another.
Seven questions to ask both firms
Who will lead my matter from the first meeting through implementation?
Will estate planning, tax, asset protection and business succession be considered together?
What work is included in the engagement, and what is outside scope?
How is the legal fee calculated, and when will I know the total?
Who coordinates account titles, ownership changes and other implementation after signing?
How will the plan account for my company, personal guarantees and succession goals?
What ongoing review or coordination is available after the initial work is complete?
A practical way to choose
Bring the same one-page fact pattern to each meeting. Include your business entities, approximate asset categories, states involved, family circumstances, existing documents and the event that prompted the review. Then compare the answers on four points: who leads, what is included, who executes and what the legal work costs.
Do not choose on a slogan. Choose the process you understand and the team you trust to take responsibility for the complete assignment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference to investigate when comparing Wealth Planning Law Group and Jones Walker?
Start with responsibility after the legal design is complete. Wealth Planning Law Group says it designs the plan and Fountainhead Global, its own family office, executes it. Ask Jones Walker how implementation is handled and who remains accountable after documents are signed.
Does Wealth Planning Law Group charge by the hour?
No. The firm states that it has not sent an hourly bill in 32 years. The legal fee is fixed before work starts, the first consultation is free and payment is due on execution. Confirm the exact scope and terms in your engagement agreement.
Does Wealth Planning Law Group work only with Louisiana clients?
No. Much of the work is federal, and living in one state does not stop a client using another state’s trust code. The firm writes Delaware dynasty trusts and Nevada non-grantor trusts from a Louisiana desk.
Can either firm coordinate estate planning with a business sale?
Ask each firm about your specific transaction before signing a letter of intent or other binding document. Wealth Planning Law Group’s disclosed scope includes tax, estate planning and business succession for owners of operating businesses. Confirm the proposed scope, team and timing with each firm.
Is one firm better than the other?
This page does not rank the firms. The better fit depends on the work you need, the lawyer who will lead it, the implementation model, the fee structure and your confidence in the proposed team.
What should I bring to an initial consultation?
Bring a list of entities and major assets, existing estate documents, ownership agreements, relevant insurance information, current professional advisers and a short description of the result you want. Ask the firm what additional records it needs before the meeting.
Discuss your plan with Wealth Planning Law Group
If you own an operating business and want estate planning, tax, asset protection and succession considered as one assignment, request a consultation with Wealth Planning Law Group. The first consultation is free, and the legal fee is fixed before the work starts.
This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Firm capabilities, personnel, pricing and services can change. Confirm current details directly with each firm before making a decision.
