LAIRD A. LILE

ATTORNEY & COUNSELLOR AT LAW, LAIRD A. LILE, NAPLES

Lile’s firm represents individuals and fiduciaries in complex estate and trust matters. He has led key legislative efforts that modernized the state’s trust, probate and power of attorney laws, shaping the statutes that govern how Floridians plan, protect and pass on their assets. Lile is currently serving his fifth consecutive three-year term on the Florida Courts Technology Commission and is serving his third term on the Judicial Management Council, which advises the chief justice and the Supreme Court. He also serves on the Ethics Commission for the city of Naples.

EDUCATION: College of William & Mary (BBA), Ohio Northern University (JD), University of Miami (Master of Law in Estate Planning)

FIRST JOB: I ran a firefly-catching business in my hometown, selling them to a research company. I recruited my younger sisters and their friends to do the catching. They had fun; I made money.

SOMETHING SURPRISING: I used to write computer programs on IBM computer cards.

INDUSTRY TREND: The effective elimination of estate tax for the vast majority of Americans.