Brendan Ward is a Partner at Touchstone Closing and Touchstone Law Offices, where his practice is focused at the intersection of estate planning and real estate.
Brendan works with families, business owners, and real estate investors to structure, protect, and transition wealth—particularly when real estate is a significant part of the portfolio. His approach goes beyond traditional estate planning, focusing on how assets are actually owned, financed, and transferred in real-world transactions. Through his active involvement in residential and commercial closings, Brendan regularly sees where planning either works or fails, and uses that perspective to design plans that avoid probate issues, minimize delays, and ensure smooth transitions across generations.
His work includes structuring ownership of real estate and closely held businesses, coordinating trusts with LLCs and other entities, advising on asset protection strategies, and guiding clients through trust and estate administration. He is often brought in by financial advisors, CPAs, lenders, and real estate professionals when a client’s holdings require more thoughtful coordination between legal, tax, and transactional considerations.
Brendan is a graduate of St. John’s Prep in Danvers, earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of New Hampshire, and his Juris Doctor from New England School of Law in Boston. He is committed to continuous professional development and participates in national estate planning groups and advanced training focused on modern planning techniques.
He is actively involved in the North Shore community and currently serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for LifeScene and the Lynn Boys & Girls Club, and sits on the board of the Essex County Community Foundation. His prior leadership roles include President of the Copley Society of Art Circle and Chair of the Nahant Advisory & Finance Committee.
Brendan’s practice is grounded in a practical philosophy: good planning should work in the real world—helping clients make decisions today that prevent problems tomorrow, particularly when real estate is involved.