Kelli E. Brown

Goldberg Simpson

Kelli E. Brown is a partner at Goldberg Simpson, where she chairs the Trusts and Estates
Department, focusing on estate planning, probate, trust administration, and estate litigation. With 
a B.A. from the University of Dayton, a J.D. from Northern Kentucky Salmon P. Chase College of Law, 
and an LL.M. in Estate Tax from the University of Miami, she brings both academic depth and 
practical expertise to her practice.

Licensed in Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, and Federal Tax Court, Ms. Brown is a Fellow with the 
American College of Trusts and Estates Counsel (ACTEC), having recently concluded her term as ACTEC 
Kentucky State Chair in early 2025. She’s also a Justice Thomas B. Spain Award recipient, 
recognized for her dedication to the field.

A seasoned speaker and prolific author, Ms. Brown has presented widely on estate planning and 
probate topics. She has published two books tackling unique estate planning challenges: Estate 
Planning When You Have an Addicted Child (2017) and Estate Planning When You Have Pets (2020).

Ms. Brown’s passion lies in helping families. She is married to Walter Hawkins and they have two
human children and one with fur.