Jeffrey Johnstone - Attorney Profile

Jeffrey M. Johnstone serves as Of Counsel at Tully Rinckey PLLC’s Rochester location, focusing his practice on estate planning, trusts, and estate administration. He is licensed to practice law in New York and Florida, as well as in the U.S. Court for the Western District of New York, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and the U.S. Tax Court. Prior to joining Tully Rinckey, Jeffrey was a partner at Harris, Chesworth, O’Brien, Johnstone & Welch, LLP. Following his graduation from law school, Jeffrey began his legal career at the Rochester-based firm of Nixon, Hargrave, Devans & Doyle (now known as Nixon Peabody LLP), where he gained valuable experience in commercial litigation, real estate, administrative law, labor law, and tax law. In 1981, Jeffrey established his own practice, Jeffrey M. Johnstone, P.C., focusing on business law, tax law, and estate planning. He continued in solo and small firm practice until he joined Harris, Chesworth & O’Brien, the predecessor of Harris, Chesworth, O’Brien, Johnstone & Welch, LLP, in 1994.

Jeffrey is an active member of the Monroe County Bar Association, where he has held leadership roles in the Tax Section and is a member of the Trusts and Estates section. He is also affiliated with the New York State Bar Association and the Florida Bar Association. In addition to his legal work, Jeffrey has been deeply engaged in various community organizations, including the Yates County Endowment Board, the Board of Trustees of the Ontario County Museum and Historical Society, the Finger Lakes Museum, the Planning Board of the Town of Brighton, the Lewis Street Center, the Feadan Or Pipe Band, and The Cupola Restoration Project of Penn Yan, Inc. Jeffrey has achieved an AV rating, the highest peer recognition, from Martindale Hubbell, a distinction he has maintained for many years.