About Gwendolyn Powell
Gwendolyn Powell Braswell is an accomplished estate planning attorney based in Saint Joseph, Michigan. With over 30 years of legal experience, she has dedicated her career to estate planning, focusing on wills, trusts, and probate administration. As the founding attorney of Legacy Counsel PLC, she operates from 500 Renaissance Drive, Suite 104A, Saint Joseph, MI 49085. Her firm is committed to helping clients handle the requirements of estate planning, ensuring that their wishes are honored and their legacies preserved. Ms. Braswell earned her Juris Doctor degree from the prestigious University of California, Berkeley School of Law in 1991.
She is an active member of the State Bar of Michigan, having been admitted in 2015, and the Florida Bar, where she was admitted in 2002. Additionally, she holds an inactive membership with the District of Columbia Bar. Her extensive legal background is further enhanced by her involvement in various professional associations. Since 2018, she has been a member of the State Bar of Michigan's Probate and Estate Planning Section, which focuses on issues pertinent to her practice area. Before establishing Legacy Counsel PLC in 2018, Ms. Braswell held several significant positions that enriched her legal expertise.
From 2015 to 2018, she was a partner at Braswell & Miller PLC, where she developed her skills in estate planning and probate matters. Prior to that, she served as a partner at Appellate Advocacy Law Firm, P.A., from 2006 to 2015, focusing on appellate law. Her career also includes experience as an Assistant Public Defender in the Appellate Division of the Miami-Dade Public Defender's Office from 2001 to 2010, where she represented clients in critical legal matters. Earlier in her career, Ms. Braswell worked as Corporate Counsel at Marriott International, Inc., and as an Associate Attorney at Hogan & Hartson (now Hogan Lovells). These roles provided her with a diverse legal foundation, which she now applies to her estate planning practice.
Her commitment to excellence is recognized; she was selected to Super Lawyers from 2011 to 2019, a recognition that highlights her legal acumen and dedication to her clients. In addition to her legal practice, Ms. Braswell is fluent in English and possesses a solid educational background, having earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Music from Andrews University in 1988. She is also an active member of the Southwestern Michigan Estate Planning Council, further demonstrating her commitment to the field of estate planning. For those seeking her expertise, consultations can be scheduled by contacting Legacy Counsel PLC at (269) 932-4017. Please note that while this information is current as of February 19, 2026, it is advisable to verify the details directly with the State Bar of Michigan or the attorney's office for the most up-to-date information.
