Johnston Burkhardt

Attorney

CONTACT

935 Gravier Street, Suite 1800
New Orleans, LA 70112
Phone: (504) 313-4199
Fax: (504) 534-8961
Email: johnston@snw.law

PRACTICE AREAS

  • General Litigation
  • Divorce & Marital Agreements
  • Family Law and Interdictions
  • Family Law Mediation
  • Estate Planning and Successions
  • Criminal Expungements
  • General Counsel Services and Corporate Litigation
  • Real Estate Transactions, Evictions, and Litigation

Johnston Burkhardt joined Sternberg, Naccari & White in 2021. His diverse practice focuses on general litigation, family law litigation and mediation, and successions and estate planning. Johnston is also a real estate title attorney and works closely with the firm’s associated title company, Quality Title. Johnston is a Child Custody and Visitation Mediator, and he is listed on the LSBA Alternative Dispute Resolution Section's Mediator Registry.


A lifelong New Orleanian, Johnston’s interest in the law began when he was selected in high school for the Louisiana State Bar Association student internship program. He graduated from Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Science in General Business, and then obtained his Juris Doctor and Graduate Diploma in Comparative Law from the Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center, where he served as Senior Articles Editor for the Journal of Energy Law and Resources, Volume VII. 

Johnston is associated with the Louisiana, Orleans, and Jefferson Bar Associations and the St. Thomas Moore Catholic Lawyers Association. He is a former “40 under 40” honoree for the Youth Empowerment Program.


While in law school at LSU, Johnston served as legal extern for the Hon. Erin Wilder-Doomes, a Magistrate Judge at the United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana. He also clerked during his 2L summer for the Honorable Fredericka H. Wicker at the Louisiana Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal. 


Notably, while a law student at LSU, Johnston was SNW’s very first law clerk. He returned to the firm as an attorney after practicing family law in downtown New Orleans. Johnston is an accomplished artist, enjoys playing tennis, traveling, and cooking. While studying for the bar and preparing to practice law, Johnston was the campaign manager for a prominent Judge running for an open seat on the Louisiana Supreme Court.

  • Bar Admissions

    • Louisiana (all state courts)

  • Education

    • Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center, J.D./D.C.L.
    • Louisiana State University, B.S

  • Community and Professional Involvement

    • Louisiana State Bar Association
    • New Orleans Bar Association
    • Jefferson Bar Association
    • Youth Empowerment Program 40 Under 40 Cohort
    • St. Thomas Moore Catholic Lawyers Association

MORE ABOUT JOHNSTON

Testamentary Trust vs. Revocable Living Trust: What’s the Difference?

By Johnston Burkhardt • May 12, 2026
Testamentary Trust vs. Revocable Living Trust: What’s the Difference? Both testamentary trusts and revocable living trusts are commonly used estate planning tools, but they operate differently. A testamentary trust is created through a will and does not come into existence until after the person’s death. A revocable living trust, by contrast, is created during a person’s lifetime and can hold assets immediately. One major difference is that a testamentary trust generally requires the succession process because it is established through a will. A revocable living trust may help certain assets avoid probate or succession administration if those assets are properly transferred into the trust during life. However, testamentary trusts are often simpler and more cost-effective for many families, particularly parents whose primary goal is to provide structured inheritances for minor children. Both types of trusts can be used to protect beneficiaries and control how assets are distributed. The best option depends on a family’s goals, the nature of the assets involved, and the level of ongoing management and probate avoidance desired.  Johnston Burkhardt is an attorney at Sternberg, Naccari & White, LLC with experience in trusts and estate planning for families. He regularly assists families in structuring trusts to protect long-term financial security and protection. To learn more about trusts and estate planning or to schedule a consultation, contact Johnston at (504) 324-2141 or johnston@snw.law .

Why Parents Often Use Testamentary Trusts for Minor Children

By Johnston Burkhardt • May 12, 2026
Why Parents Often Use Testamentary Trusts for Minor Children Parents frequently use testamentary trusts to ensure that their children’s inheritance is protected and responsibly managed if something happens to them. Without a trust, assets left directly to a minor child may require court involvement and may eventually be distributed outright once the child reaches legal adulthood. Many parents are uncomfortable with the idea of a young adult suddenly receiving unrestricted access to substantial assets. A testamentary trust allows parents to appoint a trustee to manage assets for the benefit of the child according to instructions set forth in the will. The trust can provide for education expenses, medical care, housing, and general support while delaying larger distributions until the child reaches a more mature age. Parents may also structure distributions over time rather than all at once. In addition to financial management, testamentary trusts can provide important long-term protections. Properly drafted trusts may help protect a child’s inheritance from creditors, lawsuits, or issues arising from divorce later in life. For many families, testamentary trusts offer peace of mind and a practical way to protect children financially after a parent’s death.  Johnston Burkhardt is an attorney at Sternberg, Naccari & White, LLC with experience in trusts and estate planning for families. He regularly assists families in structuring trusts to protect long-term financial security and protection. To learn more about trusts and estate planning or to schedule a consultation, contact Johnston at (504) 324-2141 or johnston@snw.law .