Davis Polk Welcomes Trusts & Estates Partner Jillian Merns

Davis Polk today announced that trusts and estates lawyer Jillian Merns has joined the firm as a partner in and co-head of the Trusts & Estates practice in New York.

“Jillian has deep experience providing sophisticated advice across the spectrum of trusts and estates matters to high-net-worth individuals,” said Neil Barr, Davis Polk’s Managing Partner. “With private wealth increasingly prevalent in and important to business transactions and structures, welcoming Jillian will further our position as a destination firm for our high-net-worth clients. And as we continue to materially grow our funds practice, Jillian’s strong background in planning with private fund interests will be key to support our clients in this space. I am pleased to welcome her to Davis Polk.”

Ms. Merns has deep experience in all aspects of estate planning and administration, with an emphasis on the development of sophisticated plans for high-net-worth individuals and their families. Her practice includes the preparation of complex wills, trust agreements and related instruments and general counseling of clients on estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer tax matters. She represents clients in estate and gift tax audits and counsels clients in all phases of the administration of decedents’ estates and trusts. Ms. Merns also advises clients on the creation of single family offices and works with many family offices on an ongoing basis to provide comprehensive solutions to the complex issues facing today’s wealthiest families. She joins Davis Polk from Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, where she was a partner in the Private Wealth Group.

“Jillian is an extremely well-regarded trusts and estates adviser with an impressive client roster,” said Paula Ryan, co-head of Davis Polk’s Trusts & Estates practice. “She has very strong experience advising clients both on planning with private funds interests and in family office formation and advisory work. I am delighted to lead our team with her.”

Ms. Merns said, “Davis Polk has an unrivaled platform and reputation for excellence, and I am honored to join the esteemed Trusts & Estates team. I look forward to working with colleagues across the firm to deliver innovative and effective strategies to our clients on their most sophisticated trust and estate matters.”

A leader in her field, Ms. Merns is ranked in Private Wealth Law by Chambers High Net Worth, where a client commends the “attention, the creativity and brilliance of her planning.” She is a member of the International Academy of Estate and Trust Law and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.

Ms. Merns received her J.D. from Columbia Law School in 2008 and her B.A. from Yale University in 2005. She holds an LL.M. from New York University School of Law.

About Davis Polk.

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP (including its associated entities) is an elite global law firm with world-class practices across the board. Clients know they can rely on us for their most challenging legal and business matters. From offices in the world’s key financial centers and political capitals, our more than 1,000 lawyers collaborate seamlessly to deliver exceptional service, sophisticated advice and creative, practical solutions. Visit davispolk.com.

About Davis Polk’s Trusts & Estates practice.

Our trusts and estates lawyers provide sophisticated counsel to clients on estate planning, estate and trust administration, investment fund management, the use and development of new financial products, and charitable giving – with an emphasis on the tax and fiduciary issues involved in all of these endeavors. We have earned the trust of individuals and institutions, including executives, entrepreneurs, professional fiduciaries, financial institutions, charitable foundations and families who have been clients for generations. Our clients benefit from our lawyers’ collaboration with colleagues across the firm on matters including derivatives and other transactions involving individuals, trusts and estates, as well as the estate-planning components of employee compensation programs and investment funds.

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