Jillian Merns Joins Davis Polk As Partner And Co-Head of Trusts & Estates Practice In New York

Jillian Merns Joins Davis Polk as Partner and Co-Head of Trusts & Estates Practice in New York

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP has welcomed Jillian Merns as a partner and co-head of the firm’s Trusts & Estates practice, based in New York. She joins from Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, where she was a partner in the Private Wealth Group.

Ms. Merns brings extensive experience across all aspects of estate planning and administration, with a particular focus on advising high-net-worth individuals and their families. Her work includes preparing complex wills and trust agreements, handling estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax matters, and representing clients in estate and gift tax audits. She also advises on the creation and management of single-family offices.

Neil Barr, Davis Polk’s Managing Partner, said, 

“Jillian has deep experience providing sophisticated advice across the spectrum of trusts and estates matters to high-net-worth individuals. 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.”

Paula Ryan, co-head of Davis Polk’s Trusts & Estates practice, added, 

“Jillian is an extremely well-regarded trusts and estates adviser with an impressive client roster. 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.”

Jillian Merns commented, 

“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.”

Recognized in Chambers High Net Worth rankings for Private Wealth Law, Ms. Merns is praised for her “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.

She holds a J.D. from Columbia Law School, a B.A. from Yale University, and an LL.M. from New York University School of Law.

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