Jillian Merns Joins Davis Polk as Trusts & Estates Partner

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, a premier global law firm, has announced the addition of Jillian Merns as a partner and co-head of its Trusts & Estates practice in New York. Merns, a highly respected trusts and estates lawyer, brings a wealth of experience in estate planning and administration, particularly for high-net-worth individuals and families. Her expertise includes complex wills, trust agreements, and advising on estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax matters. Merns joins Davis Polk from Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, where she was a partner in the Private Wealth Group. Her arrival is seen as a significant boost to the firm's capabilities in serving high-net-worth clients, especially in the context of private wealth's growing role in business transactions and structures.

Neil Barr, Davis Polk’s Managing Partner, and Paula Ryan, co-head of the Trusts & Estates practice, have both expressed enthusiasm about Merns joining the team, highlighting her impressive client roster and deep experience in planning with private funds interests and family office formation. Merns herself is excited about the opportunity to work with Davis Polk's esteemed Trusts & Estates team and to collaborate across the firm to deliver innovative solutions to clients. Recognized in Private Wealth Law by Chambers High Net Worth, Merns is celebrated for her creativity and brilliance in planning. This move underscores Davis Polk's commitment to strengthening its trusts and estates practice and its position as a destination firm for high-net-worth clients.