Davis Polk Strengthens Trusts & Estates Practice with High-Profile Partner Addition

Davis Polk has announced Jillian Merns as a new partner and co-head of its Trusts & Estates practice in New York, significantly boosting the firm's capabilities in serving high-net-worth clients. Merns, who previously served as a partner in the Private Wealth Group at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, is renowned for her advanced estate planning and administration skills. Neil Barr, Davis Polk’s Managing Partner, emphasized Merns' extensive experience in advising high-net-worth individuals on trusts and estates, highlighting her contribution to the firm's expanding funds practice and her adeptness at meeting the intricate demands of affluent families.

Merns' expertise covers a broad spectrum of services, including the drafting of complex wills and trust agreements, guidance on estate and gift tax issues, and the establishment of family offices. Paula Ryan, co-head of Davis Polk’s Trusts & Estates practice, commended Merns for her distinguished client base and her proficiency in private funds and family office advisory work. Merns shared her enthusiasm about joining Davis Polk, praising the firm's exceptional platform and its esteemed reputation, and expressed her commitment to working alongside her new colleagues to provide cutting-edge solutions to clients.

Merns' accolades include being recognized in Private Wealth Law by Chambers High Net Worth, and she holds memberships in the International Academy of Estate and Trust Law and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, reflecting her prominence in the field. Her educational background features a J.D. from Columbia Law School, a B.A. from Yale University, and an LL.M. from New York University School of Law.