Private Client and Family Office

As a member of a wealthy family, you need trusted legal advisors who take a 360-degree view of your wealth, businesses, legacy and family. Warner attorneys work seamlessly with your other advisors, have encountered the most complex relationships, tax and governance structures, and have confidentially dealt with delicate financial and personal situations to create bespoke solutions that respond to your unique needs, goals and objectives. Regardless of where you fall generationally, Warner is critical to the future wealth – and health – of your family.

Sophistication, Plus Strategy

While we provide some of the most sophisticated and strategic tax and wealth planning work in Michigan, the sheer size of our firm – and the resulting depth and breadth of our team – also enables us to serve the full range of needs of family offices and wealthy families, from the professional to the personal and philanthropic, and in just about any practice area they might require. On top of this, we are agile and able to pivot – and to help our clients to pivot – quickly, in response to even the most unpredictable events. In sum, we offer our private and family office clients both peace of mind and protection in everything they do.

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Bespoke trusts that reflect the values, purposes, goals and objectives of the creator of the trust – Mark Harder
Tax planning strategies, including FLPs, sales to IDITs, GRATs, QPRTs, SLATs – Jennifer Remondino, James Steffel, Frank Henke, Sean Cook
Trust governance strategies, including directed trusts and divided trusteeships – Mark Harder, Beth O’Laughlin
Private trust companies – Mark Harder
Multi-jurisdictional planning – Mark Harder, Laura Jeltema
Probate, trust and estate litigation – David Skidmore, Laura Morris
Family business succession – Susan Meyers, Mark Harder, Matthew Johnson
Family office design, formation and operation – William Lentine, Laura Jeltema
Insurance programs for family offices and UHNW families – Jason Byrne
Asset protection planning – James Steffel, Frank Henke, Laura Jeltema
Direct investments, impact investments, hedge funds and investment partnership structures – Loren Andrulis, William Lentine
Family business and domestic employment matters – Jonathan Kok
Estate property and vacation homes – James Rabaut, Christian Meyer
Family education, governance and meetings – Susan Meyers, Jennifer Remondino
Philanthropy, including private foundations – Jennifer Remondino
White collar crime and crisis management – Brian Lennon, Madelaine Lane
Sales, mergers and acquisitions of family businesses – William Lentine, Matthew Johnson
Key employee compensation and employee benefits – Justin Stemple, Jennifer Watkins
Family Law/Divorce – Ric Roane, Nazli Sater

Chambers High Net Worth guide awarded a top-tier ranking to Warner Norcross + Judd in 2019 as one of Michigan’s top firms in private wealth law, and specifically recognized partners Carl W. Dufendach, Mark K. Harder, Susan Gell Meyers and David L.J.M. Skidmore as well as Of Counsel W. Michael Van Haren.

The Best Lawyers in America 2018 has named eleven Warner Norcross + Judd attorneys as Lawyers of the Year. Bruce C. Young was recognized this year from the Private Client and Family Office practice area.

The Best Lawyers in America 2018 has additionally recognized the following Warner Norcross + Judd attorneys from the Private Client and Family Office practice: Loren M. Andrulis, Carl W. Dufendach, Susan Gell Meyers, Jennifer L. Remondino, James J. Steffel, W. Michael Van Haren and Stephen C. Waterbury.

Michigan Super Lawyers magazine has named Warner Norcross + Judd attorney Jennifer L. Remondino as a Rising Star. This award requires that attorneys are younger than 40 and have attained a high degree of peer recognition and personal achievement.

Michigan Super Lawyers magazine has also named Super Lawyers from Warner Norcross + Judd’s Private Client and Family Office practice, including attorneys Loren M. Andrulis, Carl W. Dufendach, Mark K. Harder, Susan Gell Meyers, James J. Steffel, W. Michael Van Haren and Stephen C. Waterbury.

Chambers High Net Worth guide awarded a top-tier ranking to Warner Norcross + Judd in 2019 as one of Michigan’s top firms in private wealth law, and specifically recognized partners Mark K. Harder, Susan Gell Meyers, Carl W. Dufendach and W. Michael Van Haren for their expertise.

Michigan Lawyers Weekly named Susan Gell Meyers as one of its leading “Women in the Law.”

The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) has elected six Warner Norcross & Judd attorneys as Fellows, the largest number of ACTEC Fellows practicing at any Michigan firm. ACTEC Fellows in the Private Client and Family Office practice include Carl W. Dufendach, Mark K. Harder, Jennifer L. Remondino and W. Michael Van Haren.

Warner Norcross + Judd attorney Mark K. Harder chaired the State Bar of Michigan committee that spent more than five years writing the Michigan Trust Code, which governs how trusts are established and administered in the state. He also co-authored a reference for attorneys and courts on the meaning of Michigan’s laws regarding probate, trusts, guardianships and conservatorships.