McDermott Will & Emery hires Ellen Harrison as a partner in the private client team
McDermott Will & Emery has announced that Ellen K. Harrison, widely recognized as one of the US’s preeminent private client lawyers, has joined the Firm as a partner based in the Washington, D.C. Private Client practice.
Ms. Harrison focuses her practice on a broad range of tax issues, including estate planning and administration, tax controversies, and U.S. and international income, gift and estate tax planning. Her clients include high net worth individuals, businesses and charitable organizations. Ms. Harrison has significant experience in a wide range of estate planning matters, including drafting wills, trusts, powers of attorney, prenuptial agreements, buy-sell agreements, a variety of corporate documents, and family partnership agreements. She also enjoys a sophisticated tax controversy and estate litigation practice, including Internal Revenue Service (IRS) audits, IRS appeals, refund claims, and U.S. Tax Court litigation.
“I have known Ellen professionally for many years, and am delighted to welcome her to the Firm as a partner and colleague,” said Carol Harrington, partner and global head of McDermott’s Private Client Practice Group. “She is highly regarded not only in Washington, one of the leading centers for international private client work, but also around the nation as one of the truly elite attorneys in our field. We are extremely proud that McDermott’s reputation continues to grow as the premiere international law firm for private client matters with the addition of such outstanding professionals as Ellen.”
“It is a great pleasure to welcome Ellen to McDermott,” said Henry Christensen, head of McDermott’s International Private Client Group. “The combination of Leigh and Ellen – two of the nation’s foremost international private client experts – in a single office and practice will enable us to serve our sophisticated clients in a more holistic manner. As wealth becomes more geographically dispersed, and the rules and regulations governing personal wealth planning and transfer become more complex, our presence in world capitals becomes ever more important. We are proud to offer our clients the best of the best wherever they may be.”
Ms. Harrison is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and a Past Regent and Past Chair of the International Estate Planning Committee of ACTEC, as well as the Current Chair of the Washington Affairs Committee. She is also a Vice President (Americas) of the International Academy of Trusts and Estates Lawyers, where she served on the Executive Council. Her other affiliations and leadership positions include Liaison to AICPA; American Bar Association, Section on Real Property, Trust and Estate Law; Liaison to AICPA and Co-Chair, Trust and Estate Governmental Submissions Committee; American Law Institute; Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning, University of Miami School of Law, Advisory Committee; and DC Estate Planning Council; and former Adjunct Professor, Georgetown Law Center.