Whitney Patience O'Reilly

Whitney serves as chair of the firm’s Wealth Preservation Group. Individual and institutional clients such as banks and trust companies turn to Whitney for her guidance on estate and tax planning and administration. From simple wills to complex succession plans involving myriad trusts, Whitney finds the legal solutions that will address the clients’ needs, preserve wealth for future generations, and minimize tax consequences. Large estates can invite an array of issues for family members and administrators, even before they go into effect, which is why seasoned counsel is imperative for creating and managing estates. Whitney regularly handles estate tax audits and has successfully administered hundreds of estates and trusts ranging in value from a few million dollars to more than 100 million dollars, with varying degrees of complexity. She also partners with domestic and international clients to craft creative and tax-effective estates to protect their legacies.

Whitney’s practice involves guiding family-owned businesses with succession planning and wealth preservation. Succession planning requires a keen understanding of a family and business’ operations, priorities, and goals for both the short- and long-term. In working with a family or business owner, Whitney uses their priorities as the foundation of the plan, often finding innovative solutions to questions of restructuring, asset management, and liability and tax issues.

In addition to her trusts and estates practice, she provides general business counseling for clients across a variety of industries, guiding clients on corporate matters such as the purchase and sale of businesses and entity formation. Whitney also drafts corporate governance documents and plans for third-party and intergenerational transfers. Her understanding of a business’ objectives also enables her to provide tailored advice on long-term planning issues.

A master’s degree in taxation and wealth planning, paired with more than 15 years of experience, have given Whitney considerable skills in navigating the myriad death tax ramifications on individuals, trusts, and businesses, allowing her to help her clients pass as much wealth as tax-advantaged as possible. She frequently writes and lectures for local and national organizations on best estate planning practices, notable legislative changes, succession planning, and trusts and estates.