Estate Planning Expert Mary Mancini Joins W&L Law as Millhiser Professor of Practice

By Peter Jetton
February 2, 2018

Mary Ann Mancini, a partner at Loeb & Loeb in Washington, DC and an expert in Trusts and Estates, has joined Washington and Lee School of Law as the Millhiser Professor of Practice for the 2018 spring semester.

Prof. Mancini is teaching one of the school’s practice simulation classes, which are a hallmark of W&L’s innovative experiential curriculum. The class, Tax Planning for the Closely Held Business Owner, brings together intensive study and practice in two complex areas of the law: estate planning and business planning. As part of the class, students will develop an overall business plan that addresses tax issues, business issues, personal and family issues, and business succession issues that often arise when planning for a client with a closely held business.

“The Millhiser Professorship provides our students an unmatched opportunity to learn from top practitioners in their fields,” said Brant Hellwig, dean of W&L Law. “Such experiences are critical for our students as they complete their journey from student to practicing lawyer, and we are grateful to the Millhiser family and Mary Mancini for making this possible.”

The Rochelle and Thomas McN. Millhiser 81L Professorship of Practice supports a distinguished professor of practice who teaches in the experiential curriculum, with a preference for someone who teaches in the area of Trusts and Estates. The Professorship was created through the generosity of Shelly and Tom Millhiser 81L of Delray Beach, Florida and the McGue Millhiser Family Trust.

At Loeb & Loeb, Prof. Mancini’s practice focuses on advising high net worth families and individuals who reside in the U.S. and internationally. Her clients include leaders of Fortune 100 companies and their families, as well as families whose wealth is more privately held and, in many cases, based on real estate ownership.

“As a practitioner, it is exciting to know that W&L is providing such hands-on experience to their law students,” said Mancini. “The emphasis on a practical application of the law is excellent preparation for the first year associate and will allow them provide valuable service for their clients sooner than most law school graduates.”

Prof. Mancini is a nationally recognized expert in techniques that utilize life insurance in estate and business plans, such as insurance trusts, split dollar and deferred compensation arrangements, and life settlements. Prof. Mancini represents fiduciaries and beneficiaries in trust and estate matters before the Internal Revenue Service and in administration and litigation matters, and works with many private trust companies, family offices, and national and international bank trust departments.

If you know any W&L faculty who would be great profile subjects, tell us about them! Nominate them for a web profile.