Department profile
Wiggin and Dana LLP

Private Wealth Law

High Net Worth Guide 2026 : Connecticut

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Wiggin and Dana LLP

Rankings

About

Provided by Wiggin and Dana LLP

Our experienced and highly skilled Private Client Services attorneys help our varied clients, both national and international, and from wide-ranging businesses and professions, deal successfully with complex issues that impact them and their families.

From business-succession planning to philanthropic arrangements to trust and estate issues, we provide sophisticated counsel that helps families and individuals with substantial assets maximize their wealth for themselves and future generations. In addition, we pay particular attention to each client's unique family situation to develop an overall plan that addresses both economic and non-economic concerns.

We provide a full spectrum of private client services, working collegially with your other consultants and advisors to craft seamless and effective solutions to your estate planning needs.

While we provide a broad array of private client services, here are some of the specific areas in which we can serve you:


•Business Succession Planning
•Charitable Planning
•Estate Planning
•Family and Closely-Held Business Planning
•Family Office Representation
•International Private Client Services
•Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreement Planning
•Probate Litigation
•Trusts and Estate Administration Services

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Private Wealth Law - Connecticut

Band 1

What the Team is Known For
Wiggin and Dana's private client team has a strong reputation for advising high net worth clients on contentious and non-contentious matters.
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Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Wiggin and Dana provides sophisticated planning that is explained in a digestible way.

    Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

  • I find Wiggin to be very forward-thinking, responsive and collaborative. They are all wonderful and very capable.

    Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

  • The service levels at Wiggin and Dana are exceptional. The team consistently demonstrates professionalism, efficiency and attention to detail in every interaction.

    Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

  • Wiggin and Dana understands cross-border issues and provides a high level of technical advice and pragmatic client-handling skills.

    Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

  • The firm distinguishes itself through a rare combination of technical expertise and clear communication. They excel at translating complex trust and estate concepts into actionable, digestible guidance, while maintaining a practical and client-first approach.

    Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Carolyn A. Reers
    Carolyn A. Reers

    Carolyn A. Reers

    Carolyn Reers advises high net worth clients on international estate and tax planning.

    • Carolyn is a consummate professional who provides excellent advice to clients. She is knowledgeable, experienced and a pleasure to work with.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

    • Carolyn has supreme technical competence. She turns pristine technical work around very quickly and she has made it her business to develop relationships with her clients.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

    • Carolyn Reers' level of service is excellent and her planning and tax advice is exemplary. Carolyn is the ultimate professional: hard-working, always responsive, engaging and an excellent fiduciary partner.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

    • Carolyn is the consummate professional in this field. She has spent time in-house which makes her approach that much more impactful. She knows the language and words to use with clients, so that we are all singing from the same song sheet.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

    • Carolyn is super-responsive and accessible, she has great relationships with her clients and she is able to process and synthesise information effectively. She is a real collaborator.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
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  • Daniel L. Daniels
    Daniel L. Daniels

    Daniel L. Daniels

    Daniel Daniels advises high net worth clients on both estate and business planning matters.

    • Dan is not only a gentleman and a true dean of the Connecticut estate Bar, but he is extremely knowledgeable and sophisticated in his approach.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

    • Daniel is very capable of complex work and is very capable of working well with clients. He is a master of his craft.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
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  • Matthew Smith
    Matthew Smith

    Matthew Smith

    Matthew Smith is an experienced trusts and estates professional who is increasing well known for his litigation practice. Smith advises on contested probate, disputed wills and fiduciary litigation matters.

    • Matthew Smith has sound judgement. He is tactical, strategic and he is a very capable adversary.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

    • Matt brings not only deep legal expertise but also a steady, solution-oriented approach that inspires confidence at every stage. His ability to see the bigger picture, identify fair and practical resolutions, and communicate with clarity and empathy is remarkable.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
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  • Michael Clear
    Michael Clear

    Michael Clear

    Michael Clear acts for high net worth clients on estate planning, business succession planning and trusts matters.

    • Michael is a knowledgeable and sophisticated estate lawyer who is aware of the cutting edge of the law in this area.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

    • Michael Clear is creative and he is a great communicator.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
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  • Jevera Hennessey
    Jevera Hennessey

    Jevera Hennessey

    Jevera Hennessey advises wealthy clients on trust and estate planning and administration matters. Her work includes estate and gift tax plans.

    • Jevera is knowledgeable and a great resource.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

    • Jevera clearly demonstrates a high level of sophisticated estate planning for high net worth clients.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
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  • Leonard Leader
    Leonard Leader

    Leonard Leader

    Leonard Leader is experienced in advising affluent clients on estate, tax and business succession planning.

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  • Vanessa Maczko
    Vanessa Maczko

    Vanessa Maczko

    Vanessa Maczko advises wealthy individuals and families on wealth and asset transfer matters. Her work includes tax planning and trust structuring.

    • Vanessa is extremely knowledgeable in her field and a pleasure to work with.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

    • Vanessa is incredibly easy to work with. She has the ability to get very in the weeds as many attorneys do, but she also has a great bedside manner. She can distil very complex structures and ideas into logical, bitesize pieces.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

    • Vanessa provides a high level of service, and she can explain complex planning in a digestible way.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
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Ranked Individuals at Wiggin and Dana LLP (7)

Connecticut

Members

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