Biography
Brenda is the former co-chair, with Martin Hall, of the Ropes & Gray Private Client Group. Her practice includes representing fiduciaries in the settlement of estates, preparing estate plans for individuals, and serving as professional trustee and executor for numerous family trusts and estates.
Brenda has extensive experience working with clients including high net worth individuals, multiple generations of families with accumulated wealth, entrepreneurs, and private and public company executives. Her practice involves the administration of client estates and trusts, including post-mortem tax planning and advising clients on their fiduciary responsibilities. Brenda serves as executor for estates of varying size and complexity, helping clients through diverse personal transitions and providing advice on risk management, tax strategies, and alternatives to avoid potential disputes. In addition, she coordinates the proper disposition of assets including art, antiques, real estate, and other valuables and works with well-known auction houses and advisors when appropriate. Brenda's practice also involves estate planning, and she works closely with financial planners and philanthropic advisors to develop comprehensive plans to meet the unique needs of her clients.
Passionate about pro bono work and community service, Brenda is the former chair of the board of directors at Project Citizenship, a nonprofit focused on providing free legal services to immigrants, and she is now a member of their Advisors and Ambassadors Board. Brenda was formerly a member of the advisory board of directors for My Life My Choice, an organization dedicated to ending the commercial sexual exploitation of children.
Out of the office, Brenda reads novels, watches Netflix, does too many of those NYT puzzles, and tries to exercise. She also likes to travel with her husband to visit their children in their far-flung new homes of Seattle and Perth, Australia.
Education
- New York University School of Law, New York, New York
- J.D. – 1987, cum laude
- Honors: Order of the Coif
- Law Review: NYU School of Law, Associate Editor; Article Editor, 1985 – 1987
- Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
- B.A. 1984
- Honors: Dean’s List
- Major: American Studies
Bar Admissions
- Massachusetts, 1988
Honors
- Best Lawyers, Trusts and Estates, 2013 - present
- Top Women of Law, Lawyers Weekly, 2019
Pro-Bono Activities
- Volunteer for Project Citizenship, helping green-card holders become US citizens, 2016 to Present
- Board Chair, Project Citizenship, 2017 to 2022
Past Positions
- Judge Phyllis A. Kravitch, US Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, Law Clerk, 1987 to 1988