PHILADELPHIA, March 4, 2025 — With high net worth individuals and their cumulative wealth now at unprecedented levels, both globally and in the United States, Cozen O'Connor today announced David M. Brown, a leading attorney in the wealth and estate planning space, has joined its Private Client, Trusts and Estates group. Brown regularly represents and advises high net worth individuals and families in a wide range of legal matters involving estate planning, wealth preservation, charitable planning, and trust administration.
“Over the past decade the number of high net worth individuals in the United States has grown from over 15 million to roughly 22 million, with an estimated worth of some $67 trillion,” said Michael J. Heller, Cozen O’Connor’s Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “As a group, they face extraordinary legal hurdles, from state, federal, and international tax laws, to everchanging rules of inheritance, among many others. They need and demand tailored wealth management services provided by a highly experienced, steady hand — and that’s exactly what David brings to the table. I’m thrilled he’s chosen to join us.”
Brown comes to the firm from Saul Ewing LLP and brings a 20-year track record of successfully partnering with clients to develop comprehensive, personalized estate plans — a process that often includes working with the client’s wealth advisers, investment advisers, financial planners, insurance providers, and accountants. While he will be based in Cozen O’Connor’s Philadelphia office, he will also meet with and serve clients at the firm’s Florida offices in Miami, Boca Raton, and West Palm Beach.
“As familial relationships continue to evolve and become increasingly complex, so too do the laws governing them,” said Lester E. Lipschutz, co-chair of the firm’s Private Client, Trusts and Estates practice. “With today’s family unit now including unmarried, cohabiting couples, and nontraditional routes to parenthood, the inheritance laws surrounding and protecting families are by necessity becoming much more intricate. A heavy-hitter like David can explain these laws and help implement beneficial measures that protect our clients. He’s an important addition to our Private Client, Trusts and Estates group and I’m very happy to welcome him to Cozen O’Connor.”
A long-time member of the Philadelphia Estate Planning Council, Brown is an accomplished public speaker who has published and presented on a range of wealth management topics, including asset protection planning, estate planning for digital assets, and irrevocable trusts, among others.
“As a career practitioner in the wealth management space, I’ve long been familiar with Cozen O’Connor’s Private Client, Trusts and Estate group and the many exceptional attorneys operating within it,” Brown said. “Wealth management is an area that’s changing quickly, both domestically and on the international level. As such, I’m excited to be part of such a sophisticated group and to have a wide range of legal resources at my disposal. I plan on hitting the ground running and helping to build this practice further.”
Brown earned both his LL.M. in taxation and his J.D. at the University of Miami School of Law, and his B.A. in politics and history at Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania.
About Cozen O’Connor
Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 925 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 32 offices across two continents.
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