Megan E. Wernke is Of Counsel to Caplin & Drysdale's Private Client practice group in Washington, D.C.
Ms. Wernke advises wealthy individuals and the fiduciaries of large estates and trusts (both domestic and foreign) on a wide range of sophisticated tax and estate planning matters. She focuses on achieving tax efficiency and compliance while also ensuring that clients’ non-tax objectives are met. Ms. Wernke's practice includes designing and implementing estate and lifetime gifting plans, succession planning for clients with businesses large and small, achieving creditor protection for clients and their heirs, and helping clients come into compliance with U.S. tax requirements.
With her significant experience in tax controversies and litigation, Ms. Wernke advises clients with respect to substantial gift tax, estate tax, generation-skipping tax, and fiduciary income tax issues at all stages of controversy: voluntary disclosures, ruling requests, audits, IRS Appeals, and in court.
Ms. Wernke also assists existing clients with probate and trust administration.
Recent News
- Caplin & Drysdale Honors the Women of the Firm, Caplin & Drysdale, March 8, 2019
- Caplin & Drysdale Attorneys Advance in Chambers Ranking for Private Wealth Law, Chambers High Net Worth Guide, July 23, 2018
- Caplin & Drysdale Welcomes Former IRS Nonprofit Senior Technical Adviser and Strengthens Tax Controversies and Private Client Groups, Caplin & Drysdale, Chartered, January 16, 2018
Click here for a full list of media coverage.
Recent Speaking Engagements
- Panelist, Confronting the Challenges of Tax Reform, AiP Conference on Philanthropy 2019: Responsive Philanthropy, May 23, 2019
- Speaker, Estates, Trusts and Probate Law Community Lunch Series: Recent Federal and State Tax Developments for Estate Planners, D.C. Bar, November 15, 2018
- Speaker, Recent Federal Tax Developments for Estate Planners, The Maryland Association of CPAs 2018 Advanced Tax Institute Conference, November 13, 2018
- Presenter, Estate Planning Under H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, STEP Mid Atlantic, January 31, 2018
- Panelist, Estate Planning Issues, 2017 Advanced Tax Institute (ATI), November 14, 2017
- Speaker, Basics of Fiduciary Income Taxation, Estate Planning Council of Montgomery County, November 1, 2017
- Panelist, Recent Developments In Federal Case Law, Legislation, and Regulations, Maryland State Bar Association, November 3, 2015
- Speaker, A Brave New World: The Changing Landscape of Estate Planning, American Bar Association, The Day After Tax Day, April 16, 2015
Click here for a full list of speaking engagements.
Recent Publications
- "Supreme Court Rules Against North Carolina in Kaestner On State Income Taxation of Trusts: What Does This Mean for the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Maryland?,"
with Beth Shapiro Kaufman, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, June 26, 2019
- "UPDATED: Year-End Charitable Giving Ideas: IRA Rollovers and "Bunching" Charitable Deductions,"
with Beth Shapiro Kaufman, Anne J. O'Brien, William D. Fournier, and Alison F. Egan, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, November 28, 2018
- "2018 Ushers In New Estate Planning Opportunities and Pitfalls,"
with Beth Shapiro Kaufman, Anne J. O'Brien, and Alison F. Egan, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, January 18, 2018
- "Possible Repeal of the Estate Tax in 2017,"
with Beth Shapiro Kaufman, Anne J. O'Brien, and William D. Fournier, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, December 5, 2016
- "Allocating Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Exemption,"
with Beth Shapiro Kaufman, California Trusts and Estates Quarterly, December 30, 2015
- "2016 Federal and State Estate Gift Tax Exemptions for D.C., Maryland, and Virginia,"
with Beth Shapiro Kaufman, Anne J. O'Brien, and William D. Fournier, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, December 28, 2015
- "Maryland Estate Tax Exemption Set to Rise,"
with Beth Shapiro Kaufman, William D. Fournier, and Anne J. O'Brien, Caplin & Drysdale Client Alert, May 16, 2014
Click here for a full list of publications.