Brody Wilkinson PC is excited to announce its merger with the law firm of Hermenze & Marcantonio LLC presently based in Westport, Connecticut. The combination went into effect on January 1, 2021. The two firms will operate under the name of Brody Wilkinson PC from its main office at 2507 Post Road in Southport, Connecticut, following the completion of an office expansion. We are pleased to welcome principals David R. Hermenze, Edward Marcantonio and James D. Funnell, Jr., along with their staff, to the firm.
“With a combined Trusts & Estates practice now 14 lawyers-strong that is supported by a highly skilled team of professionals, our sum is greater than our parts. Not only do we have one of the most substantial Trusts & Estates practices in the state but with 24 lawyers in total, Brody Wilkinson is one of the largest firms in Eastern Fairfield County with exciting plans for additional growth. With this integration, Hermenze & Marcantonio can offer their existing clients seamless access to sophisticated legal services in the areas of business transactions, commercial and residential real estate, employment and dispute resolution. In addition, Brody Wilkinson is better poised to extend our considerable reach into lower Fairfield County even further with Hermenze & Marcantonio’s deeply entrenched roots in the greater Westport community. This is a win for both previously independent firms,” stated principal Ronald B. Noren.
“After extensive planning discussions regarding how Hermenze & Marcantonio could best accommodate our continued business growth, client needs and future succession goals, my partners and I determined that a strategic business combination was the best answer. As such, we began our search for a firm that would allow us to continue our methods of practice, while offering opportunities for growth and succession. In the end, there was only one real choice, Brody Wilkinson, a firm we have collaborated with on many matters over the years. We have the highest personal and professional respect for the attorneys at Brody Wilkinson and believe that the combination of our Trusts & Estates practices will provide outstanding opportunities for mutual assistance and cross-pollination of ideas,” stated principal David R. Hermenze.
In addition to the synergies highlighted by Mr. Noren and Mr. Hermenze, both firms have a significant number of New York-based clients in Westchester County and New York City, where Brody Wilkinson maintains an office. Hence, the merger presents natural business development opportunities beyond the Connecticut border. Brody Wilkinson has several attorneys who are admitted to practice in New York and meet with clients regularly at the firm’s New York City location in midtown.
DAVID R. HERMENZE is a principal of Brody Wilkinson and a member of the firm’s Trusts & Estates Group. Mr. Hermenze practices in the areas of estate planning and trust and estate administration. He is a Martindale-Hubbell AV-rated attorney. Mr. Hermenze is admitted to practice in Connecticut and has practiced in Fairfield County since 1986. He is a member of the American and Connecticut Bar Associations and a member of the Executive Committee of the Connecticut Bar Association’s Estates and Probate Section, having served over the past twenty years on the Steering Committee, the Nominating Committee, as co-chair of the CLE Committee, and a Notes & Commentary editor. Mr. Hermenze is an active member of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, where he serves on the Connecticut Nominating Committee. He is a member of The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, a global professional organization. In addition, he is a member and past president of the Estate Planning Council of Lower Fairfield County, and a member of the Western Connecticut Estate and Tax Planning Council. Mr. Hermenze resides in Redding, Connecticut.
EDWARD MARCANTONIO is a principal of Brody Wilkinson and a member of the firm’s Trusts & Estates Group. Mr. Marcantonio practices in the areas of trust and estate planning and administration. He assists individuals with tax and asset protection planning, estate settlement and trust administration. Mr. Marcantonio is a Martindale-Hubbell AV-rated attorney. He is admitted to practice in Connecticut and New York. He is a member of the Estates and Probate Sections of the Connecticut, Fairfield County and New York State Bar Associations. Mr. Marcantonio is also a member of the Estate Planning Council of Lower Fairfield County. He is past president of the Westport Bar Association and past chair of the Estates and Probate section of the Fairfield County Bar Association. Mr. Marcantonio resides in Westport, Connecticut.
JAMES D. FUNNELL, JR. is a principal of Brody Wilkinson and a member of the firm’s Trusts & Estates Group. Mr. Funnell’s practice is limited to trust and estate planning, special needs planning for family members with disabilities, and trust and estate administration. He is a Martindale-Hubbell AV-rated attorney. Mr. Funnell is admitted to practice in Connecticut and has practiced in Fairfield County for over thirty years. He is also admitted to practice in Texas. Mr. Funnell is a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. He is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Connecticut Bar Association’s Estates and Probate Section, and for over twenty years served as the editor in chief of the Estates and Probate Section Notes & Commentary, a continuing legal education publication for Connecticut attorneys. Mr. Funnell resides in Redding, Connecticut.