Marianna F. Schenk
Partner
Duane Morris LLP
30 South 17th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-4196
USA
Phone: +1 215 979 1927
Fax: +1 215 689 4131
Email: MFSchenk@duanemorris.com

Marianna F. Schenk practices in the area of wealth planning and has extensive experience in all facets of estate planning and administration. Ms. Schenk regularly advises clients on tax-efficient ways to transfer wealth to succeeding generations through lifetime planning techniques, including gifts of life insurance, real estate and other assets to irrevocable trusts, the sale of assets, such as stock in closely-held businesses, to intentionally defective grantor trusts, and the creation of family limited partnerships. She also advises clients on charitable gift techniques, including the establishment of charitable lead and remainder trusts, private foundations and public charities, as well as the qualification of charitable entities for 501(c)(3) status. In addition to lifetime planning, Ms. Schenk's practice also encompasses all aspects of estate administration, including post-mortem estate and income tax planning and preparation of federal and state death tax returns. Ms. Schenk also regularly represents both individuals and corporate fiduciaries in matters before the Orphans' Court, including estate and trust accountings and beneficiary disputes.

In 2005 and 2006, Ms. Schenk was named a Pennsylvania Rising Star by Super Lawyers. Rising Stars are chosen by their peers as being among the top 2.5 percent of attorneys in Pennsylvania who are 40 years old or younger or in practice for 10 years or less.

Admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Florida, Ms. Schenk is a graduate of Colgate University and Boston University School of Law, where she served as an editor of the Boston University Law Review and as 1994 director of the Stone Moot Court Competition.

Areas of Practice

• Wealth Planning

Professional Activities

• American Bar Association
• Pennsylvania Bar Association
• Philadelphia Bar Association
• Philadelphia Estate Planning Council

Admissions

• Pennsylvania
• Florida
• Connecticut

Education

• Boston University School of Law, J.D., 1996
• Colgate University, B.A., 1993

Experience

• Duane Morris LLP
  - Partner, 2006-present
  - Associate, 2003-2005
• Wolf, Block, Schorr and Solis-Cohen LLP, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  - Associate, 1999-2003
• Cummings & Lockwood, Hartford, Connecticut
  - Associate, 1996-1999

Civic and Charitable Activities

• Member, Gift Planning Advisory Council, Philadelphia Zoo

Selected Publications

• Author, "Federal Estate Tax Portability: Why Credit-Shelter Trusts Are Still Optimal," Duane Morris Alert, November 21, 2011
• Co-author, "IRS Changes Payment Procedure for Private Foundation Excise Taxes, Effective January 1, 2011," Duane Morris Alert, December 31, 2010
• Co-author, "U.S. House Passes Legislation That Would Modify Grantor Retained Annuity Trust (GRAT) Rules," Duane Morris Alert, March 25, 2010
• Co-author, "Estate and Inheritance Taxes Increase as States Seek Revenue ," Duane Morris Alert, December 7, 2009
• Co-author, "Update on Proposed Changes to Federal Estate Tax Law," Duane Morris Alert, September 16, 2009
• Co-author, "Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts: A Win-Win Situation for Taxpayers, Now More Than Ever," Estate Planning Alert, February 5, 2002

Selected Speaking Engagements

• Panelist, "Protecting Your Wealth and Income in Uncertain Times," RBC Wealth Management, Cherry Hill, New Jersey, April 6, 2010