International law firm McDermott Will & Emery welcomes Audrey Scott to its Private Client Practice Group as a partner in San Francisco and Silicon Valley. Audrey is a well-known and trusted advisor in the ultra-high-net-worth venture and tech circles of Northern California. She has advised some of the world’s best-known and most successful entrepreneurs.

“Wealthy families and their family offices face complex decisions that intersect family, personal, and business interests,” said Neil Kawashima, Head of McDermott’s Private Client Practice Group. “With Audrey, they have a top-of-class practitioner, advisor, and strategist. We are thrilled to have her join our team and further build the premier private client practice on the West Coast.”

Audrey understands all aspects of family office operations and their related legal issues. Her work with wealthy founders and their families covers cross-border transactions, international tax structures, and multijurisdictional estate planning. She is experienced in counseling entrepreneurs at every stage of their businesses, including initial founding, fundraising, initial public offering (IPO) and other liquidity events.

She joins from the single-family office for a tech founder where she managed estate planning, governance, tax structuring, and succession planning. She also advised on a significant real estate portfolio, philanthropy, cross-border transactions, and risk management. Prior to the GC role, she spent 18 years at Cooley, where she served as the Private Client Department Head. She also worked at a registered investment advisory (RIA) firm, focusing on the intersection of wealth planning and estate planning for high-net-worth clients.

“I’m excited to return to private practice with a firm that has sophisticated and global capabilities in the private client marketplace, particularly with its focus on family office representation,” Audrey said. “I would describe myself as a problem solver, and I’m looking forward to helping clients develop strategies and unique solutions to help achieve their goals.”

McDermott’s Private Client Practice Group represents ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families, and their family offices, with an extraordinary focus on the client’s unique objectives. The team of more than 80 lawyers is continually recognized as the leading private client practice in the United States.

McDermott Will & Emery partners with leaders around the world to fuel missions, knock down barriers, and shape markets. Our team works seamlessly across practices and industries to deliver highly effective solutions that propel success. More than 1,400 lawyers strong, we bring our personal passion and legal prowess to bear in every matter for our clients and the people they serve.