Gerard Brew represents clients in disputed matters involving estates, trusts, fiduciaries, guardianships, and family issues. Drawing on his extensive experience in those litigated matters, he also counsels fiduciary and beneficiary clients in complex fiduciary decisions in estate administration and estate planning related matters. Gerard seeks to achieve the desired result in a cost-effective manner through litigation in the Probate, Surrogate, or Chancery courts. Gerard participates in the resolution of these disputes through mediation or other alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and is appointed by courts to mediate such disputes. Gerard also represents clients in the complex appeals relating to these matters, resulting in a significant number of reported decisions.
Gerard has handled numerous litigated and non-litigated disputes in New Jersey and New York involving estates, trusts, and guardianships, including estates exceeding one billion dollars. He has counseled both corporate and individual fiduciaries (executors, trustees, or guardians) as well as beneficiaries in estate, trust, and guardianship administrations. His work also involves contested family law matters relating to estates.
Gerard also counsels charitable and non-profit organizations (including universities, hospitals, and national organizations) in matters involving fiduciary decisions — such as mergers, affiliation, and the disposition of charitable funds or gifts — and, when necessary, represents them in related litigation. He also advises on the enforcement of charitable provisions made by will, trust, or gift and handles regulatory matters involving the Attorney General and other State regulatory entities.
Gerard devotes substantial time to advancing legal issues, legal education, and pro bono work. He has received the New Jersey State Bar Association Pro Bono award for his long-term work in representing victims of domestic violence and other pro bono matters. Gerard has been an adjunct Professor of Law at New York Law School. He plays an active role in relevant professional associations such as the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (where he is a Fellow and has served in many capacities, including Mid-Atlantic Regional Chair). He lectures and writes extensively on estate and trust matters, including the publication of several books on estate administration, litigation, and planning issues.
