Neil Kawashima

Neil Kawashima
Partner, McDermott Will & Emery
nkawashima@mwe.com

Neil T. Kawashima has a diverse practice, representing wealthy individuals and families on matters related to philanthropy, as well as estate and wealth transfer planning, business succession and governance, and estate and trust administration. Neil’s clients include philanthropists, owners of privately-held businesses, beneficiaries of long-term trusts, fiduciaries and entrepreneurs. 

A significant portion of Neil’s practice is focused on philanthropic matters. Neil counsels individuals and families with respect to charitable giving strategies, helping them to create tax-exempt entities including private foundations, operating foundations, public charities, supporting organizations and social welfare organizations. 
In addition, Neil has significant experience counseling his clients on the design and implementation of charitable gift and pledge agreements, split-interest charitable trusts and other charitable giving strategies. He advises clients on issues concerning donative intent, “mission drift”, long-term governance of philanthropic vehicles, and charitable components of family offices and family investment structure.

On behalf of his clients, Neil has negotiated major gifts with charitable organizations and has also helped his clients identify, formulate and enforce their charitable goals. Neil has significant experience advising clients regarding state and federal audits related to charitable organizations and charitable giving. 

Neil frequently speaks and writes on matters involving philanthropy and serves as the firm-wide head of McDermott’s Private Client Practice Group.