The latest moves in the North American wealth management sector.

Fiduciary Trust Company International
Fiduciary Trust Company International, the US-based wealth manager and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Franklin Templeton Investments, said its managing director and trust counsel Franckline Casimir-Benoit, CTFA will begin a four-year term on the American Bankers Association’s CTFA Advisory Board.

The appointment took effect from the start of this year.

The American Bankers Association provides trust and wealth advisors with the ability to obtain and keep the CTFA (Certified Trust and Financial Advisor) professional designation. Casimir-Benoit will help shape the ABA curriculum for CTFA courses, and provide input on the ABA’s CTFA educational programming and industry events.

Casimir-Benoit has more than 25 years of experience advising high-net-worth individuals and families. She joined Fiduciary Trust in November 2000 as assistant vice president and trust officer. She was promoted to managing director in November 2011 and became trust counsel in October 2013. Casimir-Benoit began her career as assistant vice president and trust officer at Merrill Lynch Trust Co. in October 1992.

Her term on the ABA’s CTFA advisory board will run through December 31, 2021.

Day Pitney
US law firm Day Pitney, which serves high net worth private clients and others, has elevated three of its attorneys to the status of partner.

C John DeSimone, III is a litigation partner in the Parsippany office. He primarily represents clients in both real estate and business litigation matters. His real estate litigation practice includes commercial lease litigation, commercial real estate contract disputes, title disputes, construction litigation, environmental disputes and prerogative writ matters and zoning appeals. John also has served as a land use and zoning attorney and he is outside general counsel for several community associations. DeSimone received his J D from Boston College Law School and his BA, cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania. He is admitted to practice in New Jersey and New York.

Susan R Huntington is a transactional partner in the Hartford office. She assists health care providers and managed care companies with the spectrum of business and regulatory needs, with particular experience in forming accountable care organizations and clinical integration networks. Huntington has focused her entire legal career in health law and has extensive clinical, business management, insurance, risk management and legal experience. She is also a certified physician assistant.

In addition, Huntington has over ten years of experience working for Chubb insurance company, serving as the health care practice leader/senior vice president.

Amy R Lonergan is a trusts and estates partner in the Boston office. She assists individuals and families in all aspects of estate and tax planning. Her practice ranges from estate planning for individuals and young families to developing plans that incorporate sophisticated strategies to transfer wealth to the next generation while minimizing estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer taxes. Primarily, she advises business owners, entrepreneurs and principals and partners of private equity firms in all aspects of estate planning and wealth transfer strategies. She received her JD, cum laude, from Suffolk University Law School and her B BA, cum laude, from Baruch College. She is admitted to practice in Massachusetts.

Bressler, Amery & Ross
US law firm Bressler, Amery & Ross, which offers private client services as well other business lines, has promoted a raft of individuals to the status of principal and counsel. Joel M Everest, Logan M Fisher, David I Hantman, Preston Martin and Matthew I Penfield are promoted to principal. Emily J Bordens has been made counsel, the law firm said. The changes took effect from Jan. 1.

Everest joined the firm in February 2014.  His practice focuses on securities litigation, with a special focus in the defense of brokerage firms and financial institutions against claims asserted by customers in state and federal court and in arbitration proceedings throughout the country.  

Fisher joined the firm in August 2009.  His practice is primarily devoted to representing broker-dealers and financial advisors in securities litigation.  He also represents individual entrepreneurs and business organizations in connection with the formation of corporate entities and other corporate matters.  

Hantman joined the firm in September 2007 and was promoted to counsel in January 2017.  His primary area of practice is securities litigation and arbitration. He represents broker-dealers and registered representatives in these forums, as well as in investigations and regulatory enforcement actions.

Martin joined the firm in February 2014. His practice focuses primarily on the defense of brokerage firms and financial institutions against claims asserted by their customers and former employees in court and arbitration proceedings across the US. He also has an estate planning practice, which includes the preparation of wills, trusts, and other estate planning documents.  

Penfield joined the firm in February 2014. His practice focuses on labor and employment, litigation and immigration. Bordens joined the firm in February 2009. Her primary areas of practice include labor and employment and litigation.