Kenneth C. Halcom
Partner, Private Wealth
Ken Halcom is a New York-based partner in Willkie’s Private Wealth Group and Family Office Group. He is a trusted advisor to individuals and families, helping them to preserve, protect and enhance their wealth; achieve their goals; and magnify their impact. Prior to joining the Firm, he was President of a private trust company for a large multi-generational family and, before that, was a partner at Cravath, Swaine & Moore.
Ken has deep knowledge in all aspects of trust and estate planning and administration. His clients have included:
- Founders, entrepreneurs, investors and executives;
- Multi-generational families and family offices of all sizes;
- Beneficiaries and trustees; and
- Actors, artists, collectors, government officials, and other high-profile individuals.
Ken handles a broad range of personal and business affairs for clients, including:
- Sophisticated trust, estate, charitable and tax planning;
- Structuring family offices, private trust companies, investment entities, charitable foundations and impact platforms;
- Succession and governance;
- When necessary, IRS audits and fiduciary disputes; and
- A broad range of personal legal matters.
For clients with family offices, he is able to leverage his own hands-on leadership experience in a large family office to understand their service expectations and deliver the Firm’s resources to meet their needs.
Ken strives to build long-term relationships with clients and to tailor strategies and results that work for them. He frames sophisticated legal concepts in simple language that empowers clients to make informed decisions with confidence. He takes great satisfaction in being a key advisor to clients on their most important legal matters, and particularly enjoys helping clients fulfill their philanthropic and impact priorities.
Ken devotes significant time to charitable service, having previously served on the Board of Trustees of the Madison Square Boys & Girls Club and the Pinkerton Foundation, as Warden of Christ Church Greenwich, as Director and Secretary of the Greenwich Land Trust, and as Secretary and Trustee of Greenwich Library.
Ken grew up in Danville, Illinois, and studied opera performance before pursuing a career in law. He graduated first in his class at the University of Illinois College of Law and later earned a Master of Laws in Taxation (LL.M.) from New York University School of Law.
Credentials
Education
New York University School of Law, LL.M., 2009 University of Illinois College of Law, J.D. (summa cum laude), 2006 Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, M.Mus., 2003 Millikin University, B.Mus., 2000