Unprecedented prosperity within the United States has generated an unprecedented demand for professional investment management and advisory services. As a result, trust and wealth management products and services have become increasingly important sources of fee income, attracting financial institutions of all sizes.

As individual wealth has increased over the past decade, financial institutions large and small have begun offering sophisticated wealth management services. Changes in the OTS and OCC regulatory positions enabling interstate delivery of fiduciary services and interstate trust company operations, coupled with expanded operating powers under Gramm-Leach-Bliley, have presented banks with an unparalleled opportunity to expand their relationships with some of their best customers. Experience in navigating the sometimes treacherous channels between overlapping regulators - banking, insurance and securities - is essential.

Our financial institutions group has been in the forefront of assisting banks in capturing this new market.

Together, we have:

• Organized trust departments for banks, state and national

• Organized new trust companies

• Assisted banks in acquiring companies that offer wealth management services, investment advisory services, brokerage services, tax services and insurance services

• Represented clients in delivery of fiduciary products nationwide

• Counseled clients on establishing small, community-oriented trust operations

• Assisted clients in outsourcing and joint venturing fiduciary products and services