Donald R. Mering

Bar Admissions

• Maryland

Court Admissions

• Court of Appeals of Maryland

Education

• Georgetown University (LL.M. in Taxation, 1980)
• University of Maryland School of Law (J.D., with honor, 1973)
• Wheaton College (A.B., 1968)

Donald R. Mering

Experience

Donald R. Mering is a principal in Ober|Kaler's Estates and Trusts Group and chairs the firm's Private Wealth Services Section.

Don assists clients in the structure of sophisticated transactions designed to provide innovative solutions to the tax and non-tax problems associated with the transmission of wealth. In many cases, he designs these structures as part of the client's overall business plan in order to address their unique business and personal planning concerns. Effective uses are made of deferred compensation, stock purchase agreements, family partnerships, present and deferred gifts to charities and life insurance.

A significant portion of Don’s practice is devoted to all phases of charitable planning for individual donors as well as charities. Planning transactions span the spectrum from basic planning considerations to sophisticated charitable transactions, including the use of private foundations and deferred giving techniques.

Don also provides litigation support in contested estate matters, will and trust construction, and tax controversies relating to estate tax and gift tax matters.

He is the recipient of numerous awards for providing estates and trusts counsel, including listings in The Best Lawyers in America and Maryland Super Lawyers.

Professional Memberships

• American Bar Association
• Baltimore Estate Planning Council
  • Past President
  • Past Director
• Maryland State Bar Association
  • Estate and Trust Law Section
    • Executive Committee, 1988-2000
    • Chair, 2000

Community Service

• Review of Maryland Laws
  • Member, Advisory Board
• St. Paul School for Girls
  • Development Committee, Past Member
• University of Baltimore School of Law
  • Adjunct Professor, Graduate Tax Program, 1990-1993
• Walters Art Gallery
  • Development Committee, Past Member

Honoraries

• Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel
• Listed since 1993 in The Best Lawyers in America, Trusts and Estates Category (Woodward/White, Inc.)
• Listed in Maryland Super Lawyers, Estates Planning & Probate, 2007-2013; “Top 50 Lawyers,” 2007
• Listed in The Best of U.S., Trust and Estate Category
• AV Rated, Martindale-Hubbell