John A. Terrill, II

Jack Terrill’s practice largely focuses on estate planning for clients with complex assets, such as businesses, real estate, and other significant assets. He is a nationally recognized authority on asset protection planning, which involves estate planning with attention given to the preservation and protection of assets from undue exposure to litigation or other claims.

Jack’s practice also includes charitable planning (particularly creating and operating foundations), estate settlement, and fiduciary litigation. He is also frequently engaged as an expert witness in matters involving estate and trust planning and tax matters. He has acted as a guardian ad litem to assist judges in evaluating complex estate planning and trust administration disputes.

Jack is a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel where he served as the President in 2019. He was the founding chair of ACTEC’s Asset Protection Committee and is a member of the College’s Professional Responsibility, Asset Protection and Legal Education committees. He chaired ACTEC’s Task Force on FATF (the Financial Action Task Force) until 2016.

He has been listed as a top trust and estate lawyer in Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers, and has an AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell. Jack is also recognized in Chambers and Partners High Net Worth guide as a Band 1 Leader in the field of Private Wealth Law in Pennsylvania.

Jack was a lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania Law School where he taught Trusts and Estates. Before that, he was an adjunct professor in the graduate tax program at Villanova University for 15 years. He continues to teach and speak at professional meetings and bar associations across the country. His topics include asset protection planning and the impact of FATF on law practice.

• Philadelphia Bar Association
  • Chair, Probate and Trust Law Section (1995)
• Natural Lands Trust
  • Chair, Board of Trustees (2013 – 2018)
  • Vice Chair, Board of Trustees (1999 – 2013)
• American College of Trust and Estate Counsel
  • Immediate Past President (2020)
  • President (2019)
  • President-Elect (2018)
  • Vice President (2017)
  • Executive Committee (2013 – 2017)
  • FATF Task Force Chair (2013 – 2016)
  • Pennsylvania State Chair (2012 – 2015)
  • Board of Regents (2010 – 2016)
  • Asset Protection Committee Chair (2006 – 2009)
• Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law
  • Member, Law School Advisory Board (2017 – Present)
• The Baldwin School
  • Trustee (1998 – 2005)

• Lecturer at Law, University of Pennsylvania (2010 – 2011)
• Lecturer, Graduate Tax Program, Villanova University School of Law (1987 – 2003)

• Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, Elected 1991
• AV Rating, Martindale Hubbell
• Chambers and Partners Leader in the Field, High Net Worth Guide (2017- present)
• Philadelphia’s Best Lawyers (1993 – present)
• Pennsylvania Super Lawyer (2004 – present)
• Philadelphia Estate Planning Council’s Distinguished Estate Planner, 2015 – 2016

• 2023 John A. Terrill, II, Author/Speaker, “The War on Money Laundering: The Important and Growing Role of Lawyers,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 30th Annual Estate Law Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
• 2021 John A. Terrill, II and Michael A. Breslow, Co-Authors, “Congress Passes Corporate Transparency Act to Require Disclosure of Beneficial Owners of Entities and the Creation of a National Registry of Entities,” Steve Leimberg’s Business Entities Newsletter – Archive Message #218, January 21, 2021
• 2020 John A. Terrill, II and Michael A. Breslow, Co-Authors, “ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility Issues Formal Opinion 491 – Obligations Under Rule 1.2(d) to Avoid Counseling or Assisting in a Crime or Fraud in Non-Litigation Settings.” Steve Leimberg’s Asset Protection Planning Newsletter – Archive Message #406, June 3, 2020.
• 2020 John A. Terrill, II, John Riches, and Michael A. Breslow, Co-Authors, Chapter 14: The War on Money Laundering: Making Lawyers and Accountants Part of Law Enforcement, 53 U. Miami Law Center on Est. Planning 1401 (2019).
• 2018 John A. Terrill, II and Michael A. Breslow, Co-Authors, “FinCEN Issues Frequently Asked Question Guidance on Final Customer Due Diligence Regulations Requiring Financial Institutions to Gather Beneficial Ownership Information on Entity Bank Accounts,” Steve Leimberg’s Estate Planning Email Newsletter – Archive Message #2667, September 25, 2018.
• 2018 John A. Terrill, II, Presenter and Co-Author and Jennifer A. Kosteva, Co-Author, “Twenty Years Later: Developments in Asset Protection Since 1997/ Focus on Domestic Asset Protection Trusts,” at Delaware Estate Planning Council, Wilmington, Delaware, February 2018.
• 2018 John A. Terrill, II, Speaker, “The Financial Task Force and the Role of Lawyers in Combating Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing,” ALI-CLE International Trust and Estate Planning 2018, San Francisco, California, November 2018. Important Links: Reflections on the Typologies in View of the Good Practices Guidance. Selected ACTEC Commentaries on Model Rules of Professional Conduct (2016).
• 2018 John A. Terrill, II, Speaker, 2018 AXA Graduate Summit, The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, “Estate Planning After the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,” August 30, 2018.
• 2018 John A. Terrill, II, Speaker, North Carolina Bar Association – 39th Annual Estate Planning & Fiduciary Law Program, Kiawah Island, SC, “Twenty (Plus) Years Later: Developments in Asset Protection Since 1997,” July 26, 2018.
• 2018 John A. Terrill, II, Speaker, PLI-CLE – International Estate and Tax Planning 2018, New York, NY, “Anti-Money Laundering Rules and Other Ethics Issues,” May 21, 2018.
• 2018 John A. Terrill, II, Speaker, Private Client Group, Baker Tilly Estate and Trust Conference 2018, “Domestic Asset Protection Trusts: Income, Gift and Estate Tax Issues,” May 31, 2018.
• 2017 John A. Terrill, II, and Jennifer A. Kosteva, Co-Authors, “Asset Protection Planning: Understanding the Links and the Conflicts between Estate Planning and Debtor/Creditor Law.”
• 2017 John A. Terrill, II, Presenter and Co-Author and Jennifer A. Kosteva, Co-Author, “Twenty Years Later: Developments in Asset Protection Since 1997 with a Focus on Domestic Asset Protection Trusts,” at Duke University Estate Planning Conference, October 2017.
• 2017 John A. Terrill, II, Speaker, “Advancements in Asset Protection Planning,” ACTEC Western Regional Meeting, Lake Tahoe, Nevada, September 2016.
• 2017 John A. Terrill, II, Speaker, “Anti-Money Laundering Rules and Other Ethics Issues,” International Trust and Estate Planning 2017, San Antonio Texas, November 2017.
• 2017 John A. Terrill, II, Speaker, “New Reality of Estate Planning,” “Pennsylvania Bar Institute, 24th Annual Estate Law Institute,” Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
• 2016 John A. Terrill, II and Michael A. Breslow, Co-Authors, “FinCEN Issues Final Customer Due Diligence Regulations Requiring Financial Institutions to Gather Beneficial Ownership Information on Entity Bank Accounts,” Steve Leimberg’s Asset Protection Planning Email Newsletter – Archive Message #321, May 11, 2016.
• 2016 John A. Terrill, II, Speaker, STEP New York, “The Financial Action Task Force and the Role of Lawyers in Combating Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing,” New York, New York.
• 2016 John A. Terrill, II, Speaker, University of Texas School of Law, 38th Annual Conference on Securities and Business Law, “The Financial Action Task Force and the Role of Lawyers in Combating Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing,” Dallas, Texas.
• 2015 John A. Terrill, II and Michael A. Breslow, Co-Authors, “The Role of Lawyers in Combating Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing: Lessons from the English Approach,” New York Law School Law Review, Vol. 59.3 (2014-15).
• 2015 John A. Terrill, II, Speaker, “Domestic Asset Protection Trusts Under Attack,” Delaware Trust Conference, Asset Protection Panel, Wilmington, Delaware.
• 2015 John A. Terrill, II, Speaker, “The Migrating Client: Asset Protection Planning and State Exemptions,” Quebec City, Canada.
• 2015 John A. Terrill, II, Speaker, “The Role of Lawyers in Combatting Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing: The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and Formal Opinion 463,” Delaware Tax Institute, Wilmington, Delaware; also at the Arizona State Bar Convention Seminar, Phoenix, Arizona.
• 2015 John A. Terrill, II, Speaker, “The Role of Lawyers in Combatting Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing: The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Voluntary Good Practices Guidance, and Formal Opinion 463,” Federal Tax Institute of New England, Connecticut State Bar Association, Portland, Connecticut.
• 2014 John A. Terrill, II, Speaker, “The 2014 Estate Planning Teleconference Series, Asset Protection for a Rainy Day,” presented by Cannon Financial Institute, Inc.
• 2014 John A. Terrill, II, Speaker, “The Basics of Asset Protection Planning,” ALI CLE/American College of Trust and Estate Counsel Asset Protection Video Webcast.
• 2014 John A. Terrill, II, Speaker, “The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and The Good Practices Guidance,” American College of Trust and Estate Counsel 2014 Mid-Atlantic Meeting, Washington, District of Columbia.
• 2014  John A. Terrill, II, Speaker/Author, “Asset Protection Planning from an Estate Planner’s Perspective,” Connecticut Fellows Annual Meeting, New Haven, Connecticut.
• 2014 John A. Terrill, II, Speaker/Author, “Bureaucracy, Red Tape and Delay: Who’s to Blame and Why? The Role of Banks & Lawyers in the War on Terrorism and combatting Money Laundering,” American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, 2014 Annual Meeting, Tucson, Arizona.
• 2014 John A. Terrill, II, Speaker/Author, “Combatting Threats to the International Financial System: The Financial Action Task Force. The FATF and Professional Ethics; The British Experience,” New York Law School FATF Symposium, New York, New York.
• 2014 John A. Terrill, II, Speaker/Author, “Intersection of Trusts and Estates in Divorce,’ American Association of Matrimonial Lawyers/Pennsylvania Bar Association Family Law Section Summer Meeting, Cambridge, Maryland.
• 2014 John A. Terrill, II, Speaker/Author, “The Role of Lawyers in Combatting Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing: The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) & Formal Opinion 463,” Washington State Bar Association, 59th Estate Planning Seminar, Seattle, Washington.
• 2014 John A. Terrill, II, Speaker/Author, “The Role of Lawyers in Combatting Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing: The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and Formal Opinion 463,” ALI-CLE/American College of Trust and Estate Counsel Ethics Teleconference.
• 2014 John A. Terrill, II, Speaker/Author, “Unwinding, or Defending, Complex Estate Planning Structures; Working with your Client’s Estate Lawyer,” Pennsylvania Bar Association, Family Law Section Winter Meeting, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
• 2013 John A. Terrill, II, Speaker, “Before and After ATRA: Transfer Tax and Selected Income Tax Issues, “Estate Planning Council of Delaware, Inc., Wilmington, Delaware.
• 2013 John A. Terrill, II, Speaker, “Estate Planning after the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012,” ALI CLE Webcast.
• 2013 John A. Terrill, II, Speaker, “FATF and Circular 230,” American College of Trust and Estate Council Annual Meeting, Maui, Hawaii.
• 2013 John A. Terrill, II, Speaker, “Recent Developments in Asset Protection Planning,” ALI CLE Teleseminar/Audio Webcast.
• 2013 John A. Terrill, II, Speaker, “The Financial Action Task Force and The Good Practices Guidance: The Impact on Trust and Estate Lawyers,” California Bar Association, San Francisco, California.
• 2013 John A. Terrill, II, Speaker, “Trust and Estate Planning in 2013 and Beyond: The Impact of ATRA on Estate and Income Tax,” Philadelphia Bar Association, Probate and Trust Law Section, Quarterly Meeting, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
• 2013 John A. Terrill, II, Speaker/Author, “Asset Protection Planning from an Estate Planner’s Perspective,” Estate Planning and Probate Section, Atlanta Bar Association, Atlanta, Georgia.
• 2013 John A. Terrill, II, Speaker/Author, “Asset Protection Planning from an Estate Planner’s Perspective,” New York State Bar Association, “11th Annual Sophisticated Trusts and Estates Law Institute,” New York City, New York.
• 2013 John A. Terrill, II, Speaker/Author, “Planning for Married Clients in Pennsylvania; Impact of Portability,” Delaware County Estate Planning Council, Media, Pennsylvania.
• 2013 John A. Terrill, II, Speaker/Author, “The Financial Action Task Force and the Good Practices Guidance,” ALI CLE Private Wealth Planning in the 21st Century, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
• 2013 John A. Terrill, II, Speaker/Author, “Trust Company Client Due Diligence,” with Karen Ann Fahrner, Esq., PNC Delaware Trust Company; Kim D. Fetrow, Speaker/Author, “Fiduciary Fees”, with Paul C. Heintz, Esquire, Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel LLP; Thomas O. Hiscott, “Income Tax Planning for Non-Grantor Trusts in 2013;” Jill R. Fowler, “Gift Tax Return Preparation: The Law and Lore;” Bradley D. Terebelo, “Generation Skipping Transfer Tax;” Bradley D. Terebelo, Speaker, “How to Prepare Federal Estate and Gift Tax Returns;” Pennsylvania Bar Institute,” 20th Annual Estate Law Institute,” Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
• 2012 John A. Terrill, II, Panelist, “Difficult Clients, Difficult Situations: Practical Ways to Manage Professional Conversations,” American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, Annual Meeting, Miami Beach, Florida.
• 2012 John A. Terrill, II, Speaker, “Asset Protection Trust Planning: 2012 Update,” Webinar, American Law Institute/American Bar Association, ALI-ABA, with Gideon Rothschild, Esquire, Moses & Singer, New York, New York.
• 2012 John A. Terrill, II, Speaker, “The Financial Action Task Force and the Good Practices Guidance,” and “Asset Protection Planning From An Estate Planner’s Perspective,” New York State Bar Association, “10th Annual Sophisticated Trusts and Estates Law Institute,” New York, New York.
• 2012 John A. Terrill, II, Speaker, “Tools, Techniques, Traps, and Tripwires: Surviving 2012 and Beyond,” ALI CLE Advanced Essentials of Private Wealth Planning, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
• 2012 John A. Terrill, II, Speaker, “Wealth Planning for High Net-Worth Individuals and Owners of Closely-Held Companies – Lawyers as Gatekeeper,” New York University School of Continuing and Professional Studies, “Summer Institute in Taxation,” New York, New York.