Jill S. Dodd

Litigation - Trusts and Estates

3.0 (1 reviews)

San Francisco, California

38+ years experience

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP

Updated: Dec 29, 2025

Contact Information

415-291-7400

https://www.manatt.com/Jill-S-Dodd

One Embarcadero Center, 30th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94111

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Bio

Jill Dodd chairs the firm’s estate planning and personal representation practice, focusing on gift, estate and philanthropic planning for very-high-net-worth individuals and families.Jill counsels very-high-net-worth individuals in all aspects of gift, estate and philanthropic planning. She has extensive experience designing and implementing a variety of sophisticated structures, including family limited partnerships, grantor retained annuity trusts, insurance trusts, complex grantor trusts, qualified personal residence trusts, charitable lead trusts and charitable remainder trusts, all designed to transfer assets to heirs and to charities in a tax-efficient manner that respects the values of the families. Jill routinely represents individuals in gift and estate tax audits before the IRS. She also counsels clients on all aspects of trust administration.In her not-for-profit practice, Jill acts as outside general counsel to charitable organizations of all types, including community foundations large and small; operating charities, such as museums and schools; and private family foundations. She has extensive experience in all aspects of a charity’s activities, including structuring start-ups and obtaining exemptions; advising on compliance issues with respect to local, state and federal law; advising on governance issues, including conflict of interest and fiduciary duties; and working with charities to structure subsidiaries and joint ventures. She has successfully represented charities in audits before the California Attorney General, the Franchise Tax Board and the IRS. Jill routinely represents individuals in gift and estate tax audits before the IRS. She also counsels clients on all aspects of trust administration. In her not-for-profit practice, Jill acts as outside general counsel to charitable organizations of all types, including community foundations large and small; operating charities, such as museums and schools; and private family foundations. She has extensive experience in all aspects of a charity’s activities, including structuring start-ups and obtaining exemptions; advising on compliance issues with respect to local, state and federal law; advising on governance issues, including conflict of interest and fiduciary duties; and working with charities to structure subsidiaries and joint ventures. She has successfully represented charities in audits before the California Attorney General, the Franchise Tax Board and the IRS.

Practice Areas

Litigation - Trusts and Estates

Awards & Recognition

Lawyer of the Year: Nonprofit / Charities Law, San Francisco (2021)
Lawyer of the Year: Litigation - Trusts and Estates, San Francisco (2017)
Recognized: Litigation - Trusts and Estates
Recognized: Nonprofit / Charities Law
Recognized: Tax Law
Recognized: Trusts and Estates
Special Focus: Business and Succession Planning
Special Focus: Charitable Gift Planning
Special Focus: Income Tax
Special Focus: Nonprofit Organizations and Charitable Giving
Special Focus: Private Foundations
Special Focus: Tax Planning
Special Focus: Tax-Exempt Organizations
Special Focus: Trusts and Estates
Ranked in the Chambers and Partners 2016 High Net Worth Guide for Private Wealth Law – Northern California
Daily Journal, “Top Women Lawyers in California,” 2011
Awarded the 2011 Phil Hoffmire Service Award, The Northern California Planned Giving Council
Worth magazine, “Top 100 Lawyers Advising High-Net-Worth Clients,” 2007, 2008
California Super Lawyer, 2007-present
Named Best Lawyers Trusts and Estates Litigation “Lawyer of the Year,” 2017

Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2006

Education

University of California Berkeley, graduated 1987
University of California Berkeley, J.D., graduated 1987
Harvard University, graduated 1977

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Reviews

Michael Peterson

3 weeks ago

Knowledgeable but Communication Could Improve

Jill Dodd’s expertise in estate planning and high-net-worth philanthropic planning is evident—her 38 years of experience and recognition as a Lawyer of the Year speak for themselves. When my family needed complex trust and estate litigation guidance, her insights were invaluable. However, while her legal acumen is unquestionable, her responsiveness and clarity in explaining intricate legal strategies sometimes left us waiting longer than expected. The firm’s reputation and Jill’s track record in trusts and estates are outstanding, but I wished for more proactive updates during our case. For those prioritizing deep expertise over frequent communication, she’s an excellent choice—just manage expectations accordingly.