ECJ Deepens California Roots with Premier Trust & Estate Firm Merger

BEVERLY HILLS, CA – January 06, 2026 – Ervin Cohen & Jessup (ECJ) has significantly fortified its presence in the California legal market, announcing its combination with the highly regarded trust and estate law firm, Carico McDonald Kil & Benz LLP. The strategic merger, effective January 1, 2026, brings a team of nine legal professionals to ECJ and establishes a new “Beach Cities” office for the firm in El Segundo.

The move adds six distinguished attorneys to ECJ’s roster: Partners Christopher Carico, Bill Benz, Angela Kil, Bruce Macdonald, and Taylor Carico, along with Associate Katherine Lasko. They are joined by two paralegals and a legal secretary, representing a major talent acquisition that deepens the firm's expertise in estate planning and probate litigation.

“We are excited to welcome Chris and his exceptional team to ECJ,” said Barry MacNaughton, managing partner of Ervin Cohen & Jessup, in a statement. “Their deep experience in trust, estate and probate law significantly enhances our capabilities and presence in California.”

The sentiment was echoed by the incoming team. “From our first conversations, it was clear that ECJ shares our commitment to excellence, collaboration and client-centered advocacy,” stated Christopher Carico, the founding partner of the former Carico McDonald Kil & Benz. “Joining ECJ allows us to enhance the breadth of services we offer while maintaining the high level of attention and care our clients rely on. We are excited to collaborate with ECJ’s talented team and look forward to the opportunities this partnership creates for both our clients and our attorneys.”

Bolstering a Critical Practice Area

This combination is more than a simple expansion; it represents a strategic capture of elite expertise in one of Southern California's most critical legal sectors. Carico McDonald Kil & Benz was widely recognized as a preeminent force in trust and estate law, serving a client base of high-net-worth individuals and families with estates often valued between $10 million and $100 million. The addition of this team immediately elevates ECJ’s position in a competitive market driven by significant wealth concentration and California’s complex probate laws.

The establishment of the Beach Cities office, operating out of the former Carico firm’s El Segundo location, provides ECJ with a vital geographic foothold. This local presence is crucial for serving the affluent communities of the South Bay and surrounding areas, where demand for sophisticated estate planning, trust administration, and wealth transfer counsel is consistently high. By integrating a team with established roots and a stellar reputation in the community, ECJ is poised to capture a greater market share and become a dominant player in the region’s trust and estate landscape.

A Blueprint for Bicoastal Growth

This West Coast expansion is a key component of a broader, more ambitious growth strategy for Ervin Cohen & Jessup. The move closely follows the firm's recent expansion to the East Coast. In November 2025, ECJ, a firm with over 70 years of history rooted in Beverly Hills, opened its first-ever office outside California in New York City. That expansion was spearheaded by the addition of prominent litigator Matthew S. Blum and two associates.

Viewed together, the New York and Southern California expansions reveal a deliberate “dual-coast” strategy. The firm is actively positioning itself to serve clients with significant interests in the nation's two largest economic hubs. As Managing Partner Barry MacNaughton noted at the time of the New York opening, the East Coast presence allows the firm to better serve New York clients with California-based legal matters and, conversely, provide its California clients with a direct connection to the New York market, particularly in real estate and private wealth.

This strategic evolution marks a new chapter for the Chambers California Spotlight-ranked firm. By acquiring specialized talent and establishing physical offices in key markets, ECJ is transitioning from a regional powerhouse to a firm with national reach and relevance, equipped to handle complex, cross-jurisdictional matters for its diverse client base.

Integrating a Roster of Acclaimed Specialists

The true value of the combination lies in the caliber of the legal talent joining Ervin Cohen & Jessup. The incoming team brings a wealth of experience and accolades that significantly deepen the firm’s intellectual capital.

Christopher D. Carico is a State Bar-certified specialist in estate planning, trust, and probate law with 35 years of experience. He is renowned for his dual expertise in complex estate tax planning and high-stakes litigation, frequently serving as a court-appointed expert. His long list of honors includes consistent recognition in Best Lawyers in America and as a Southern California Super Lawyer, where he has been named to the prestigious “Top 100 Southern California Lawyers” list from 2021 to 2026.

Angela Kil, also a certified specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law, focuses on estate administration and planning for incapacity. Her sharp analytical skills are backed by a unique academic background, holding a Master of Science in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics from UCLA in addition to her J.D. from Loyola Law School. She has been recognized by Best Lawyers and was recently named to the “Top 50: 2024 Women Southern California Super Lawyers Top List.”

Bruce M. Macdonald holds the rare distinction of being a State Bar-certified specialist in two distinct fields: tax law and estate planning, trust, and probate law. His practice is centered on solving complex tax problems related to income, estate, and gift tax planning, making him an invaluable asset for clients navigating intricate wealth transfer strategies. He is also consistently recognized by Best Lawyers and Southern California Super Lawyers.

The team is further strengthened by William “Bill” G. Benz, a seasoned litigator with a background in business and corporate law; Taylor Ann Carico, a certified specialist and LL.M. in Estate Planning who has been honored as a Southern California Rising Star; and Katherine E. Lasko, an associate in the trust and estate litigation group.

The Path to Seamless Integration

For the clients of the former Carico McDonald Kil & Benz, the transition is designed to be seamless while unlocking significant new benefits. A key focus of the combination is ensuring continuity of service, with the same trusted attorneys now backed by the extensive resources of a larger, full-service firm. These clients now gain direct access to ECJ's comprehensive suite of legal services, including real estate, corporate, employment law, intellectual property, and tax controversy.

The operational integration involves merging the El Segundo office into ECJ’s infrastructure, aligning technology, administrative processes, and firm culture. By retaining the entire professional team—from partners to paralegals and administrative staff—the firm ensures that the institutional knowledge and established client relationships are preserved. This thoughtful approach to integration aims to blend the specialized, client-centric culture of a boutique firm with the broad capabilities and reach of a major legal player, creating a more powerful and comprehensive service offering for all clients.