San Francisco, CA – July 2025
Sideman & Bancroft LLP is proud to announce that its Estate Planning and Administration Group has once again been ranked in the prestigious Chambers High Net Worth Guide, earning recognition for its strength, sophistication, and deep commitment to client service. The firm was ranked Band 3 in the Private Wealth Law – Northern California category.
The Chambers High Net Worth Guide is produced by Chambers and Partners, the world’s leading legal rankings and analytics provider. With over 20 years of experience identifying top legal talent, Chambers provides buyers of legal services with trusted, data-driven insight into the best law firms and lawyers across the United States and internationally. Its rankings are based on in-depth research and hundreds of interviews conducted by an independent team, evaluating firms and attorneys on criteria such as legal ability, client service, commercial awareness, and professional conduct.
In the 2025 edition, Chambers ranked more than 2,100 law firms and 28,000 attorneys across the U.S., with only a select number of firms recognized in the Private Wealth Law category. Sideman & Bancroft’s inclusion underscores its reputation as a go-to advisor for high-net-worth individuals, families, and fiduciaries seeking tailored, tax-efficient estate planning strategies and complex trust and estate administration.
The firm’s Estate Planning and Administration Group was commended for offering a “boutique personal approach to trust and estates while able to handle complex and sophisticated matters.” Clients and peers also emphasized the team’s “outstanding technical ability,” “strong, diverse team of trust and estate attorneys,” and skill in navigating high-value domestic and international planning issues.
Notable Partner Recognitions
Ellen Kahn – Ranked Band 2, Ellen Kahn is praised as “an experienced private wealth attorney” who “brings a deep level of sophistication and thoughtful analysis to every matter.” One source describes her as “attentive to the client’s stated goals and incredibly effective at helping them achieve those goals with clarity and care.” Another commentator simply said, “Ellen is an institution—she’s a really good lawyer with the rare ability to make complex matters feel manageable.”
Hilary Pierce – Ranked Band 3, Hilary Pierce is described as “an exceptional lawyer who is absolutely at the top of her game and an expert in her field.” Clients highlighted her “great rapport with clients and incredible attention to detail,” adding, “She’s very smart, responsible, and a pleasure to work with. You can tell she genuinely cares about the people she advises.” One source emphasized: “Hilary has a talent for taking even the most intricate planning issues and breaking them down into something actionable and understandable.”
Kirsten Wolff – Ranked Band 3, Kirsten Wolff is commended for her strong client relationships and clear communication style. A source shared, “Kirsten is incredibly knowledgeable and has a unique ability to explain complicated estate planning topics in a way that’s easy to understand.” Others described her as “thoughtful, practical, and always responsive,” with one person adding: “She’s one of the nicest people around—warm, professional, and deeply respected in the field.”
Read Sideman & Bancroft’s full rankings here.
