Minneapolis, September 2, 2026 – With trillions of dollars expected to move from Baby Boomers and Gen X to Millennials and Gen Z in the coming years, Am Law 100 law firm Cozen O’Connor today added veteran wealth management attorney David C. Joyslin to its award-winning Private Client, Trusts and Estates practice. Joyslin brings to the firm some two decades of experience advising high net worth individuals and families on a wide range of critical estate-related matters, including complex business succession measures involving tax-efficient trust structures. He joins Cozen O’Connor as a member and will work out of its Minneapolis office, which will move to the Wells Fargo Center in downtown Minneapolis in 2027.
Joyslin comes to the firm from Best & Flanagan LLP and brings a 20-year track record of successfully guiding wealthy individuals and families through a range of customized wealth management solutions, including estate and gift tax plans, charitable giving, business succession strategies, estate and trust administration, and complex fiduciary disputes. Working closely with clients — as well as their financial advisers — Joyslin helps clients establish their goals and objectives by simplifying complex, wealth-transfer concepts, enabling them to better understand their options and gain confidence in their chosen plan.
“Clients today face increasingly complex tax, business succession, family governance, and wealth transfer issues, and the demand for private wealth services continues to expand throughout the United States and abroad,” said Lester E. Lipschutz, co-chair of the firm’s Private Client, Trusts and Estates practice. “David has spent his career helping families navigate those challenges with practical advice and sophisticated planning. I’m thrilled he’s chosen to join our team.”
Joyslin’s wealth management background also includes four-plus years as vice president and trust officer at U.S. Bank, one of the country’s largest commercial banking institutions. As part of the bank’s Private Wealth Management Group, he developed a range of complex financial solutions for wealthy families, focusing mainly on estate planning, trust administration, and asset management.
“For high net worth individuals with myriad holdings, effective transfer and tax planning requires more than mastery of the legal, tax, and regulatory rules — it requires true finesse,” said Jana Deach, Cozen O’Connor’s Minneapolis co-office managing partner. “David has developed and successfully implemented sophisticated estate plans for some of the country’s most affluent individuals and families. I’m pleased to welcome him to our growing office.”
Recognized as a 2025 Minnesota Super Lawyer in Estate Planning & Probate, Joyslin has served as an elected member of the Probate Trust Section of the Minnesota State Bar Association and presents regularly at Minnesota Continuing Legal Education. He is also active in the Twin Cities arts community as a volunteer, supporter, and volunteer trombonist.
“I chose to join Cozen O’Connor because of the firm’s focus and long-term commitment to building a truly national private client practice,” Joyslin said. “With my background, I bring additional planning experience and a network of wealth management contacts that will help us uncover new opportunities and continue to grow our revenue, both locally and nationally.”
Joyslin earned his J.D. in Law at Mitchell Hamline School of Law, and a B.A. in government and international affairs at Augustana University.
About Cozen O’Connor
Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 1,000 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 35 offices across two continents.
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