Tessa Mielke
PEOPLE

Tessa Mielke

Partner
mielke.tessa@dorsey.com

Overview

TESSA ASSISTS CLIENTS WITH TAX AND ESTATE PLANNING, BUSINESS SUCCESSION PLANNING, ESTATE AND TRUST ADMINISTRATION, AND ESTATE, GIFT, AND INCOME TAX CONTROVERSIES.
Tessa has a broad tax and estate planning practice. She helps clients plan for and manage tax-efficient transfers of wealth to future generations by designing comprehensive estate plans that meet each client’s unique goals, and by implementing those plans through advice regarding lifetime gifts and estate and trust administration. Tessa also advises clients regarding income tax and retirement planning, and represents taxpayers in federal and state income, gift, and estate tax controversies. Finally, Tessa regularly advises charitable organizations and individuals with charitable goals with respect to the formation and administration of public charities, private foundations, and charitable trusts.

Education & Admissions

Harvard Law School (J.D., 2010), magna cum laude; Executive Editor, Harvard Law Review

Princeton University (A.B., 2007), summa cum laude

Admissions

  • Massachusetts
  • Minnesota

Experience

  • Prepares wills and revocable (living) trusts to plan for the transfer of assets at death.
  • Prepares health care directives and financial powers of attorney to plan for incapacity.
  • Helps high-net worth families design sophisticated lifetime gifting plans to transfer assets to later generations while minimizing income, estate, and gift taxes, including the use of irrevocable life insurance trusts (ILITs), grantor retained annuity trusts (GRATs), qualified personal residence trusts (QPRTs), and installment sales to intentionally defective grantor trusts (IDGTs).
  • Assists family offices with designing and implementing complex estate plans for multiple generations of business owners.
  • Helps business owners plan for the transition of family businesses.
  • Advises clients about charitable gifting options, including the creation and administration of private foundations, supporting organizations, charitable lead trusts, and charitable remainder trusts.
  • Represents taxpayers in income, estate, and gift tax controversies.
  • Advises clients on estate and gift tax, structuring, and valuation issues in the formation of family partnerships and LLCs that hold a variety of family business, real property, and investment assets.
  • Advises trustees regarding trust administration, including representing trustees in requests for court instruction or approval and advising trustees regarding trust modifications and decanting.
  • Represents personal representatives (executors) in the probate process and all aspects of estate administration.

News & Resources

Articles

New Tax Act
Minnesota Issues Revenue Notice Regarding Apportionment of Compensation Paid to Nonresident Corporate Board Members
“Court Jurisdiction and Procedure” in Minnesota Trust Administration Deskbook, 3d ed. (Sheryl G. Morrison & Robert W. Mairs, eds.) (2014) (with Sonny F. Miller)

News & Press Mentions

Super Lawyers Recognizes 27 Dorsey Attorneys in Minneapolis
Spotlight on Flex: Tessa Mielke
Dorsey & Whitney Names New Partners

Industries & Practices

  • Healthcare & Life Sciences
  • Nonprofit & Tax Exempt Organizations
  • Tax Controversy & Litigation
  • Trusts & Estates
  • Trusts & Estates Litigation

Professional & Civic

Professional Achievements

  • Minnesota State Bar Association, Member of the Probate and Trust Law Section Legislation Committee  
  • Hennepin County Bar Association

Community Involvement

  • Sabathani Community Center, Board of Directors
  • Active pro bono practice assisting new and existing nonprofit organizations

Accolades

  • Listed as a "Rising Star" by Minnesota Super Lawyers, 2023

Pro Bono 50 Hours 2022

  • Contributed more than 50+ Challenge pro bono hours, 2022

North Star Lawyer logo

  • MSBA North Star Lawyer, 2014-2015 and 2022
Tessa Mielke