Kristen Behrens was elected as Dilworth Paxson‘s co-managing partner, marking a significant milestone in the firm’s 90-year history. Behrens is the first female to be named to this role.
Behrens brings her leadership and expertise to her new role. She has been a valuable member of Dilworth Paxson since joining the firm — which has offices in Freehold, Cherry Hill and Princeton, among others — in 2016. As a member of the Executive Committee since 2019, she demonstrated strategic vision, exceptional leadership and a dedication to growth.
As the first female managing partner in firm history, Behrens’ appointment symbolizes Dilworth’s commitment to creating a more diverse and inclusive leadership team.
“I am deeply honored and excited to assume the role of co-managing partner at Dilworth Paxson LLP. This appointment represents a significant step forward for our firm and the industry as a whole. I am committed to leveraging the talents of our exceptional team and working together to further elevate our position in the market,” Behrens said.
“I am very pleased to announce that the partners voted unanimously to elect Kristen Behrens as co-managing partner of the firm,” Dilworth Chairman Larry McMichael said. “Kristen is committed to building upon the firm’s legacy of success and driving it to new heights. In her new role, she will continue to focus delivering exceptional client service, fostering a collaborative and inclusive culture and cultivating talent within the organization.”
Behrens will share the role with Patrick Northen, who was named managing partner in 2018. Together, they will oversee Dilworth’s operations, taking responsibility for priorities such as growth and profitability. Behrens will continue her client-facing role, in addition to taking on her new leadership responsibilities. Her practice involves all aspects of trust and estate planning and administration with a focus on special needs trusts, post-litigation planning, estate planning, estate administration, guardianships and Orphans’ Court matters. She regularly represents banks and corporate fiduciaries on the fiduciary aspects of trust administration and is a recognized authority on the laws governing special needs trusts and court-supervised trusts.
“Kristen has established herself as a committed, forward-thinking leader and a sought-after, client-focused practitioner,” Northen said. “Her experience, insight and energy bring tremendous value to the leadership of the firm, and I am excited to work alongside her as we continue to grow and strengthen the firm.”
