Faculty

Michael Neri, J.D.
Visiting Professor of Legal Practice

Michael Neri is a Visiting Professor of Legal Practice at Wilmington University Farnan School of Law, where he teaches Wills, Trusts and Estates, Professional Responsibility, and Property. Drawing on more than 25 years of experience as both a trusts and estates attorney and trust company executive, he brings extensive real-world knowledge of fiduciary law, wealth management, and trust administration into the classroom. His teaching emphasizes the practical application of legal principles and prepares students to navigate the complex challenges of modern legal practice.

Prior to joining the Farnan School of Law, Professor Neri served as Head of Delaware Trust Services for Citi Private Bank, where he oversaw Citibank’s Delaware trust business and led a team responsible for administering thousands of trust accounts for high-net-worth clients. In that role, he served as a trusted resource on Delaware trust and estate law, advising clients and colleagues, approving new fiduciary business, and leading regulatory examinations, internal audits, and legal compliance efforts. Earlier in his career, he established a Delaware trust company for Merrill Lynch, where he developed innovative trust products based on Delaware fiduciary law and educated financial advisors on the strategic use of trusts in wealth planning.

Professor Neri earned his Juris Doctor from Suffolk University School of Law, where he was recognized as a distinguished oral advocate. He began his legal career in Boston, Massachusetts, practicing trusts and estates and tax law. Throughout his career, he has remained deeply engaged in professional and educational leadership. He is a founding member of the University of Delaware Trust and Wealth Management Program, the nation’s first accredited undergraduate estate and trust program, and has served on its Advisory Board and as Marketing Committee Chair.

A respected member of the legal and fiduciary community, Professor Neri is admitted to practice in Massachusetts and has served as Chair of the Delaware State Bar Association’s Estate and Trust Section. He also serves on the Board of the Delaware Estate Planning Council and is a member of the Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank Board’s Nominating Advisory Committee. Outside of his professional and academic work, he enjoys spending time with his family, restoring classic cars and motorcycles, and aviation. He earned his private pilot’s license while attending law school.