Michele Mulrooney

Michele M. (Muller) Mulrooney, 64, passed away following a cycling accident in Aspen, Colorado, on September 1, 2025. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Michele was the beloved daughter of the late Leo and Evelyn (Gilbert) Muller.

 

Michele was a devoted mother and is survived by her two daughters, Megan Mulrooney and her husband, Luke Calder and their son, Grayson; and Melissa (Mulrooney) Miranda and her husband, Eduardo Miranda, and their daughter, Maya, all of Los Angeles. She is also survived by her brother, Michael Muller of Colorado Springs, and her stepsons, Jed Jackoway and Jess Jackoway.

 

One of the nation’s leading private wealth and estate planning attorneys, Michele served as Co-Chair of Willkie Farr & Gallagher’s National Private Wealth Group and was widely recognized as a trailblazing attorney and trusted advisor throughout her four-decade career.

In all areas of life, Michele led by example. To her daughters, she was a role model who had the tenacity and intelligence to forge her own path in a male-dominated field. Early in her career, she worked part-time so she could raise and care for her young children. When she returned to work full-time and became a partner at the firm, she championed policies that allowed other women to balance family and career without sacrificing either.

 

A proud Angeleno whose roots shaped her sense of place and community, Michele channeled the vitality and warmth of the Golden State throughout her life. In recent years, nothing gave her greater joy than having both of her daughters back in Los Angeles as they raised their families. Melissa’s latest return home was the final stitch in the tapestry Michele held dearest to her heart.

 

Michele was beloved by all who knew her. She built a distinguished career helping others plan for their futures, yet she carried an extraordinary gift for living fully in her own present. She had a rare ability to make the people around her feel seen and cherished, welcoming people into her life with open arms, a radiant smile, and a blend of warmth, wit, and wisdom. Fiercely loyal, she was a confidant to many and a source of both laughter and solace. Her friendships stretched across the globe, each sustained by her deep attentiveness, and for this, many considered her their closest friend.

 

Last year, Michele faced a diagnosis of breast cancer – the same illness that claimed her mother and grandmother – with her characteristic steadiness and fortitude. She fought it with courage and recovered fully, living the life she loved with renewed gratitude.

Michele approached the world with unflagging curiosity and enthusiasm. She was as happy at a concert as she was on the golf course, as delighted by a new exhibition at a museum as by a weekend watching football – always cheering for her beloved USC Trojans and LA Rams. She found joy in the Aspen mountains, in discovering the perfect piece of jewelry, in savoring a glass of fine wine, preferably a buttery Napa chardonnay. She rarely embarked on any of these activities without her signature Boucheron perfume and a favorite pair of kitten heels, details as constant and elegant as her presence itself.

 

Her generosity of spirit extended to her family, friends, colleagues, mentees, and community. A proud graduate of both USC and the USC Gould School of Law, Michele served on the USC Gould School of Law Board of Councilors and co-chaired its Building Committee. She also served on the UCLA Health System Board. Michele was a member of communities like Roaring Fork Club where she built lasting friendships.

 

In lieu of flowers, Megan and Melissa kindly request that donations be made to the following organizations in Michele’s memory:

• USC Gould School of Law – A scholarship fund has been set up in Michele's name. 
• Susan G. Komen Foundation

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Please see below some of the Eulogies from Michele's Funeral:  

 

Megan Mulrooney Eulogy for her Mother, Michele Mulrooney  9/7/25

 

I stand here as I wade through a profound sadness. My glittered grief akin to an infinite pain that is boundless in its reach and doggedly relentless. The word bereft doesn’t even begin to describe my feelings of loss. My mom, Michele Marlene Mulrooney, MMM or M3 for all that knew her, was a force to be reckoned with & ultimately, at the time of her reckoning, went out with a force that is quite frankly, unfair and grossly permanent. The poetic irony of it all compounds my state of shock.

My mom was my North Star - my fail safe - my get out of jail card - so it was ironic on the night that I was being deported from England, she answered my call with, “Do you know what time it is?” But now, inexplicably, without providing me with a guidebook or a roadmap, I’m left without her counsel. It feels unbearable & a lesson I’m not ready or willing to learn.

 Our guiding force in this life, determined to raise women who embodied her same spirit of tenacity, grit, intelligence and kindness, was an incredible person to not only her daughters, but everyone who had the privilege of her friendship. Mom had a strict moral compass. It was what made her a great lawyer and an excellent counselor - she worked WITHIN the law - she found innovative ways through it, made it hers, and in doing so, became one of the most lauded private wealth attorneys; a fact which she was extremely proud of. “This is why they pay me the big bucks,” coupled with, “This is why we have nice things!” were two of her catch phrases that she would shout at me and my sister from the other room. They were her version of “Money doesn’t grow on trees.” A fact which given her generosity towards us always made these sayings seem incongruent. Gratitude was an important part of being Michele’s daughters.

I’m most grateful to my mom for giving me Melissa. She was my mom’s light, her joyful comedian, her twin and fellow football fanatic. While mom was not fond of how we bullied her when we were together, (Mel & I laughed at how horrified she would be if we used this eulogy to roast her), she was so proud that we are best friends.

 

To my son, she was Gaga. Everyone assumed it was because she fashioned herself a regular Lady Gaga, but in fact, it was more genius than that. Mom figured that given its closeness to “Mama” or “Dada”, she had a high percentage of GAGA being one of his first words.

In the past few days, I’ve consumed so much literature on Grief. Ultimately, what I’ve come to understand is that Grief is Love. It’s all the love you want to give, but cannot. All this unspent love that gathers up in the corners of your eyes, the lump in your throat, and in that hollow part of your chest.  Grief is just love with no place to go.

  

 

Alan Epstein Eulogy for Michele Mulrooney  9/8/25 

 

My name is Alan Epstein.  I am Michele’s work spouse and law partner of 34 years.  I am honored to have been selected by Michele’s family to lead her funeral ceremony.  I would like to thank all of you for taking the time out of your busy day to pay your respects to Michele and to support her family.   We also want to recognize the many folks listening in to this ceremony by Livestream, from around the world.  I’m so sorry we could not accommodate everyone today to be here in person – there simply is not enough space and the family wanted to keep things intimate.  

 

We are gathered here today to share our grief and love for someone we have lost.  Michele Mulrooney was a gem of a human being.  She was a beacon of light for those who had the privilege of knowing her.  She had a huge heart and a joy of life.  She was a treasure trove of wisdom and knowledge.  As a leading nationally recognized trusts and estate attorney, Michele was a specialist at holding the hands of her clients and friends and getting them through difficult matters of life and death.   It is ironic indeed that, as we mourn her loss today, she is not here to guide us.  We must do so without her gentle hand. 

Michele died in her happy place, the mountains of Colorado.  She died doing what she loved –riding a bicycle down a mountain with her girlfriends after a beautiful lunch.  She no doubt had a huge smile on her face and a sparkle in her eye the moment before her tragic accident.  

 

There is no way to make sense of what happened, no way to justify how such a vibrant, generous and beautiful soul is no longer with us.  It is so hard to accept.  This week we have felt angry, heartbroken and numb.  How could this happen?  She did not deserve this.  We did not deserve this.  We have had difficulties finding words to capture our grief.  We have all cried.  Our weight has been heavy.  Our breath short.  Our hopes for the future dimmed.  How can we go on without her?  Michele was the glue that kept so many of us together. 

 

This week I have had the burden and privilege of calling some of you to share the tragic news.  These conversations have been very difficult, as we grieved and cried together.  But it was in those very conversations where I found some personal respite from the pain - where my healing has begun.  I used the word “privilege” to describe our conversations because it was just that – many of you shared stories about Michele that were so uplifting, so inspiring, so beautiful – a life well lived.  While I knew she was a giant of a woman, I had no idea how deeply and permanently she had impacted the lives of others. 

During my conversations this week you talked about Michele with an almost evangelical devotion.  I heard beautiful stories, all with a common theme - Michele was a best friend to many, a trusted advisor, a steady hand, a truth-sayer, a leader, a rock.  Let me share a few of the stories:

 

·        One of Michele’s clients shared a story about her first meeting with Michele.  In fact it was a “pitch” meeting.  She loved Michele instantly.  Michele told the client that she has no boundaries – which is “good for her but sucks for me”.  Michele said that she will be available for her any time, anywhere.   If Michele is in a movie theater or restaurant, she said she would take her call and step out to help.  We have all witnessed Michele do just that – and it was always OK because we knew she was taking care of someone in need. 

·        One of Michele’s clients told me that Michele never made him feel like a client or that he was in an attorney-client relationship.  He felt like he was talking to a best friend, someone who helped him and his family in immeasurable ways.  Of course he knew that Michele was actually his lawyer – the monthly bills reminded him of that – but it never felt that way to him. 

 

·        Another of Michele’s clients told me that Michele had this incredible ability to make complex topics simple, and to deal with difficult situations with honesty and ease.  Michele turned a discussion about what happens in the event of simultaneous death into a humorous exercise.

·        One of Michele’s clients told me that Michele was not afraid to tell him he was being an idiot, and not always in a nice way.  He confessed that his emotions often got in the way of sound decision making, and Michele would never mince words when he needed to hear the painful truth.  And on reflection he learned that Michele was always right. 

 

·        Over the weekend I spoke with one of Michele’s actor clients, who choked up when telling me that he felt he was destined to meet Michele, and that his life was not complete without her.  And his wife felt the same way.  

·        One of Michele’s clients told me how she loved Michele’s ferocity – she was a tenacious negotiator and always got her way.  You never wanted to be on the wrong side of Michele Mulrooney. 

·        And finally, one of Michele’s clients told me how she trusted Michele so much that it made everything so easy and put her mind at rest – if Michele endorsed a decision, then it was good with her.  End of discussion. 

 

Folks, these tributes are generally not how clients talk about their attorneys.  This is all highly unusual and extraordinary – that is the impact that Michele had on clients, all of whom she thought of and treated as friends. 

 

Now let me tell you briefly about my relationship with Michele.  We met in our early 30s at the entertainment law firm now known as Austen Jackoway.  We were the same age.  We both had backgrounds in accounting and tax.  We had the same zest for life.  We each got married.  We had two children who were the same ages.  We each went through separate divorces and remarriages.  We each lost a parent.  We learned how to be great lawyers together.  It didn’t take long for us to realize that we were having a blast and didn’t want it to end.  So early on in our career we vowed to never separate professionally – and we thus became work spouses. 

 

We joked a lot about it, but we took our vow very seriously, and refused to change law firms without each other.  If a new law firm wasn’t good for Michele it wasn’t good for me, and vice versa, no questions asked.  We also vowed never to argue about clients or dollars.  We had many shared relationships in the community, and we never wanted to get into a fight about who originated an opportunity.  So we pooled our credits together.  We told our law firms to pay us the same.  And we meant it.  We have made the same amount of money for several decades now.  We have never wanted a dollar to divide us. 

 

It has been the most beautiful business partnership.  But it was far more than that.  Michele helped me so much during my divorce, when my dad died and on difficult parenting issues.  During hard times Michele was always my first call – the true “hallmark” of a best friend.  I tried to do the same for her.  I relied on Michele so much and shared with her my most intimate life problems.  I called her “my Queen”.    

 

If I was officiating today’s funeral for anyone else, I would have called Michele to ask her – what should I say?  What should I do?   She was so good at this stuff.  But she isn’t here to show me the way, and I have to figure it out on my own, guided by her teachings.  Here’s what I think she would have told me to say:

·        “Don’t cry for me.  I had a beautiful life.  A rich life.  A meaningful life. I have an amazing family and friends.  Yes, my life ended way too soon, but it was a great run.  Live the rest of your life to the fullest and don’t be sad for me.” 

·        “Take care of my girls and step-sons.  They will be hurting for a while, and will need the comfort of your memories of me.  Stay close to them.  And love them for me.”

·        “Tell my beautiful grandchildren how much Grandma Gaga loved them.  Spoil them rotten.  Pinch their cheeks.  Stay close to them.”

·        “Always be honest and live with integrity, even when it is not the easy way.  Never compromise your values.”

·        “Take care of my clients.  They are like family.  Keep the legacy alive.”

 

As much as Michele loved her clients and her law practice, her number one priority was her family.  She talked about her family all the time and was so proud of you all.  Megan, Melissa, Jed and Jesse, we want you to know that you are not alone.  Everyone in this room is a huge fan and pillar of support.  We will literally do anything for you and with you, just like your mom, or step-mom would have done.  Don’t be afraid to reach out.  We are here for you. 

 

Michele Mulrooney’s life was a gift to all of us.  Her friendship was a blessing.  And though we wish we had more time, we are so grateful for the time we had together.  She will be deeply missed, but she will always live in our hearts and minds, and she will be manifested in our acts of goodness.  Michele was one of a kind, and will never be forgotten.  Rest in peace, my Queen.

 

 

Please note, the family has requested for this service to remain private. 

 

For those who wish to view the service, the webcast link is below. You may view the service for Michele Mulrooney by clicking here.