Exhibit 8.2
[Letterhead of White & Case LLP]
June 21,
2007
First Republic Bank
111 Pine Street
San Francisco, California 94111
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to First Republic Bank, a Nevada banking corporation (First Republic),
in connection with the proposed merger (the Merger) of First Republic with and into Merrill Lynch
Bank & Trust Co., FSB, a federal stock savings bank and a
wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Merrill Lynch
& Co., Inc., a Delaware corporation (Merrill Lynch), as described in the proxy
statement/prospectus of First Republic and Merrill Lynch (the Proxy Statement/Prospectus) that
forms a part of Amendment No. 2 to Merrill Lynchs registration statement on Form S-4 to be filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission in connection with the Merger on the date hereof (the Registration
Statement).
We hereby
confirm to you that, subject to the assumptions, qualifications and limitations contained or referenced
therein, the statements with respect to the material U.S. federal
income tax consequences of the Merger to U.S. holders (as defined in
the Proxy Statement/Prospectus) of First Republic stock set forth under the
caption Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus that
forms a part of the Registration Statement are our opinion.
Our opinion is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the Treasury Regulations
issued thereunder and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof, in each case as in
effect and available on the date hereof. We have not considered and render no opinion on any
aspect of law other than as expressly set forth above.
A partner
of White & Case LLP, L. Martin Gibbs, serves on the Board of
Directors of First Republic and holds an equity ownership interest in
First Republic as disclosed in its public filings.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to
the references to our name contained therein. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that
we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
promulgated thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/
WHITE & CASE LLP