Jonathan W. Michael, JD, LLM.

Jonathan’s practice focuses on estate and gift tax issues, with an emphasis on wealth and business succession planning for executives, closely held business owners and entrepreneurs. Jonathan has extensive experience with estate and trust administration matters, including advising clients in properly carrying out their fiduciary duties, contested estates, actions to construe and/or reform estate planning documents containing improper or ambiguous terminology or scrivener’s errors, and gift and estate tax controversies with State and Federal taxing authorities. Jonathan represents a broad range of clients including executives, business owners and entrepreneurs, individuals and families with inherited wealth, not-for-profit organizations and charities, and individuals within the entertainment industry. 

Jonathan has developed and taught “Basic Estate Planning,” “Advanced Estate Planning” and “Business Succession Planning” courses as an Adjunct Professor at the University  of Illinois Chicago John Marshall Law School. Additionally, Jonathan is an Adjunct Professor at the DePaul University School of Accountancy and MIS. 

Jonathan is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (“ACTEC”), a nonprofit association of lawyers and law professors skilled and experienced  in the preparation of wills and trusts, estate planning, and probate procedure and administration of trusts and estates of decedents, minors and incompetents.  With approximately 2,600 Fellows primarily in private practice in the Unites States, ACTEC is recognized  as the most prestigious estate planning organization.   

Martindale Hubbell has awarded Jonathan with an AV Peer Review Rating, which is its highest rating for ethical standards and legal ability. In addition, he has been named to the Illinois Super Lawyers list. 

Bar Admission

• Illinois
• Florida

Education

• Miami University (Ohio), BS
• University of Miami (with honors), JD
• New York University, LL.M

Court Admissions

• U.S. Tax Court
• U.S. South District of Florida

Memberships & Involvement

• American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, Fellow
• Greater North Shore Estate & Financial Planning Council, Member
• Chicago Estate Planning Council, Member
• Chicago Bar Association, Member
• Florida Bar Association, Member
• Bar Association of the District of Columbia, Member
• John Marshall School of Law, Adjunct Professor
• DePaul University School of Accountancy and MIS, Adjunct Professor
• Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums, Secretary
• Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy, School Board President
• Board of The Catholic Lawyers Guild of Chicago, Member