Philosophy

Personalized service and experience. Clients come to us with issues that are unique to them. Our skill and experience ensure that we, as your counsel, know the rules and techniques.  But for us, our relationship involves more than skill and knowledge. 

The key to successful representation lies in effective communication. 

We are proud of the fact that we have many client relationships that have continued for over twenty-five years and represent multiple generations of the same family. 

We make this commitment to our clients: First, we listen to you until we understand your goals and your concerns. Second, we explain your options and answer your questions without legal jargon. It is important to us that you understand the options available to you. Third, we work with you to craft practical solutions that are as conservative or aggressive, and as simple or sophisticated as your needs and desires require.

Education. We believe in taking an active role in advancing the estate planning and probate field and educating estate planning and probate professionals. We do not merely keep up with current developments; we help other professionals keep current. Our activities include:

· As an adjunct Professor of Law both at the University of Illinois Chicago John Marshall Law School, and the DePaul University School of Accountancy and MIS, developing and teaching courses in Estate Planning, Advanced Estate Planning and Business Succession Planning.

· Writing and delivering speeches to hundreds of estate planning and probate professionals every year. 

· Working in leadership positions on estate planning and probate continuing legal education committees seminars, speeches and publications. 

 Seminars, Speeches and Publications

•  “A Practitioner’s Guide to the Illinois Trust Code – How to Address Common (And Not So Common Issues),” Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 65th Annual Estate Planning Short Course (May 2022)
• “What Did We Do Last Year? Post-Inauguration Planning Strategies.  SLATs, GRATs, IDGTs, QPRTs And More!,” Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 64th Annual Estate Planning Short Course (May 2021)
• Chicago Estate Planning Council – “Estate Planning Fundamentals – An Introduction to Estate Planning” - Moderator (January 2021)
• "(Someone's) Gonna Party Like It's 1999!"6 Business Succession Planning Lessons We Can Learn from Prince’s Estate, May 20, 2020
• “25 (Or So) Common Drafting Issues – From Abatement to Validity (And Nearly Everything In Between)”, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 63rd Annual Estate Planning Short Course (May of 2020)
• “2025 – A New Planning Frontier”, M Financial 2020 National Advisors Conference (February of 2020)
• “How Do I Give Thee? Let Me Count The Ways: Public Charities, Donor Advised Funds, Community Foundations, Private Foundations, 501(C)(4) Organizations, L3CS, Benefit Corporations, B-Corps and Charitable LLCs,” Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 62nd Annual Estate Planning Short Course (May of 2019)
• “Standards? We Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Standards!!,” Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, 61st Annual Estate Planning Short Course (May of 2018)
• FABTECH – Annual Conference – Chicago, Illinois (November 2017)
• "What Estate Tax Repeal Means to You" August 31, 2017 Chicago Family Business Council
• Cedille Records – Martin D. Ginsburg Society Luncheon – University Club, “Estate Planning And Planned Giving” (May 2017)
• “Common Succession Planning Issues of Entrepreneurs,” DePaul University, (February 2017)
• FABTECH – Annual Conference – Las Vegas, Nevada (November 2016)
• “Succession Planning: Is The Family Business Right for Me?,” The Chicago Family Business Council at DePaul University (February 2016)
• “Our Favorite Things/Provisions: Why We Love Them (But Sometimes Hate Them)," American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (“ACTEC”), 2015 Great Lakes Regional Meeting (December 2015)
• FABTECH – Annual Conference – Chicago, Illinois (November 2015)
• “Powers of Appointment,” Greater North Shore Estate and Financial Planning Council (September 2015)
• “Our Favorite Things/Provisions: Why We Love Them (But Sometimes Hate Them),” Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 58th Annual Estate Planning Short Course (May of 2015)
• “Business Succession Planning,” The Chicago Family Business Council at DePaul University (February of 2015)
• "S Corporations and the Second Class of Stock Rule" Fall 2012 Chicago Family Business Council
• “Business Succession Planning,” Annual Conference of the Illinois Entrepreneurship and Small  Business Growth Association, (May 2012)
• “Powers of Appointment – You Gotta Know When to Hold ‘Em, Know When to Walk Away and Know When to Run,” Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 55th Annual Estate Planning Short Course (April and May of 2012)
• “Wills: Anatomy of Estate Planning Documents,” Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, (October of 2011)
• “Alphabet Soup – A Review of Advanced Planning Techniques,” Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 54th Annual Estate Planning Short Course (2011) 
• “Business Succession Issues Specific to the 3rdand 4th Generation of Ownership,” University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Business Administration, Family Business Management (2010) 
• “The Nuts and Bolts of Business Succession Planning,” University of Illinois at Chicago Family Business Council (2010) 
• “Business Succession Planning – What are the Steps You Need to Take to Secure Your Legacy?,”  University of Illinois at Chicago Family Business Council, Family Business Day (2010)
• “Business Succession Issues in Different Family Structures,” University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Business Administration, Family Business Management (2010)
• “ESOPs and Other Methods of Transitioning Closely Held Businesses,” University of Illinois at Chicago Family Business Council, Arete Forum (2010) 
• “Financial Services for the Coming Retirement Boom,” DePaul University, College of Commerce, The Center for Financial Services (2009) 
• “Business Killers – How to Protect Your Business and Plan for Succession,” University of Illinois Chicago Family Business Council, Fall Educational Event (2009) 
• “Planning with S Corporations – The Basics and Beyond,” Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 52nd Annual Estate Planning Short Course (2009) 
• “Financial Services for the Coming Retirement Boom” and “Business Succession and Estate Planning,” DePaul University, College of Commerce, The Center for Financial Services (2008) 
• “Unique Personal Property Issues,” Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 51st Annual Estate Planning Short Course (2008) 
• “Is This Irrevocable Trust Really Irrevocable? How to Fix Poorly Drafted or Ineffective Trusts” Chicago Bar Association (2008) 
• “Rescuing Old or Defective Irrevocable Trusts: How to Fix Poorly Drafted or Ineffective Trusts,” Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 50th Annual Estate Planning Short Course (2007) 
• “Equality vs. Equity Considerations in Estate Planning,” Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 48th Annual Estate Planning Short Course (2005)