Peter B. Allport
Peter B. Allport
Peter B. Allport is an attorney at Levin Schreder & Carey, Ltd., in Chicago, where he focuses on trust, estate, and family and other closely held business disputes, and other types of fiduciary litigation. He is a member of the American and Chicago Bar Associations. Mr. Allport received his B.A. and M.A. from Tulane University and his J.D. from the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law.
Sarah M. Barnes
Sarah M. Barnes
Sarah M. Barnes is a Partner at Harrison, LLP, in Chicago, where she concentrates her practice in trust and estate administration. Barnes is a member of the planning committee for IICLE’s annual Estate Planning Short Course, and she belongs to the Chicago Bar Association, where she is a member of its Probate Practice Committee. She is recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America (2024, 2025). Barnes received her B.A from Michigan State University and her J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law.
David C. Blickenstaff
David C. Blickenstaff
David C. Blickenstaff is a Partner at ArentFox Schiff LLP in Chicago, where he focuses on trust and estate disputes. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and a member of the Chicago Estate Planning Council. He is rated Illinois “Band 1” in Chambers High Net Worth Guide. Mr. Blickenstaff received his A.B. from Princeton University and his J.D. from the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law.
Joseph N. Blumberg
Joseph N. Blumberg
Joseph N. Blumberg is Senior Vice President — Senior Fiduciary Officer at the Northern Trust Company in Chicago, where he focuses on wealth management. Mr. Blumberg received his J.D. cum laude from the University of Missouri School of Law.
Brett N. Cagan
Brett N. Cagan
Brett N. Cagan is a Partner at Levin Schreder & Carey, Ltd., in Chicago, where he focuses on estate planning, wealth preservation, and estate and trust administration. He is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and the Chicago Estate Planning Council. Mr. Cagen received his B.S. from Indiana University and his J.D. summa cum laude from the Valparaiso University Law School.
Michael R. Conway, Jr.
Michael R. Conway, Jr.
Michael R. Conway, Jr., is Head of Legal, U.S. Trust & Estates, Executive Director, and Assistant General Counsel at JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA, in Chicago, where he focuses on trusts and estates. He is Chair of the American Bankers Association’s Trust Counsel Committee and is the Director of Canine Therapy Corps, an Illinois Not-for-Profit Corporation. Mr. Conway received his J.D. magna cum laude from the University of Illinois College of Law, where he was Order of the Coif.
Ryan T. Court
Ryan T. Court
Ryan T. Court is a Partner at Loeb & Loeb LLP in Chicago, where he focuses on trusts and estates. He was named to Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch list in Trusts & Estates in 2021 – 2023 and an Illinois Rising Star in Estate Planning & Probate in 2022 and 2023. He is a member of the Chicago Estate Planning Council. Mr. Court received his J.D. summa cum laude from the DePaul University College of Law, where he was a member of the DePaul Law Review.
Cameron N. Custard
Cameron N. Custard
Cameron N. Custard is an associate at ArentFox Schiff LLP in Lake Forest, where she focuses on trusts and estates and private clients. Ms. Custard received her B.A. summa cum laude from Northern Illinois University and her J.D. summa cum laude, Order of the Coif from the DePaul University College of Law.
Mary C. Downie
Mary C. Downie
Mary C. Downie is Executive Vice President and Assistant General Counsel at The Northern Trust Company, in Chicago, where she advises Northern Trust, as trustee and in its corporate capacity, on complex legal, fiduciary, and regulatory issues involving trusts, decedents’ estates, and guardianship estates. She is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel since 2008 and a member of the American Bankers Association. Ms. Downie received her B.A. summa cum laude from Albion College, where she was a Fellow, and her J.D. magna cum laude from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, where she was a member of the Law Review.
Jesse A. Footlik
Jesse A. Footlik
Jesse A. Footlik is a Managing Partner at Peck Ritchey, LLC, in Chicago, where he focuses on Trust and Probate Litigation, Estate Administration, and Fiduciary Defense Litigation. He is a member of the American, Illinois State, and Chicago Bar Association. Mr. Footlik received his B.A. from the University of Michigan and his J.D. from the Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Elizabeth A. Garlovsky
Elizabeth A. Garlovsky
Elizabeth A. Garlovsky is a Partner at Harrison, LLP, in Chicago, where she focuses her practice on estate planning and trust administration. She is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. Garlovsky is also a member of the Board of Directors for IICLE and Cochair of the planning committee for IICLE’s annual Estate Planning Short Course. She received her B.A. from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and her J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.
Rick Y. Gelboim
Rick Y. Gelboim
Rick Y. Gelboim is a Partner at Levin Schreder & Carey, Ltd., in Chicago, where he focuses on tax and estate planning, estate and trust administration, and private client practice. He is a member of the Chicago Bar Association and the Chicago Estate Planning Council. Mr. Gelboim received his B.S. magna cum laude from Syracuse University and his J.D. from the Washington University School of Law.
Louis S. Harrison
Louis S. Harrison
Louis S. Harrison is a Partner at Harrison LLP, in Chicago, where his practice emphasizes solutions to complex problems, including creative structures to interfamily disputes and litigation, consideration of trust structures to provide creditor and spousal protection, postmortem tax planning, income tax planning, charitable dispositions, and gifting strategies. He is a frequent speaker before numerous groups nationwide on tax and estate planning. He has been an adjunct professor at the Northwestern University Law School, the Chicago-Kent College of Law, and the DePaul University College of Law. He has authored more than 100 published articles on a broad range of tax and estate planning subjects in legal, accounting, tax, and estate journals and periodicals. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (and former Illinois State Chair) and has chaired the Estate and Gift Tax Committee of the Chicago Bar Association. Mr. Harrison received his B.A. magna cum laude from Colgate University, his M.B.A. from the University of Chicago, and his J.D. with high honors from the Duke University School of Law.
James W. Hitzeman
James W. Hitzeman
James W. Hitzeman is a Partner at Loeb & Loeb LLP in Chicago, where he focuses on trust and estate litigation. He is a member of the American and Illinois State Bar Associations and a member and past President of the Chicago Bar Association’s Probate Practice Committee. He is ranked in Band 1 in Chambers for Private Wealth Disputes and had been named a Best Lawyer in Trusts and Estates by The Best Lawyers in America in 2013 – 2022. Mr. Hitzeman received his B.A. from the University of Illinois and his J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law.
Jeanette Suarez Hunter
Jeanette Suarez Hunter
Jeanette Suarez Hunter is a Partner at McDermott Will & Emery LLP in Chicago, where she is a member of the firm’s Private Client Practice Group. She was named to the 2015, 2016, and 2017 lists of Emerging Lawyers Under 40 in the area of trust, will, and estate planning law by Leading Lawyers and the Best Lawyers in America lists for trusts and estates in 2018 – 2023. She is also a member of the Chicago Estate Planning Council. Ms. Hunter received her B.B.A. magna cum laude, with honors from the University of Georgia and her J.D. cum laude from the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law.
Agnieszka Kawecki
Agnieszka Kawecki
Agnieszka Kawecki is a Partner at McDermott Will & Emery LLP in Chicago, where she focuses on estate planning. She is a member of the Chicago Bar Association and volunteers for Wills for Heroes. Ms. Kawecki received her B.A. summa cum laude from Saint Xavier University and her J.D. cum laude from the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law.
Ray J. Koenig III
Ray J. Koenig III
Ray J. Koenig III is a Member at Clark Hill PLC in Chicago, where he focuses his practice on probate, trust, and guardianship controversies and litigation. Koenig is a Fellow on the American College of Trust and Estate Council, is Past President for the Chicago Bar Association, and is a member of the IICLE^® Board of Directors. He earned his B.A. from Michigan State University and his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law.
Emily J. Kuo
Emily J. Kuo
Emily J. Kuo is a Partner with Harrison LLP, in Chicago, where she concentrates her practice on trusts and estates. Kuo is a Fellow at the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and a member of the Leading Lawyers Network in Trust, Will & Estate Planning Law. She received her J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School and her B.S. with highest distinction from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Steven M. Laduzinsky II
Steven M. Laduzinsky II
Steven M. Laduzinsky II is an associate at Loeb & Loeb LLP in Chicago, where he focuses on trusts and estates. He is a member of the American and Illinois State Bar Associations and the Irish American Heritage Center. Mr. Laduzinsky received his B.A. from Illinois Wesleyan University and his J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School.
David E. Lieberman
David E. Lieberman
David E. Lieberman is a Shareholder of Levin Schreder & Carey, Ltd., in Chicago, where he focuses on trust and estate litigation and closely held business disputes. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Council and a member of the American Bar Association’s Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section. Mr. Lieberman received his Sc.B. magna cum laude from Brown University and his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School, where he was a member of the University of Chicago Law Review and a S.K. Yee Scholar.
Robin Drey Maher
Robin Drey Maher
Robin Drey Maher is a Partner at Levin Schreder & Carey, Ltd., in Chicago, where she focuses on estate and trust litigation. She is a member of the Diversity Committee of Chicago Estate Planning Council and the Trust Law Committee of the Chicago Bar Association and has been named a Super Lawyer. Ms. Maher received her B.A. cum laude from Simpson College and her J.D. with high distinction, Order of the Coif, from the University of Iowa College of Law.
Elizabeth A. McKillip
Elizabeth A. McKillip
Elizabeth A. McKillip is Partner at Levin, Schreder & Carey, Ltd., in Chicago and Lisle, where she focuses on trust, estate, and other fiduciary-related litigation, including contested accountings, breach of fiduciary duty claims, and will and trust disputes. She is a member of the DuPage County Bar Associations and the DuPage County Estate Planning Council. She earned her B.A. with honors from the University of Illinois and her J.D., magna cum laude, from the Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where she was a member of the Loyola University Chicago Law Journal and Editor of the Illinois Judicial Conference Symposium.
Madeleine J. Minton
Madeleine J. Minton
Madeleine J. Minton is a senior associate at Harrison LLP in Chicago, where she concentrates her practice in estate planning, administration, and litigation. She is a member of the Chicago Estate Planning Council and the Chicago and Illinois State Bar Associations. Ms. Minton received her B.S. and her M.P.H. from Tulane University and her J.D. from the Chicago-Kent College of Law, where she received the Dean’s Public Service Award and multiple CALI Awards for obtaining the highest class grade.
Julie J. Olenn
Julie J. Olenn
Julie J. Olenn is Senior Lead Council at BMO Financial Group in Chicago, where she focuses on U.S. wealth management and fiduciary issues. She is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and the Chicago Estate Planning Council. Ms. Olenn received her B.A. from St. John’s College and her J.D. magna cum laude from the State University of New York — University at Buffalo School of Law, where she was Editor-in-Chief of the Buffalo Law Review.
Kerry R. Peck
Kerry R. Peck
Kerry R. Peck is a Managing Partner at Peck Ritchey, LLC, in Chicago, where he concentrates his practice in elder law, trust and estate litigation, guardianship, and estate planning. He is a Past President of the Chicago Bar Association (1999 – 2000), coauthor of DON’T LET DEMENTIA STEAL EVERYTHING and ALZHEIMER’S AND THE LAW, and the 2014 recipient of the Justice John Paul Stevens Award. Mr. Peck received his J.D. from the Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Floyd D. Perkins
Floyd D. Perkins
Floyd D. Perkins is a Partner at Nixon Peabody LLP in Chicago, where he focuses on commercial, charitable, healthcare, and estate and trust litigation. He was named an Illinois Super Lawyer in 2005 – 2016 and a Leading Lawyer in 2010 – 2023. He was featured in 30 Tough Lawyers in Chicago Magazine. Mr. Perkins received his B.S. from the University of Illinois and his J.D. and LL.M. from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law. He is also a certified public accountant in Illinois.
James R. Pranger
James R. Pranger
James R. Pranger is a Partner at Peter J. Latz & Associates LLC in Oak Park, where he represents individuals, corporations, and institutions in a wide array of contract, employment, probate, and other cases. He represents clients in arbitrations and before administrative agencies including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Illinois Department of Human Rights. He has made numerous presentations to various industry organizations on topics including employment law and managing media coverage in litigation. Mr. Pranger received his undergraduate degree magna cum laude in the Honors Program at Loyola University Chicago and his J.D. cum laude from the University of Illinois College of Law.
Heather E. Ross
Heather E. Ross
Heather E. Ross is a Partner at Ross & Zuckerman, LLP, in Northbrook, where she focuses on assisted reproductive technology. She is past chair of the Legal Professional Group of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, a Fellow of the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproductive Technology Attorneys, and a member of the LGBTQ+ Bar. Ms. Ross received her undergraduate degree Phi Beta Kappa from Indiana University and her J.D. magna cum laude from the University of Illinois College of Law.
Evan J. Shaheen
Evan J. Shaheen
Evan J. Shaheen is an associate at Loeb & Loeb LLP in Chicago, where he focuses on estate planning and administration and related tax matters. Mr. Shaheen received his B.S. with highest honors from the University of Louisville and his J.D. magna cum laude from Notre Dame Law School, where he was the Managing Online Editor of the Notre Dame Law Review.
Rebecca Wallenfelsz
Rebecca Wallenfelsz
Rebecca Wallenfelsz is a Partner at Chapman and Cutler LLP, in Chicago, and concentrates her practice on trusts and estates. Wallenfelsz is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (2012 – present); is Past Cochair of the Probate and Fiduciary Litigation Committee of the American Bar Association — Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law; and has been listed by the Law Bulletin Publishing Company as one of the “40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch.” She received her B.A. cum laude from the University of Notre Dame and her J.D. cum laude from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where she was Lead Articles Editor for the Loyola Law Journal and Articles Editor for the Administrative Law Judges Journal.
Samantha E. Weissbluth
Samantha E. Weissbluth
Samantha E. Weissbluth is a Partner at Harrison LLP in Chicago, where she focuses on estate and trust litigation. She is one of Chicago’s premier estate and trust litigation attorneys with more than 20 years of problem-solving experience in helping clients resolve sensitive family disputes and complex matters. She is widely cited as an authority on estate and trust litigation. Always striving to find the most swift and equitable solution, she protects the rights of individual beneficiaries and advises individual and corporate fiduciaries as they carry out their critical obligations.
Nora E. Zuckerman
Nora E. Zuckerman
Nora E. Zuckerman is a Partner at Ross & Zuckerman, LLP, in Northbrook, where she focuses on assisted reproductive technology. She is a Fellow of the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproductive Technology Attorney. A member of the Family Law Institute of the LGBTQ+ Bar, and a member of the Legal Professional Group of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine. Ms. Zuckerman received her B.A. from the University of Wisconsin — Madison and her J.D. from the Washington University School of Law.

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Litigating Disputed Estates, Trusts, Guardianships, and Charitable Bequests 2023 Edition

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Peter B. Allport

Sarah M. Barnes

David C. Blickenstaff

Joseph N. Blumberg

Brett N. Cagan

Michael R. Conway, Jr.

Ryan T. Court

Cameron N. Custard

Mary C. Downie

Jesse A. Footlik

Elizabeth A. Garlovsky

Rick Y. Gelboim

Louis S. Harrison

James W. Hitzeman

Jeanette Suarez Hunter

Agnieszka Kawecki

Ray J. Koenig III

Emily J. Kuo

Steven M. Laduzinsky II

David E. Lieberman

Robin Drey Maher

Elizabeth A. McKillip

Madeleine J. Minton

Julie J. Olenn

Kerry R. Peck

Floyd D. Perkins

James R. Pranger

Heather E. Ross

Evan J. Shaheen

Rebecca Wallenfelsz

Samantha E. Weissbluth

Nora E. Zuckerman

Litigating Disputed Estates, Trusts, Guardianships, and Charitable Bequests 2023 Edition