Estate Planning Attorney (Senior Associate or Partner)

W3Global; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) with firm contributions

CLE support

Paid time off

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

W3Global seeks an experienced Estate Planning Attorney in Chicago for its Trusts & Estates practice. Senior Associate or Partner level, you will draft sophisticated estate plans for high-net-worth families and coordinate tax planning with CPAs and advisors.

The role emphasizes independent handling of complex matters, estate/gift tax returns, and growing the private-client practice. In-office position in downtown Chicago.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school and Illinois bar admission.
• 10+ years of concentrated estate planning experience preferred.
• Strong drafting, analytical, organizational and client communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Counsel high-net-worth clients on estate, gift, and generation-skipping tax planning.
• Design and implement sophisticated estate plans and related wealth-transfer strategies.
• Draft and review revocable/irrevocable trusts and ILITs, GRATs, CRATs, SLATs, and dynasty trusts.
• Prepare and supervise IRS Forms 706 and 709 filings.
• Coordinate with CPAs, financial advisors, and family offices; manage complex probate matters.
• Mentor junior attorneys and contribute to practice growth.

Skills

Estate planning

Tax planning

Client advisory

Drafting

Mentoring

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Licensed to practice law in Illinois

LL.M. in Taxation (preferred)

Job description

About Us

The client is a full-service law firm in downtown Chicago providing high-quality legal services across litigation, corporate, real estate, and private-client matters. Our Transactional Group advises high-net-worth individuals, families, entrepreneurs, and family-owned businesses on sophisticated wealth-transfer planning, estate and gift tax matters, probate and trust administration, charitable giving, and business-succession strategies. We are known for practical advice, meticulous drafting, responsive client service, and long-term relationships with clients and their trusted advisors.

About Us

The client is a full-service law firm in downtown Chicago providing high-quality legal services across litigation, corporate, real estate, and private-client matters. Our Transactional Group advises high-net-worth individuals, families, entrepreneurs, and family-owned businesses on sophisticated wealth-transfer planning, estate and gift tax matters, probate and trust administration, charitable giving, and business-succession strategies. We are known for practical advice, meticulous drafting, responsive client service, and long-term relationships with clients and their trusted advisors.

We are seeking an experienced Estate Planning Attorney at the Senior Associate or Partner level to join our Trusts & Estates practice. This position is best suited for a seasoned practitioner with substantial experience drafting sophisticated estate planning documents, advising high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth families, and implementing complex wealth transfer strategies.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience independently handling advanced estate planning matters, preparing and reviewing estate and gift tax returns, and coordinating planning strategies with clients' financial advisors, CPAs, family offices, and other professional advisors. The successful candidate will be entrusted with significant client responsibility and will play a key role in growing and developing the firm's private-client practice.

While we strongly prefer candidates with 10+ years of concentrated estate planning experience, we are willing to consider extraordinary candidates with exceptional drafting skills and demonstrated expertise in sophisticated estate planning techniques.

This is a fully in-office position in downtown Chicago. No hybrid or remote work arrangements for this role.

Key Responsibilities

• Counsel high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients on estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax planning strategies.
• Design and implement sophisticated estate plans tailored to clients' tax, business succession, charitable giving, and family wealth preservation objectives.
• Draft and review complex estate planning documents, including:
• Revocable and irrevocable trusts
• Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (ILITs)
• Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATs)
• Charitable Remainder Annuity Trusts (CRATs)
• Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts (SLATs)
• Dynasty trusts and other advanced wealth-transfer vehicles
• Wills, powers of attorney, and related planning instruments
• Prepare and/or supervise the preparation of federal estate and gift tax returns, including Forms 706 and 709.
• Advise clients regarding estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax issues, portability elections, and tax-efficient wealth transfer strategies.
• Manage complex probate and trust administration matters, including tax reporting, valuations, fiduciary accountings, and distributions.
• Coordinate implementation of planning strategies with CPAs, financial advisors, valuation professionals, trust officers, and family office personnel.
• Oversee planning involving multiple entities, investment accounts, business interests, insurance structures, and family wealth assets.
• Support sophisticated business succession planning in collaboration with the firm's corporate and real estate teams.
• Mentor junior attorneys and staff, as appropriate, and contribute to the continued growth of the Trusts & Estates practice.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
• Licensed to practice law in Illinois (or eligible for timely admission).
• Preferably 10 or more years of concentrated estate planning experience.
• Significant experience drafting sophisticated estate planning documents with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrated experience serving high-net-worth individuals, families, business owners, and fiduciaries.
• Experience preparing, reviewing, or supervising preparation of IRS Forms 706 and 709.
• Strong knowledge of federal estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax planning.
• Exceptional drafting, analytical, organizational, and client communication skills.
• Ability to independently manage complex matters while effectively collaborating with clients and outside advisors.

Preferred Experience

• LL.M. in Taxation and/or substantial transfer-tax planning experience.
• Experience with advanced planning strategies involving ILITs, GRATs, CRATs, SLATs, charitable planning, family limited entities, and business succession planning.
• Existing book of business or demonstrated business development experience.
• Familiarity with Illinois Probate Act practice in Cook County and surrounding jurisdictions.
• Experience working closely with financial advisors, accountants, family offices, and other professional advisors serving affluent families.

Compensation & Benefits

Compensation will be commensurate with experience, expertise, and portable book of business.

A comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, 401(k) with firm contributions, CLE support, paid time off, and professional development opportunities.