Department profile
ArentFox Schiff LLP

Private Wealth Law

High Net Worth Guide 2026 : Illinois


ArentFox Schiff LLP

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Private Wealth Law - Illinois

Band 1

Band 1


What the Team is Known For

ArentFox Schiff is highly esteemed for its expertise in trusts and estates. The firm advises high net worth clients on a broad range of matters in private wealth.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • I have full confidence in ArentFox Schiff. There is nothing I can throw their way that they cannot handle.

    Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • The attorneys at ArentFox Schiff are really excellent. They are at the top of their field, very sophisticated, and brilliant legal minds when it comes to the area of trusts and estates.

    Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • ArentFox Schiff has it all: the highest-calibre senior estate planners and a strong bench of dedicated mid-level and junior attorneys, meaning they have substantial breadth and depth of experience.

    Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • The attorneys I have worked with at ArentFox Schiff are incredibly hard-working, diligent perfectionists. They are excellent legal scholars of their area of expertise. Their work is impeccable.

    Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Many of the best estate planning attorneys in the country work at ArentFox Schiff. It is a true powerhouse. Very practical advice and very trustworthy.

    Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 1David C Blickenstaff
    Band 1David C Blickenstaff

    David C Blickenstaff

    David Blickenstaff is renowned for his expertise in trust and estate litigation. Blickenstaff often represents trustees in high-value disputes and is adept at handling claims of undue influence and breach of fiduciary duty.

    • Dave is an excellent listener and possesses not just expertise but wisdom. He is true trusted counsel.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Dave Blickenstaff offers superior legal counsel in fiduciary and trust-related matters, aimed to avoid litigation.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • David Blickenstaff is my most trusted source of legal advice.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Dave Blickenstaff is one of the top fiduciary litigators in the US.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Everyone thoroughly enjoys his demeanour, presence, value and thoughtful creativeness. Everyone thinks very highly of him.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Band 1Lauren J. Wolven
    Band 1Lauren J. Wolven

    Lauren J. Wolven

    Lauren Wolven centres her practice on estate planning and trust and estate administration and litigation. She often helps multiple generations of a family to update their estate planning in a more tax-efficient manner.
    • Lauren Wolven is an attorney I recommend to everyone.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Lauren Wolven is very good.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Lauren Wolven is very bright and does sophisticated work.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Band 1Susan T Bart
    Band 1Susan T Bart

    Susan T Bart

    Susan Bart focuses her practice on estate, gift tax and charitable planning, trust and estate administration, and fiduciary counsel.
    • Susan Bart is an expert in the field.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Susan Bart is a brilliant trusts and estates attorney who is widely known for her highly sophisticated practice.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Susan Bart is by far one of the best attorneys I've ever worked with.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Band 1Thomas W. Abendroth
    Band 1Thomas W. Abendroth

    Thomas W. Abendroth

    Thomas Abendroth is highlighted for his expertise in estates and for his contribution to the growth of the industry.
    • Thomas Abendroth is excellent with clients and I have no hesitation recommending him to work with a client with very significant levels of wealth. He will often come up with thoughtful and creative estate plans.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Thomas Abendroth relies on his decades of experience to deliver sound, practical advice and to bring comfort and confidence to his clients in the most complex situations.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Thomas Abendroth is incredibly smart and practical.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Thomas Abendroth is very good, specifically in private client litigation.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Band 2Christine Quigley
    Band 2Christine Quigley

    Christine Quigley

    Christine Quigley provides counsel to wealthy clients on wealth transfer planning, estate and trust administration, and business succession planning.

    • Christine can handle it all. Her practice is sophisticated, she has good judgement, and she is a strong leader who is laser-focused on successful completion of each of her client's projects.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Christine Quigley is an outstanding attorney.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Christine Quigley is technically brilliant and she has a fantastic way of connecting with the client. She crafts sophisticated estate planning for clients to reflect their objectives and values.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Band 2Jessica Birnbaum
    Band 2Jessica Birnbaum

    Jessica Birnbaum

    Jessica Birnbaum's practice includes advising clients on estate planning, wealth transfer strategies, and trusts and estates disputes.

    • I would trust Jessica with the thorniest of questions in the legal thicket. She is focused, dedicated and logical, but her best quality as a legal adviser may be her unparalleled empathy.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Jessica is rational in her approach and demonstrates her depth of knowledge in her explanations. She is efficient and provides regular updates on the status of projects.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Jessica is awesome. She balances ownership with delegation really well, which I appreciate. She knows when to step in and when to bring in others. She is smart and responsive.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Jessica Birnbaum is one of the most detail-oriented people able to manage tremendous amounts of complexity and detail around clients in a thoughtful, organised and approachable manner.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Band 3Sarah Kerr Severson
    Band 3Sarah Kerr Severson

    Sarah Kerr Severson

    Sarah Kerr Severson focuses her practice on estate and business succession planning matters.
    • Sarah Kerr Severson is a star. She has excellent legal skills and tremendous EQ.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

Ranked Individuals at ArentFox Schiff LLP (7)

Illinois

ArentFox Schiff LLP has rankings in the following guides

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