Private Wealth Law - Illinois
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.

High Net Worth Guide 2026 : Illinois
Ranked Individuals
Provided by Chambers
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.
Provided by Chambers
I have full confidence in ArentFox Schiff. There is nothing I can throw their way that they cannot handle.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Provided by Chambers
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.
Dave Blickenstaff offers superior legal counsel in fiduciary and trust-related matters, aimed to avoid litigation.
David Blickenstaff is my most trusted source of legal advice.
Dave Blickenstaff is one of the top fiduciary litigators in the US.
Everyone thoroughly enjoys his demeanour, presence, value and thoughtful creativeness. Everyone thinks very highly of him.
Lauren Wolven is an attorney I recommend to everyone.
Lauren Wolven is very good.
Lauren Wolven is very bright and does sophisticated work.
Susan Bart is an expert in the field.
Susan Bart is a brilliant trusts and estates attorney who is widely known for her highly sophisticated practice.
Susan Bart is by far one of the best attorneys I've ever worked with.
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.
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.
Thomas Abendroth is incredibly smart and practical.
Thomas Abendroth is very good, specifically in private client litigation.
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.
Christine Quigley is an outstanding attorney.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sarah Kerr Severson is a star. She has excellent legal skills and tremendous EQ.
High Net Worth 2026
Practice area: Private Wealth Law
Location: District of Columbia
View department profile for High Net Worth 2026High Net Worth 2026
Practice area: Private Wealth Law
Location: USA - Nationwide
View department profile for High Net Worth 2026High Net Worth 2026
Practice area: Private Wealth Law
Location: New York
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