Department profile
Katten

Private Wealth Law

High Net Worth Guide 2026 : Illinois


Katten

Rankings

About

Provided by Katten

Wealth management is an ongoing, ever-evolving service for our private clients, which include domestic and international high-net-worth individuals, family-owned businesses, trusts and trustees, personal investment vehicles, other closely held business entities, and family offices. The complex problems confronting individual clients involve local, federal and international tax, estate planning, trust and estate administration, and litigation and alternative dispute resolution laws, rules and regulations. We focus on creating and implementing an integrated structure that will accomplish the client’s business and personal objectives in a tax-efficient and predictable manner, with sufficient flexibility to address unanticipated change. High-net-worth individuals and their family offices turn to us for unique, holistic solutions that respond to their wealth, business and estate planning needs and to their particular wishes for family governance and succession.

Our Private Client Services attorneys work seamlessly with other Katten industry and practice teams, including Trusts and Estates, Corporate, Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Real Estate, Tax Planning, Antitrust and Competition, Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation, Environmental, Financial Services, Insolvency and Restructuring, and Intellectual Property, to provide private clients with creative and comprehensive representation in all areas integrated with their wealth, business, succession and estate planning.

Industries (6)

  • Private Clients / Individuals
  • Banks
  • Charities / Not for Profit
  • Financial Services
  • Health Care
  • Media

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Private Wealth Law - Illinois

Band 2

Band 2


What the Team is Known For
The private wealth practice at Katten handles a broad range of issues for high net worth clients. The firm has expertise in areas such as business succession and charitable planning, fiduciary and philanthropic matters.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Katten give quick responses and very thoughtful advice that takes individual circumstances into account.

    Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Katten gives outstanding advice and counsel, fully understanding family members' goals, challenges and limitations.

    Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • The Katten team is highly responsive to our various needs. They have a deep bench of legal professionals that can assist with almost any issue that arises. Their advice is creative and bespoke, and highly valued.

    Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Katten has really strong lead partners and a good depth of specialist supporting partners and associates.

    Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 2Michael O. Hartz
    Band 2Michael O. Hartz

    Michael O. Hartz

    Michael Hartz is experienced in business succession and estate planning and administration.
    • Michael Hartz is phenomenal and I have worked quite a bit with him.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Band 2Tye Klooster
    Band 2Tye Klooster

    Tye Klooster

    Tye Klooster is experienced in complex estate planning and trust administration matters. He is well known for his skill in private equity-related planning.
    • Tye Klooster is very organised and strategic. He is able to empathise with the families and their needs.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Tye Klooster is absolutely fantastic and a great thought partner. The firm and the department are lucky to have him as a leader.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Band 3Adam Damerow
    Band 3Adam Damerow

    Adam Damerow

    Adam Damerow works with high net worth individuals on non-contentious and contentious matters relating to trusts and estates.
    • Adam Damerow is very smart and is able to explain things in a way clients understand. He has a super memory, he is super organised, and clients really like him because he is practical, proactive and responsive.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Band 3Charles Harris
    Band 3Charles Harris

    Charles Harris

    Charles Harris works closely with wealthy clients on tax and estate planning issues.
    • Chuck Harris is very compassionate, empathetic and a good listener.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Chuck Harris is an extremely sophisticated tax attorney. He understands both tax and accounting, and has a huge amount of institutional knowledge that adds value to his clients.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Chuck Harris is very creative and he knows his subject material exceedingly well. Chuck has a lot of sophisticated ideas for estate planning.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Band 4David Allen
    Band 4David Allen

    David Allen

    David Allen advises on estate planning for multi-generational high net worth families with a particular focus on estate and gift tax law.

    • David Allen is an extremely smart tax attorney who not only understands the issues at play but also brings a commercial and practical approach to problem-solving. He is relatable and down to earth, and very easy to work with.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • David Allen has strong skills across the board, combined with a really strong worth ethic.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Up and ComingNicholas Heuer
    Up and ComingNicholas Heuer

    Nicholas Heuer

    Nicholas Heuer's practice centres on advising private clients on international tax considerations.

    • Nicholas Heuer is our international tax expert who knows all of the details related to obscure international tax filings.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Nicholas Heuer is a fantastic lawyer and a good person. He's brilliant.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
    • We regularly work with Nicholas and find him to be truly exceptional. I have no hesitancy in recommending him to clients.

      Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth

Ranked Individuals at Katten (6)

Illinois

Members

Provided by Katten

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