Department profile
McDermott Will & Schulte

Private Wealth Disputes

High Net Worth Guide 2026 : Illinois


McDermott Will & Schulte

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Private Wealth Disputes - Illinois

Band 1

Band 1


What the Team is Known For

The team at McDermott Will & Schulte has a very strong reputation for its work with wealthy clients. It is particularly well regarded for its expertise in fiduciary litigation, estates and trusts.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • McDermott has an extremely deep team that is led by industry veterans with decades of experience. We have never had an issue with resources or attention being applied to our relationship.

    Private Wealth Disputes respondentHigh Net Worth
  • McDermott always offers practical advice. They provide a great range of alternatives on the risk spectrum from widely accepted techniques to the most complicated cutting-edge ideas.

    Private Wealth Disputes respondentHigh Net Worth
  • McDermott Will & Schulte are very creative, with good attention to detail and a good understanding of the law. They are very responsive.

    Private Wealth Disputes respondentHigh Net Worth
  • McDermott has highly skilled, talented people who are unafraid to think out of the box. We continually consult them on an extremely wide range of topics and issues, and they always have an expert who can address whatever comes up.

    Private Wealth Disputes respondentHigh Net Worth
  • McDermott Will & Schulte has deep expertise to serve their ultra high net worth clients. I have worked with the team on many complex matters, and the team has handled them without issues. I never worry that they may not be able to handle things as the firm has a deep bench of expertise.

    Private Wealth Disputes respondentHigh Net Worth

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Senior StatespeopleCarol A Harrington
    Senior StatespeopleCarol A Harrington

    Carol A Harrington

    Carol Harrington is nationally renowned for her work in private wealth. Harrington is a well-known expert on complex trusts and tax structuring work for ultra-wealthy clients.

    • Carol Harrington is very accomplished.

      Private Wealth Disputes respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Band 1David A Baker
    Band 1David A Baker

    David A Baker

    David Baker is highly regarded for his work in trust and estate disputes, as well as his experience in fiduciary litigation. Baker leads sizeable controversy matters involving significantly wealthy families.
    • David Baker is brilliant.

      Private Wealth Disputes respondentHigh Net Worth
    • David is the best fiduciary litigator in the country, for me. His expertise is unique, and he also brings perspective that can only be gained by deep technical knowledge and significant experience.

      Private Wealth Disputes respondentHigh Net Worth
    • David Baker is a top trust and estate litigator, as well as overall tax, charitable and family disputes lawyer.

      Private Wealth Disputes respondentHigh Net Worth
    • I am extremely impressed by David's knowledge and experience with private trust companies. He is extremely responsive to our requests and always allocates the time to address complex trust issues.

      Private Wealth Disputes respondentHigh Net Worth
    • David Baker is an outstanding attorney.

      Private Wealth Disputes respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Band 1Neil Kawashima
    Band 1Neil Kawashima

    Neil Kawashima

    Neil Kawashima heads McDermott's global private client practice group. Kawashima has a well-respected practice focusing on charitable giving, tax structuring, and tax and estate planning.

    • Neil Kawashima is an outstanding attorney whose counsel has been pivotal across highly complex estate-planning and non-profit situations. He has consistently delivered clear, practical solutions. He is my first call on any trust, estate or non-profit matter, and I have complete confidence in his advice.

      Private Wealth Disputes respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Neil Kawashima is particularly impressive.

      Private Wealth Disputes respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Neil Kawashima is very bright. A great lawyer.

      Private Wealth Disputes respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Neil Kawashima is an outstanding attorney with deep charitable planning knowledge and creativity.

      Private Wealth Disputes respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Band 2Joseph Viviano
    Band 2Joseph Viviano

    Joseph Viviano

    Joseph Viviano is a partner at McDermott Will & Schulte focusing on trust and estate controversies. He has a background in tax, planning and litigation, allowing him to represent high net worth individuals in highly complex, contentious litigation.

    • Joseph Viviano is very creative, and he has good attention to detail and a good understanding of the law. He is very responsive.

      Private Wealth Disputes respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Joe Viviano brings deep trust and estate expertise from a planning and controversy side.

      Private Wealth Disputes respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Joe excels at client service: he is hard-working, responsive, and dedicated to his clients. He has a deep understanding of the law and is a strong advocate for his clients.

      Private Wealth Disputes respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Band 2Margaret Sanne
    Band 2Margaret Sanne

    Margaret Sanne

    Margaret Sanne is a partner at McDermott Will & Schulte with experience in handling complex private client disputes and trust and estate planning matters. Her practice also includes fiduciary risk management.

    • Margaret Sanne is very capable and knows her business. She is very knowledgeable and has great timeliness.

      Private Wealth Disputes respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Margaret is an outstanding attorney and one of the best at working with complex multi-generational families and family offices.

      Private Wealth Disputes respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Margaret Sanne provides excellent service. Clients enjoy working with her. She is able to handle any issue that comes her way.

      Private Wealth Disputes respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Margaret Sanne is very smart and personable. She can bring about a calm resolution of internal disputes.

      Private Wealth Disputes respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Band 2William J Butler
    Band 2William J Butler

    William J Butler

    William Butler focuses his practice on high-profile succession planning cases, particularly for multi-generational families. He is highly respected for his expertise in estates and trusts.
    • William Butler is a sophisticated planner.

      Private Wealth Disputes respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Band 3Adam K. Sherman
    Band 3Adam K. Sherman

    Adam K. Sherman

    Adam Sherman has expertise in business succession estates and tax planning. He is commended by sources for his ability to convey complex issues to clients effectively.
    • Adam Sherman in particular has been able to really imbue a great sense of confidence in the client and has earned their trust. You know he has the client's best interests in mind.

      Private Wealth Disputes respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Band 3Bobbi J. Bierhals
    Band 3Bobbi J. Bierhals

    Bobbi J. Bierhals

    Bobbi Bierhals advises high net worth clients on business, tax and estate planning.
    • Bobbi Bierhals is very client-focused, highly responsive and accommodating. She is a good partner to be a sounding board on not only legal points but also business matters. She is a creative problem solver.

      Private Wealth Disputes respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Bobbi Bierhals is an excellent thought partner on complex, diverse and overlapping matters. She has brought in other resources around the firm to effectively deliver timely and commercial advice.

      Private Wealth Disputes respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Band 3Elise McGee
    Band 3Elise McGee

    Elise McGee

    Elise McGee is a Chicago-based private client partner. She advises high net worth individuals and business owners on a wide array of wealth transfer planning matters. She has expertise in estates and trusts, tax, cryptocurrency and real estate matters, and is particularly well regarded for her private trust company advisory work.

    • Elise McGee has great interpersonal relationships with the client. She really stands out. Clients love working with her because she is very approachable, friendly and thoughtful.

      Private Wealth Disputes respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Elise McGee is a leader in her field. She focuses on private trust companies.

      Private Wealth Disputes respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Elise is a great, easy person to work with, in addition to all the sophisticated, smart advice and savvy planning.

      Private Wealth Disputes respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Band 3Jeanette Hunter
    Band 3Jeanette Hunter

    Jeanette Hunter

    Jeanette Hunter advises wealthy families on multi-generational succession planning and governance issues.
    • Jeanette Hunter is a really good, practical lawyer.

      Private Wealth Disputes respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Jeanette Hunter is amazing. If we need something done quickly then she gets it done.

      Private Wealth Disputes respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Band 3Michael J. Sorrow
    Band 3Michael J. Sorrow

    Michael J. Sorrow

    Michael Sorrow works on estate planning, business structuring and succession matters. Sorrow's clients include large single-family offices.

    • Michael Sorrow is a great business partner and adviser.

      Private Wealth Disputes respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Michael Sorrow is very good technically.

      Private Wealth Disputes respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Michael has played a pivotal role in navigating large, complex estate administration challenges. His dedication to clients is evident, and he consistently distils intricate trust and estate concepts into clear, actionable guidance. He is a trusted adviser, and I plan to continue relying on his counsel for many years.

      Private Wealth Disputes respondentHigh Net Worth
  • Band 4Timothy Halleron
    Band 4Timothy Halleron

    Timothy Halleron

    Timothy Halleron is an experienced trusts and estates expert. Halleron earns praise from the market for his legal expertise, communication and responsiveness.

    • Tim Halleron has great technical expertise and is a pleasure to work with.

      Private Wealth Disputes respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Tim Halleron is an outstanding lawyer and adviser.

      Private Wealth Disputes respondentHigh Net Worth
    • Tim Halleron is terrific. He is very smart, with a good head on his shoulders.

      Private Wealth Disputes respondentHigh Net Worth

Ranked Individuals at McDermott Will & Schulte (12)

Illinois

McDermott Will & Schulte has rankings in the following guides

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