
Private Wealth Law
High Net Worth Guide 2025 : Illinois
Rankings

Ranked Individuals
Ranked Individuals
Chambers Review
Provided by Chambers
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
The MWE team provides excellent client service and has attention to detail. With them, you always know you will receive the best in class advice and work-product.
Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net WorthThe McDermott team is extremely well-versed in complex and sophisticated matters. The department has a strong team with a talented bench.
Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net WorthThey have the highest calibre of clients, they have the best technical experts. They are absolutely responsive, fantastic with their clients, and have the most sophisticated of cases.
Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net WorthThey don't just do the legal work but have informed opinions about outcomes and risk. Their understanding of corporate tax, gifting and estate law is superb.
Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net WorthThe McDermott team provides very creative solutions for difficult and complex issues. The team is extremely experienced with ultra high net worth planning techniques.
Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
Notable Practitioners
Provided by Chambers
Senior Statespeople 
Senior Statespeople 
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 great: she's actually incredible.
Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net WorthCarol Harrington is absolutely phenomenal. She is a go-to, sophisticated and kind.
Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net WorthI really like Carol, she's very rational and very practical.
Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net WorthCarol Harrington is dynamite. She's amazing.
Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
Band 1 
Band 1 
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 a go-to. He is intelligent and applies the law correctly.
Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net WorthDavid is very sharp. He knows what he is doing.
Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net WorthDavid Baker is the best trust and estate litigator I know in Chicago and beyond. He is very gifted, the most experienced practitioner around in this area and a fantastic advocate.
Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
Band 1 
Band 1 
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 very strategic, very responsive, He tends to do more complex work and simplifies them effectively. He has an impressive skill set.
Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net WorthNeil has been really wonderful and a great adviser. I can go to him with any questions. As chair, he is a really great leader - helping me focus our ideas and keeping us updated on new laws.
Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net WorthNeil Kawashima is really good and really highly regarded.
Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net WorthNeil Kawashima is an outstanding trust and estate attorney. He's one of the top attorneys in the country in philanthropic planning.
Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net WorthHe's the head of McDermott's practice there and he has a very sophisticated practice.
Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
Band 2 
Band 2 
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. He's a master of the law, really well regarded and his clients are fantastic.
Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net WorthHe's really good and really likable.
Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net WorthWilliam Butler is really useful in challenging situations. He has the voice of reason. He has a lot of experience with families. He can provide a personal perspective.
Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
Band 3 
Band 3 
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 worked with us on a very complex project and his creativity and problem-solving skills are outstanding.
Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net WorthAdam has strong technical skills and can tackle any client matter brought to his attention.
Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net WorthAdam brings creative and thoughtful solutions to matters.
Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
Band 3 
Band 3 
Bobbi J. Bierhals
Bobbi Bierhals advises high net worth clients on business, tax and estate planning. She is intelligent, she is tough and she is great with her clients.
Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net WorthBobby is really an excellent lawyer.
Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net WorthBobbi is a lawyer's lawyer. She is my go-to for ultra high net worth clients with complex situations and ongoing planning needs. She excels in client service and delivery.
Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
Band 3 
Band 3 
Jeanette Hunter
Jeanette Hunter advises wealthy families on multi-generational succession planning and governance issues. Jeanette Hunter is super sharp and super smart. She has a way of not only being a knowledgeable expert but also explains things easily. She does a really good job making legal issues understandable.
Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net WorthJeanette Hunter has it all - focus on client service, dedication to clients and strong technical skills.
Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net WorthJeanette Hunter is a very valuable partner. I enjoy working with her. She understands the complexity of the family and is always available to advise on any issue, large or small.
Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
Band 3 
Band 3 
Michael J. Sorrow
Michael Sorrow works on estate planning, business structuring and succession matters. Sorrow's clients include large single-family offices. Michael does very sophisticated, high-value and creative planning. He's great at providing details to the extent I would like him to, but also explaining things well in layman's terms when needed.
Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net WorthMichael is talented, intelligent and has excellent interpersonal skills.
Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
Band 4 
Band 4 
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 has developed strong expertise in areas that are at the top of client's minds.
Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net WorthElise is very knowledgeable beyond her years.
Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net WorthElise does private trust company structure particularly well. Her legal sophistication, her ability to find solutions and her responsiveness are excellent.
Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net WorthElise is wonderful to work with and provides excellent counsel for forming and operating a private trust company.
Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
Band 4 
Band 4 
Tim Halleron
Timothy Halleron is an experienced trusts and estates expert. Halleron earns praise from the market for his legal expertise, communication and responsiveness.
Tim is an outstanding trust and estate attorney. He is terrific to work with and very good at communicating with clients on complex matters.
Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net WorthHe is solid, he has good skills and fantastic clients.
Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net WorthTim has excellent sophistication and delivers work product quickly with insight into our clients situation.
Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net WorthTim is really sophisticated. He's a fantastic and intelligent lawyer.
Private Wealth Law respondentHigh Net Worth
Ranked Individuals at McDermott Will & Schulte (10)
McDermott Will & Schulte has rankings in the following guides
Band 1 High Net Worth 2025
Practice area: Private Wealth Law
Location: California: Southern
View department profile for High Net Worth 2025Band 1 High Net Worth 2025
Practice area: Private Wealth Law
Location: California: Northern
View department profile for High Net Worth 2025Band 1 High Net Worth 2025
Practice area: Private Wealth Law
Location: New York
View department profile for High Net Worth 2025Band 1 High Net Worth 2025
Practice area: Private Wealth Law
Location: USA - Nationwide
View department profile for High Net Worth 2025Band 1 High Net Worth 2025
Practice area: Private Wealth Law
Location: District of Columbia
View department profile for High Net Worth 2025Band 2 High Net Worth 2025
Practice area: Private Wealth Law
Location: Florida
View department profile for High Net Worth 2025
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