
Ben concentrates his practice in the areas of sophisticated estate and gift tax planning, asset protection planning, guardianship matters, charitable planning, and estate and trust administration. Ben also devotes a significant portion of his practice to complex will and trust controversy and litigation. This includes representing trustees, executors and beneficiaries in a variety of matters such as:
Click here to view a list of trust controversy representative cases.
Ben has been recognized by various independent organizations on their top lists of top attorneys. Leading Lawyers Network named Ben as one of the Top Attorneys in Illinois in Trust, Will & Estate Planning Law. He has been recognized in the selective roll of Illinois Super Lawyer (2016 - 2023) and Illinois Super Lawyers Rising Stars (2009-2015) in the areas of Estate Planning & Probate and Estate & Trust Litigation. Ben is also a member of the Ravinia Festival Planned Giving Committee.
Before joining Strauss Malk & Feder LLP, Ben practiced with two prominent Chicago law firms.
"A Modern Look at the Enforceability of No-Contest Provisions," Trusts & Estates Magazine - November 2020
“The Promissory Note Problem: Why Refinancing a Promissory Note May Create Income Tax and Gift Tax Consequences,” Trusts & Estates Magazine.
“Advising the Client with Sudden Wealth” (co-author), Journal of Taxation of Investments.
Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Business Valuation, Financial & Tax Issues in Divorce 2019 Course—“Top Ten Things that Estate Planning Attorneys Want Divorce Attorneys to Know – But They Often Don’t,” January 2019
Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Interesting Issues in Estate Administration Course—“Allowances & Elections Against the Will,” November 2018
Investment Management Consultants Association, Inc. Conference– “Managing the Complex Dynamics of High-Net-Worth Families with Divorces and Multiple Marriages,” October 2018
The Chicago Trust Company—“What it means to be a Trustee -- whether it’s really an honor, the time, risk and other intangibles that are involved,” March 2017
Navigating the Trustee's Duty to Disclose - How Much is Enough, or Too Much? Beneficiaries' Rights to Information, Chicago Estate Planning Counsel, March 2014
Additionally, Ben has presented before the Chicago Estate Planning Council (CEPC), American Law Institute (ALI), Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE) and the Chicago Bar Association (CBA) regarding various estate planning and trust administration issues, such as:
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