Loeb & Loeb Adds Five-Attorney Trusts and Estates Group in Chicago

CHICAGO (August 2, 2017) – Loeb & Loeb LLP today announced the addition of a prominent five-attorney trusts and estates team in the firm’s Chicago office. The team, formerly with Sidley Austin LLP in Chicago, consists of partners Jordan A. Klein, James W. Hitzeman, Kathleen O’Hagan Scallan and Camille Lu, along with associate Ryan T. Court. The additions expand Loeb & Loeb’s preeminent Trusts and Estates Department to more than 50 attorneys firm wide, and extend the firm’s nationally recognized private client services platform into the Chicago market.

“Jordan, Jim, Kate and their team bring tremendous experience in the areas of estate and gift tax planning, trust and estate administration, contested estate and trust matters, and charitable giving,” said Bruce J. Wexler, co-chair of Loeb & Loeb’s Trusts and Estates Department. “They are fantastic additions to the firm who will enable us to expand our private client practice in a very important market for us.”

“This impressive group of practitioners will be a great complement to our already strong trusts and estates practice in Los Angeles, New York and Washington D.C.,” added Leah M. Bishop, co-chair of Loeb & Loeb’s Trusts and Estates Department.

“We are committed to growing Loeb’s presence and capabilities in the Midwest and to maintaining our position as one of the nation’s foremost law firms for trust and estate matters,” said Loeb & Loeb Chairman Michael D. Beck. “I simply can’t imagine a better example of our firm’s lateral growth strategy than the addition of this incredibly talented team. We are thrilled to welcome them.”

Jordan Klein previously served as national team leader of the Trusts and Estates practice at Sidley Austin LLP. His practice encompasses all aspects of estate planning, trust and estate administration and settlement, wealth transfer, philanthropy and fiduciary counseling services. His clients include corporate executives, families with dynastic wealth, privately held business owners, fund managers, family offices and private foundations.Klein received his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Chicago Law School and his B.S. Econ. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, summa cum laude; Phi Beta Kappa.

“Loeb & Loeb’s strategic commitment to trusts and estates and exempt organizations as core areas of service made this a natural choice for us,” said Klein. “The firm’s focus on individuals as well as corporate entities creates a perfect fit for our practice, and we look forward to working closely with our former Sidley colleagues as well as our new Loeb colleagues to expand our private client services nationwide.” 

Jim Hitzeman focuses on estate and trust litigation, representing a wide range of clients, including corporate fiduciaries and charities, in matters ranging from will and trust contests, construction actions and breach of fiduciary duty claims to cy pres and equitable deviation actions. Hitzeman has extensive experience dealing with related matters, including family settlement agreements, virtual representation agreements and decanting agreements. His practice also includes fiduciary counseling services, estate and gift tax planning and trust and estate administration. Hitzeman received his J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Illinois College of Law, and a B.A. from the University of Illinois.

Kate Scallan advises clients on high-net-worth estate and gift tax planning. She provides sophisticated tax advice to hedge fund and private equity fund principals, including in connection with the launch of investment funds, and counsels with regard to closely held business succession planning, corporate transactions and related tax structuring. Scallan received her J.D. from Notre Dame Law School and a B.S. from the University of Illinois.   

Camille Lu focuses her practice on sophisticated estate, gift and business succession planning for high-net-worth individuals and families. She advises clients on tax-efficient planning and philanthropic giving, and works closely with individuals and families on probate and trust administration. Lu received her J.D., cum laude from Northwestern School of Law and a B.A., cum laude from Georgetown University. 

Ryan Court received his J.D., summa cum laude, from DePaul University College of Law, where he was Order of the Coif. He received his B.A. from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.

Loeb & Loeb’s Trusts and Estates Department represents a broad base of individuals in connection with sophisticated estate, tax and business succession planning services, and trust and estate administration. The practice also counsels businesses, fiduciaries and tax-exempt organizations in a wide variety of matters, ranging from estate plans and the settlement of complex estate tax issues, to the resolution of multimillion-dollar disputes over the distribution of family wealth.

About Loeb & Loeb LLP 
Loeb & Loeb is a multiservice law firm with approximately 350 attorneys focusing on select practice areas, rather than endeavoring to be all things to all clients. The firm is recognized as a leading law firm in the areas of advertising and marketing; capital markets and corporate; media and entertainment; intellectual property; real estate; technology; tax exempt organizations and private client services. Loeb & Loeb has offices in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Nashville, Washington, DC, Beijing and Hong Kong.