We are looking to add a Senior Associate – Trusts & Estates / Estate Planning. This is a 100% in‑office position, ideal for a mid‑ to senior‑level attorney looking to take a key role in a high‑quality, sophisticated practice.
We are known for depth in estate planning, trust administration, business and tax counsel, and multigenerational client relationships. The Estate Planning Group handles complex, high-net-worth planning matters and serves clients across the greater Illinois area.
You will join a collegial and resource-rich environment where quality, responsiveness, and client service are prioritized.
Position Summary & Key Responsibilities
- Lead and manage sophisticated estate planning engagements for high-net-worth clients
- Handle estate and trust administration, including fiduciary accounting, interpretation of governing instruments, beneficiary issues, and related tax work
- Provide comprehensive tax planning advice (federal and state) in the estate, gift, and generation-skipping tax arenas
- Offer general business counsel relating to entity structuring, succession, and asset protection, as it intersects with estate planning
- Draft complex estate planning documents: revocable and irrevocable trusts, family limited partnerships, GRATs, charitable planning vehicles, buy-sell agreements tied to estate planning, etc.
- Oversee work of more junior attorneys or paralegals as needed
- Interface directly with clients, advisors (CPAs, financial planners, investment advisors), and referral sources
- Meet demanding deadlines and manage multiple active matters simultaneously
Qualifications & Experience
- At least 5 years of post‑bar experience in estate planning, trust & probate administration, and related tax work
- Demonstrated competence in sophisticated estate planning and administration matters
- Strong tax planning skills, particularly with estate, gift and GST taxation
- Experience using WealthCounsel software (or equivalent advanced estate planning systems)
- Excellent drafting skills, with precision, clarity, and creativity
- A strong financial or accounting sensibility—comfortable working with numbers, financial statements, tax schedules
- Licensed to practice law in Illinois (or eligible for admission)
All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, age, color, sex (including pregnancy), religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable laws or regulations.
GPAC (Growing People and Companies) is an award-winning search firm specializing in placing quality professionals within multiple industries across the United States since 1990. We are extremely competitive, client-focused and realize that our value is in our ability to deliver the right solutions at the right time.
