PRIVATE WEALTH SERVICES
Neal Gerber Eisenberg is a Chicago-based law firm whose attorneys share a culture of teamwork and devotion to personalized client service to advance our clients business interests. Our attorneys provide legal business solutions to public and private entities of all types including Fortune 100 companies, financial institutions, nonprofits and high net worth individuals in connection with domestic and global business transactions and litigation. Our full service firm is large enough to handle nearly any legal matter throughout the world, yet small enough that clients personally know the attorneys accountable to their matters.
PRIVATE WEALTH SERVICES Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP s Private Wealth Services practice group provides high net worth clients and their families with personalized legal services in connection with all aspects of their personal and professional lives. We are sensitive to the full range of tax, estate planning and corporate issues that impact business value and personal worth. The group is built around addressing and finding solutions to clients areas of major concern, such as developing, preserving and maximizing wealth, continuing and properly structuring businesses and transferring control to next-generation family members. The private wealth services group has a significant background in creating value for its clients and serving as trusted advisers. The firm s private wealth services attorneys are respected by their peers and the community in which we practice. For 2015, U.S. News-Best Lawyers Best Law Firms ranked our practice as among the best in Chicago for trusts and estates law. We also have earned a national reputation for developing successful business plans, including plans of ownership, acquisition, sale and exchange of businesses while working in concert with our clients business managers, insurance and investment advisers, accountants and others. The group is built around addressing and finding solutions to clients areas of major concern. The group helps individuals and their families attain testamentary goals through the preparation of wills, trusts and other creative planning devices with the least possible tax cost. In addition, we help our clients accomplish their charitable goals through the organization of private foundations, public charities and other arrangements. WEALTH PLANNING & FAMILY COUNSELING Our firm offers the legal aptitude to ensure that our clients estate planning needs are met at all stages of their personal and professional lives. We help meet both long- and short-term testamentary goals through preparing wills and trusts, advance medical directives, powers of attorneys and other documents. These and other sophisticated planning devices allow for a seamless transfer our clients wealth and businesses to future generations. We also consult on gift planning, asset protection and guardianship and have particular experience in wealth preservation and tax minimization. TRUST, ESTATE & GIFT TAX PLANNING The firm has particular experience in administrating trusts and preparing estate tax returns. We counsel our clients and their fiduciaries on funding, distribution and termination issues. Our attorneys develop favorable tax planning techniques for high net worth families and their businesses. The resources within our estate planning, tax and transactional practices allow us to further client objectives in selecting the form of entities and jurisdiction of formation for transactions. Tax planning is also an important aspect of philanthropy and we are skilled in developing the proper trust or other structures to meet tax objectives.
FAMILY OFFICE COUNSEL In 1986, we started out with just 35 attorneys and a small number of prominent Chicago families as clients. Helping families with their planning and business needs through the use of family offices has helped spur our growth throughout the past 29 years. Seeing our own entrepreneurial drive reflected in the family business clients we represent, we hold a special affinity for them. We are proud to maintain our tradition of helping families implement structures that protect and transfer wealth and businesses to future generations. Services the group provides: Sale of family-owned business Add-on acquisitions of new businesses Business succession planning Intra-family ownership transfers Next generation business opportunities, including acquisitions, startups or other business pursuits Real estate management, including tax aspects Family office employment and employee benefits matters Record management and data access Securities law reporting and advice In 2013, The Family Business Institute reported that only 30 percent of family businesses survive to the second generation. The numbers become even more bleak as additional time passes, with only 12 percent making it to the third generation, and a mere 3 percent making it the fourth generation and beyond. With a clear understanding of these areas, we know at the end of the day that a well-structured plan and operation is critical for wealth to last for multiple generations. We also understand and know how to help a family minimize office intergenerational conflicts and avoid the publicity that can arise from such disputes. PROBATE & ESTATE ADMINISTRATION We have represented many high-profile estates during our years of practice. We provide counsel during all phases of estate administration and with regard to post-mortem techniques, such as disclaimers. Working closely with the family of the decedent on sensitive legal matters helps to ease the family s burden during the grieving process. If probate is necessary, we handle court proceedings and filings and provide guidance to the fiduciary during all steps of the administration process. We manage numerous types of assets and assist estate representatives in collecting and distributing the decedent s assets in accordance with the estate plan or as required by law. Our services include funding trusts, obtaining appraisals and asset valuations, and preparing estate tax and fiduciary income tax returns. LATEST RANKINGS Trusts & Estates Law
INTERNATIONAL ESTATE PLANNING We advise clients on the U.S. tax consequences of assets owned by non-u.s. persons and entities and provide counsel on how those assets may be best sheltered from U.S. income, gift and estate taxes. By combining our knowledge of tax law and our work with tax treaties, we provide our clients with unique talents in dealing with foreign situs property. PHILANTHROPY & TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS Increasing numbers of individuals, families and businesses are creating their own personal gift vehicles, such as private foundations, donor-advised funds and supporting organizations, to carry out their own philanthropic goals and create an enduring charitable legacy. Donors in today s world want to customize their charitable gifts, measure results and be confident that their charitable intent will be safeguarded. Consequently, charities are required to be more responsive, transparent and accountable than ever before. Giving money away efficiently and effectively is an increasingly complex endeavor. The firm also has a tradition of helping tax-exempt organizations meet the challenges of adopting best practices standards. We have represented numerous private foundations (corporations and charitable trusts), trade associations, supporting organizations and public charities. We have particular experience in issues relating to qualifying for tax-exempt status (including issues relating to form, structure and situs), joint ventures and other partnering arrangements, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance and the formation of donor advised funds. We also assist clients in grant making and grant agreements, compliance and disclosure requirements, Internet and information technology agreements and on audits, both federal and state. Neal Gerber Eisenberg provides an excellent work product while doing so in a much more clientfriendly environment than larger firms. - Chambers USA We offer the full range of consulting services that a donor or charity may need, including: Planning Formation Operations Administration Fund-raising Termination
REPRESENTATIVE FIRM CLIENTS AbbVie ArcelorMittal USA LLC Citigroup Global Markets Inc. Euromarket Designs Inc. (Crate & Barrel) Eby-Brown Company, LLC Grant Thornton LLP Hyatt Corporation IGT Illinois Tool Works LNV Corp. Match.com, L.L.C. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Northern Trust Polaroid SBE Entertainment Ticketmaster Corp. TransUnion LLC UBS Global Management (*Americas) Inc. United Healthcare United Parcel Service Viceroy Hotel Group DIVERSITY The firm encourages its attorneys and staff to recognize the value of diversity in creating a better work environment and a stronger firm. We recognize that diversity is a vital component of our culture, identity, planning and overall well-being. By embracing diversity, we reflect what is great about our community and society at large, promote creativity, opportunity and professional development, and best serve our clients. We also support organizations with a like-minded commitment to improving diversity within the legal profession. PRO BONO Pro bono work has always been a cornerstone of the firm s mission. The benefits of giving back to the community are many, not only for those we serve, but for our attorneys. Public service makes us better, more well-rounded lawyers, permitting us to step beyond our day-to-day practices, sharpen and extend our legal skills and increase our engagement with all segments of society. We provide pro bono service to arts organizations, programs for the disabled, schools, churches and synagogues, family service organizations and low-income residents. SUSTAINABILITY The firm promotes, encourages and adopts sustainable office practices to meet our current resource needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own. We have adopted firmwide policies and initiatives that reduce our overall environmental footprint, such as considering sustainability when purchasing supplies and equipment, implementing recycling programs and developing electronic policies to minimize paper use.
Neal Gerber Eisenberg has excellent technical skills and assistance in developing - U.S. News-Best Lawyers Best Law Firms and implementing strategies. Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP Two North LaSalle Street Chicago, IL 60602-3801 312.269.8000 www.ngelaw.com