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Michelle focuses her practice on estate planning, charitable planning, and wealth preservation.  She works with clients and their families to develop estate plans that address varied family circumstances in a caring, detailed way and include efficient estate, gift and generation-skipping tax planning.

Michelle helps individuals and families minimize estate and gift tax problems using a wide range of advanced techniques, including family partnerships, leveraged and discounted gifts and various gift trusts. She routinely helps clients administer estates and trusts by preparing federal estate tax returns and advising fiduciaries regarding family issues, tax problems, and their duties and rights. 

Michelle also represents charities and their donors.  She advises clients on the use of charitable trusts, private foundations and donor advised funds to foster family philanthropy and maximize the income, estate, and gift tax benefits of charitable giving.  She advises charitable foundations and public charities on governance and business transactions.

Michelle frequently teaches and speaks on estate planning, tax, and exempt organization issues.

Publications, Recognitions and Speaking Engagements


Selected by peers as a Leading Lawyer in: Trust, Will & Estate Planning Law (2014-2017)


Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rated, Chicago’s Top Rated Lawyers, Trusts and Estates (2012, 2013); 5.0/5.0 Overall Client Rating – Martindale.com

Professional Affiliations

  • Lecturer in Law, University of Chicago Law School, 2009 through 2014
  • Chicago Estate Planning Council, 2013 to present; Member, Public Outreach Committee
  • Past Chair and Vice Chair, D.C. Bar Taxation Section, Estate Planning Committee: “Best Section Committee,” 2005
  • Frederick Law Olmsted Society of Riverside, 2012-present

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