Atty. David A. Handler
David A. Handler is a partner in the Trusts and Estates Practice Group of Kirkland & Ellis LLP.
Trusts and Estates Attorney · Serving Chicago, IL
Profile Summary
About David A. Handler at a Glance
David A. Handler is a trusts attorney based in Chicago, Illinois, practicing at Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Educated at Northwestern University (J.D., 1992). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Trusts and Estates (2026), Lawyer of the Year — Trusts and Estates (Chicago) (2025), and Lawyer of the Year — Trusts and Estates (Chicago) (2019). Serves clients in Chicago, IL and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About David A. Handler
- David A. Handler is a partner in the Trusts and Estates Practice Group of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. He concentrates his practice on trust and estate planning and administration, representing owners of closely-held businesses, family offices, principals of private equity and venture capital funds, individuals and families of significant wealth, and establishing and administering private foundations and other charitable organizations
- David is a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), and a member of the NAEPC Estate Planning Hall of Fame as an Accredited Estate Planner (Distinguished)
- He is the creator or co-creator of the “HEET trust,” the “RPM Trust” and the “Guaranteed GRAT,” among other innovations
- David is also a member of the professional advisory committees of several nonprofit organizations, including the Chicago Community Trust, The Art Institute of Chicago, The Goodman Theatre, WTTW11/98.7WFMT (Chicago public broadcasting stations) and the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago
- David is ranked in “Band 1” by Chambers USA in the Wealth Management category with interviewees noting that he “is considered to be one of the true authorities in the field of estate planning," as well as "very personable and has a creative mind” and praising him as "the foremost authority in working with private equity firms and their MDs regarding their planning
- A peer commented to Chambers that he is “fantastic and has pioneered nuanced techniques
- He is absolutely as bright as can be and top-notch," with another peer noting that "he made a name for himself coming up with strategies for private equity principals.” He is one of only 16 U.S. lawyers (as of 2015) ranked in “Band 1” by Chambers USA in the Wealth Management category
- He is also listed in The Best Lawyers in America© (Trusts and Estates) and was named its 2018 Trusts and Estates “Chicago Lawyer of the Year,” and is listed in the Guide to the World’s Leading Trusts and Estates Practitioners, in Who’s Who Legal: Private Client
- David received the Austin Fleming Distinguished Service Award from the Chicago Estate Planning Council
- Leading Lawyers Magazine has listed David as one of the “Top Ten Trust, Will & Estate” lawyers in Illinois as well as a “Top 100 Consumer” lawyer in Illinois
- David is an Editorial Advisory Board Member of Trusts & Estates Magazine for which he has written the monthly “tax update” column for more than 10 years
- He is also a co-author of an e-book on estate planning, The Complete Estate Planning Sourcebook (published by Wolters Kluwer)
- He has authored many articles that have appeared in prominent estate planning and taxation journals, magazines and newsletters, including Lawyer’s Weekly, Trusts & Estates Magazine, Estate Planning Magazine, Journal of Taxation, Tax Management Estates, Gifts and Trusts Journal, The Chase Journal and RIA’s Estate Planner’s Alert
- He is regularly interviewed for trade and news periodicals, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Lawyer’s Weekly, Registered Representative, Financial Advisor, Worth and Bloomberg Wealth Manager magazines
Practice Areas Explained
David A. Handler's Areas of Legal Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases David A. Handler handles, with a practical overview of what that area of law involves and how it may apply to your situation in Chicago.
Trusts in Chicago
David A. Handler is one of 103,428 trusts attorneys indexed nationally. Browse trusts attorneys in Illinois →
Jurisdictional Context
Why Local Counsel Matters in Chicago
Practicing law in Illinois. Legal matters in Illinois are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Chicago are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Illinois state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Illinois brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this venue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Illinois courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Chicago Courts and Legal Process
Choosing a Chicago-based attorney means your counsel already knows the local docketing timelines, preferred filing formats, and how individual judges typically rule on procedural motions — details that only come from practicing in this jurisdiction day after day. That local familiarity can translate to better strategy, faster filings, and fewer costly surprises.
Looking for additional Illinois attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Chicago or all attorneys in Illinois.
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Professional Profile
Why Clients in Chicago Choose David A. Handler
Selecting an attorney is one of the most consequential decisions you can make when a legal matter arises. Below are the core qualities that distinguish David A. Handler's practice in the field of trusts.
Focused Trusts Practice
Concentrating on trusts means David A. Handler's knowledge of relevant statutes, case law, and procedural nuances stays current — unlike generalist practices that spread attention across unrelated fields.
Local Presence in Chicago
A Chicago-based practice means David A. Handler attends hearings in the same courthouses, knows the local clerks, and understands the unwritten scheduling norms that affect every case filed here.
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David A. Handler's Practice Areas & Specializations
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