Atty. Steven C. Gustafson
As an advisor and counselor to entrepreneurs, closely held businesses, and wealthy families and their family offices, Steve Gustafson draws upon multiple disciplines to provide integrated tax, business and financial advice. Steve’s practice has a substantial emphasis in the areas of tax and financial transactions, including structuring corporate, joint venture, commercial and real estate transactions, as well as assisting family businesses with tax and financial planning matters.
Profile Summary
About Steven C. Gustafson at a glance
Steven C. Gustafson is a trusts attorney based in Chicago, Illinois, practicing at Gould & Ratner. Admitted to practice in Illinois, Illinois State Bar Association. Educated at Chicago-Kent College of Law at IIT (J.D., 1986) and DePaul University (B.S.). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Trusts and Estates (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice: (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law (2026). Serands clients in Chicago, IL and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- As an advisor and counselor to entrepreneurs, closely held businesses, and wealthy families and their family offices, Steve Gustafson draws upon multiple disciplines to provide integrated tax, business and financial advice
- Steve’s practice has a substantial emphasis in the areas of tax and financial transactions, including structuring corporate, joint venture, commercial and real estate transactions, as well as assisting family businesses with tax and financial planning matters
- He also focuses on the areas of family wealth transfer planning, estate and gift tax matters, philanthropy and business succession planning
- Steve has served as an adjunct instructor at The John Marshall Law School, where he has taught Federal Income Tax Aspects of Real Estate Transactions as part of the school’s LL.M. program in tax
- A frequent speaker, Steve often addresses topics at the intersection of the law, taxation and business strategy, including the tax and financial aspects of choice of business entity planning, structuring real estate transactions, business succession planning, the design of executive compensation plans, and the tax and financial aspects of planned charitable giving programs
- Steve has been recognized as an Illinois Super Lawyer as well as having been named an Illinois Leading Lawyer since 2011 in the areas of Closely & Privately Held Business, Business Tax and Individual Tax
Practice Areas Explained
Steven C. Gustafson's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Steven C. Gustafson handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Steven C. Gustafson is one of 104,171 trusts attorneys indexed nationally. Browse trusts attorneys in Illinois →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in Illinois
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 andnue, 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.
Looking for additional Illinois attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Chicago or all attorneys in Illinois.
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