Lauren J. Wolven

Lauren concentrates her practice on estate planning, representing corporate fiduciaries, tax, and succession planning for privately held businesses, and trust and estate administration and litigation. In addition, Lauren works extensively with foundations and other charitable organizations with respect to administration, tax, and planning issues.

Lauren is a fellow of the estate planning organization, the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), where she is also a Regent and the former State Chair for Illinois. ACTEC membership is based on professional reputation, experience in the fields of trusts and estates, and existing contributions to these fields through lecturing, writing, teaching, and bar activities. She is also an adjunct professor at the University of Miami School of Law where she teaches an LLM course. 

Publications, Presentations & Recognitions

Publications

Lauren is a frequent author on a variety of estate planning and trust administration topics, Lauren is the co-author of two prior editions of the BNA portfolios, “Estate Planning for Unmarried Adults” and “Managing Litigation Risks of Fiduciaries,” part of BNA’s Tax Management Portfolio series.

Presentations

Lauren’s speaking engagements have included presentations for the nation’s largest estate planning seminar, the Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning.

Recognitions

Lauren was named by Law Bulletin Publishing Company as one of its “40 Under 40” in 2010; was selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers (2012 - 2025); and was recognized as an Illinois Super Lawyers (2012-2023, 2025). Lauren has also been named by Super Lawyers as one of the Top 50 Women Attorneys in Illinois and has been recognized individually in Chambers High Net Worth Guide (2015 – present). Her references note that she is a “national name and a star in the legal community.”

Boards, Memberships & Certifications

Lauren is past president and director of the Chicago Estate Planning Council. She sits on the Advisory Board for the Heckerling Institute and is a past Board Member of the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education and served several terms on the Executive Committee of the Chicago Bar Association Trust Law Committee. Lauren also sits on the Board of Directors for the Anti-Cruelty Society. 

Life Beyond the Law

Outside the office, Lauren is an active member of the community, working actively with the Arthritis Foundation. In the past, she has served on the Planned Giving Advisory Committee of the Shedd Aquarium, and from 2011 through 2014 as Membership Co-Chair of Oak Park Temple B’Nai Abraham Zion.