Christine Rew Barden

Christine Rew Barden is a shareholder in Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c.’s Trusts and Estates Practice and the founder and chair of the firm’s Family Office Services Group. Based in Madison, she works with individuals and high-net-worth families on estate planning, wealth preservation, tax planning, charitable giving, and succession strategies. She helps clients develop plans that reflect their financial goals while protecting family relationships across generations.

Christine earned her J.D. from Indiana University School of Law-Bloomington and her B.S. from Purdue University. She also holds the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy designation from the American College of Financial Services. This education and professional training support her work involving estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes, charitable planning, trust administration, and complex family wealth matters. She is admitted to practice in Wisconsin and Illinois.

Christine advises clients on family office services, business succession, exit strategies, tax-exempt organizations, prenuptial and marital agreements, fiduciary matters, and trust and estate disputes. Earlier in her career, she helped establish and served as legal counsel and corporate secretary for Wrigley Management Inc., a private family office in Chicago. She has also assisted surviving spouses and families in resolving post-death conflicts while working to preserve family wealth and harmony.

Christine Rew Barden has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America for trusts and estates and was named Madison Lawyer of the Year in that practice area for 2023. She has also received recognition from Wisconsin Super Lawyers. Christine serves on the Madison Community Foundation’s Board of Governors and has held leadership roles in professional, legal, and community organizations. Her empathetic approach, clear explanations, and collaboration with clients’ other advisers help families create practical and carefully coordinated plans.

Law Office Affiliations

• Shareholder, Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren S.C.
• Member, Dane County Bar Association
• Member, State Bar of Illinois
• Member, State Bar of Wisconsin

Licensed State

• Wisconsin

Education

• Indiana University School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Purdue University
  Bachelor of Science (BS)