David A. Handler

David A. Handler is a nationally recognized trust and estate lawyer with decades of experience guiding high-net-worth individuals, private business owners, and private equity professionals. He concentrates on estate planning strategies and charitable planning, helping clients protect assets and manage multigenerational wealth with clarity and innovation.

David holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance with Highest Honors from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and earned his Juris Doctor from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. He is admitted to practice law in Illinois and New York and has been consistently recognized for his contributions to the trusts and estates field.

David is widely known for pioneering estate planning techniques such as the HEET trust, RPM Trust, and Guaranteed GRAT. His thought leadership is evident through frequent speaking engagements and publications in national journals and industry outlets.

David has served on advisory committees for organizations such as the Chicago Community Trust, The Art Institute of Chicago, and WTTW11/98.7WFMT. He also sits on the Editorial Advisory Board of Trusts & Estates Magazine, where he has contributed a monthly tax update column for over a decade. His guidance has shaped countless estate plans and nonprofit foundations.

David A. Handler continues to lead in the field of estate planning through his innovative strategies, deep technical expertise, and decades of service to clients, institutions, and the legal community. He has received numerous honors, including “Chicago Lawyer of the Year” in Trusts and Estates by Best Lawyers in America and consistent “Band 1” recognition in Chambers USA. Legal peers commend his creativity and deep understanding of complex estate structures, especially for private equity executives and family offices.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Kirkland & Ellis LLP
• Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC)
• Member, Tax Management Estates, Gifts and Trusts Advisory Board
• Member, Chicago Estate Planning Council

Licensed State

• Illinois
• New York

Education

• Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Gies College of Business
  BS in Finance

Awards & Badges