Jay Kaufman

Jay C. Kaufman has engaged in the practice of law since 1980, providing legal counsel to individuals and closely held businesses regarding their commercial and financial matters. Most of his practice is concentrated in estate planning and administration, asset protection, business succession planning and related transactions.  But Jay has also provided for his business clients a variety of legal services pertinent to business formation and entity selection, real estate matters, employment contracts and employment issues, and certain intellectual property protection issues.

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS:

• Recently saved a family client more than $3.5 million in estate and transfer taxes as a result of estate planning work previously performed for them.
• Successfully handled all legal matters associated with large estate belonging to the owner of a well-known Chicago area equipment sales and rental business. Advised the business, performed the estate planning for the owner, and administered the estate, enabling execution of a smooth succession plan with minimal tax exposure to those who inherited the business.
• Successfully handled the estate of a 90-year old decedent with no living U.S. relatives, arranging for smooth property disposition for the benefit of European relatives. Also arranged for publication of her late husband’s book of poems that she asked to be published posthumously.
• Handled business succession planning for companies in manufacturing industries and for clients in the transportation business, minimizing potential tax consequences and disputes over ownership in the event of any partner’s death.
• Assisted the owners of a tool and die company in the successful sale of their business as well as the real estate owned used in operating the business.
• Represented investors and operators in the acquisition of restaurant properties in Illinois and Indiana.

AWARDS and SPECIAL DESIGNATIONS:

Jay is one of a very limited number of lawyers in America who has the necessary experience and training to be awarded the title of “Elite IRA Advisor.” He  has participated in training with the renowned Ed Slott, one of the nation’s leading experts in the area of Individual Retirement Account distribution planning. This designation requires demonstrated knowledge of the many tax code implications of IRA planning and distributions so that intended IRA beneficiaries can minimize or eliminate taxes on distributions. It also requires annual examination and retraining. See: www.irahelp.com.

CONTINUING EDUCATION / COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE:

Attended, Ed Slott & Co., Advanced IRA Conference, November 4-6, 2009
Attended, Corbel/Relius Advanced Pension Conference, September 2-4, 2009
Attended, “Planning for the Generations” WealthCounsel Annual Conference, August 4-6, 2009
Attended, “Advanced Elder Law Course” ElderCounsel, Boston, MA, April 27-29, 2009
Attended, University Of Miami Law School Heckerling Estate Planning Institute (Jan. 12-16, 2009)
Attended, Special Needs Trusts seminar(2008)

SPEECHES:

Speaker, “The New Estate Planning and Asset Protection Environment”  McHenry County Medical Society, March 18, 2009
Speaker, “Recent Developments in Estate Planning and Asset Protection”  Wealth Counsel Illinois Forum, January 30, 2009

PUBLICATIONS:

Former associate editor for “The Journal of Pension Benefits”
Former newsletter editor for the Employee Benefits section of the Illinois State Bar Association

COURT ADMISSIONS / LICENSES:

State of Illinois
Supreme Court of Illinois
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
United States Tax Court

AFFILIATIONS and MEMBERSHIPS:

American Bar Association
Illinois State Bar Association
WealthCounsel, a national organization of estate planning lawyers
ElderCounsel, a national organization of elder law attorneys
American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries

EDUCATION:

Northern Illinois University, combined program in undergraduate and advanced studies, awarded Bachelor’s degree and Juris Doctor degree (1980)