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My practice is concentrated in the areas of estate planning and probate, asset protection planning and the representation of the owners of privately held businesses. I have developed and implemented plans for high net worth individuals, as well as individuals and families of more modest wealth. During my career, I have concentrated my practice in the development and implementation of creative strategies for preserving, protecting and enhancing the personal wealth of my clientele while also not losing sight of their wishes to pass on their assets to the persons they deem to be most deserving.
With respect to the desire of clients, who are the senior owners of privately held businesses, to have their businesses passed down to the most well-qualified and deserving family member or members, I have structured business succession plans designed to accomplish such goals, while taking into consideration the need to avoid family conflict, and strike a balance in order that other family members not involved in the family business are fairly and equitably treated.
In connection with my clients’ personal needs, I am often involved in the development of financial, estate and business succession plans, which include wills, revocable living and irrevocable trusts, dynasty trusts, organizing S corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships and general partnerships. These entities are created to fulfill my clients desire to avoid or reduce their obligations for the payment of income and estate taxes, while continuing to exercise control over their business and property interests. In addition, I have also assisted clients in connection with their need to preserve familial control of family businesses using prenuptial agreements, shareholder and LLC operating agreement for those purposes, as well as to protect their assets in the event of a dissolution of marriage.
During my career, I have also been involved in and structured a myriad of transactions that are common to privately held companies. These transactions include intracorporate agreements, such as limited liability company operating, shareholder, partnership and employment agreements, as well as transactions between and among businesses and/or individuals with respect to mergers, and the acquisition of businesses and other types of real and personal property. I have also represented clients in contested matters in the probate courts and courts of equity, as well as in the state and federal courts in commercial matters.
I have also assisted clients in establishing private foundations and other charitable organizations and have obtained for them tax-exempt status under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. I am a long-time member of the Chicago Estate Planning Council, where I have served on its Public Outreach Committee for several years. In connection with my service to this committee, I have co-authored its presentation entitled “Demystifying The Estate Planning Process” and have presented in various venues on behalf of the Council. In addition, I have recently made presentations on Irrevocable Trusts and on Complex Issues in Probate for the National Business Institute. I am also a member of the Greater North Shore Estate Planning Council. In addition, I have published numerous articles on subjects related to estate planning and commercial matters in the form of a topical legal update for clients, financial professionals, legal colleagues and friends entitled “Notes From the Desk of Alan E. Sohn”.
My interests outside of the practice of law include history, politics, reading, maintaining regular tennis games and, of course, my wife and family.
I received my undergraduate education at the University of Illinois, in Champaign – Urbana, and my formal legal education at the College of Law of the University of Illinois, Champaign, Illinois, where I received a Juris Doctorate. I am a member of the Illinois Bar, the Bar of the United States District of the Northern District of Illinois, the Trial Bar of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, the Bar of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and the Bar of the United States Supreme Court. I am also a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and the American Bar Association.
Alan E. Sohn received his Juris Doctorate from the College of Law of the
University of Illinois. Mr. Sohn has been a partner in both large and
smaller law firms and for the past 21 years has been in private practice.