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Jeffrey A. Zaluda Partner | Board of Directors
  • D 312.606.3233
  • F 312.267.2201
jzaluda@hmblaw.com
Jeffrey A. Zaluda
“Helping a client to pass values from one generation to another is just as important as helping them to pass value. Obviously, we can do much more to effectuate the latter. But drafting documents divorced from knowledge of the client's values and personal goals and pain points, no matter how technically perfect those documents may be, is only doing half of the job.”

Jeff is a partner in HMB’s Private Client, Trusts and Estates Group. He focuses his practice on estate planning and administration, fiduciary counsel and litigation, business planning, asset protection planning, and philanthropic planning and deployment of capital for social impact.

He works with high-net worth families and individuals, corporate and individual trustees and other fiduciaries, business owners and entrepreneurs, charitable foundations and donors. Jeff helps clients preserve assets for the long-term, aligning growth strategies with their personal and civic objectives.

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Jeff built his practice by creating long-term relationships with clients who value his accessibility and ability to bring creative, practical and empathetic solutions to their unique matters. He prides himself on responding to calls and emails promptly and answering his own phone when sitting at his desk.

Values-Driven Advice to Preserve and Grow Wealth

With over 30 years of experience helping people manage the passing of their wealth and wisdom across generations, clients rely on Jeff for the practical, forward-thinking, values-driven counsel he brings to all aspects of their wealth, family, philanthropic and business planning.

Education

  • American University Washington College of Law, J.D., cum laude
  • University of Massachusetts, B.A., Commonwealth Scholar, magna cum laude

Admissions

  • Illinois

Honors

  • AV Rated
  • Best Lawyers in America, 2010-2024
  • Illinois Super Lawyers, 2010-2023
  • Leading Lawyers, 2023
  • American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, Fellow

Professional Memberships

  • American Bar Association
  • American Civil Liberties Union
  • American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, Fellow
  • Bloomberg BNA, Estates, Gifts, & Trusts Advisory Board
  • Chicago Bar Association
  • Chicago Estate Planning Council
  • Greater North Shore Estate Planning Council
  • Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, Board of Directors, Policy Committee Co-Chair
  • Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners

Events

Publications

  • SLAT’s: An Old Idea with New UrgencyOctober 8, 2020

    Client calls are coming in droves regarding the need to engage in estate planning if Joe Biden wins the White House and the Democrats have a majority in the Senate.  And for good reason. There is every reason to think that the currently high estate tax exemptions will be substantially reduced as part of a tax overhaul relatively early in…

  • 30 Things I've Learned After 30 Years as an Estate PlannerMay 29, 2017

    The ABA published this article in one of their journals and it expresses my views of what makes a satisfying client relationship, as well as a satisfying relationship with partners, referral sources, and the legal practice generally.

News

blog

  • Estate Planning Awareness Week 2022October 17, 2022

    Why Estate Planning Awareness Week? In 2008, Congress designated the third week of October (October 17-23, 2022) as National Estate Planning Awareness Week as a reminder to the public of the importance of estate planning. Having a proper estate plan is important to ensure that you and your loved ones are taken care of. When done well, estate planning aims…

  • New Illinois Statute Creates Presumption of Invalidity as to Transfers to Caregivers Over $20,000October 11, 2015

    A new section in the Illinois Probate Act, 755 ILCS 5/4-a, et seq., titled "Presumptively Void Transfers," which took effect January 1, 2015, creates a rebuttable presumption that a document that transfers assets upon a person's death, referred to as a "transfer instrument," that transfers $20,000 or more to a caregiver is invalid. The intent of the new law is…

  • Recycle Your Charitable DollarsJune 6, 2014

    For private foundations interested in a "return on investment" on the distribution of their foundation's charitable dollars (that is, a return beyond the satisfaction of doing good), Program Related Investments ("PRI's") are generally the tool of choice. A PRI can be counted as part of the foundation's required 5% annual distribution provided that the investment accomplishes one or more the foundation's charitable purposes, is not made to achieve a significant investment return, and is not used for lobbying or political campaigns...

  • How Do You Define "Philanthropy"?May 20, 2014

    For many Gen Y'ers (a/k/a Millennials, and generally understood to be people in their 20's and 30's today), philanthropy goes far beyond writing a check to one?s favorite public charity (or, even, texting a donation to the Red Cross following some natural disaster or another). Instead, philanthropy is now understood as a broader deployment of social capital with consideration of the Return on Investment (ROI) to be achieved through that deployment...

Education
  • American University Washington College of Law, J.D., cum laude
  • University of Massachusetts, B.A., Commonwealth Scholar, magna cum laude
Admissions
  • Illinois
500 West Madison Suite 3700
Chicago IL 60661

Phone: 312-606-3200 Fax: 312-606-3232
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