Lauren J. Wolven

Practice Areas

Lauren Wolven is a partner in Levenfeld Pearlstein's Trusts & Estates Group, a member of the firm's Executive Committee, and chair of the firm's Professional Development Committee. She concentrates her practice on estate planning, representing corporate fiduciaries, tax and succession planning for privately held businesses, and trust and estate administration and litigation. In addition, Lauren works extensively with foundations and other charitable organizations with respect to administration, tax and planning issues.

Lauren is a Fellow of the estate planning organization, the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), where she is also a Regent and the State Chair for Illinois. ACTEC membership is based on professional reputation, expertise in the fields of trusts and estates and on the basis of having made substantial contributions to these fields through lecturing, writing, teaching, and bar activities.

A frequent lecturer and author on a variety of estate planning and trust administration topics, Lauren is the co-author of two BNA portfolios, “Estate Planning for Unmarried Adults” and “Managing Litigation Risks of Fiduciaries,” part of BNA’s Tax Management Portfolio series. Her speaking engagements have included presentations for the nation’s largest estate planning seminar, the Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning.

Lauren is past president and director of the Chicago Estate Planning Council. She is a past Board Member of the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education and served several terms on the Executive Committee of the Chicago Bar Association Trust Law Committee. Lauren was named by Law Bulletin Publishing Company as one of its “40 Under 40” in 2010; was selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers from 2012 through 2022; and was recognized as an Illinois Super Lawyer 2014 through 2021. Since 2015, Lauren has been named by Super Lawyers as one of the Top 50 Women Attorneys in Illinois.

Outside the office, Lauren is an active member of the community, working actively with the Arthritis Foundation, and heading up team Sleigh RA for the Jingle Bell Run. She is also a board member for the Anti-Cruelty Society. In the past, she has served on the Planned Giving Advisory Committee of the Shedd Aquarium, and from 2011 through 2014 as Membership Co-Chair of Oak Park Temple B’Nai Abraham Zion.

Professional Memberships

American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, Fellow

American Heart Association, Greater Midwest Affiliate, Heart Ball Auction Committee Chair, 2009

Chicago Bar Association, Trust Law Executive Committee, 2002-2008

Chicago Estate Planning Council, Board of Directors

Gannon Center for Women and Leadership at Loyola University, Advisory Council Member, 2007-2008

Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Board of Directors, 2007-2011

Oak Park Temple B'Nai Abraham Zion, Membership Co-Chair, 2011-2014

Anti-Cruelty Society, Board Member