Louis S. Harrison

Partner, Chair Emeritus

T 312.332.5440
312.332.1150
lharrison@harrisonllp.com
Chicago, IL

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A founding partner of Harrison LLP, Louis Harrison’s practice encompasses all aspects of trust and estate planning, including estate and business planning for closely held companies. In addition to individuals in need of sophisticated planning, Lou represents numerous family offices, public figures, CEOs of public companies, closely held businesses, and other entities and prominent individuals. 

Lou has long been recognized as one of the premier estate planning attorneys in the country. During his nearly four-decade career, he has developed unique and creative estate planning techniques which are utilized by high-end estate planners across the country. Recognizing his extraordinary talent, attorneys across the nation view Lou’s estate planning documents as “best practices” for complex planning. 

Lou is a frequent keynote speaker, and he has written more than 200 articles on a broad range of estate planning topics which have been published in legal, accounting, tax, and estate planning journals and periodicals. Lou has also co-authored two books, and he collaborates with other practitioners around the country regarding advanced planning matters and defending plans before the Internal Revenue Service. 

In acknowledgment of his exceptional work, Lou has received numerous peer-rated awards, including being selected as The Best Lawyers in America®s “Lawyer of the Year” in trusts and estates on multiple occasions, as well as many other prestigious honors. 

Lou is a Fellow with the American College of Trusts and Estate Counsel, previously serving as its Illinois state chair. Lou has also been an adjunct professor at Northwestern University School of Law, DePaul University College of Law, and Chicago-Kent College of Law.  

In addition to swimming in Lake Michigan long after the summer’s end, Lou’s hobbies include football, hockey, hiking, reading, behavioral finance, and bad puns (are there any other kind).

“Best Practices in Trust Administration: Buttoning Up to Avoid Trustee Concerns,”  Larry Kraus Family Office Tax Institute (July 7, 2022)

Louis S. Harrison, John M. Janiga, and Beth L. Fox, “Tips From the Pros: Re-thinking Trusteeship and Flexibility for Spousal Trusts,”Trusts & Estates Magazine (Wealth Management, 2022) 

Click here for full list.

Illinois

University of Chicago School of Business, M.B.A.

Duke University School of Law, J.D., high honors, 1984 

Colgate University, B.A., magna cum laude, 1981 

American Bar Association

American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, Fellow (former Illinois State Chair)

Chicago Bar Association 

Chicago Estate Planning Council 

Illinois State Bar Association 

Hadley School for the Blind, Board of Directors  

The Best Lawyers in America®, Trusts and Estates (1999 – present) 

Advisory Committee of Leading Lawyers

Leading Lawyers Network (2003 – present) 

Illinois Super Lawyers 

100 Top Estate Planning Lawyers, Worth Magazine

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