Sarah Kerr Severson has significant experience in estate, trust, and guardianship litigation and administration, business succession planning, special needs planning, wealth transfer planning, and charitable foundation and exempt organization litigation and administration. Her clients include family groups and individuals, business entities and corporate fiduciaries.

She works with clients to develop comprehensive estate plans, business succession plans and charitable planning techniques. Ms. Severson develops plans which maximize and protect wealth while minimizing transfer taxes, and which implement her clients' familial, philanthropic and other non-tax objectives.

Ms. Severson is a frequent lecturer on a wide range of estate planning topics. Her audiences include the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education (IICLE), employer-sponsored seminars, corporate clients, professional advisory groups and Young Investors Networks.

Publications

"Litigation in Illinois Guardianships," Chapter in Estate, Trust, and Guardianship Litigation, 2002 Edition (2006 Update), Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education

Speeches and Presentations

"Becoming Financially Savvy," William Blair & Co. (May 15, 2012)

"Planning with Life Insurance: Opportunities and Obstacles," 2012 AALU Annual Meeting (May 2, 2012)

"2012 Personal Wealth Action Plans for Private Equity Professionals," JPMorgan (February 15, 2012)

"How To Inform, Inspire and Integrate The Next Generation," Family Office Exchange (August 23, 2011)

"Time Sensitive Estate and Gift Planning Opportunities," Family Office Exchange (July 14, 2011)

"Family Businesses: How To Inform, Inspire and Integrate The Next Generation," Family Office Exchange (May 17, 2011)

"Managing Fiduciary Risk in 2011," Morgan Stanley Smith Barney (April 21, 2011)

"The Tax Relief Act of 2010 — Progress or Procrastination?" Family Office Exchange: Financial Executives Network (February 23, 2011)

"Successful Women Invest in Themselves," Winnetka Women's Club (November 16, 2010)

Topics on which Ms. Severson has spoken include:

• "Am I Too Young For Estate Planning?"
• "Preparer Guide to the Federal Estate Tax Return"
• "Planning With Disclaimers"
• "Planning For Disabled Beneficiaries"
• "A Roadmap Through the Estate Planning Process"
• "Business Succession Planning Tips"
• "Special Issues in Illinois Guardianships"

Awards and Honors

Leading Lawyer — Trust, Will & Estate Planning Law; Women Consumer, Illinois Leading Lawyers Network

Rising Star, Anti-Defamation League