• OVERVIEW

    Robin focuses her practice exclusively on complex trust, estate and other fiduciary-related controversies, as well as advising trustees with respect to the discharge of fiduciary duties. Robin combines her in-depth substantive trust, estate, property and tax law knowledge with litigation skills, to focus her practice on trust and estate, and other fiduciary controversies. Robin’s practice encompasses all aspects of trust and estate controversies, including breach of fiduciary duty claims, will and trust contests, probate claims, contested heirship, accounting disputes, and judicial construction of wills and trusts, as well as litigation involving family and closely-held businesses. Robin also has extensive experience with appellate work concerning trust, estate and probate issues. Robin regularly represents fiduciaries, including both individual and corporate trustees, as well as beneficiaries and heirs, in high-stakes litigation.

    In addition to traditional litigation, Robin regularly advises trustees on issues surrounding fiduciary risk management and beneficiary relations. Additionally, Robin has significant experience drafting and representing clients in relation to modifications to irrevocable trusts, including nonjudicial settlement agreements, decantings, and conversions to total return trusts and directed trusts. And, Robin is often brought in to handle trust and estate administration when complex issues are presented that may raise fiduciary concerns or difficult and controversial questions are involved. Because Robin’s involvement is often triggered by controversy, she has extensive experience dealing with the complex and sophisticated fiduciary aspects of estate and trust administration.

    Robin regularly speaks and writes on various topics related to trust, estate and fiduciary litigation and ethical issues involving estate and trust representations. Robin was selected as a “Rising Star” by “Super Lawyers” for six consecutive years and is now recognized as a “Super Lawyer” in Estate & Trust Litigation.

    EDUCATION

    • J.D., high distinction, University of Iowa College of Law, 2004
      – Order of the Coif
      – Member, Journal of Gender, Race and Justice
    • B.A., cum laude, Simpson College, 2001 – Presidential Scholarship

    ADMISSIONS

    • Illinois, 2004
    • U.S. Tax Court
    • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

  • PRESENTATIONS

    Navigating Trust & Estate Issues in Divorce Litigation, co-presenter at the 65th Annual Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education (IICLE) Estate Planning Short Course, May 2023

    Navigating into the Eye of the Fiduciary Storm, co-presenter at ABA Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section eCLE, July 2022

    Ethical Issues Related to Joint and Multiple Representations: Family Members, Multiple Generations, Partners and Others, co-presenter at Chicago Bar Association, Trust Law Committee, June 2021

    ANOTHER BOSTON TEA PARTY?:  Family Law Issues in Trust and Estate Litigation, co-presenter at ABA, Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law’s 31st Annual RPTE National CLE Conference, May 2019

    The Ins, and the Definitely Outs, of Drafting Settlement Agreements, presented at the ALI 18th Annual Advanced Course for the Estate Planner, Litigator, and Corporate Fiduciary Counsel: Representing Estate and Trust Beneficiaries and Fiduciaries, July 2018

    Identifying the Client other Ethical Considerations, presented at the Chicago Bar Association, Continuing Legal Education: Planning for Disgruntled Beneficiaries, March 2018

    Ethics of Representing Multiple Clients and What To Do When Conflict Arises, presented at the Chicago Bar Association, Trust Law Committee, June 2017

    Complex Issues with Attorney-Client Privilege: Exploring the Fiduciary Exception to the Attorney-Client Privilege, presenter at the 59th Annual Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education (IICLE) Estate Planning Short Course, May 2016

    The Fiduciary Exception to the Attorney-Client Privilege, presenter at the Chicago Bar Association, Trust Law Committee, December 2012

    Maintaining an Ethical Balance in Probate Practice, presenter at the National Business Institute CLE Seminar in Oak Brook, August 2012

    Dealing With Disgruntled Beneficiaries and Settling Disputes: Family Settlement Agreements, presenter at the Chicago Bar Association, Trust Law Committee, January 2012

    Starting Points: Will and Trust Contests, presenter at Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education (IICLE), Estate and Trust Litigation Seminar, April 2011

    Transfer Tax Considerations in Settlements of Trust and Estate Litigation, presenter at Chicago Bar Association, Federal Taxation Committee – Estate & Gift Tax Division, February 2011

    Trust & Estate Litigation Update, presenter at Chicago Bar Association, Trust Law Committee, January 2011

    The Big Event: Sale of the Family or Closely Held Business, presenter at the J.P. Morgan Trust Officer Monthly Education Series, November 2009

    Ethical Issues in Estate Planning, presenter at the National Business Institute CLE Seminar in Oakbrook, January 2009

    Basic Wills and Trusts, presenter at the National Business Institute CLE Seminar in Rockford, December 2008

    Current Developments: Hot Cases in Illinois Trust and Probate Law, co-presenter at Chicago Bar Association, Trust Law Committee, April 2008

  • PUBLICATIONS

    (pending publication) Heirship, Adoption and Paternity, co-author of Chapter 10 of Litigating Disputed Estates, Trusts, Guardianships and Charitable Bequests practice guide for the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education (IICLE), 2023

    (pending publication) Oral Contracts To Make Wills: Joint and Mutual Wills, co-author of Chapter 2 of Litigating Disputed Estates, Trusts, Guardianships and Charitable Bequests practice guide for the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education (IICLE), 2023

    Charting a Course in Complex Trust Litigation: Safe Harbors from In Terrorem Storms, co-author, Estate Planning Journal, August 2021  

    UPDATE to Oral Contracts To Make Wills: Joint and Mutual Wills, co-author of Chapter 2 of Litigating Disputed Estates, Trusts, Guardianships and Charitable Bequests practice guide for the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education (IICLE), 2020

    Drafting Settlement Agreements in Trust and Estate Disputes, co-author, Estate Planning Journal, June 2019

    Oral Contracts To Make Wills: Joint and Mutual Wills, co-author of Chapter 2 of Litigating Disputed Estates, Trusts, Guardianships and Charitable Bequests practice guide for the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education (IICLE), 2016

  • PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

    Chicago Bar Association:

    Member, Trust Law Committee: 2006-2023

    Member, Probate Practice Committee: 2009-2023

    Fiduciary Exception Legislative Subcommittee: 2011-2012

    American Bar Association – Member, RPTE Section, Committee on Trust Litigation, Ethics and Malpractice

    Chicago Estate Planning Council:
    Member, Diversity Committee: 2019-2023

    Selected as “Rising Star” by “Super Lawyers” from 2012-2018 and as a “Super Lawyer” from 2019-2023

  • REPRESENTATIVE CASES