Justak Mel M

For individuals and families across Illinois, particularly those in the Chicago metropolitan area, navigating the complexities of wealth management, estate planning, and intergenerational transfers requires a highly specialized and trusted legal advisor. Planning for the future, protecting assets, and ensuring a seamless transition of legacies are critical concerns that demand expert legal guidance. This article aims to provide a clear, engaging, and informative overview of Mel M. Justak, a distinguished lawyer with a significant focus on private client services and estate planning in Chicago, Illinois. Our goal is to help local users understand his extensive expertise and how his services can provide peace of mind and strategic solutions for their unique circumstances.

Mel M. Justak is known for his sophisticated approach to estate planning, especially for private business owners and their families. He integrates complex estate and gift tax planning with the personal and business aspects of succession, offering a holistic perspective rarely found. For Illinois residents seeking meticulous attention to detail and a proactive strategy for their wealth and family legacy, Mr. Justak's practice offers unparalleled expertise and a commitment to preserving and transferring wealth effectively.

A key consideration for anyone in Illinois seeking highly specialized legal services is the accessibility of their attorney’s office. Mel M. Justak's practice is located at 10 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606, USA. This prominent address places him within the heart of downtown Chicago, a central hub for business, finance, and legal activities, making it highly convenient for clients across the state.

The 10 South Wacker Drive address is a well-recognized and prestigious location in Chicago, signifying a well-established and professional legal presence. Its central position offers significant advantages for clients commuting from various parts of Illinois. The office is exceptionally accessible via Chicago's extensive public transportation network, with multiple CTA ‘L’ train lines and numerous bus routes converging nearby. This makes it a convenient destination for individuals who rely on public transit. For clients who prefer to drive, the office's proximity to major expressways simplifies travel, though it’s always advisable to consider potential urban traffic and parking facilities in downtown Chicago. The building itself is a modern, professional high-rise, providing a discreet and comfortable environment for important consultations and meetings regarding sensitive financial and family matters. This strategically chosen and easily reachable location underscores Mel M. Justak’s commitment to serving the diverse legal needs of the Illinois community by ensuring his specialized services are readily available to a wide range of clients.

Mel M. Justak specializes in sophisticated estate planning, private client services, and tax matters, particularly for high-net-worth individuals, business owners, and their families in Illinois. His expertise encompasses a broad range of complex strategies designed to preserve wealth, minimize tax burdens, and ensure smooth intergenerational transfers. His core services include:

• Sophisticated Estate Planning: This involves designing and implementing comprehensive plans for the management and transfer of wealth. It includes the use of advanced techniques such as Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (GRATs), intra-family sales, Generation-Skipping Transfer (GST) tax planning, family partnerships, marital agreements, and insurance planning.
• Business Succession Planning: A significant focus is placed on integrating estate and gift tax planning with the business and personal aspects of succession for private business owners. This ensures the continuity and smooth transition of family businesses, including drafting buy-sell agreements and other necessary documentation.
• Family Office Structures: For business owners who have experienced significant liquidity events, Mr. Justak provides advice on the implementation and administration of family office structures, helping to consolidate and manage family wealth efficiently.
• Charitable Giving Techniques: He advises clients on various philanthropic strategies, including the formation of private foundations and other not-for-profit entities, and guides them on their proper administration, enabling clients to achieve their charitable goals tax-efficiently.
• Complex Premium-Financed Life Insurance Transactions: Mel Justak represents both trustees and lenders in these intricate transactions, ensuring legal compliance and strategic financial arrangements.
• Estate and Gift Tax Controversy: He represents clients in disputes and matters before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and various state tax agencies concerning estate and gift tax issues, providing robust advocacy and resolution strategies.
• Trust and Estate Dispute Resolution: Equipped to resolve disputes related to estates, trusts, and family businesses, he guides clients through litigation or alternative dispute resolution methods like arbitration, mediation, and settlement agreements. This includes handling will and trust contests, fiduciary duty claims, and accountings.
• Guardianships and Conservatorships: He also represents individuals and other interested parties in conservatorship and guardianship proceedings, providing legal support in sensitive personal matters.

This comprehensive and specialized array of services demonstrates a deep commitment to addressing the intricate wealth management and legacy planning needs of Illinois’s affluent individuals and families.

Mel M. Justak’s practice is distinguished by several key features and professional highlights that make him a highly suitable and sought-after attorney for estate planning and private client services in Illinois:

• Deep Specialization in Estate Planning: His primary focus on sophisticated estate planning, particularly for private business owners and high-net-worth families, means clients benefit from a profound and concentrated expertise in this complex area of law.
• Recognized by Best Lawyers in America: Mel M. Justak has been selected through peer review for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© for Trusts and Estates, including the 2025 edition. This is a highly respected recognition in the legal community, indicating exceptional professional ability and integrity.
• Former "Rising Star" by Illinois Super Lawyers: He was recognized as a "Rising Star" by Illinois Super Lawyers for multiple years (2009-2011), an honor awarded to a small percentage of top-rated practicing attorneys. This early recognition speaks to his emerging leadership and skill in the field.
• Fellow of ACTEC: He is a Fellow of The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), an exclusive professional organization of preeminent trusts and estates lawyers in the United States. This membership signifies a high level of expertise, experience, and reputation among peers.
• Published Author and Thought Leader: Mel M. Justak has co-authored articles for prestigious legal journals, such as "Maintaining Client Privacy in an Increasingly Public World" for the ACTEC Law Journal, demonstrating his commitment to thought leadership and staying at the forefront of legal developments in his field.
• Extensive Tax Background: With an LL.M. in Taxation from Georgetown University Law Center, he brings a deep understanding of tax law, which is crucial for effective wealth preservation and transfer strategies.
• Admitted in Multiple Jurisdictions: He is admitted to practice law in both Illinois and Indiana, providing broader geographical reach for clients with interests in these states.

These highlights collectively demonstrate Mel M. Justak’s authoritative position and profound expertise in the realm of trusts, estates, and private client services, making him a highly reliable choice for complex wealth management needs in Illinois.

In the specialized field of estate planning and private client services, particularly for sophisticated wealth management, traditional "promotions" or widespread "special offers" are not typically offered. Instead, the value is often found in the initial consultation and the firm's overall approach to client engagement.

While specific public details about promotions from Mel M. Justak are not available, it is common practice for esteemed attorneys in his field to offer an initial consultation. This meeting is an invaluable opportunity for prospective clients in Illinois to discuss their unique circumstances, such as estate planning goals, family business succession, or complex tax issues. During this consultation, Mr. Justak can provide a preliminary assessment of your legal needs, outline potential strategies, and discuss how his expertise can be applied to achieve your objectives. It is recommended for interested parties to directly contact his office using the provided phone number to inquire about scheduling such a consultation and to understand the terms of this initial discussion. This proactive step allows individuals and families to gain expert preliminary advice and determine if his specialized services are the right strategic fit for their complex wealth management and legacy planning needs, without immediate extensive financial commitment.

For individuals and families in Illinois seeking sophisticated legal counsel for estate planning and private client services, connecting with Mel M. Justak’s office is convenient. Here are the key contact details:

• Address: 10 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606, USA
• Phone: (312) 207-6518
• Mobile Phone: +1 312-207-6518

The office’s prime location in downtown Chicago ensures easy accessibility for clients from across the city and throughout the Illinois region. Prospective clients are encouraged to utilize these contact methods to schedule an initial consultation or to inquire further about the specific legal services they may require. Direct communication is the most effective way to address particular concerns related to wealth management, tax planning, and legacy protection, and to initiate a professional relationship with an expert in the field.

For individuals, families, and private business owners across Illinois, particularly those managing significant wealth and planning for their legacy, Mel M. Justak stands out as an exceptionally suitable and highly competent legal partner. His strategic location at 10 S Wacker Drive in downtown Chicago ensures easy accessibility for clients, whether they are based in the city or in broader suburban and regional areas of Illinois.

What truly distinguishes Mel M. Justak and makes his practice ideal for the local community is his profound specialization and recognized expertise in sophisticated estate planning and private client services. In a legal landscape where wealth management and intergenerational transfers are increasingly complex, having an attorney who is a Fellow of ACTEC, recognized by Best Lawyers in America for Trusts and Estates, and has an LL.M. in Taxation is invaluable. This level of specialization ensures that Illinois clients receive highly informed, meticulously planned, and tax-efficient solutions tailored to their unique financial and family circumstances.

His comprehensive approach, which integrates estate and gift tax planning with business succession, charitable giving, and even dispute resolution within trusts and estates, provides a holistic legal framework. This proactive and detailed support offers peace of mind for Illinoisans looking to protect their assets, minimize tax liabilities, and ensure their legacies are handled with the utmost care and precision. For anyone in Illinois seeking an attorney who combines authoritative expertise, a proven track record, and a deep understanding of complex wealth planning, Mel M. Justak offers the dedicated and sophisticated legal counsel essential for navigating the future with confidence.