Louis S. "Lou" Harrison
Louis S. Harrison has long been recognized as one of the premier estate planning attorneys in the country. A founding partner of Harrison & Held, LLP – one of the nation’s most elite estate planning firms – Lou’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, as well as other entities and prominent individuals.
During his nearly four-decade career, Lou 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 joint ventures nationally with other practitioners 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. These include being selected as 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 member of the American College of Trusts and Estate Counsel and he is its current 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. He received his B.A. in math from Colgate University, magna cum laude; his J.D. from Duke University with high honors; and his M.B.A. in finance, with honors, from the University of Chicago. 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).
- Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (former State Chair, Illinois)
- Best Lawyers in America© in Trusts and Estates (1999 to present)
- Elected, Best Lawyers in American.com
- Elected, Advisory Committee of Leading Lawyers (<1% of all Illinois attorneys)
- Leading Lawyers (2003 – present)
- Elected, Illinois Super Lawyers
- Elected, Worth Magazine’s 100 Top Estate Planning Lawyers
Chicago, Illinois 60606-1247
