James A. Casey

With respect to estate planning, his practice includes the design and drafting of legal documents to achieve both tax and non‐tax motivated objectives. Among the estate planning instruments he prepares are wills, revocable trusts (living trusts), irrevocable trusts, dynasty or “perpetual” trusts (GST exempt trusts), grantor retained annuity trusts (GRATs), qualified personal residence trusts (QPRTs), charitable remainder trusts, and charitable lead trusts. Jim also assists clients with charitable gift agreements, premarital agreements, powers of attorney for property and for health care, and living wills.

Fiduciaries (executors and trustees) rely on Jim for all aspects of estate and trust administration, including probate administration, trust administration, preparation of state and Federal estate tax returns, preparation of accountings, and termination and distribution of estates and trusts. He also represents fiduciaries and individual clients in a variety of trust and estate litigation, including controversies over will and trust construction and alleged breaches of fiduciary responsibilities.

Before joining Mayer Brown in 2000, Jim practiced with two other law firms. Following law school graduation he served a judicial clerkship with Justice Anne M. Burke, Illinois Appellate Court, First Judicial District, Second Division. A Certified Public Accountant, Jim worked with a national accounting firm for three years prior to law school.

Jim is ranked in 2023-2024 by Chambers USA’s High Net Worth Guide for Private Wealth Law – Illinois. Clients in Chambers USA state, "Jim's service to the family over many years has been invaluable. At every turn, he has been more than a match for the threats and concerns that periodically arise for any well-heeled entity" and he "is very smart and very good at service and communication and puts the clients' interests first." Also, "Clients value his 'smart and well-judged advice.'" Jim has been repeatedly recognized by Best Lawyers.