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Adam M. Ansari

Member

Adam M. Ansari advises clients on tax, estate planning, and business structuring matters, concentrating on the representation of clients in IRS disputes and other tax related litigation.

Often advising on federal income, estate, and gift tax planning issues, Adam also develops and implements strategies, structures, and plans for businesses and families to maximize tax savings while avoiding or resolving tax related disagreements and questions.

Clients seek Adam’s experience in the following areas:

Tax Controversy

An experienced tax court advocate, Adam assists companies and individuals on a wide range of tax and compliance-related issues to favorably resolve tax controversies and audits at both the state and federal levels. Adam has handled every stage of a tax controversy from examination through court proceedings and the alternative dispute resolution options.

Adept at advising and working with accountants, personal injury and family law attorneys, Adam provides litigation support and guidance for the protection and separation of assets, and the associated tax related consequences.

Tax Planning

Adam provides guidance to business clients on federal, international, and state tax questions related to transactions, structuring, and compliance. A significant part of his practice involves advising clients on tax-related questions concerning the formation of business entities, the negotiation and drafting of operating agreements, compensation agreements, separation agreements, lending agreements, and purchase and sale agreements.

He also advises U.S. taxpayers in becoming compliant with U.S. and state tax laws through voluntary disclosure initiatives relating to previously undisclosed foreign financial accounts, gifts, and transactions.

Estate Planning, Trust Administration, and Probate

In his estate planning practice, Adam assists families on the design and implementation of comprehensive estate plans, including the preparation of wills, revocable trusts, irrevocable trusts, and special needs trusts, as well as gift agreements, charitable trusts, private foundations, and family limited partnerships. Experienced with advising international families and international assets, Adam is experienced with advising and drafting on the unique and complicated issues affecting international families and the protection of U.S. and non-U.S. held assets.

Adam also helps fiduciaries and beneficiaries navigate through the often-complicated trust and estate administration processes, and regularly assists clients with probate court proceedings.

Emerging Areas

Clients involved with cannabis and virtual currency activities seek Adam’s counsel on planning, compliance, and controversy representation related to federal taxes and information reporting obligations.

Adam also serves as the Deputy Member-in-Charge of the firm’s Chicago office.

Education

LL.M., Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, Chicago, Illinois, 2018, Taxation
M.B.A., Dominican University, River Forest, Illinois, 2015
J.D., University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, Chicago, Illinois, 2013
B.A., Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, 2008

Recognitions

Named among The Best Lawyers in America® “Ones to Watch” for Tax Law (2022 – 2025) and Trusts and Estates (2021-2025) by Best Lawyers

 

Illinois Super Lawyers “Rising Star” in Tax law (2016 – 2023)

Recognized by Super Lawyers Magazine as an Estate Planning & Probate Law Rising Star by Thomson Reuters (2016 – 2023)

Memberships

Fellow in the American College of Trusts & Estates Counsels (ACTEC)

Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, Fellow

Chicago Estate Planning Counsel

Illinois State Bar Association

South Asian Bar Association

The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, Young Leader

American Bar Association, Real Property Trust & Estate Section, Current Leadership Member, Past Fellow

Tax Clinic, Center for Economic Progress, Volunteer

American Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division, Solo and Small Firm Practice Group, Past Chair

AmeriCorps VISTA, American Red Cross, Alumni

State Bar Licenses

Illinois

Court Admissions

U.S. District Ct., N.D. of Illinois
U.S. Tax Court
U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit
Publications

Presentations

  • Co-Presenter, “Tax Considerations in Trust and Estate Dispute Resolution and Trust Modifications,” USC Gould 51st Annual Trust and Estate Conference (2025)
  •  Presenter, “Introduction to Illinois Estate Tax,” IICLE Estate Planning Short Course (2025)
  • Presenter, “Inventory, Appraisement & Probate v. Non-Probate Assets,” NBI Webinar Illinois Probate Process from Start to Finish (2025)
  • Co-Presenter, ““May I AI?” A Primer on Recent and Notable Developments in the Incorporation of Artificial Intelligence into the Legal Practice,” ABA RPTE National CLE Conference (2025)
  • Co-Presenter, “Tax Considerations in Settlements of Trust & Estate Litigation,” CBA Trust Law Committee (2024)
  • Co-Presenter, “Divorce & Estate Planning,” IICLE Estate Planning Short Course (2024)
  • Co-Speaker,  “A Deeper Dive into 280E,” Cannabis Law Podcast (2024)
  • Co-Presenter, “Who is the Fiduciary? Traditional and Non-Traditional Roles in the Administration of Directed Trusts,” ABA RPTE National CLE Conference (2022)
  • Co-Presenter,” Biden Administration: Potential Changes to Tax Code, “Annual Tax Symposium Virtual Series, Part IV, 2021
  • Co-Presenter, “Formula Clauses: Gifting Real Estate, Closely Held Business Interests and Hard to Value Assets in 2021,” Private Speaker Series (2021)
  • Co-Presenter, “Biden Administration: Potential Changes to Tax Code,” Clark Hill Annual Tax Symposium (2021)
  • Co-Presenter, “Illinois Trust Code: Key Changes,” Private Speaker Series (2019)
  • Co-Presenter, “The Fundamentals of Fiduciary Litigation,” ABA RPTE e-CLE (2018)
  • Co-Presenter, “Protecting Assets, Supporting our Elders, and More on Fiduciary Litigation,” ABA RPTE eTraining (2017)

The Clark Hill approach is equally pragmatic and growth-minded, which is why we understand our clients’ toughest business challenges. Our multidisciplinary, global team of advisors focuses on smart legal solutions, delivered simply.

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