James Lestikow is an experienced estate planning, business and real estate lawyer. He focuses his practice in a number of distinct areas, including:
Estate Planning, Administration, Litigation and Asset Protection : Mr. Lestikow’s estate planning and wealth preservation practice includes the drafting of wills and trusts, family limited partnerships and other devices that help clients achieve their financial goals in the most tax efficient manner and protect their assets for retirement and the next generation.
He also handles estate and trust administration, as well as handling estate and trust administration disputes through alternate dispute resolution or through litigation in court and has testified as an expert witness on duties of executors / trustees, fees of executors and trustees and in attorney malpractice cases.
Reflecting his substantial estate planning experience, he was elected to Fellowship in the prestigious American College of Trust and Estate Counsel in 2001, and in 2006 was appointed a member of its Asset Protection Committee.
Corporate and Business Law : Mr. Lestikow represents businesses (many of them family and closely held), not-for-profit associations and foundations, limited liability companies and partnerships. He helps them with their choice of business entity, and advises them on such day-to-day issues as employment discrimination, credit, contracts and management activities.
He advises on succession plans for closely held and family held businesses including buy-sell agreements, and offers transactional advice on asset sales, mergers, acquisitions, financing and dissolutions.
Some of Mr. Lestikow’s clients in this area include the Springfield Airport Authority; Community Care Systems, Inc.; and Springfield Farm & Home Supply, Inc. d/b/a Big R.
Mr. Lestikow joined Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP in February 1992. Since its inception, Mr. Lestikow has been a member of the Leading Lawyers Network, and has been recognized by his peers as a “Leading Lawyer” in the category of Trusts, Wills and Estate Planning Law, with extensive experience in Asset Protection, Corporate and Business Law and Real Estate Law.
Professional Affiliations :
- Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE), Board of Directors, Executive Committee Member, (2016–Present)
- Illinois Bar Foundation, President (2014-2015)
- Illinois State Bar Association’s (ISBA), Business Advice & Financial Planning Section Council, Chair (1999)
- Sangamon Valley Estate Planning Council, Past President
- Leading Lawyers Network, Advisory Board Member
Education :
- J.D., University of Illinois College of Law, 1973
- B.S., Northern Illinois University, 1970
Admissions :
- Illinois
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
Cost
Rate : $$$