Lindsey Paige Markus

Principal

A trusted advisor, best-selling author and committed philanthropist who is as passionate about her work as she is generous with her time, Lindsey Paige Markus heads Chuhak & Tecson’s 25-attorney Estate Planning & Asset Protection group.

Overview

In her nationwide practice, Lindsey works closely with business owners and families to plan their estates, protect assets, transfer wealth and reduce tax liabilities. She also guides clients to formulate succession plans and advises on business formation in an effort to maximize wealth preservation and minimize gift and estate taxation.

Lindsey complements the breadth and depth of her legal knowledge with an equally well-developed understanding of each client’s unique priorities, concerns, circumstances and goals. Clients appreciate her demonstrable interest in their stories, families and hopes for the future. Her ability to communicate legal complexities with accessible clarity is unparalleled. Clients understand the what, how and why behind the tailored strategies and approaches she develops and implements. Not only does this empower her clients with the information they need to make informed decisions, but it has also made her a frequent media guest, writer and speaker on estate planning and wealth protection matters.

Notably, Lindsey is the author of A Gift For The Future – Conversations About Estate Planning. Published in April 2022, the book quickly became a #1 Best Seller on Amazon in Legal Self-Help and a #1 New Release in several categories. A Gift for the Future takes readers on a journey through the world of estate planning. In her easy-to-follow writing style that eschews legalese and needless jargon without sacrificing sophistication or thoroughness, Lindsey provides the ins and outs of every estate planning tool, from simple to advanced. She interweaves the family story of Jack and Diane to guide readers through estate planning needs from the time they decide to marry through the birth of children, business growth, divorce and the complex formation of new families and relationships. Russ Sullivan, the former staff director for the Senate Finance Committee and one of America’s leading tax authorities, authored the foreword to the book, noting, “Death and taxes are inevitable for all of us, making this book a wonderful tool for everyone.”

With a deeply ingrained belief in the importance of service and giving back, Lindsey has spearheaded an impressive array of client education, marketing, professional development and philanthropic initiatives at the firm and in other endeavors. She is a founding member of Chuhak & Tecson’s impactful and innovative Women Helping Women initiative, she sits on the Jewish United Fund’s Legacy & Endowments Committee and Advocate Charitable Foundation’s Gift Planning Advisory Committee and co-chairs American Technion Society’s Midwest Planned Giving Committee. Lindsey’s leadership, talents and commitment to her clients, community and the firm led to her elevation as Chuhak & Tecson’s first woman shareholder.

Lindsey has been recognized for her professional accomplishments in countless publications, including Leading Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Crain’s Chicago Business as a Notable Gen X Leader in Accounting, Consulting and Law, Crain’s Notable Women in Law and as a Top Woman in Law by Chicago Lawyer.

For more information about Lindsey and her practice, visit LindseyMarkus.com.

Estate Planning & You

Now more than ever, women are taking control of their financial futures. Watch Lindsey on NBC 5 Chicago to learn how you, too, can take an active role in preparing for today, tomorrow and the unforeseen future with four critical documents every woman should have when it comes to estate planning.

Credentials

Education
Loyola University Chicago School of Law, J.D., 2006
Brandeis University, M.A., international economics and finance, 1998
Brandeis University, B.A., economics, with minors in managerial business and Spanish, 1997

Bar Admissions
Illinois, 2006
Florida, 2007
New York, 2019

Memberships & Associations
  • American Bar Association (2006)
  • Chicago Bar Association (2006)
  • Coalition of Women’s Initiatives in Law
  • Florida Bar Association (2007)
Noteworthy
  • Illinois Super Lawyer (2017 – 2024)
  • Leading Lawyer (2015 – 2024)
  • Salute! Top Women in Law Award, selected by Law Bulletin Media and Chicago Lawyer Magazine (2022)
  • Crain’s Chicago Business Notable Women in Law (2018, 2020, 2022, 2024)
  • Crain’s Chicago Business Notable Gen X Leaders in Law (2019)
  • Top 100 Leading Consumer Lawyer in Illinois, Leading Lawyers (2019)
  • Illinois Rising Star, selected by Super Lawyers (2010 to 2016)
  • JUF’s Davis, Gidwitz & Glasser Young Leadership Award (2016)
  • 40 Under 40: 40 Illinois Attorneys Under 40 to Watch (2012)
  • Double Chai in the Chi: 36 Under 36 (2012)
Community Involvement
  • Advocate Charitable Foundation, Gift Planning Advisory Committee
  • American Technion Society, Chicago Chapter Planned Giving Committee
  • Jewish United Fund, Legacies and Endowments Committee
  • Jewish United Fund, Professional Advisory Committee
  • Jewish United Fund, Young Leadership Division, executive board member
  • Women Helping Women, founding member
Lectures/Speaking Engagements
  • Death and Taxes I: Wills and Trusts for CPAs
  • Death and Taxes II: Advanced Estate Planning Tools for CPAs
  • Estate Planning Considerations for the LGBT Community
  • Women and Wealth, the Power of a Plan, presented to various women in business throughout Chicago
  • The Basics of Estate Planning Every Attorney Should Know
  • The Basics of Estate Planning Every Banker Should Know
  • Estate Planning and Planned Giving Fundamentals
  • Money Matters – Preparing Your Family Financially for Your Baby and Beyond – Estate Planning Basics
  • Pre- & Post-Nuptial Agreements
  • The Basics of Estate Planning Every Collaborative Law Fellow Should Know
  • Estate Planning 101: Everything You Need to Know about Death & Taxes
  • Income Tax Planning Issues in the Context of Living Trusts
  • Preparing for Change in 2012, presented to individuals from the Chicagoland area, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
  • What Every MBA Should Know About Estate Planning, presented to Northwestern University MBA Class
  • Want to Leave a Legacy Without Dramatically Impacting Your Current Cash Flow? How to Incorporate Charitable Planning Into Your Estate Plan, presented to Jewish United Fund, Young Leadership Division Board
  • Estate Tax Planning—What Every Woman Should Know, presented to women business owners and executives, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney—Women’s Breakfast Series
  • Personal Wealth Management Strategy—Investing with 2020 Vision: Creating your Personal Wealth Management Strategy for the Next Decade and Beyond, 85 Broads—Chicago Chapter, an exclusive global women’s network whose mission is to generate exceptional professional and social value for its members consisting of investment bankers, lawyers, educators, venture capitalists, hedge-fund managers, philanthropists, athletes, scientists, doctors, engineers, artists and entrepreneurs
  • Not All Charging Orders Are Created Equal, presented to Chicago Bar Association—Asset Protection Committee
  • Estate Planning 101: The Basics of Estate Planning Every Advisor Should Know
  • Estate Planning Fundamentals – Providing Relevant Guidance to help ANY Client
  • LGBT Family Building – Estate Planning Consideration
  • LGBT State and Financial Planning
  • Maximizing Your Wealth Accumulation Opportunities
  • Succession Planning
  • The Basics of Estate Planning Every Insurance Broker Should Know

Lindsey Markus thinks outside the box to meet and exceed her clients’ needs.

Lindsey Markus draws on her background in finance and business development to think outside the box and provide clients with complex, creative solutions that meet their end goals.