Chicago Office
300 N. LaSalle Street Suite 4000
Chicago,
Illinois
60654
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Professional Experience
Thomas Polachek is a retired partner with Quarles & Brady LLP. He practiced in the areas of estate planning, taxation and tax-exempt organizations.
Education and Honors
- University of Illinois College of Law (J.D., 1968)
- Michigan State University (B.A., 1965)
Bar Admissions
Illinois,
1968
Court Admissions
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Tax Court
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
Professional Recognition
Selected for inclusion in the 2005-2010 Illinois Super Lawyers® lists (Estate Planning & Probate). Martindale-Hubbell AV ® Peer Review Rated.
Professional and Civic Activities
- Illinois State Bar Association (Member; Trusts and Estates Section Council (Chair, 1997-1998; Vice-chair, 1996-1997; Secretary, 1995-1996).
- Chicago Bar Associations (Member).
- Task Force on Multi-Disciplinary Practice (Member).
- Chicago Council of Lawyers (Member).
- The Chicago Estate Planning Council (Member).
- The Lawyers Club of Chicago (Member).
- Illinois State Bar Association Assembly (Representative, 1998-2004).
- Illinois Bar Foundation (Member, Planned Giving Committee).
- Illinois Bar Foundation (Fellow).
- University of Illinois Law Review (Editorial Board).
- American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (Fellow).
- Midwest Affiliate of the American Heart Association (Member, Board of Directors, Chicago Division).
- Has served on the boards of several public charities, including the Board of Directors of the Chicago Child Care Society and the American Heart Association of Metropolitan Chicago (now known as the Midwest Affiliate of the American Heart Association).
- Serves as an officer or director of several private foundations.
Selected Presentations/Publications
Articles:
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“Living (Revocable) Trusts for the Retiring Attorney,” The Lawyer’s Guide to Retirement, ABA Press, 2nd & 3rd Ed., 1994 & 1998.
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“Suggested Appropriate Uses for Living (Revocable) Trusts;” ISBA Estate Planning Probate & Trust Newsletter; September 1991; reprinted in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin; December 6, 1991.
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Editorial Consultant for West Groups, Illinois Forms Legal and Business, Gifts & Trusts, 1998 Ed.; Member, Advisory Editorial Board for Horner’s Probate Practice and Estates, 4th Ed., 1995.
Presentations:
- “Yes Virginia, There is an Estate Tax, Myths & Mistakes and the Revocable Trust,” Illinois State Bar Association’s Law Education Series, 1999-2000.
- “Estate Planning and Gifts,” Illinois State Bar Association & Lyric Opera of Chicago, January 1997 & 1998.
- “Will Drafting,” Illinois Pro Bono Center, November 1997.
- “Pitfalls, Conflicts and Other Problems Posed in the Estate Planning Process and Postmortem Administrations,” Illinois State Bar Association’s Law Ed. Series, 1996-1997.
- “Charitable Planning Techniques - Benefits for the Reluctant Donor (Legal or Otherwise),” Illinois State Bar Association & Lyric Opera of Chicago, February 1995.
- “Estate Planning,” Illinois State Bar Association’s Illinois Law Series, Chicago Access Cable, November 1995.
- “Living (Revocable) Trusts for the Retiring Attorney,” American Bar Association 1994 Annual Meeting, Senior Lawyers Division.
- “Appropriate Use of Living Trusts: When, How and Why?,” Illinois State Bar Association’s Law Ed. Series, 1992-1993.
- “Living Trusts: When to Use, How to Fund and What Problems to Avoid,” Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education’s 35th Annual Estate Planning Short Course, 1991-1992.
- “Administration of the Estate in Illinois,” the National Business Institute, 1991.
- “Inter vivos Funding of the Unified Credit and GST Exemption, Irrevocable Insurance Trusts, Estate Freezes After Section 2036(c) and Investment Advisor Responsibilities and Liabilities,” the Greater Chicago Society of the Institute of Certified Financial Planners, May 1990.
- “Estate Planning and Gifts (A Basic Outline),” to the American Back Society, Medical Legal Forum, May 1990.
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