TOM HANDLER
Mr. Handler is a managing partner in Handler Thayer, LLP, where he chairs the firm’s Advanced Planning & Family Office Practice Group. Here he is an advanced planning attorney focused on the analysis and structuring of sophisticated estate plans and family offices, and handling taxation and business planning issues for business owners, executives, professional athletes, celebrities and over 250 family offices over $250M in net worth, and 81 Family Offices worth over $1B. Tom has extensive experience in the analysis, design and implementation of domestic and international business planning, financial and estate planning, asset protection, family office compliance and advanced tax planning strategies.
Mr. Handler has been named one of the Top 15 Wealth Planners and one of the Top 100 Attorneys in the United States. He has also been named to Who’s Who in American Law, Who’s Who in America and Global Leading Lawyers. Illinois Leading Lawyers named Mr. Handler one of the Top Lawyers in the areas of Closely and Privately Held Business Law and Trust, Will and Estate Planning Law.
He received the Family Wealth Alliance Leadership Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2017 and the Private Asset Management Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021. He was named 2017 Private Client Lawyer of the Year and in 2016 won the Excellence in Estate Planning Award. In 2015, he was named International Wealth Planner of the Year and Wealth Planning Game Changer Lawyer of the Year in addition to receiving the Michael J. Brink Lifetime Achievement Award for Leadership and Service.
Directorships
- Member, Advisory Board, the Ultra-High Net Worth Institute, 2021-present
- Director, Editorial Advisory Board, Wealth Briefing Group/Family Wealth Report, 2018-present
- Director, Advisory Board, The Family Office Advisor, 2018
- Director, Advisory Board, Leading Lawyers, 2015-Present
- Director, Advisory Board, Lido Consulting, Inc. family office conferences, 2012-2017
- Director, Advisory Board, Financial Research Associates family office conferences, 2012-2016
- Director, Trōv, Incorporated, 2012-2014
- Director, Advisory Board, Family Office Association, 2011-Present
- Chairman, Handler Thayer, LLP, Advanced Planning & Family Office Practice Group, 2009-Present
- Director, Advisory Board, Opal Financial Group Family Office & Private Wealth Forum, 2009-Present
- Director, Advisory Board, Lexington Family Office, 2008-Present
- Director, Advisory Board, Family Wealth Alliance, 2003-Present
- Director, Family Office Conference Advisory Board, IIR, 2002-2011
- Director, BPS International, LLC, 1998-2008
- Director, Ultra Stores, Incorporated, 1994-2009
- Member, Compensation Committee, 1995-2009
- Member, Audit Committee, 1995-2009
- Director, The Mid-Day Club of Chicago, 1996-2007
- Secretary, 2002-2007
- Assistant Secretary, 1997-1998
- Member, Executive Committee, 1997-2007
- Vice Chairman, Membership Committee, 1996-1998
- Chairman, Membership Committee, 1998-2002
- Member, Finance Committee, 1996-1998
- Director, Associate Board, 1995-1996
- Director, Professional Benefit Trust Advisory Board, 2003-2005
- Director, Winnetka Tennis Association, 2000-2004
- Vice President, 2000-2001
- President, 2001-2002
- Director, Business Planning Systems, LLC, 1996-2004
- Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity International/Educational Foundation
- Chairman of the Board/International President, 1998-2000
- Director/International Vice President, 1994-1998, 2000-2002
- Director/National Vice President, 1978-1979
- National Rush Director, 1982-1994
- Director/President, Chicago Alumni Association, 1988-1989
- Advisory Board Member, U of C, Northwestern, and U of I Chapters
- Member, Educational Foundation Planned Gifts Committee, 1992-1996
- Director, University of Chicago Housing Corporation, 1992-1995
- Director, Robert B. Huff Scholarship Foundation, 1990-1998
- Chairman, Celebrity Committee, 1990-1998
- Director, Qualified Planning Resources, Inc., 1995-1997
- Director, Aerospace International Companies, Inc., 1995-1996
- Director/Advisory Board, Aon-Maryville NFL Players Alumni Association Charity Golf Tournament, 1990-1991
- Director/Advisory Board, Winnetka Nielsen Tennis Center, 1990-1991
Honors & Awards
- Family Wealth Alliance – Leadership Award for Lifetime Achievement, 2017
- Citywealth Global Leaders List – Top 100 Lawyers in the U.S., 2013-Present
- U.S. Private Client Lawyer of the Year, 2017
- Excellence in Estate Planning award, 2016
- Family Office Review – Michael J. Brink Wealth Industry Leadership & Service Award, 2015
- Acquisition Finance Magazine – Wealth Planning Gamechanger Lawyer of the Year, 2015
- Acquisition Finance Magazine – International Wealth Planning Lawyer of the Year, 2015
- Leading Lawyers (IL) – Trust, Will and Estate Planning Law, 2010-Present
- Leading Lawyers (IL) – Closely & Privately Held Business Law, 2010-Present
- University of Illinois Scholarship Foundation Loyalty Circle Award, 2007
- Pi Kappa Alpha Chicago Alumni Association Loyalty Award, 2004
- Wealth Strategies Design Team (Comprised of fifteen of the top wealth planners in the United States), 2001-2007
- Who’s Who in the World, 2017
- Life Member, National Registry of Who’s Who in America, 2001-Present
- Who’s Who in Executives and Professionals in America, 1996-97, 1997-98
- Who’s Who in American Law, 1989-1991
- Who’s Who of Emerging Leaders of America, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992
- Distinguished Leadership Award, 1988
- Men of Achievement, 1988
- Who’s Who in the Midwest, 1987 and 1989
- Outstanding Young Men of America, 1985 and 1986
- University of Illinois Outstanding Senior Award, 1979
- Shorter Board Scholastic and Leadership Honorary, 1978
- 100 Club Scholastic and Leadership Honorary, 1978
- Pi Kappa Alpha Outstanding Service Award, 1978
- Sigma Iota Lambda Scholastic Honorary, 1977
- Phi Eta Sigma Scholastic Honorary, 1975
Affiliations
- Member, The University Club of Chicago, 2008-Present
- Member, The Clayton Club, 2017-Present
- Member, Asset Protection Society, 2006-Present
- Member, Atlantic Salmon Federation, Chicago Philanthropy Committee, 2005-Present
- Member, International Business Forums Chicago Chapter, 2002-2012
- Captain, Winnetka Tennis Team, 2001-Present
- Member, Winnetka Tennis Association, 1987-Present
- Member, Chicago Bar Association
- Member, CBA Trust Law Committee
- Chairman, Subcommittee on Private Foundations, 2001-2002
- Chairman, Subcommittee on Family Limited Partnerships, 2003-2004
- Chairman, Subcommittee on FLP Administration, 2006-2007
- Member, CBA Federal Taxation Committee
- Member, Illinois State Bar Association
- Member, Section on Corporation and Securities Law
- Member, Section on Federal Taxation
- Member, Section on Trusts & Estates
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, ABA Section of Taxation
- Member, Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity
- Member, Society of Financial Service Professionals, 2006-2007
- Member, North American Interfraternity Conference
- Nominating Committee, 2004-2006
- Committee on Public Relations and Marketing, 1999-2002
- Member, Financial Planning Association, 2001-2003
- Member, Sierra Club Lawyers’ Roundtable, 1992-1994
Partial List of Publications
- Thomas J. Handler. “Handler Thayer, LLP 2021 Family Office Outlook,” 2021 Quarter 1
- Thomas J. Handler. “Handler Thayer, LLP 2020 Family Office Outlook,” 2020 Quarter 1
- Family Offices: The STEP Handbook for Advisers, Second Edition, Family Office chapter
- Thomas J. Handler and Barbara R. Hauser. “Why Family Offices Choose Bermuda” 2019.
- Thomas J. Handler. “Family Office Real Estate Compliance and Opportunities,” Family Office Real Estate Magazine, June (2018).
- Thomas J. Handler. “Handler Thayer, LLP 2018 Family Office Outlook,” Quarter 1, 2018, www.prnewswire.com. February 27, 2018.
- Thomas J. Handler, 21st Century Family Office Structures, Family Office Association White Paper, July (2017).
- Thomas J. Handler. “Handler Thayer, LLP 2017 Family Office Outlook,” Quarter 1, 2017, www.prnewswire.com and www.jdsupra.com. March 22, 2017. Republished in Chinese in the China Daily Business Herald and in the Family Wealth Alliance Letter.
- Thomas J. Handler, Virtual family offices – a global trend, The Int’l Family Offices J., 5 (December 2016).
- Thomas J. Handler. “2015 Family Office Outlook,” www.JDSupra.com. March 12, 2015.
- Thomas J. Handler. “Establishing Virtual Family Offices,” Trusts & Estates Magazine. March (2014).
- Thomas J. Handler, Contributor. “Breakthroughs In Managing Tangible Assets: Completing The Picture Of Wealth.” Ace Private Risk Services and Trōv White Paper. February (2014).
- Thomas J. Handler. “Do Your Research, and Be Stealthy” featured in the New York Times Forum on Prenuptial Agreements. The New York Times. March 21, 2013.
- Thomas J. Handler and Christine E. McKillip. “CFTC Reinstates Family Office Exception.” www.JDSupra.com. December 5, 2012. This article was republished by Family Office Association on December 12, 2012 and republished by Family Office News on December 14, 2012.
- Thomas J. Handler. “The Dodd-Frank Act: Implications for Family Offices.” 2012 Institute for Private Investors Report (2012).
- Thomas J. Handler and Christine E. McKillip. “The Commodity Futures Trading Commission Rescinds a Common Family Office Exemption.”www.JDSupra.com. May 17, 2012.
- Thomas J. Handler. “Financial Regulation of Family Offices in the Current Environment,” Family Office Association, January (2012).
- Thomas J. Handler. S.E.C. Registration of Family Offices: Private Trust Companies May Provide One Avenue of Relief. Trusts & Estates Magazine, October (2011) (Republished by Family Offices Group).
- Thomas J. Handler. Family Office Exemption Narrowly Defined by S.E.C.. Family Office Association SFO Letter, July (2011).
- Thomas J. Handler. The Family Office Exception: Greater Clarity Could Force Greater Compliance. Family Wealth Report, June (2011).
- Thomas J. Handler, Contributor. The Domestic Staffing Cycle: From Hiring to Firing. Hub International Personal Insurance. (2009).
- Handler and Heller, “Asset Protection Planning,” Private Wealth (2005).