Mary Lee Turk
marylee@levinschreder.comMary Lee focuses her practice on the representation of high net worth individuals, particularly with respect to philanthropic endeavors. She works closely with individuals and families to structure charitable giving which achieves both personal goals as well as beneficial tax treatment using a variety of tools available, including donor advised funds, charitable split interest trusts, restricted gifts, conservation easements and private foundations. On behalf of donors and charitable organizations, Mary Lee negotiates gift agreements, pursues trust reformations when necessary, and handles litigation challenges to charitable gifts. She also represents private foundations and public charities on a wide range of issues, including entity formation, tax exemption, grant making and scholarship programs.
Mary Lee advises clients on effective wealth transfer techniques and combines this planning with asset protection strategies when appropriate. She regularly provides advice on complex gift, estate and generation-skipping transfer tax issues. Fiduciaries and estate and trust beneficiaries retain her on matters concerning estate and trust administration.
Mary Lee is a frequent speaker on issues affecting donors and charitable organizations. She is actively involved in the American Bar Association and through that affiliation has co-authored submissions to the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee on laws affecting the not-for-profit sector. Prior to joining the firm in 2009, Mary Lee practiced law in the trusts and estates department of two different large Chicago law firms. Since 2005, Mary Lee has been recognized as an Illinois Super Lawyer. She is also recognized as a Leading Lawyer in Trust, Will and Estate Planning Law by the Illinois Leading Lawyers Network.
Publications:
Co-Author, "The Demise of the Type III Supporting Organization," American
College of Trust & Estate Counsel Journal, Spring 2007
"Patenting Tax Strategies," Trusts & Estates, December 2006
"Supporting Organizations Revisited (After the Pension Protection Act of 2006)," Family Foundation Advisor, November/December 2006
Recent Presentations:
"Planned Giving in the Current Tax Environment: Congress, Treasury
and You," presented for the Chicago Council on Planned Giving,
July 2009
"What Drives the Gift Plan," presented at the Chicago Council on Planned Giving Annual Seminar, May 2008
"Cross Border Philanthropy" presented as a panel member at the American Bar Association Annual Joint CLE Meeting of the Tax and Real Property Trust & Estate Law Sections, September 2007
"Patenting Tax Strategies" presented as a panel member at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Annual Seminar, January 2007
"The Provisions of the Pension Protection Act of 2006 Affecting Charitable Planned Giving" presented as a panel member at the American Bar Association Annual Joint CLE Meeting of the Tax and Real Property Trust & Estate Law Sections, October 2006
"The Provisions of the Pension Protection Act of 2006 Affecting Donor Advised Funds, Supporting Organizations and Private Foundations" presented at the Chicago Bar Association Exempt Organizations Subcommittee/Tax Committee Meeting, September 2006
"Charitable Planning with Complex Assets" presented as a panel member at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Annual Seminar, February 2006
"Fulfilling the Needs of Both the Donor and the Charity in the Gift Giving Process" presented as a panel member at the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Annual Meeting, October 2005
"When Families and Charities are on Opposite Sides of the Table" presented for the Chicago Council on Planned Giving, March 2005
Education:
J.D., University of Chicago, 1980
B.A., with highest distinction, Indiana University, 1977 - Phi Beta
Kappa
Admitted:
Illinois, 1980
Professional Activities:
American College of Trust and Estate Counsel - Fellow
American Bar Association - Chair, Charitable Planning and Organizations
Group of
the Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section
Community Activities:
The Chicago Community Trust - Professional Advisory Committee
The Shedd Aquarium - Professional Advisory Committee
Chicago Symphony Orchestra - Professional Advisory Committee
