Fredrick B. Weber

Counsel

Fred brings depth and experience to ArentFox Schiff’s Private Clients, Trusts & Estates practice.

Richard Webber Portrait

Fred’s practice primarily focuses on representing individual and professional fiduciaries on post-death administration matters along with helping individuals and families to better prepare for post-death administration well before a death occurs.

Prior to returning to private law practice, Fred spent 18 years working as a professional fiduciary, first at the JPMorgan Private Bank and most recently with Northern Trust Wealth Management. As a professional fiduciary, Fred focused on guiding families, beneficiaries, and co-fiduciaries through the process of post-death administration of estates and trusts.

In addition to his work as a professional fiduciary, Fred has worked in planned giving and charitable bequest administration for a large public charity. He also served for several years as an adjunct professor at John Marshall (now UIC) Law School, where he taught a full semester course on post-mortem administration of estates and trusts.

Fred has also worked for the Jewish Federation/Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago, and prior to law school, he worked on Capitol Hill as a Legislative Aide to the late U.S. Senator Paul D. Wellstone.

Publications, Presentations & Recognitions

Publications

  • “Tangible or Intangible?” Heritage Auctions Journal for Trusts and Estates Advisors (Winter 2023)
  • “Estate Planning: Keeping Up-to-Date With Digital Responsibilities,” Trusts & Estates (Apr. 2021)
  • “A Win-Win Situation: Charitable Beneficiaries Partnering with Corporate Fiduciaries,” Northern Trust (Oct. 2020)
  • “Heirlooms & Feuds,” Heritage Auctions Journal for Trusts and Estates Advisors (Fall 2020)

Presentations

  • “Planning for Effective Administration of Charitable Estates and Trusts,” Estate Planning Short Course 2025, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (May 5, 2025)
  • “Post-Death Estate Litigation: Navigating Legal and Other Challenges for Charities,” 2024 CGP Conference, National Association of Charitable Gift Planners (Oct. 30, 2024)
  • “Finding the True Meaning of ‘Digital Assets’ in Estates and Trusts,” Elder Law Short Course 2024, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (Oct. 28, 2024)
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Boards, Memberships & Certifications

Boards

  • Professional Advisory Committee of the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, Chicago, IL, Member
  • SHALVA - Response to Domestic Abuse in Jewish Homes, Chicago, IL, Past President and former Board Member

Memberships

  • Chicago Estate Planning Council
  • Chicago Council on Planned Giving
  • National Association of Charitable Gift Planners

Life Beyond the Law

Outside of work, Fred can often be found riding his bicycle, hiking, traveling, taking in live music, attending live theatre, watching movies, reading, and enjoying great meals and great conversation, preferably in the company of family and close friends. Fred is also a happy husband, a proud dad to three remarkable young men, and the grateful owner of a pair of Orpington laying hens who reside in his family’s backyard chicken coop in Chicago.  

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