Ilana S. Bley

Partner

Ilana is a trusted advisor to high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families.

Ilana Bley Portrait

Ilana guides individuals, families, and business owners through sophisticated estate planning and wealth transfer strategies, complex trust and estate administration, postmortem tax planning, and trust modifications, including decanting and nonjudicial settlement agreements.

Ilana helps clients achieve their long-term goals by designing and implementing tailored plans that incorporate advanced techniques such as SLATs, GRATs, CLATs, and installment sales to intentionally defective grantor trusts and advises multi-generational families with respect to trustee and other fiduciary matters. She also collaborates closely with accountants, investment advisors, and other professionals to ensure comprehensive and coordinated solutions.

Prior to joining ArentFox Schiff, Ilana served as the Vice Chair of the Estate Planning and Wealth Transfer Group for her previous firm.

Client Work

  • Managing complex estate and trust administration and postmortem tax planning, including coordinating litigation, human resources, corporate, real estate, and international issues.
  • Reviewing terms and assets of various family trusts to recommend and effectuate trust consolidations and divisions.
  • Structuring closely held businesses in connection with wealth transfer strategies.

Publications, Presentations & Recognitions

Recognitions

  • Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (2021 – 2026) 

Boards, Memberships & Certifications

Ilana is a member of the Chicago Estate Planning Council (CEPC). She served as the CEPC Workshops Subcommittee Chair (2023 – 2024) and Co-Chair (2022 – 2023) and was a participant in the inaugural class of the CEPC Emerging Leaders program (2019-2020). She is a member of the American Bar Association and the Chicago Bar Association.

  • Bar & Court Admissions
    • Illinois Bar
  • Education
    Loyola University Chicago School of Law, JD, magna cum laude, Certificate in Tax Law, 2015
    Washington University in St. Louis, BA, with College Honors, 2010

Insights