James Lestikow Elected as President of Illinois Bar Foundation

James M. Lestikow, partner in the Springfield office of Hinshaw and Culbertson LLP, has been elected as the 34th president of the Illinois Bar Foundation. His one-year term became effective last week at the annual meeting for the Foundation.

Affectionately known as “the heart of the Illinois State Bar Association,” the Illinois Bar Foundation was created over fifty years ago and ensures meaningful access to the justice system, especially for those with limited means, and assists lawyers who can no longer support themselves due to incapacity. Additional objectives include encouraging pro-bono legal work and educating Illinois residents regarding their rights and responsibilities under the law.

“We are tremendously proud of Jim’s accomplishments at the Illinois Bar Foundation,” said Donald L. Mrozek, Hinshaw’s Chairman. “Ever since Joe Hinshaw served as the first president of the organization, the Foundation has always been an important part of practicing law at Hinshaw. We are pleased that Jim is continuing this tradition of service.”

Mr. Lestikow’s estate planning and wealth preservation practice includes the drafting of wills and trusts, family limited partnerships and other devices that help clients achieve their financial goals in the most tax efficient manner and protect their assets for retirement and the next generation. He also handles estate and trust administration, as well as handling estate and trust administration disputes through alternate dispute resolution or through litigation in court and has testified as an expert witness on duties of executors / trustees, fees of executors and trustees and in attorney malpractice cases. Reflecting his substantial estate planning experience, he was elected to Fellowship in the prestigious American College of Trust and Estate Counsel in 2001, and in 2006 was appointed a member of its Asset Protection Committee. He holds a J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law and a B.S. from Northern Illinois University.