Melisa Seyhun

Associate

Melisa is a trusts and estates attorney with a focus on ultra-high net worth tax and estate planning.

Melisa Seyhun Bio

Melisa advises clients on existing and potential tax savings, charitable and deferred compensation planning, and investment strategies. She also has experience counseling on grantor and non-grantor trust planning, business succession planning, and using decanting and non-judicial settlement agreements to modify irrevocable trusts.

Melisa brings an empathetic approach to her practice, being mindful of the human aspect of estate planning. She strives to craft creative and conscientious solutions to her clients’ issues and to consistently achieve her clients’ holistic financial, legacy, and personal goals.

Boards, Memberships & Certifications

  • American Bar Association, Real Property Trusts & Estates Section, Fellow (2019-2021)
  • America College of Trust and Estate Council Foundation Dennis I. Belcher Young Leaders Program, Young Leader (2021-2023)
  • Illinois State Bar Association
  • Chicago Bar Association
  • Chicago Estate Planning Council, Associate Member
  • Chicago Community Trust, Young Leaders Fund and Young Professionals Advisory Committee

Publications, Presentations & Recognitions

Publications

  • “Chapter 10: Domestic Asset Protection Trusts,” (co-author) Asset Protection Planning, Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education (2022)
  • “The Increased Exemption,” American Bar Association, Real Property, Trusts and Estates Section, Young Lawyers Division Newsletter (Spring 2018)
  • “Estate Planning for LGBTQ: Using a Special Trust Advisor,” (co-author) Trusts and Estates Magazine (Jul. 2020)

Presentations

  • “What Estate Planners Should Know About Life Insurance,” American Bar Association, Webinar (May 21, 2024)
  • “What’s Old is New Again – Tax Uncertainty or How’s Your 2022 Going?” ABA RPTE, 34th Annual RPTE National CLE Conference (Apr. 26, 2022)
  • “Gifts of Illiquid Assets and Cryptocurrency,” Chicago Council on Planned Giving, Chicago, Ill. (Mar. 8, 2022)
  • “Embracing Diversity and Inclusion in Your Practice/Family Office,” Trusts & Estates Virtual Forums, Webinar (Apr. 29, 2021)
  • “The Basics of Life Insurance in a Changing World,” 33rd Annual RPTE Virtual National CLE Conference, American Bar Association Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law (Apr. 21-23, 2021)
  • “Investing in Well-being: Covid, Death, & Taxes – Young Lawyers, Make a Plan!” American Bar Association, Webinar (Mar. 24, 2021)
  • “Basics of Estate Planning” (webinar) American Bar Association, Real Property, Trusts and Estates Section, Skills Training for Estate Planners (Aug. 6, 2020)
  • “LGBTQ Planning: What Skills Do Planners Need to Properly Serve the Modern Family?” (webinar) American Academy of Attorney-CPAs (Jun. 18, 2020)
  • “LGBTQ Planning: What Skills Do Planners Need to Properly Serve the Modern Family?” (webinar) Leimberg Information Services Inc. (Jun. 5, 2020)
  • “Basics of Life Insurance,” (speaker) American Bar Association, Real Property, Trusts and Estates Section (Apr. 28, 2020)
  • “LGBTQ Planning: What Skills Do Planners Need to Properly Serve the Modern Family?” (webinar) Shenkman Law (Mar. 12, 2020)
  • “Emotional and Psychological Issues in Estate Planning” (speaker) American Bar Association, Real Property, Trusts and Estates Section (Jan 21, 2020)
  • Languages
    Turkish
  • Bar & Court Admissions
    • Illinois Bar
  • Education
    Loyola Law School, LLM, 2017
    The George Washington University Law School, JD, 2016
    The George Washington University, BA, 2013

Perspectives