Denise M. Chan Funkhouser Vegosen Liebman & Dunn Ltd. 55 West Monroe Street Suite 2300 Chicago, Illinois 60603 TEL: 312.701.6800 FAX: 312.701.6801

Denise is of counsel to our firm. Denise grew up in the Chicago area. She received her B.A. in Art History (with honors) and English from Northwestern University in 1993. After college, Denise worked for two years at the University of Chicago Press as a production controller. In addition, Denise was a freelance book designer for the University of Chicago Press and Northwestern University Press.

In 1998, Denise received her J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Illinois College of Law. While in law school, Denise was a member and Notes Editor of the University of Illinois Law Review and published a Note, "ERISA Preemption: Immunity for HMOs", 98 University of Illinois Law Review (1998). Denise was also co-Editor-in-Chief of Poetic Justice, the poetry journal for the law school. Denise volunteered her time to elder law issues as a student law clerk for the Elder Abuse Division of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office (summer of 1996) and the Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation (spring of 1998).

After graduating from law school, Denise spent four years at a large Chicago law firm as an associate in the Trusts and Estates practice group. Denise joined the Firm in August 2002. Denise is a member of the Trust Law Committee of the Chicago Bar Association and an associate member of the Chicago Estate Planning Council.

Denise concentrates her practice on sophisticated tax and estate planning matters, estate and trust administration, and the formation and administration of charitable organizations. Denise has had significant experience drafting a variety of estate planning documents, including irrevocable insurance trusts, charitable trusts and partnership agreements. She was Special Editor of the 2002 edition of Illinois Continuing Legal Education Estate Planning Forms and Commentary. Denise has represented executors in probate matters and advised fiduciaries regarding the administration of trusts and estates. Denise has obtained tax-exempt status for several public charities and charitable foundations. During her career, Denise has researched numerous legal issues relating to estate, gift, generation-skipping transfer taxes, individual and fiduciary income taxes, the fiduciary duties of executors and trustees, compliance matters for charitable foundations, and matrimonial law.

Denise enjoys running and biking along the Chicago River and lakefront, growing flowers and herbs in her garden, and discovering ethnic restaurants and markets in her neighborhood.