Joel Levin
Joel is of-counsel to the firm. He began his career at Rosenthal and Schanfield, where he practiced for 26 years, and later had stints at two other prominent Chicago firms before becoming a solo practitioner in 2009. Originally trained as a tax lawyer, Joel has developed a diverse business practice, often serving as general counsel to his clients. One of Joel’s mantras, about which he feels very strongly, especially with new clients, is to inform the client that Joel is not doing his job if the client does not fully understand what Joel is doing for the client, and to encourage questions at all times.
Joel has represented a broad spectrum of clients during his 46 years of practicing law. In addition to his work as a tax lawyer, Joel has extensive experience in all phases of business law, including: the creation, operation, dissolution and liquidation of “C” and “S” corporations, limited liability companies, and general and limited partnerships; industrial, commercial and residential real estate; acquisitions, dispositions, leasing, mergers and reorganizations; labor and employment matters; employee benefits; estate planning and probate; and financing transactions.
During his career, Joel has effectively served as general counsel to many well-known individuals and entities including: professional sports executives and agents; a distributor of railroad parts and signs; food distributors; demolition contractors; scrap metal and recycling companies and their executives; manufacturers of truck parts and precision-milled machine parts; multistate funeral home and cemetery operators; restaurant owners; computer peripheral retailers and distributors; real estate operators and developers; nursing home and assisted living operators and developers; investment companies; an international fastener importer and distributor; and tax-exempt organizations of all types, include private foundations and private operating foundations.
Joel is an avid SCUBA diver, sports fan, gardener, and a (not particularly accomplished) golfer, and he and his wife Ivy enjoy traveling and spending time with their three children and five grandchildren. In addition, Joel has been and is engaged in the ownership and management of real estate investments, both locally and in various other States.
Education:
- New York University School of Law, LL.M. Taxation
- Washington University School of Law, J.D.
- Editor, Urban Law Annual (1973-1974)
- The University of Illinois, B.A. Finance
Admissions:
- United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- United States Tax Court
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- Admitted to Practice in Illinois
- Peer Review Rating of “AV” (highest certification) by Martindale Hubbell, a leading professional directory
- Member, Illinois State Bar Association, Tax Section
