Foley & Lardner LLP: Daniel M. Hess

For high net worth families, individuals, and privately owned businesses in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, seeking sophisticated and comprehensive guidance in matters of wealth preservation, estate planning, and business succession, Daniel M. Hess at Foley & Lardner LLP is an exceptionally distinguished and recognized legal professional. Operating within the "Nearby Lawyers" category, his practice is situated at the prominent address of 777 E Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53202, USA, within the largest office of a leading international law firm, ensuring access to extensive resources and a highly professional environment.

Daniel (Dan) M. Hess’s professional journey is underpinned by a robust academic background and a career spanning decades dedicated to complex estate planning and tax matters. He earned his LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Florida College of Law in 1993, where he served as Graduate Editor of the Florida Tax Review. Prior to that, he obtained his J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1992, where he was Managing Editor of the Wisconsin Law Review. His undergraduate studies were completed at Colorado College, where he received his B.A. in 1989. Admitted to practice in both Wisconsin and Florida, his expertise extends to a broad range of complex financial and familial legal structures.

Daniel Hess is a partner in Foley & Lardner LLP's esteemed Estate Planning Practice, and holds significant leadership roles within the firm, serving as the chair of the firm's national Estate Planning Practice and co-chair of the national Tax, Benefits & Estate Planning Practice Group. His practice is specifically tailored to the unique and often intricate needs of high net worth families and privately owned businesses. His core services include:

• Estate Planning: Advising clients on sophisticated planning arrangements designed to preserve privacy, maximize flexibility, and make effective use of tax exemptions and asset protection trust arrangements. This includes implementing "estate freeze" planning and lifetime gift strategies through tools like grantor retained annuity trusts (GRATs), installment sales to defective grantor trusts (IDGTs), irrevocable life insurance trusts (ILITs), and qualified personal residence trusts (QPRTs).
• Charitable Planning: Guiding clients through strategies for philanthropic giving, ensuring their charitable intentions are met in a tax-efficient manner.
• Trust Administration and Probate Administration: Providing comprehensive counsel to corporate and individual trustees on all facets of trust and estate administration, including fiduciary responsibilities, the rights and interests of beneficiaries, and management of estate and gift tax audits. He ensures effective administration in accordance with the donor's intent.
• Business and Estate Planning for Privately Owned Businesses: This is a particular focus of his practice, emphasizing multigenerational ownership and management succession planning for private companies. He advises on the effective transition of ownership, control, and management, including shareholder agreements, voting trust agreements, and addressing the unique liquidity issues confronting family businesses due to estate taxes. He also provides specialized planning to prepare closely held businesses for sale and pre-transaction planning to address tax considerations and non-operational assets.
• Family Offices and Private Trust Companies: Advising families on the formation, operation, and management of private trust companies and family offices, which are increasingly critical structures for managing substantial family wealth.
• Executive Benefits Planning: Counseling corporate executives on specialized planning for stock options, deferred compensation, and other executive benefits.

His extensive experience in these areas positions him as a trusted advisor capable of handling the most complex financial and family dynamics.

The environment at Foley & Lardner LLP's Milwaukee office, situated in the U.S. Bank Center at 777 E Wisconsin Ave, is synonymous with prestige and professionalism. As the firm's founding and largest office, it houses nearly 300 lawyers and legal professionals. The firm has recently undergone extensive renovations across eight floors, covering over 165,000 square feet, ensuring a state-of-the-art working and client-facing environment. The 40th floor, in particular, is a showcase space featuring a conference center and client-facing areas designed to offer a premier experience. This sophisticated setting supports Foley's commitment to delivering comprehensive legal services with national and international reach, emphasizing deep, long-standing client relationships. The firm prides itself on its innovative approach, including the use of AI-assisted tools like "Foley Equipped" for efficient contract reviews, demonstrating a commitment to leveraging technology for client benefit.

Key features of Daniel M. Hess's professional profile are his exceptional legal acumen and his leadership within the firm's national practice. His certifications and recognitions underscore his high standing in the legal community:

• He is Peer Review Rated as

  AV Preeminent®

  by Martindale-Hubbell®, which is the highest possible performance rating based on peer review, reflecting very high to preeminent legal ability and ethical standards.
• He has been consistently recognized in

  The Best Lawyers in America®

  for Trusts and Estates from 2020 to 2024. This consistent inclusion highlights his sustained excellence in his field.

His deep involvement with professional organizations like the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of the American Bar Association and the American Bar Association's Committee on Partnerships and Unincorporated Business Organizations further demonstrates his dedication to advancing his practice areas. Daniel Hess's expertise in multigenerational wealth transfer and business succession planning is particularly valuable for clients looking to ensure the long-term stability and prosperity of their family enterprises.

For individuals and businesses considering his services, promotional information emphasizes Foley & Lardner LLP's comprehensive client service and advisory approach. Daniel M. Hess can be directly contacted via phone at (414) 297-5891 or mobile phone at +1 414-297-5891. While specific "promotional offers" are not typically advertised by a top-tier firm for highly specialized services, initial consultations are customary. These allow prospective clients to discuss their complex estate planning or business succession needs, understand the strategic options available, and determine how Daniel Hess's expertise can be uniquely tailored to their specific circumstances. The firm's reputation and Daniel's individual accolades serve as strong indicators of the high-quality, discreet, and effective legal counsel provided.

In summary, Daniel M. Hess at Foley & Lardner LLP is a preeminent attorney in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, specializing in sophisticated estate planning, trust administration, and business succession planning for high net worth families and privately owned businesses. His leadership within the firm's national practice, coupled with his extensive experience and prestigious recognitions, positions him as an outstanding choice within the "Nearby Lawyers" category for those seeking expert guidance on wealth management and the intergenerational transfer of assets and businesses. His location in Foley's state-of-the-art Milwaukee office ensures access to world-class resources and a client-focused environment.