Andrew R. "Andy" Gelman

Andrew R. "Andy" Gelman: Comprehensive Estate Planning and Litigation Solutions in Chicago

Andrew R. "Andy" Gelman is a highly respected attorney at Holland & Knight’s Chicago office, specializing in complex estate planning, estate and trust administration, and litigation surrounding these areas. With a distinguished career spanning several decades, Mr. Gelman offers unparalleled expertise to individuals, executives, and business owners seeking to protect their assets, navigate complex legal issues, and achieve their long-term financial goals. He is the immediate past chair of the firm’s Illinois Private Wealth Services Practice Group, a testament to his leadership and deep knowledge within the field.

Mr. Gelman’s practice is characterized by a meticulous approach, combining strategic legal counsel with a genuine commitment to his clients’ well-being. He frequently advises on the use of wills, insurance trusts, and sophisticated planning tools like inter vivos or living trusts, powers of attorney, and grantor retained annuity trusts (GRATs) – often in conjunction with family limited partnerships, qualified personal residence trusts, and charitable trusts and foundations. His significant experience includes navigating federal and state estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax laws, as well as meticulously structuring asset transfers to optimize results.

Recognizing the unique needs of vulnerable populations, Mr. Gelman possesses a particular focus on legal disability planning and the strategic use of trusts to safeguard the assets of disabled adults and minors. He is a certified mediator for the Court-Annexed Mediation Program of the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County, leveraging his skills to facilitate amicable resolutions in disputes. His lecturing experience on supplemental needs trusts for learning disabled or mentally impaired children demonstrates his dedication to protecting these individuals’ futures. He expertly guides clients through probate proceedings related to these cases, including the adjudication of incompetency, termination of such adjudication, and comprehensive financial and healthcare planning for wards.

Mr. Gelman's contributions extend beyond traditional estate planning. Notably, he served as the court-appointed guardian ad litem in the landmark Greenspan case, where he played a pivotal role in advocating for the withdrawal of life support – a case recognized for its influence on Illinois law. This experience underscores his ability to navigate highly sensitive and emotionally charged situations with both legal acumen and profound empathy.

He has represented a diverse range of corporate and individual fiduciaries and beneficiaries in contested matters, demonstrating his extensive knowledge of decedents’ estates and minors’ estates and trusts in probate and chancery. Mr. Gelman’s expertise encompasses a broad spectrum of legal challenges, including will contests, trust constructions, citation proceedings, claims, awards, statutory rights, and the protections afforded to heirs, legatees, and beneficiaries. His counsel is meticulously tailored to corporate and individual fiduciaries, addressing federal and state estate tax, fiduciary income tax, and post-mortem tax planning in the administration of estates and trusts. Furthermore, he provides specialized guidance on premarital matters, adoptions (related, agency, and private placements), and a full range of real estate transactions, both personal and commercial.

Key Credentials & Achievements

Mr. Gelman’s recognition within the legal community is extensive and consistent: He is consistently ranked as an Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated Attorney, a designation awarded by his peers for his high ethical standards and legal expertise. He is also an Illinois Super Lawyer, recognized in 2005-2012, 2014-2017, and a Chicago Law Bulletin Leading Lawyer since 2006. His contributions have been honored with the Maurice Weigle Award from the Chicago Bar Association (for Service to the Profession and the Organized Bar, 1979), he is featured in Who's Who in American Law (since 1985), and a Top 100 Attorney, as recognized by Worth Magazine (2006). He is also recognized in Best Attorney USA since 2007.

Professional Affiliations & Admissions

Bar Admissions: State of Illinois
Education: [Law School Name - Details To Be Added]
Professional Affiliations: Recognized in Best Attorney USA since 2007, Chicago Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, American Bar Association. He is a certified mediator for the Court-Annexed Mediation Program of the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County.

Contact Information:
Holland & Knight
Chicago Office
[Address - Details To Be Added]