Claire McFarland

Partner

Claire McFarland, our firm’s Founder and Managing Attorney, is a seasoned estate planning attorney practices with the compassion and sensitivity required to maintain family harmony for our estate planning and probate clients. Claire has established deep relationships with her clients during nearly three decades in private practice. She serves individuals, families, business owners and entrepreneurs with thoughtful counsel and attention to their evolving needs. From clients requiring sophisticated tax and trust planning to clients needing more basic planning, Claire works closely with them to determine their goals and then tailor a plan accordingly.

Claire has received numerous awards for her commitment to the community and

participates in a number of local and national organizations committed to improving of the administration of justice.  She is the founder and Executive Director of Elder Law & Wellness Initiative, NFP, a non-profit organization that works to ensure that seniors have adequate access to the court system. She currently serves as a member of the historic Reparations Committee for City of Evanston, She also serves as a board member for the Reparations Stakeholder Authority of Evanston, and the Catholic Criminal Justice Reform Network.

A Northshore resident, Claire holds a B.A. in Business Economics from Brown University, an M.A. from the University of London’s School of Oriental & African Studies, and a law degree from Northwestern University. She is the proud mother of five young adults and one aging canine.

Shanise Evans

Partner

Attorney Shanise Evans’ practice focuses on helping families, business owners, and charities have peace of mind that their values, wealth, and legacy are protected today and for years to come. With over 21 years of experience, she excels in guiding her clients through the often-confusing maze of financial and legal decisions to enable them to effectively plan and reach their goals. Her considerable legal expertise includes family protection, wealth preservation, charitable gift planning and nonprofit creation and governance, values-based planning, as well as planning strategies for unmarried couples and divorced individuals. In addition, Shanise combines her legal expertise and acute business acumen to assist her clients in planning for the creation, growth and success of their businesses.

Her work with high-net-worth families, business owners and charities extends from her previous experiences as an Associate Trust Counsel at A. G. Edwards Trust Company, an Attorney and Wealth Strategist with Edward Jones, and a Fiduciary Advisory Specialist at Wells Fargo.

Shanise received her law degree from Saint Louis University School of Law and her MBA from the Saint Louis University John Cook School of Business. She also received her degree in Business Administration/Marketing from Truman State University. In addition, as she is a member of both, the Illinois and Missouri Bars. she routinely advises and assists clients in both states. Shanise lives in the suburbs of Chicago with her husband and family and loves to attend sporting events, as well as the many wonderful cultural attractions around the Chicagoland area.

Gloria Materre

Partner

A proven leader and accomplished executive, Materre has been serving the legal needs of

clients for more than two decades. Her leadership abilities enable her to provide trusted,

practical counsel to clients on a wide variety of matters, ranging from estate planning, real estate transactions, to business succession planning. She places a priority on building and facilitating relationships, bringing parties together and working tirelessly to move projects forward.

As a recognized leader in the Illinois business community, Materre was appointed by

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn to serve in executive leadership roles in state government, including Deputy Chief of Staff, Executive Director of the Illinois Housing Development Authority and the Illinois Liquor Control Commission, allowing her to further utilize her abilities to bring positive change across the state. These roles also have provided her with unique insight into the challenges faced by her clients, as she is able to examine issues from both a legal and business standpoint. Materre has had stints in private practice with the law firms of Materre & Associates, PC, Landau Omahana & Kopka, Berger Newmark & Fenchel, and Dinsmore & Shohl, LLP.

Materre received her Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois College of Law.  While enrolled at the University, she also taught undergraduate writing classes and served as a graduate teaching assistant in the urban planning department.   She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a bachelor of arts in journalism.