Firm Awards & Accolades

The Handler firm has been widely recognized as one of the exceptional private client law firms in the world. In fact, the firm has won over 100 awards in the last decade. These law firm accolades have been bestowed by various independent organizations including family office associations, wealth industry groups, financial magazines and other publications. In addition, individual firm attorneys have won numerous personal awards and other accolades.

Featured Awards & Industry Recognition

2025

• Business Planning Lawyer of the Year in Illinois – 2025 – Global Law Experts 
• Legal 100 – Large Tier – Estate Law Firm of the Year – Illinois – Lawyer International
• Large Tier – Estate Law Firm of the Year – Illinois – M&A Today – Global Awards
• Shortlisted – Best Trust & Estates Law Firm in the United States – PAM Awards
• International Business Planning Law Firm of the Year – USA – Top Lawyers Worldwide 2025 – Lawyers Worldwide Awards Magazine

2024

• Tom Handler was named to the list of the “Top 50 Family Enterprise Advisors in the U.S.”
  (FamCap 50)
• Best Private Client Law Firm in North America – Family Wealth Report Awards
• Shortlisted – Best Tax Firm in North America – Family Wealth Report Awards
• Shortlisted – Best Trust & Estates Law Firm in the United States – PAM Awards
• Large Tier – Estate Law Firm of the Year – Illinois, USA – Global 100
• Large Tier – Estate Law Firm of the Year – Illinois, USA – Corporate America Today
• Best Complex Business Transaction Attorney of the Year – Arizona – Global Business Insight Awards
• Commercial Law Firm of the Year – CorporateLiveWire Innovation & Excellence Awards
• Large Tier – Estate Law Firm of the Year – Illinois, USA – Lawyer International Legal 100
• International Business Planning Law Firm of the Year – USA – Top Lawyers Worldwide 2024 – Lawyers Worldwide Awards Magazine
• Handler Law is a member of The UHNW Institute and Tom Handler serves on its Board of Advisors and as a Member of the Family Office Committee
• Tom Handler is a member of the Advisory Board of the University of Denver Van Keuren Institute of Family Office Real Estate and serves as a member of its faculty.
• Tom Handler – Innovative Lawyers – Lawyers Worldwide Awards Magazine

2023

• Best Tax Firm in North America – Family Wealth Report Awards
• Shortlisted – Family Wealth Report Awards in the categories of Most Effective Private Client Legal Team and Best Wealth Planning Firm
• Shortlisted – Best law firm – estates and trusts – PAM Awards
• Large Tier – Estate Law Firm of the Year – Illinois, USA – Global 100
• Large Tier – Estate Law Firm of the Year – Illinois – M&A Today – Global Awards
• Large Tier – Estate Law Firm of the Year – Illinois – Corporate America Today
• Business Planning Lawyer of the Year – Illinois – Corporate INTL Magazine 2023 Global Awards
• Large Tier – Estate Law Firm of the Year – Illinois – Lawyer International Legal 100
• International Business Planning Law Firm of the Year – USA – Worldwide Financial Advisor Awards Magazine – Continent Awards
• International Business Planning Law Firm of the Year – USA – Worldwide Financial Advisor Awards Magazine – Excellence Awards
• Handler Law is a member of The UHNW Institute and Tom Handler serves on its Board of Advisors and as a Member of the Family Office Committee
• Five Star Lawyers – Lawyers Worldwide Awards Magazine
• International Business Planning Law Firm of the Year – USA for its Excellence Awards – Worldwide Financial Advisor Awards Magazine
• Tom Handler was named to the Advisory Board of the University of Denver Van Keuren Institute of Family Office Real Estate and serves as a member of its faculty.

2022

• Best Law Firm – Estates and Trusts – Private Asset Management (Shortlisted)
• Large Tier – Estate Law Firm of the Year – Illinois, USA – Global 100 Awards
• Large Tier – Estate Law Firm of the Year – Illinois, USA – Lawyer International’s – Legal 100
• Large Tier – Estate Law Firm of the Year – Illinois – M&A Today – Global Awards
• Best Private Client Law Firm in North America/ Legal Team – Family Wealth Report (Shortlisted)
• Leading Individual Service Provider:  Tom Handler – Family Wealth Report (Shortlisted)
• Tax Advisor of the Year – Family Wealth Report (Shortlisted)
• Outstanding Contribution to Wealth Management Thought Leadership:  Tom Handler – Family Wealth Report (Shortlisted)

2021

• Best Trust and Estates Law Firm in the U.S. – High Commendation – Private Asset Management
• Experts In Law – Lawyers Worldwide Awards Magazine
• Most Effective Private Client Legal Team in North America – High Commendation – Family Wealth Report
• Large Tier Estate Planning Law Firm of the Year 2021 – Corporate America Today
• Large Tier Estate Law Firm of the Year 2021 – M&A Today
• International Business Planning Law Firm of the Year 2021 – USA – Worldwide Financial Advisor Awards Magazine

2020

• Best Private Client Law Firm in the United States – The Family Wealth Report
• International Business Planning Law Firm of the Year – USA – Worldwide Financial Advisor Awards
• Large Tier Estate Law Firm of the Year – Illinois, USA – M&A Today
• Large Tier Estate Law Firm of the Year – Illinois, USA – Lawyer International’s – Legal 100
• Highly Commended – USA – Private Asset Management

2019

• Large Tier Estate Law Firm of the Year – Illinois, USA – M&A Today
• Large Tier Estate Law Firm of the Year – Illinois, USA – Lawyer International’s – Legal 100
• International Business Planning Law Firm of the Year – USA – Excellence Awards Worldwide Financial Advisor Awards Magazine
• International Business Planning Law Firm of the Year – USA – Global Leading Lawyers 2019; Lawyers Worldwide Awards Magazine
• Best Law Firms in Illinois – U.S. News & World Report
• Best Private Client Law Firm in North America – The Family Wealth Report
• Estate Law Firm of the Year (Large Tier) – Corporate America Today
• Recognized Leaders in Family Law 2019 – Legal Elite Awards; US Business News
• Large Tier – Estate Law Firm of the Year – Illinois, USA – Global 100
• International Business Planning Law Firm of the Year – USA – The Lawyers Worldwide Awards Innovative Lawyers 2019

2018

• Best Law Firm Serving Family Offices in the U.S. –The Family Wealth Alliance
• International Business Planning Law Firm of the Year – USA –Worldwide Financial Advisor Awards Magazine
• International Business Planning Law Firm of the Year – USA – Lawyers Worldwide
• Legal Team of the Year – Family Wealth Report
• Best Trust & Estates Division – Private Asset Management
• Boutique Law Firm of the Year – Corporate LiveWire
• International Business Planning Law Firm of the Year – Worldwide Financial Advisor Awards Magazine
• Estate Planning Law Firm of the Year – Global Law Experts
• Large Tier Estate Law Firm of the Year – Illinois – M&A Today
• Large Tier Estate Law Firm of the Year – Illinois, USA – Corporate USA Today
• Best Family Office Practice Group – USA – Acquisition Intl
• Estate Planning Law Firm of the Year in Illinois – Corporate Intl Global Awards
• Tax Law Firm of the Year – ACQ5 Magazine 2018 Law Awards
• Sports & Entertainment Law Firm of the Year – ACQ5 Magazine 2018 Law Awards
• Family Office Law Firm of the Year – ACQ5 Magazine 2018 Law Awards
• Law Firm of the Year – ACQ5 Magazine 2018 Law Awards
• Large Tier Estate Law Firm of the Year – ACQ5 Magazine 2018 Law Awards
• International Tax Law Firm of the Year – ACQ5 Magazine 2018 Law Awards
• Trust, Wills & Estate Planning Law Firm of the Year – ACQ5 Magazine 2018 Law Awards
• Private Client Law Firm of the Year – ACQ5 Magazine 2018 Law Awards
• Large Tier – Estate Law Firm of the Year – Illinois – The Lawyer International
• Most Outstanding for Estate Planning and Asset Protection 2018 – USA AI Global
• Estate Planning Law Firm of the Year in Illinois-Corporate Intl Global

2017

• Best Law Firm in the US – Client Services – Private Asset Management
• Large Tier – Estate Law Firm of the Year – Illinois, USA – The Lawyer International
• Best Tax Law Firm – Acquisition International Magazine
• Estate Planning Law Firm of the Year in Illinois – Corporate INTL Magazine
• Business Law Firm of the Year – Corporate LiveWire
• Large Tier Estate Law Firm of the Year – Illinois, USA – M&A Today
• Most Outstanding Tax Law Firm – Corporate Vision
• Most Innovative Law Firm – Illinois – Corporate Insider
• Law Firm of the Year for a Consecutive Year – ACQ5 Magazine
• Family Office Law Firm of the Year for a Consecutive Year – ACQ5 Magazine
• Private Client Law Firm of the Year for a Consecutive Year – ACQ5 Magazine
• Tax Client Law Firm of the Year for a Consecutive Year – ACQ5 Magazine
• Large Tier Estate Law Firm of the Year for a Consecutive Year – ACQ5 Magazine
• Trust, Wills & Estate Planning Law Firm of the Year for a Consecutive Year – ACQ5 Magazine
• Sports and Entertainment Law Firm of the Year of Year for a Consecutive Year – ACQ5 Magazine
• Best Estate Planning Law Firm – Business Growth.io
• Large Tier – Estate Law Firm of the Year – Illinois – Corporate USA
• Estate Planning Law Firm of the Year in Illinois – Global Law Experts
• Large Tier – Estate Law Firm of the Year – Illinois – Global 100

2016

• Best Legal Team in North America – Family Wealth Report
• Best International Tax Firm in the U.S. – Acquisition International Magazine
• Large Tier Winner- Estate Law Firm of the Year – M&A Today Magazine Global Awards
• Estate Planning Law Firm of the Year – Corporate INTL Magazine
• Excellence in Estate Planning – Corporate LiveWire
• Law Firm of the Year – ACQ5 Magazine
• Family Office Law Firm of the Year – ACQ5 Magazine
• International Tax Law Firm of the Year – ACQ5 Magazine
• Domestic Tax Law Firm of the Year – ACQ5 Magazine
• Private Client Law Firm of the Year – ACQ5 Magazine
• Trust, Wills & Estate Planning Law Firm of the Year for a Consecutive Year – ACQ5 Magazine
• Large Tier – Estate Law Firm of the Year in Illinois – The Lawyer International
• Most Outstanding Tax Preparation – Acquisition International Magazine
• Family Office Law Firm of the Year – Wealth & Finance INTL
• Best Lawyers & Law Firms in America – U.S. News & World Report

2015

• Best Overall Law Firm in the U.S. – Private Asset Management Magazine
• Most Effective Private Client Legal Team in North America – Family Wealth Report
• U.S. Trust, Wills, & Estate Planning Law Firm of the Year – ACQ5 Magazine
• Large Tier Winner: Estate Law Firm of the Year – Global 100
• Law Firm of the Year – ACQ5 Magazine
• Trust, Wills, & Estate Planning Law Firm of the Year – ACQ5 Magazine
• Large Tier Winner: Estate Law Firm of the Year for a Consecutive Year – ACQ5 Magazine
• Private Client Law Firm of the Year – ACQ5 Magazine
• Best Lawyers & Law Firms in America – U.S. News & World Report
• Tax Law Firm of the Year – ACQ5 Magazine
• Wealth Planning Gamechanger Firm of the Year– Acquisition Finance Magazine

2014

• Best Private Client Law Firm in the U.S. – Private Asset Management Magazine
• Best Estate Planning Law Firm – Corporate International of London
• Gold Winner: Regional Private Client Law Firm – IAIR Global Economy & Sustainability Magazine
• Large Tier Winner of the Global Award:  Estate Law Firm of the Year – Corporate INTL Magazine
• Large Tier Winner of the Global Award: Estate Law Firm of the Year – ACQ5 Magazine
• U.S. Trust, Wills, and Estate Planning Law Firm of the Year – ACQ5 Magazine
• Large Tier Winner – Estate Planning Law Firm of the Year Award – Global 100
• Best Lawyers & Law Firms in America – U.S. News & World Report

2013

• Best Private Client Law Firm in North America – Family Office Review
• Best Private Client Law Firm in the United States – Private Asset Management Magazine
• Best Corporate Tax Law Firm – Corporate International of London
• Best Estate Planning Law Firm – Corporate International of London
• Corporate Tax Law Firm of the Year – Global Law Experts
• Estate Planning Law Firm of the Year – Global Law Experts
• Best Lawyers & Law Firms in America – U.S. News & World Report

2012

• Best Overall Law Firm in the United States – Private Asset Management Magazine
• Best Private Client Law Firm in North America – Family Office Review
• Best Lawyers and Law Firms in America – U.S. News & World Report