Ryan A. Walsh
Hamilton Theis & Lorch LLP
Wills trusts estates

An associate judge in the probate division of the Circuit Court of Cook County is far from alone in praising the legal talents of Ryan Walsh, an estate and tax law expert with Chicago’s Hamilton Thies & Lorch.

Walsh has appeared before this judge often during his career. While the cases Walsh handled changed, the young attorney’s demeanor and skills did not.

“He always acts diligently and professionally while representing his clients’ interests,” the Judge said.“He has developed a special ability to represent clients zealously while acting to resolve their matters reasonably, quickly and efficiently. I am confident in Ryan’s abilities both as a counselor and litigator, and it is a pleasure to have him appear on cases pending on my court call.”

The judge’s praise isn’t rare. From other attorneys to his clients who have worked with Walsh agree: He ranks as one of the top estate planning, tax law and trust administration experts in Chicago’s legal community.

Some of this praise is the result of the long list of successful results that Walsh has earned for his many loyal clients. For example, he successfully handled a complicated tax-free exchange of real estate interests valued at more than $10 million with properties in multiple states.

Another client retained him to help with a controversy with a sister, a controversy that involved allegations that Walsh’s client exerted undue influence over that client’s mother.Walsh worked on the case for two years. It culminated with a two-day jury trial that Ryan and his client won.

James Roche, of Chicago law firm James J. Roche & Associates, isn’t surprised by such results. Few attorneys work as diligently for their clients as does Walsh, Roche said.

“He is a true advocate for his clients,” Roche said.“Dealing with Ryan these past years has made it difficult to believe that Ryan is under 40 years old. He has the expertise and professionalism of an attorney twice his age.”

Richard Thies, Robert Hamilton and Kenneth Lorch, partners at Hamilton Thies & Lorch, chimed in on the accolades for Walsh that outlines just what makes this young attorney such a special one.

The attorneys commend Walsh’s grasp of complicated estate planning issues is unparalleled. They continue to describe that Walsh’s drafting of wills, trusts, partnership agreements and LLC operating agreements as meticulous.

Walsh is known for his warm but professional interactions with his clients, the letter says.

“He truly cares about the clients he serves,” the attorneys continued. “This care is also apparent in his sensitive approach to administering estates and trusts after the death of a client or a client’s close family member, often an extremely emotional period of time.”

Walsh cares so much about his clients that he prepared for and passed the Florida Bar Exam in 2008, solely so he could assist his firm’s clients who had moved to Florida or who owned property in the state.

Walsh is not hesitant to volunteer his time for his industry, even as his client list grows. Walsh is actively involved in professional and charitable organizations such as the American Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association and the Chicago Estate Planning Council. He also donates his time to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Economic Club of Chicago.