Julie F. Gardner

Julie Gardner understands that clients often come to her during challenging times with complicated matters regarding estates, trusts and guardianship. Her analytical approach to case strategy and her open communication style with clients allow her to methodically and meaningfully advise those facing the complexities of estate administration and litigation.

Julie centers her practice on both contested and non-contested estate matters. She is well versed in executing all stages of the administration of probate, decedent’s estates, trusts and guardianship estates, as well as other related estate litigation, including disputes concerning wills, trusts, powers of attorney, issues of capacity, undue influence, fraud and forgery. She is experienced at delivering effective arguments in the courtroom and achieving successful results for her clients, while steadily advocating for their interests and needs. Julie has honed her skills of case strategy and courtroom advocacy in litigation matters that present a wide variety of issues, primarily in the areas of estates and trusts. She is also skilled at advising clients on the key issues that may arise in the areas of estate planning and asset protection.

She has also been appointed as Guardian Ad Litem and court-appointed counsel by the judges of the Cook County Circuit Court’s Probate Division.

In 2021, Julie was named to the Illinois Super Lawyers Rising Stars list that is given to only 2.5% of attorneys in the state. In 2020 and 2021, she earned the ranking of Emerging Lawyer from Leading Lawyers, which is an honor awarded to less than 2% of all lawyers in Illinois.

Aside from her practice, Julie is active in the legal community, including currently serving as vice chair of the Probate Practice Committee for the Chicago Bar Association. She previously chaired the Elder Law Committee for the Chicago Bar Association. She is also a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, the Women’s Bar Association and currently serves as an associate delegate to the Coalition of Women's Initiatives in Law. She was awarded the Chancellor’s Award for Pro Bono and Community Service from DePaul University College of Law, and as a member of Chicago Volunteer Legal Services, she continues to prioritize community outreach and giving back in the legal field.

At Chuhak & Tecson, Julie has served on the Associate/Law Clerk Oversight and Professional Education Committees. Julie also acts as an ambassador of the firm's Women Helping Women program.

Outside of the courtroom, Julie enjoys spending time with her husband and young son, as well as seeing her big family for pasta dinners on Sundays. Her other favorite pastimes include yoga and Peloton, visiting the Art Institute of Chicago and seeing her family and friends.