Joseph M. Higgins

Joe Higgins is a business lawyer and partner with Foley & Lardner LLP in its Estates & Trusts Practice.

Joe focuses his practice primarily on estate planning and administration, representing owners of closely-held businesses, private equity fund principals and other ultra-high net worth individuals and their families across the country in connection with tax-efficient wealth transfers, charitable giving and business succession planning. Joe has extensive experience using sophisticated estate planning strategies and structures for these purposes.

Speaking Engagements

• "Business Succession Planning and Philanthropy," Wisconsin Association of Charitable Gift Planners (2022)
• “42nd Annual Estate Planning Update 2021: Recent Developments in Estate Planning,” State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE
• “41st Annual Estate Planning Update 2020: Recent Developments in Estate Planning,” State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE
• "Tax Fundamentals for Estate Planning Attorneys, Course," National Business Institute (2020)
• "Step-Up Basis in Trusts, Estates & LLCs, Course," National Business Institute (2020)
• "Greater North Shore Estate and Financial Planning Council" (2018)
• "Notre Dame Tax & Estate Planning Institute" (2017)

Affiliations

• Member, Leadership Greater Madison
• Member, Madison Estate Planning Council
• Member, Wisconsin Association of Charitable Gift Planners
• Former member, The Young Professional Advisory Committee for The Chicago Community Trust
• Former member, New Practitioners Committee for Trusts & Estates Magazine

Publications

• “BDIT 2701: Avoiding Section 2701 by Selling Carried Interest Directly to Beneficiary Defective Inheritor’s Trust,” Estate Planning Magazine
• “Transfer Tax Playbook,” Trusts & Estates Magazine
• "Tricky GST Issues," Bloomberg BNA
• Contributor, "Year in Review" and "E-Newsletter" Trust & Estates Magazine
• Contributor, "The Complete Estate Planning Sourcebook," Wolters Kluwer
• "Monthly Tax Law Update," Hennepin County Bar Association

Education

• University of Wisconsin Law School
• Carthage College
  • Major: accounting

Admissions

• Florida
• Illinois (ARDC)
• Minnesota
• Wisconsin