Erica E. Lord

After more than 20 years providing trust and estate services in large firms, Erica founded Lord Legal Group, LLC to counsel individuals and families in a more personalized, efficient, and cost-effective manner.

With experience serving in a variety of different firms and roles, Erica brings a unique perspective informed by having administered thousands of estates and trusts at various points in time in the life of clients’ estate plans. She works with clients to identify their goals and enjoys finding practical solutions to implementing those goals.

Having started her career as a high school teacher, Erica’s goal is to make estate planning understandable and accessible, regardless of a client’s familiarity with tax rules, financial jargon, or legalese.

In her spare time, Erica enjoys traveling to remote locations and spending time with her family and friends in and around The Great Lakes.

SELECTED EXPERIENCE:

  • Chief Fiduciary Officer, BNY Wealth - Responsible for the delivery and oversight of all trust and estate services of one of the largest trust companies in the United States

  • Chief Fiduciary Officer, Northern Trust Global Family & Private Investment Offices and The Northern Trust Company of Delaware

  • Assistant General Counsel, Northern Trust

  • Senior Trust Advisor, The Northern Trust Company

  • Trusts & Estates Attorney with Reed Smith LLP; Sachnoff & Weaver Ltd.; and Lord, Bissell & Brook, LLP

EDUCATION:

  • J.D. with honors - The George Washington University, Washington, DC

  • B.A. with high honors - Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

EDUCATION:

  • Erica is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), a peer-elected community of trust and estate attorneys and law professors selected for their professionalism and contributions to the legal profession. ACTEC Fellows are at the top of their profession, committed to maintaining excellence in the trust and estate legal field and to continually improving the practice of trust and estate law.

  • Erica serves as Secretary and Board Member for the Chicago Estate Planning Council, one of the largest estate planning councils in the nation.

  • Member, Illinois Bar Association

  • Member of the Bar of the Illinois Supreme Court and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

View Erica's CV