Experience 

Scott McCue is a trust and tax planning lawyer, whose practice increasingly focuses on work for not-for-profit organizations, including large public charities, private foundations and healthcare organizations.  He gives advice to private foundations and public charities regarding tax and governance issues, compliance matters, and dispute resolution.  Currently his clients include more than 20 private foundations ranging in asset size from less than $1 million to more than $1 billion.

Scott also does sophisticated tax and estate planning work for individuals and families, many of whom have philanthropic connections – either through their own private foundations or through board memberships with charitable organizations.  His estate planning work involves preparation and implementation of wills, trusts, and partnerships.  He also counsels closely held businesses, family partnerships and private foundations on issues relating to control and governance.

In matters involving dispute resolution, Scott represents charitable organizations, fiduciaries and individuals in litigation relating to will contests, competency, and undue influence issues, will and trust construction, alleged breaches of fiduciary responsibilities, and alleged fraud.

Chambers USA 2009 ranks Scott again as among the top “band one” wealth management lawyers in the US.   Clients have been previously quoted by Chambers as saying, "'He is one of the smartest planners I know'...'marvelous and talented'" (2007), and who call him "...'wonderful and smart'" (2006).  Scott was the 2000 recipient of the Chicago Estate Planning Council’s Austin G. Fleming Distinguished Service Award, given annually to a member of the Chicago estate planning community who exemplifies a lifetime of achievement in the field.  Scott is one of the few practicing lawyers who have been recipients.  Scott has also received the following honors, "Leading Lawyers in Illinois, 2009": Association & Non-Profit Law; Tax Law: Business; and Trusts, Wills & Estate Planning Law (Top Ten Trust, Will & Estate Lawyers in Illinois); The Best Lawyers in America, 2009:  Non-Profit/Charities Law; Trusts and Estates; Illinois SuperLawyers, 2010: Non-Profit.

Scott joined Mayer Brown in 1975.  He previously practiced briefly with a large Boston law firm, and for three years with the US Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps.

Education 

Harvard Law School, JD, cum laude, 1971 • Princeton University, AB, 1968; Princeton University Scholar; Phi Beta Kappa

Admitted

• Illinois, 1975
• Massachusetts, 1971