Citywealth Leaders List, 60 seconds interview – Chris Hopkins, Katten

Date: 01 Jul 2026

Karen Jones

This week’s 60 seconds Citywealth Leaders List interview is dedicated to Chris Hopkins, Partner at Katten

Tell Citywealth readers a bit about your role.   

I am a partner in Katten’s Private Wealth practice in Chicago. I advise individuals, families, fiduciaries and family offices on estate planning, tax planning, trust and estate administration, and related succession matters. My practice is focused on helping clients preserve wealth, transfer assets efficiently, and navigate the personal, tax and legal issues that often arise at important inflection points for families and closely held businesses.  I also have experience litigating family and business disputes, which helps me identify potential conflicts early and work proactively to avoid them.

What does a typical day look like for you? 

One of the things I enjoy about this practice is that there is no truly typical day. I may spend part of the day working through a technical estate, gift or generation-skipping transfer tax issue, another part advising a family on succession planning, and another part coordinating with investment advisers, accountants, corporate counsel or fiduciaries. Much of my day is also spent listening to clients, understanding family dynamics, and translating complex planning concepts into practical advice.

Tell us about some recent, interesting client instructions/requests you have received.   

Recent matters have included helping clients plan thoughtfully for second marriages, where the estate planning often needs to balance support for a surviving spouse with the desire to preserve assets for children from a prior relationship. I have also advised clients on the ownership of aircraft, yachts, real estate and other significant assets, including structuring ownership to maintain privacy where appropriate, limit liability, and coordinate the client’s desired use and control of the assets with the most tax-efficient ownership structure possible. These matters are interesting because they require not only technical tax and legal planning, but also a practical understanding of family dynamics, asset protection, privacy and how clients actually live with and use their assets.

What challenges do your clients face and how are you helping your clients to overcome them?   

Clients are facing a combination of tax and market uncertainty, changing family structures, increased privacy concerns and the practical complexity of managing wealth across generations. Many clients know they need to plan, but they do not always know where to start or how to prioritize. I try to help by making the process approachable: identifying the key risks, explaining available options clearly, and developing planning that is technically sound but also workable for the family in real life.

What is your proudest professional achievement? 

My proudest professional achievement is the trust I have been able to build with clients and their advisers over time. In this practice, clients often come to us with deeply personal questions involving family, legacy, taxes, business interests and, at times, conflict. It is especially meaningful when clients tell me that the work we have done gives them comfort and is one less thing they need to worry about. Helping clients reach that sense of clarity and peace of mind is one of the most rewarding parts of my practice.

What do you consider to be the most important attributes for a leader? 

Good leaders are clear, steady and generous with their time. They set expectations, communicate honestly and create space for others to grow. In a professional services environment, I also think the best leaders lead by example: they are responsive, prepared, thoughtful under pressure and willing to take responsibility when things are difficult.

Who do you most admire and why?

There is no one person I would single out. I have been fortunate to learn from a number of mentors throughout my career, as well as from my father. I admire people who combine excellence with humility, integrity and generosity toward others. The best mentors I have had have not only been talented lawyers and professionals, but also people who invested time in teaching, giving honest advice and modeling the kind of judgment and character that I try to bring to my own practice.

Where was the last place you travelled to for work or pleasure? 

Most recently, I travelled with my family to southern Florida. With three young children, travel is not always relaxing in the traditional sense, but it is one of the best ways to step away from work and create memories together.

If you weren’t in this industry, what else might you be doing? 

If I were not in this industry, I would likely still be doing something client-facing that involves advising people, building relationships and solving problems. I could also see myself investing in real estate, or teaching and coaching high school football or hockey. I enjoy working with people, helping them think through decisions, and being part of a team, so I imagine those themes would carry through in whatever path I chose.

How do you relax after a long day? 

I try to spend time with my wife and children, exercise when I can, and play ice hockey. Hockey has always been a great outlet for me because it requires focus, provides a real break from the day, and offers a sense of camaraderie. As a family, we also enjoy getting outside, whether that means going to the beach, taking bike rides, or simply playing at a park.  Especially when the weather cooperates in Chicago.

Katten’s Citywealth Leaders List profile

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