Suzanne L. Shier is the Director of Wealth Planning and Tax Strategy for Personal Financial Services at Northern Trust. In this capacity, she is responsible for leading the Personal Financial Services wealth planning groups and for providing thought leadership on federal tax issues of interest to clients, with a special emphasis on tax policy and legislation, charitable giving, cross-border taxation and fiduciary law.

Prior to joining Northern Trust, Shier spent 26 years as a partner at Chapman and Cutler LLP. Most recently, she led the firm’s Trusts and Estates Practice Group, representing individuals, charitable organizations, and corporate fiduciaries in a full range of estate planning and fiduciary services, including cross-border planning, and fiduciary administration matters.

Shier is an adjunct professor in the Master of Laws in Taxation Program at Northwestern University Law School and also a frequent speaker and author. She has received numerous professional honors and recognitions.

Shier earned her bachelor’s degree with distinction in economics and sociology from the University of Michigan in 1982. She received her law degree, cum laude, from the Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 1985 and a master of laws in taxation from the DePaul University College of Law in 1997.

In the Chicago civic community, Shier is actively involved in many women’s, diversity and education initiatives, including serving on the Executive Committees and the Boards of Directors of Gads Hill Center and the Chicago Coalition of Women’s Initiatives in Law and as Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Chicago Scholars.

She is also a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and a member of the international Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.