Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres Welcomes Joshua Abern to Chair Private Client Services and Family Enterprise Practices
CHICAGO, May 19, 2026 – Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres (“CFDB”) today announced that Joshua Abern has joined the Firm as a Partner and will chair its Private Client Services and Family Enterprise practices, further strengthening CFDB’s private client capabilities for ultra-high-net-worth clients and multigenerational family enterprises. CFDB continues its growth as one of the nation’s largest and fastest-growing certified women-owned law firms.
Abern concentrates his practice in trust and estate planning and administration, business succession planning, trust and estate litigation, income taxation, philanthropic matters, and the creation and operation of family offices. He combines deep technical experience in tax, trust, and estate law with operational leadership and strategic judgment, offering clients practical guidance across complex family, business, investment, and philanthropic structures.
Abern most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of a family office supporting an ultrahigh-net-worth family, as well as its business interests and philanthropic activities. In that role, he coordinated legal, financial, administrative, investment, and advisory functions, bringing an operator’s perspective to complex family enterprise matters.
Prior to that position, Abern spent nearly a decade as General Counsel at another family office serving two ultra-high-net-worth families. He advised on ownership structures, philanthropic entities, regulated private trust companies, and investment vehicles, while helping principals and advisors translate sophisticated planning objectives into practical execution.
“Josh’s arrival represents an important expansion of CFDB’s platform for families, founders, family enterprises, and closely held businesses,” said Patrick Croke, CoFounder and CEO of Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres. “He understands not only the legal and tax issues that matter to these clients, but also the operational, governance, and interpersonal dynamics that make this work so important. We are thrilled to welcome him to the Firm.”
180 N. LaSalle Street • Suite 3400 • Chicago, IL 60601 “Josh brings a rare combination of technical legal excellence and hands-on family office leadership,” said Lisa Duarte, Partner and Co-Chair of the Management Committee at Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres. “His experience advising ultra-high-net-worth families, overseeing sophisticated investment and ownership structures, and helping families preserve and transition wealth across generations will meaningfully enhance our ability to serve our existing family office and private client base.”
Earlier in his career, Abern practiced law with several firms in Chicago, where he focused on trust and estate planning, tax strategy, corporate transactions, and litigation. He earned his LL.M. in Taxation from Northwestern University and his J.D. from Loyola University Chicago. His technical background and pragmatic approach enable him to advise clients on complex investment structures, succession planning, trust and estate administration, fiduciary disputes, and family enterprise governance.
“CFDB’s entrepreneurial culture and sophisticated client base make it an ideal home for a practice focused on families, family offices, and family enterprises,” said Josh Abern. “I am excited to work with my new colleagues to help clients navigate complex legal, tax, governance, and succession issues with judgment, discretion, and practical execution.”
About Croke Fairchild and Point of Difference Strategies
A full-service law firm, Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres (“CFDB”) is home to a diverse team of trusted advisors valued for their legal skill, intellectual curiosity, and commitment to pragmatic solutions. The Firm advises entrepreneurs, investors, growth-stage companies, family offices, family businesses, and Fortune 500 companies, and is one of the largest and fastest-growing certified women-owned law firms in the nation. CFDB is a member of the National Association of Minority and Women-Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF).
CFDB’s lobbying and government affairs partner is Point of Difference Strategies. Point of Difference Strategies is a lobbying firm in Illinois, with offices in Chicago and Springfield. Specializing in strategic advice, advocacy and relationship management, Point of Difference Strategies offers top-tier government affairs and lobbying services at federal, state, and local levels. Point of Difference Strategies proudly serves a diverse client base, including local governments, trade organizations, Fortune 100 companies and non-profits. Point of Difference Strategies is the largest wholly Latina-owned lobbying firm in Illinois. For more information, visit www.podstrategies.com.