Education

• Loyola University Chicago School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, Alpha Sigma Nu, 2015
• Washington University, B.A., 2010

Bar Admissions

• Illinois

• Chicago Estate Planning Council (CEPC)
• Workshops and Fundamentals Committee Chair, 2023-2024
• Workshops and Roundtables Subcommittee Co-Chair, 2022-2023
• Emerging Members Program (now known as Emerging Leaders Program) Participant, 2019-2020
• American Technion Society – Chicago, Technion Innovators Program Participant, 2022-2023

• Assisted clients with a variety of transactions to maximize use of gift exemption amounts and other planning in anticipation of potential changes in the law. 
• Aided clients with reorganizations of closely-held companies to accomplish family goals in the most tax-efficient manner.
• Advised clients with respect to Section 1202 qualified small business stock (QSBS) and implementation of gifts.
• Advised clients on charitable planning, including the creation of charitable lead annuity trusts.
• Worked extensively on limited liability company and other agreements among family members.
• Analyzed related party rules under Internal Revenue Code Sections 318 and 1563 and other related Code Sections.
• Counseled clients with respect to the employee retention tax credit and analyzed clients’ specific eligibility for the credit.
• Analyzed excise tax on executive compensation under Section 4960.
• Assisted clients with determination of whether subject to Bureau of Economic Analysis Benchmark Survey of U.S. Direct Investment Abroad (BE-10) reporting requirement.

• Gould & Ratner Attorneys Named to 2025 Best Lawyers and “Ones to Watch” Lists, U.S. News, August 15, 2024
• Gould & Ratner Selects Practice Chairs, Vice-Chairs, February 18, 2024
• Gould & Ratner Named to 2024 U.S. News Best Lawyers and “Ones to Watch” Lists, August 17, 2023
• Gould & Ratner Represented JJD Management in the Acquisition of Metaltec, October 20, 2022
• Gould & Ratner Named to 2023 U.S. News Best Lawyers and “Ones to Watch” Lists, August 18, 2022
• Gould & Ratner Represented CC Industries in the Acquisition of Central Indiana Ethanol, December 22, 2021
• Seven Gould & Ratner Attorneys Elevated to Partner, December 1, 2021
• Gould & Ratner Named to 2022 U.S. News Best Lawyers and “Ones to Watch” Lists, August 20, 2021
• Amy Blumenthal and Ilana Bley Recognized in Best Lawyers' “Women in the Law” Business Edition for 2021, Best Lawyers, June 4, 2021
• Ilana Schwartz Bley Joins Gould & Ratner, November 19, 2017

• Fred Tannenbaum, Jennifer Tolsky and Ilana Bley Participated in an AICC Tax Seminar, December 7, 2021
• Ilana Bley Moderated a CEPC Fundamentals Course, February 17, 2021
• Ilana Schwartz Bley Participated in a CEPC Panel at the John Marshall Law School, April 17, 2019

• National Estate Planning Awareness Week , October 23, 2024
• IRS Issues Proposed Regulations Affecting Inherited Retirement Accounts Under the SECURE Act , April 26, 2022
• IRS Issues Guidance on Termination of Employee Retention Credit , December 8, 2021
• Infrastructure Bill Includes Termination of Employee Retention Tax Credit , November 11, 2021
• Proposed Federal Tax Changes Take Aim at Wealthy Businesses and Individuals , October 7, 2021
• Potential Changes Coming to Grantor Trust Rules , October 6, 2021
• IRS Issues Additional Guidance for Claiming the Employee Retention Tax Credit , August 9, 2021
• Pending Changes to Illinois Tax Laws Include SALT Workaround , June 4, 2021
• IRS Issues Guidance for Claiming the Employee Retention Credit for the First Half of 2021 , April 6, 2021
• IRS Extends Federal Income Tax Filing Deadline for Individuals to May 17 , March 22, 2021
• IRS Issues Guidance for Employers Claiming 2020 Employee Retention Credit , March 17, 2021
• Stimulus Bill Increases Deduction Amount for Most Business Meals , January 14, 2021
• Employee Retention Tax Credit Extended and Expanded , December 23, 2020
• Federal Gift and GST Tax Returns and Payments Due Date Delayed Until July 15 , April 1, 2020
• COVID-19 Disaster Relief Payments to Employees Not Considered Taxable Income by IRS , March 31, 2020
• Ownership of Foreign Assets May Require Filing of Form BE-10 , February 19, 2020
• New Year Brings New Rules for Retirement Accounts , January 2, 2020
• Beneficiary's Residency Not Enough for State To Tax Trust, Supreme Court Rules , June 21, 2019
• Opportunity Zone Program Offers Attractive Tax Benefits for Long-Term Investors , November 6, 2018