Harrison LLP Achieves Coast-to-Coast Private Wealth Law Presence with New California Office

San Francisco Bay Area expansion through the joining of an 11-attorney team from Barulich Dugoni Suttmann & Cummins marks Harrison's third office opening in seven months amid an accelerated national growth strategy.

CHICAGO, Aug. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Harrison LLP, a premier national private wealth planning law firm, today announced the opening of its new office in the San Francisco Bay Area. With this strategic addition, Harrison officially becomes a coast-to-coast operation, marking a significant milestone in the firm's growth and geographic reach. The office is anchored by an 11-attorney team, formerly of Barulich Dugoni Suttman & Cummins Law Group, Inc. (BDSC), a leading California estate planning firm known for its expertise in complex estate planning, trust administration, and litigation.

Founded in 2003 in Chicago, Harrison has grown rapidly in the last five years – from 47 attorneys and four offices to over 100 attorneys and 12 offices across the country, including recent 2025 expansions into Washington, D.C., and Highland Park, Illinois. These additions reflect the firm's vision to continue building the nation's premier trusts and estates firm—the only one of its kind with a truly national footprint. With the integration of the BDSC team, Harrison enters one of the most important legal markets in the country with a deep bench of talent and a shared commitment to excellence.

"Our move into California is another defining step in advancing our national vision of serving clients wherever they build their lives and legacies, delivering on the trust they and their advisors place in us," said Matthew J. Madsen, managing partner of Harrison LLP. "This team's arrival brings real capability in community property planning, estate planning and trust administration, fiduciary litigation, and private wealth disputes. It strengthens our national platform in all the ways that matter."

Leading the new office will be partners Chelsea J. Suttmann and James R. Cummins, who formerly served as BDSC shareholders and directors.

Suttmann counsels family business owners on estate planning, business succession planning, and business formation and maintenance matters. She also provides counsel to high-net-worth individuals and families regarding lifetime and post-death gifting, estate tax considerations, and asset protection strategies.

Cummins is a seasoned litigator who represents trustees, executors, personal representatives, and attorneys-in-fact in actions involving financial elder abuse, accusations of trust mismanagement, breaches of fiduciary duty, and contests to wills and trusts. He has successfully represented clients in numerous high-stakes trust and estates cases.

In a joint statement, Suttmann and Cummins remarked: "Joining Harrison LLP allows us to maintain the personal relationships and local insight that have defined our practice for more than 35 years, while offering our clients the benefits of a national platform with extraordinary depth in estate and tax law. We are thrilled to become part of a team that shares our values and vision for the future of private wealth planning."

As Harrison crosses the threshold into California, it does so with a strong foundation. The firm's leadership in the field is reflected in its 17 Fellows of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) – a ratio that ranks among the highest based on firm size.

In the recent 2025 Chambers High Net Worth Guide, the firm ranked in five markets, with ten Harrison partners individually ranked across Private Wealth Law and Family/Matrimonial: High Net Worth.

Harrison was also recently recognized in Best Lawyers' 2025 edition of Best Law Firms in the following practice areas: Trusts & Estates Law, Tax Law, Litigation – Trusts & Estates, Family Law, Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law.

Beyond client service, Harrison invests heavily in talent development through a robust in-house lawyer training program, a dedicated Paralegal Academy, and ongoing contributions to national estate planning conferences such as Heckerling Institute and ACTEC, and publications like Tax Advisor and Trusts & Estates magazine.

The California expansion also comes ahead of Harrison's inaugural "Harrison Helps Day of Giving" on September 10, during which all twelve offices will partner with local nonprofits to address food insecurity in their communities.

As Harrison marks this milestone and extends its geographic reach to the West Coast, its focus remains on delivering exceptional counsel and building lasting client relationships grounded in trust, technical strength, and a deep understanding of family dynamics. This new office is not only a growth story – it is a strategic step in fulfilling the firm's mission to provide clients with seamless, comprehensive private wealth solutions wherever they live and work.

The new California office officially opened on August 4. It is located at 111 Anza Boulevard, Suite 200, Burlingame, CA 94010. For more information, visit harrisonllp.com.

About Harrison LLP

Harrison LLP is a national law firm that assists clients in defining and achieving their private wealth goals, delivering peace of mind through sophisticated and practical legal counsel. The firm stands at the forefront of estate planning, distinguished as one of the nation's premier trusts and estates firms. The firm advises fiduciaries, families, and family offices on tax matters, asset structuring and succession planning. Clients who choose Harrison benefit from a highly personalized experience. Harrison does not just plan estates; the firm secures legacies, protects assets, and provides peace of mind for generations to come. Learn more at www.harrisonllp.com.

SOURCE Harrison LLP