In Memoriam: Brian J. Hurst

Meet Brian Hurst

Brian J. Hurst has been a partner since 2007 and has limited his practice to matrimonial and family law since entering the legal profession. Some of Mr. Hurst’s notable court room successes include a novel argument recognizing the accumulated earnings of a closely held non-marital corporation as marital property and, on two separate occasions, an award of sole custody to a client whom the court-appointed expert and the client’s own controlled expert recommended custody to the other parent.
Mr. Hurst was also recognized by Law Bulletin Publishing in 2009 as one of 40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch.

Brian J. Hurst earned both his Juris Doctor and Master of Social Work degrees from Loyola University Chicago. Prior to founding his own firm in 2007, Hurst was a partner at the boutique matrimonial firm of Stein & Stein, Ltd. Before joining the Stein firm, Hurst was a senior associate at the prominent firm of Rosenfeld, Hafron, Shapiro & Farmer, where he gained extensive trial experience in complex financial and child custody litigation.

In addition to his substantial experience as a trial attorney, Mr. Hurst has successfully argued in both the Illinois Appellate Courts and the Illinois Supreme Court (a rarity in family law cases). He has also lectured extensively on family law issues.

Some of Mr. Hurst’s notable court room successes include a novel argument recognizing the accumulated earnings of a closely held non-marital corporation as marital property and, on two separate occasions, an award of sole custody to a client whom the court-appointed expert and the client’s own controlled expert recommended custody to the other parent.

Drawing on his experience and education in the mental health field, Mr. Hurst is sensitive to the unique psychological aspects inherent in matrimonial and family law cases and adroit at utilizing those skills for the benefit of his clients.

Areas of Practice

• Family Law
• Complex Settlement and Litigation
• Negotiating Marital Settlement Agreement and Custody Agreements
• Complex Financial Issues, including asset tracing
• Civil Unions
• High Net-Worth Divorce
• Legal Separation
• Maintenance or alimony, including modifications to existing maintenance agreements
• Prenuptial, post-nuptial, and cohabitation agreements
• Property Division
• Child custody, including modifications to child custody, and non-parental custody
• Child Support and Medications to Child Support
• Grandparent Visitation
• Paternity
• Removal
• Domestic Violence and Orders of Protection
• International Cases

Education

• Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Chicago, Illinois
  • Juris Doctor
• Loyola University Chicago
  • Master of Social Work

Honors and Awards

• Recognized as one of 40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch, Law Bulletin Publishing, 2009
• Super Lawyers – 2024, 2025, 2026

Bar Admissions

• Illinois State Bar – 2000

Past Employment Positions

• Stein & Stein, Ltd, Partner
• Rosenfeld, Hafron, Shapiro & Farmer, Senior Associate