Lucareli heeds law firm’s call after financial services’ career

Listen to this article

Brian Lucareli did not work in a law firm until more than 20 years after graduating from Marquette Law School.

“When I came out of law school, I met with Phil Smith, who was with First Wisconsin Trust, and saw this rare opportunity to take my law school degree and my undergrad degree in economics and put them together to focus on trust management,” said Lucareli, who spent 24 years in the financial services industry before joining Foley & Lardner LLP, Milwaukee, earlier this year as director of fiduciary management. “Trustees really need to understand the complex legal issues involved in trusts along with understanding the assets that are running the trusts.”

Lucareli said he made the decision to switch to a law firm after noticing more clients were choosing their attorneys to run their trusts.

“Their attorneys were their most trusted advisor,” the former senior vice president, director of wealth advisory services for Johnson Bank said, “and I thought it was a good fit to switch gears and help those attorneys with the trust administration.”

At Foley, Lucareli runs Foley PrivateOffice, which provides wealth administration services to the firm’s most affluent clients.

“It’s all about making sure the attorneys have the tools they need to effectively run the trusts,” he said. “I’m able to bring together the financial knowledge along with the legal knowledge about the different vehicles they’re talking about. I also have that background in governance and regulatory issues.”

Since his role at Foley is the first time he’s worked in a law firm since his law school clerkship, Lucareli said it’s been a bit of adjustment, but in a good way.

“Here, the attorneys are all building their own practices, but also are building the Foley brand,” he said. “Understanding the firm’s corporate structure and hierarchy has been one of the most challenging things to get used to, but in a good way.”

Wisconsin Law Journal: If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Brian Lucareli: I wish I had more patience. I’m very driven and it’s been a lifelong challenge to be more patient.

WLJ: What do you think is your biggest accomplishment?
Lucareli: Raising my family and balancing it with a successful career.

WLJ: If you could have drinks with anyone, who would it be?
Lucareli: Pope Francis. Having an espresso with him would be outstanding. Regardless of your religious background, you have to admire what he’s doing and the impact he is having.

WLJ: What was the first concert you attended?
Lucareli: The Eagles Long Run Tour at Alpine Valley. I remember my parents let me go on a school night.

WLJ: If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
Lucareli: The ability to fly.

WLJ: What activity could you spend hours on outside of work?
Lucareli: Improving my golf game.

WLJ: What was the last book that you read?
Lucareli: “Sycamore Row” by John Grisham.

WLJ: What was your favorite toy as a child?
Lucareli: My GI Joes.

WLJ: What’s your favorite thing to do in Wisconsin?
Lucareli: Family vacations on Lake Noquebay in Crivitz.