Attorney Certified Specialist

• Mar 2020 - Present

Attorney Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Law

• Jan 2020 - Present

Managing Attorney

• Aug 2018 - Mar 2020

Elder Law and Estate Planning Attorney

• Mar 2016 - Aug 2018

Estate Planning:*Revocable Living Trusts, simple to complex.*IRA Inheritance Trusts.*Special Needs Trusts, 1st and 3rd party.*Medi-Cal and VA benefits planning, including Medi-Cal applications, Medi-Cal Asset Protection Trusts, Veteran’s Asset Protection Trusts, asset preservation transfers, and PC 3100 petitions.*Estate planning for California Firearms owners

Trust & Estate Attorney, Partner

• Jun 2006 - Feb 2016

ESTATE PLANNING: I have provided estate planning services to scores of clients, using all of the following tools:Revocable Trusts and WillsIrrevocable Trusts, especially Bypass Trusts, QDOTs, and QTIPsNon-probate transfers such as Joint Tenancies, POD Designations, small estates, etc.Durable Powers of AttorneyAdvance Health Care DirectivesVarious methods to minimize or eliminate taxes, including real property taxes, capital gains taxes, estate taxes, generation-skipping taxes, and income taxesSpecial Needs TrustsAsset protection strategiesPROBATE CASES: I have acted as the lead attorney in dozens of probate cases, including cases with threatened foreclosures, short-sales, creditor contests, clouds on title, absconding, removal and surcharge of Person Rep, homeowner’s insurance disputes, will ambiguities, lost wills, holographic wills, heirship contests, double probates, ancillary probates, insolvent estates, tax liens, and abandoned probates. I enjoy court accountings.TRUST ADMINISTRATIONS: I have acted as the lead attorney in dozens of post-mortem trust administrations, most of which were non-contested. My emphasis is on protecting the trustee by helping him/her understand and fulfill all applicable duties.When court involvement has been necessary, I have represented petitioners in appointments of trustee, Heggstad petitions, 850 petitions settling title or possession issues, approvals of accounting, petitions for instructions, and many other matters under PC 17200 et seq.CONSERVATORSHIPS and GUARDIANSHIPS: While I have, on occasion, been appointed to represent wards and conservatees, I usually represent the conservator or guardian. Some cases have included real property management issues, Medi-Cal spend-downs, and contested Durable Powers of Attorney for finances and health care.

Trust and Estate Attorney

• 2003 - 2006

Provided estate planning services to clients with estates up to $20 million. Represented trustees, executors, and conservators in court proceedings. Directed the administration of multi-million dollar trusts at first and second deaths. Worked extensively on the start-up of a company providing support services to trust and estate law firms. Provided estate planning services to clients with estates up to $20 million. Represented trustees, executors, and conservators in court proceedings. Directed the administration of multi-million dollar trusts at first and second deaths. Worked extensively on the start-up of a company providing support services to trust and estate law firms.

Board of Directors Member

• Jul 1995 - Jun 2001

Served on Board of non-profit corporation providing student housing at UC Berkeley. Provided legal advice regarding seismic safety requirements, insurance, landlord-tenant law, construction contracting and directors’ liabilities. Represented corporation in city permitting process, including appearances before applicable local government board. Served on Board of non-profit corporation providing student housing at UC Berkeley. Provided legal advice regarding seismic safety requirements, insurance, landlord-tenant law, construction contracting and directors’ liabilities. Represented corporation in city permitting process, including appearances before applicable local government board.

Contract Manager (International Contract Negotiator and Contract Administrator)

• 1997 - 2001

Negotiated, drafted, and directed administration of 50+ sales contracts for telecommunications network deployments, with values of $10 million to $500 million. 15% of contracts written in Spanish. Provided ad-hoc contract interpretations and legal advice to purchasing, program management, and sales teams. Shared 1998 award from Lucent Wireless Business Unit for "World's Most Profitable Contract." Represented Lucent in disputes with customers. Deployed standardized change control process across 30 program management teams. Completed George Washington University certifications in both Contract Management and Program Management.

Litigation Paralegal

• 1989 - 1992

Paralegal on large banking litigation team, including deposition and trial preparation, document management and factual investigations. Paralegal on large banking litigation team, including deposition and trial preparation, document management and factual investigations.