Counsel - Trusts and Estates

Based in Los Angeles (90017 area), with nearly a thousand attorneys across multiple offices globally, we are an AM 100 firm that provides comprehensive advisory, litigation, and transactional services to clients worldwide. Known for our high-caliber legal representation and advanced delivery capabilities, our firm handles complex challenges and opportunities, from navigating intricate litigation to negotiating transformational deals.

• Provide sophisticated counsel on trust and estate planning, probate administrations, and charitable planning for a diverse client base, including individuals, families, family offices, and multinational corporations.
• Advise on wealth transfer techniques, including GRATs, CRUTs, Dynasty Trusts, and tax-efficient methods of charitable giving, with a focus on minimizing tax implications and protecting assets.
• Oversee post-death administration, including probate and trust administration, Heggstad petitions, affidavits, sub-trust funding, and accountings.
• Guide clients in tax planning, including reporting gift and estate tax transactions, preparation of Forms 709 and 706, asset valuation, and GST tax issues.
• Collaborate with other practice areas (tax, real estate, corporate, securities, employee benefits, litigation) to provide comprehensive service to clients.
• Manage complex family dynamics and sensitive issues in the administration and litigation of trusts and estates.
• Assist with litigation, including drafting petitions, responses, motions, discovery, depositions, and trial preparation.
• Cultivate long-term relationships with clients, often representing multiple generations within the same family.

Qualifications:

• JD and CA Bar Admission
• Portable Book of Business Strongly Preferred
• 8 years of experience in high-end trust and estate planning, administration, and litigation.
• Strong knowledge of basic planning, including will and trust preparation, probate avoidance, and wealth transfer techniques (e.g., GRATs, CRUTs, IDGTs, Dynasty Trusts).
• Experience with post-death administration, including probate, trust administration, sub-trust funding, and estate tax reporting.
• Proficient in counseling on charitable planning, including the establishment of charitable foundations and tax-effective charitable giving.
• Experience in trust and estate litigation, including drafting petitions, responses, motions, discovery, depositions, and trial participation.