UC Hastings College of the Law

UC Santa Barbara

Partner at Keystone Law Group, P.C.

Los Angeles, California, United States

Keystone Law Group, P.C.

Partner

Of Counsel

Partner with the firm where responsibilities included:

-  Representation of individuals, fiduciaries, life insurance companies, and non-profit organizations in all manner of trust and estate litigation including the prosecution and defense of Petitions for Instructions, Contested Conservatorships (Probate and LPS), Fiduciary Accountings, Heggstad/850 Petitions, Petitions for Probate, and Trust Contests.

-  Conducting all phases of litigation from start to finish including trial (e.g., LPS jury trial to verdict, quiet title court trials to verdict, contested probate, trust and conservatorship hearings to judgment); draft and argue law and motion; take and defend depositions; draw up pleadings including petitions, complaints, answers, and objections; prepare written discovery; negotiate for clients at mediations and mandatory settlement conferences.

-  Arguing before the state Court of Appeal and prepare appellate briefing, including for matters that became published opinions (see e.g., Urick v. Urick (2017) 15 Cal.App.5th 1182); draft successful Ninth Circuit briefing in varied areas of the law.

-  Counseling executors, trustees, and conservators (person and estate) regarding fiduciary obligations and assist in preparation of reports and accountings.

-  Estate planning including preparation of Living Trusts, Wills, and Powers of Attorney.

Meserve, Mumper & Hughes LLP

Representation of casualty insurance carriers, transit companies, waste management providers, and businesses in civil litigation matters including drafting of legal briefing and pleadings, preparing written discovery, strategizing with partners, second chair trials.

Skinner & Hagopian, LLP

Associate Attorney

Litigate toxic tort, asbestos, and personal injury matters including management of large caseload, taking and defending numerous depositions, preparing legal briefing, and drafting and responding to motions for summary judgment.

Cliff Melnick