California Estate Planning Authors' Bios

RICHARD S. AIELLO is a sole practitioner in Concord. He received his A.B in 1980 from the University of California (Berkeley), and his J.D. in 1983 from the University of California School of Law (Boalt Hall). Mr. Aiello is certified as a specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization..

ALAN LEIGH ARMSTRONG is a sole practitioner in Huntington Beach. His practice emphasizes estate planning, conservatorships, wills, and trusts. Mr. Armstrong received his B.A. in physics in 1967 from the University of California (Riverside), and his J.D. in 1984 from Western State University. He is an Adjunct Professor of Law at Trinity Law School, where he teaches Wills, Trusts, and Estate Planning. He has been president of the West Orange County Bar Association and is a member of the Christian Legal Society and the Orange County Bar Association.

JAMES R. BIRNBERG is of counsel in the Century City office of Loeb & Loeb LLP. He received his B.A. in history in 1961 from Pomona College, and his M.A. in history in 1962 from Stanford University, where he was a Woodrow Wilson Scholar. Mr. Birnberg received his J.D. in 1965 from the University of California School of Law (Boalt Hall). His practice focuses on estate planning; probate and trust administration; postmortem planning; death, gift, and fiduciary income taxation; and real property tax as it pertains to estate planning, probate, and trust administration. Prior to joining Loeb & Loeb in 1980, Mr. Birnberg was a staff attorney with the California State Controller’s Office, Inheritance and Gift Taxation Division. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and a past member of the Executive Committees of the Taxation Section and Trusts and Estates Section of the State Bar of California.

FRAYDA L. BRUTON is a member of California Trust and Estate Counselors LLP in Sacramento. She received her B.A. from Wayne State University. She received her J.D. in 1985 and LL.M. in 1987 from McGeorge School of Law. Ms. Bruton is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and is a board-certified specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law. She is currently Vice-Chair of the Sacramento County Bar Probate and Estate Planning Section. Ms. Bruton is a frequent author and speaker on various estate planning topics, including ethics and change-in-ownership rules, and is coauthor of CEB’s Post-Mortem Trust Administration Outline (1994). She is a former member of the Executive Committee of the California State Bar Trusts and Estates Section.

RICHARD BURGER is a sole practitioner in Petaluma, specializing in estate planning and administration. He received his B.A. in 1979 from Sonoma State University, and his J.D. in 1983 from the University of California School of Law (Boalt Hall). Mr. Burger is certified as a specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.

THEODORE E. CALLETON practices estate planning in Pasadena. He received his B.A. in 1956 from Yale University, and his LL.B. in 1962 from Columbia University. Mr. Calleton has taught in the Masters programs at USC and Golden Gate University, and is currently an adjunct professor of law at Loyola Law School, Los Angeles. He has authored or coauthored various estate planning books and articles as well as Calleton’s Wills & Trusts, a computerized form drafting system. Mr. Calleton is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and an Academician of the International Academy of Estate and Trust Law. He is a former Chair of the Los Angeles County Bar Tax and Probate Sections and has served on the UCLA-CEB Estate Planning Institute Advisory Board since its inception. He received the Dana Latham Memorial Award from the Los Angeles County Bar Tax Section in 1996.

SANDRA J. CHAN is a sole practitioner in Santa Barbara, specializing in estate planning, trusts, and probate law. She is also of counsel in the firm of Perkins Coie LLP in Santa Monica. Ms. Chan received her B.A. in 1976 from the University of California (Los Angeles), and her J.D. in 1979 from the University of California School of Law (Davis). She is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. Ms. Chan is a former member of the Executive Committee of the Trusts and Estates Section of the State Bar of California and served as Editor of the Estate Planning Trust & Probate News (now the California Trusts and Estates Quarterly).

MONICA DELL’OSSO is a partner in the firm of Burnham Brown in Oakland, where she heads the Trust and Estate Planning Practice Group. She received her B.A. in 1971 from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College, her J.D. in 1981 from the University of California School of Law (Boalt Hall), and a Ph.D. in history in 1989 from the University of Virginia. Ms. Dell’Osso is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, and is a past chair of the Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Law Section of the Alameda County Bar Association. She is a member of the Advisory Board of the UCLA-CEB Estate Planning Institute and a former member of the Executive Committee of the Trusts and Estates Section of the State Bar of California. She is certified as a specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.

JEFFREY A. DENNIS-STRATHMEYER received his B.A. in 1967 from Stanford University, and his J.D. in 1973 from the University of California School of Law (Davis). He has served as the legal editor of the CEB Estate Planning and California Probate Reporter since 1982 and is certified as a specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. He is the author of more than 40 published articles and book chapters on estate planning topics.

ERIK DRYBURGH is a member of Silk, Adler & Colvin in San Francisco, specializing in charitable giving, estate planning and nonprofit organizations. He received his B.A. in 1977 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and his J.D. in 1981 from the University of California School of Law (Boalt Hall). Mr. Dryburgh is a member of the Board of Directors of the Northern California Planned Giving Council.

JON J. GALLO is a member of Greenberg Glusker Fields Claman Machtinger & Kinsella LLP in Los Angeles. He received his B.A. in 1964 from Occidental College, and his J.D. in 1967 from the University of California School of Law (Los Angeles). He is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and an Academician of the International Academy of Estate and Trust Law. Mr. Gallo is the former chair of the UCLA-CEB Estate Planning Institute. He is certified as a specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. He has authored more than 75 published articles, treatises, and monographs on all aspects of estate planning. He and his wife Eileen Gallo are coauthors of the book Silver Spoon Kids—a guide for educating the children of affluent parents about money. He formerly chaired the American Bar Association’s Committee on Life Insurance Planning.

STEVEN MURRAY GOLDBERG is a partner in the firm of Friedemann O’Brien Goldberg & Zarian LLP in their Santa Rosa office, specializing in estate planning, tax, trust and estate administration, and business law. He received his B.A. in 1979 from California State University, San Jose, and his J.D. in 1984 from the University of California School of Law (Boalt Hall). He is a member of the Taxation and Trusts and Estates Sections of the California State Bar. Mr. Goldberg is certified as a specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.

LEAH V. GRANOF is in private practice in Encino. She concentrates her practice on legal problems of the elderly, clients facing long-term illness or disability, Medi-Cal asset preservation, and trust disputes. Ms. Granof received her undergraduate degree from the University of Southern California, and her J.D. from the San Fernando Valley College of Law. She has served as member and advisor of the Executive Committee of the Trusts and Estates Section of the State Bar of California and has chaired its Incapacity Committee and Elder Law Subcommittee. Ms. Granof is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and the California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform (CANHR). She is founder and two-term president of the Southern California Council of Elder Law Attorneys (SCCELA). Ms. Granof is a frequent lecturer for CEB, participates in attorney training seminars for CANHR and speaks regularly at senior centers, nursing homes, caregiver centers, and to professional groups on government benefits and comprehensive planning for aging and incapacity. She is a three-time recipient of the State Bar Board of Governors Wiley W. Manuel Award for Pro Bono Legal Services.

SUSAN T. HOUSE is a member of the firm of Hahn & Hahn LLP in Pasadena. Her practice focuses on estate planning, conservatorships, and probate and trust administration. She received her A.B. in 1971 from Wellesley College, and her J.D. in 1975 from the University of California School of Law (Los Angeles). She has been a speaker at the USC Probate and Trust Conference, the USC Tax Institute, and the UCLA-CEB Estate Planning Institute, and is on the planning committee of the USC Tax Institute and the UCLA-CEB Estate Planning Institute. Ms. House is coauthor of the second edition of California Conservatorships and Guardianships and its annual supplements, and was co-editor with Bruce S. Ross of The Guide to the California Rules of Professional Conduct for Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Counsel published by the Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law Section of the California State Bar. A Fellow of the American College of Probate Counsel, she is past California State Chair and is currently on the Board of Regents. Ms. House is certified as a specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. She is past Chair of the Trusts and Estates Section (formerly the Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law Section) of the California State Bar, a member of the Executive Committee of that Section, and a former Editor of California Trusts & Estates Quarterly.

RICHARD S. KINYON is a partner in the San Francisco firm of Morrison & Foerster, LLP, where he specializes in tax, estate planning, and estate and trust administration. He received his B.A. in 1961, and his LL.B. in 1965 from the University of Minnesota and was President of the Minnesota Law Review. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, an Academician of the International Academy of Estate and Trust Law, and a member of the American Law Institute. He is also a member of the Advisory Board of the UCLA-CEB Estate Planning Institute. Mr. Kinyon was a member of the Probate and Trust Law Committee of the State Bar of California (1974–1977) and a member of the Board of Directors (1974–1981) and President (1980–1981) of the San Francisco Estate Planning Council. He is certified as a specialist in Taxation Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.

BETH L. KRAMER received her B.S. and B.A. in 1982 from the State University of New York at Binghamton, and her J.D. cum laude in 1985 from Boston University School of Law. She is the founder of Kramer Law Group, with offices in San Francisco and San Rafael, specializing in estate planning, trusts, and probate law. She is a member of the Bar Association of San Francisco (President, Probate and Trust Law Section, 1999–2000), the Marin County Bar Association (Section on Probate and Trust), American Bar Association (Sections on Taxation, Real Property and Probate) and the Estate Planning Councils in San Francisco and Marin Counties. Ms. Kramer is certified as a specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.

JOEL A. LEVINE is a sole practitioner in Los Angeles, specializing in tax, estate planning, and business planning. He received his B.A. in 1969 and his J.D. in 1972 from the University of California (Los Angeles). He has been an adjunct professor of law at Whittier College of Law and a speaker for CEB programs. Mr. Levine is certified as a specialist in Taxation Law and Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.

ROBERT J. LOWE is a member of the Tax Department in the Century City office of O’Melveny & Myers LLP, specializing in employee benefits and executive compensation. He received his B.A. in 1975 from the State University of New York at Binghamton, and his J.D. in 1978 from the University of California School of Law (Boalt Hall).

KIM MAROIS is in private practice in Santa Rosa. Her practice focuses on estate planning, probate, trusts, and estates. She received her B.S. in 1972 from the University of California (Berkeley), and her J.D. in 1976 from Hastings College of the Law. She is a member of the Bar Association of San Francisco (Co-Chair, Taxation Section, 1989), the Sonoma County Bar Association, and the State Bar of California (Taxation Section of the State Bar: Chair, Education Committee, 1982–1983; Member, Executive Committee, 1981–1984). Ms. Marois is a frequent lecturer on estate planning topics.

JOHN MILGATE is in private practice in Walnut Creek, specializing in elder law. He received his B.A. in 1974 from Biola College, and his J.D. in 1978 from Golden Gate University. He is certified as an Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation, as approved by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.

GENEVIEVE M. MOORE is of counsel in the firm of Morrison & Foerster, LLP, in San Francisco. She represents individual clients in the areas of estate planning, estate and trust administration, estate and gift taxation, and charitable gift planning. Ms. Moore received her B.A. magna cum laude in 1981 from Dominican College of San Rafael, and her J.D. in 1989 from Hastings College of the Law. She is a member of the sections on estate planning, probate, trust, and taxation law of the American, California, District of Columbia, and San Francisco Bar Associations. Ms. Moore is a writer and lecturer for CEB and for Leave A Legacy, a public awareness program of the Northern California Planned Giving Council.

LISA K. Y. NAKAHARA is an associate with the Kramer Law Group, with offices in San Francisco and San Rafael, specializing in probate, trust administration, and estate planning. She received her B.A. summa cum laude in 1996 from Claremont McKenna College, and her J.D. in 1999 from Hastings College of the Law. She received a CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Estate Planning. Ms. Nakahara is a member of the Bar Association of San Francisco (Probate and Trust Section) and the Marin County Bar Association (Probate and Trust Section).

MARIA E. NUÑEZ is a partner in the San Diego office of Baker & McKenzie, where she heads the Estate Planning and Tax Practice Group. She provides international tax and estate planning services to foreign and domestic clients of the firm and provides general estate planning services to the firm’s United States clients. Ms. Nuñez received her B.S. summa cum laude in 1983 from San Diego State University, and her J.D. magna cum laude in 1987 from the University of San Diego. She lectures frequently to professional and nonprofessional groups on estate planning and tax issues. She has also written articles for industry and trade publications.

MARSHAL A. OLDMAN is a partner in the firm of Oldman Cooley Leighton & Sallus in Encino. His practice focuses on probate administration and litigation and estate planning. Mr. Oldman received his B.A. in 1973 from the University of Southern California, and his J.D. in 1976 from the University of California, Los Angeles. He is past chair of the Trust and Estate Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association and past president of the San Fernando Valley Bar Association. He is currently vice chair of the Trusts and Estates Section of the State Bar of California.

KENNETH G. PETRULIS is of counsel in the firm of Goodson & Wachtel in Los Angeles, specializing in estate planning, wills, trust law, probate, and conservatorships. He received his B.S. in 1967 from the Illinois Institute of Technology, and his J.D. in 1973 from the University of Illinois. Mr. Petrulis is a Member of the Beverly Hills Bar Association (Section on Probate; Chair, Probate Legislative Committee). He is certified as a specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.

RUTH E. RATZLAFF is a sole practitioner in Fresno, specializing in elder law. She received her B.A. in 1972 from Fresno Pacific University, and her J.D. in 1979 from Golden Gate University. She is certified as an Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation, as approved by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.

PETER SPERO practices in Santa Monica and specializes in asset protection, pre-bankruptcy planning, tax, and estate planning law. He received his B.S. in 1970 from California State University, Los Angeles, his J.D. in 1973 from Southwestern University School of Law, and his LL.M. (Taxation) in 1976 from New York University. Mr. Spero has been certified as a specialist in Taxation Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. He is the author of Asset Protection: Legal Planning, Strategies and Forms (Warren, Gorham & Lamont, 2d ed 2002, supplemented tri-annually) as well as numerous articles (see Peterspero.com).

ROBERT E. TEMMERMAN, JR. is managing partner in the law firm of Temmerman & Cilley, LLP in San Jose. His practice focuses on estate planning, trust administration, and fiduciary litigation. He received his B.A. in 1975 from Boston College, and his J.D. in 1980 from Santa Clara University. Mr. Temmerman is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, a certified specialist in Probate, Estate Planning and Trust Law, and former Chair of the Executive Committee of the Trusts and Estates Section of the State Bar of California (1997–98).

DONALD R. TRAVERS is a sole practitioner in Paradise. He received his undergraduate degree in 1964 from California State University, Northridge, and his J.D. in 1974 from the University of LaVerne College of Law. Mr. Travers is certified as a specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization, a past member of the Executive Committee of the Trusts and Estates Section of the State Bar of California, and a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.