Brooke concentrates her practice in the fields of estate planning, trust and estate administration, and federal estate and gift taxation. She advises clients on all aspects of estate planning, including guiding clients with family-owned businesses on succession planning, assisting with philanthropic goals, and preparing plans for traditional, non-traditional, and blended families. Through the use of sophisticated estate planning techniques, she helps clients minimize their tax exposure and facilitates wealth transfers between generations. She has particular expertise in estate planning for LGBTQ families, and is a frequent author and speaker on this topic and many others relating to estate planning, business succession, and trust administration.
Noteworthy:
- Selected for inclusion in Northern California Super Lawyers magazine, “Rising Star,” 2015-2017
- Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization
Affiliations:
East Bay Trusts and Estates Lawyers
- Member
- Chair, Estate Planning & Administration Committee, 2015-2016
East Bay Estate Planning Council
- Member, 2013-2018
Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom
- Member, 2011-2015
State Bar of California
- Taxation Section, member
- Trusts and Estates Section, member
East Bay Tax Club
- Member, 2013-2016
Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society
- Board of Directors, 2013-2016
Philadelphia Bar Association
- Probate and Trust Law Section, 2007-2009
- Legislative Committee: Chair of Subcommittee on Pennsylvania’s Assisted Reproductive Technology Act, 2009
Speaking and Teaching:
- “Providing for your Pet’s Future Without You: Estate Planning Tips,” Berkeley East Bay Humane Society, October 2017
- “The Revocable Trust—Creating a Client Friendly Document that Stands the Test of Time,” East Bay Trusts & Estates Lawyers, September 2017
- “Income and Estate Tax Concepts,” “Statutory Protections for Family Members,” and “Probating an Estate that Includes a Business”, National Business Institute, Probate Boot Camp – Oakland, December 2016
- “The Similarities and Differences in Trust Administration for a Single versus Married Settlors,” East Bay Trusts & Estates Lawyers, September 2016
- “Family Business Strategies,” San Francisco Business Times Summit, July 2016
- “Crossover Issues in Estate Planning & Family Law,” CEB Conference, May 2016
- “Planning for Single Client, Same Sex Couples, Smaller Estates, Pour-Over Wills,” 3-Day Seminar: Drafting and Designing Revocable Trusts in California, San Francisco, April 2016
- “How to Administer a Revocable Trust,” CEB Estate Planning Basics Conference, September 2015
- “How to Administer a Revocable Trust,” CEB Conference, April 2015
- “Portability—Worth All The Fuss?” East Bay Tax Club, 2013
- “Giving with a Plan,” Bell Investments Advisors Women’s Roundtable, 2013
- “Charitable Gifting: Overview of Tax Considerations for Lifetime and Testamentary Gifts”, Performing Arts Workshop – Donor Reception, 2010
Publications:
- “Promote Harmony in Estate Plans for Blended Families,” Estate Planning, Thomas Reuters, June 2018”
- “Introduction: Issues in Estate Planning and Family Law,” Crossover Issues in Estate Planning and Family Law, Continuing Education of the Bar – Estate Planning Treatise, update author, 2017
- “Creating Certainty For LGBTQ Families In Uncertain Times,” Financial Advisor, 2017
- “Tax Strategies For Family-Owned Businesses,” co-author, Financial Advisor, 2016
- “Rights on Death of Domestic Partner & Estate Planning Issues,” California Domestic Partnerships & Same-Sex Marriage, Continuing Education of the Bar – Family Law Treatise, update author, 2016
- “Conflicted on Conflicts: Common Ethics ‘Traps’ for the Trust & Estate Lawyer and Methods of Avoidance,” Co‑author, 16th Annual Pennsylvania Estate Law Institute, 2009
- “The Attorney as a Fiduciary: Permissible Actions & Problem Areas,” Co-author, 14th Annual Pennsylvania Estate Law Institute, 2007
- “A New Vision of Justice: Sosa v. Alvarez-Machain and the Alien Tort Claims Act,” Temple Political and Civil Rights Law Review, 2005
Temple University, Beasley School of Law LL.M., Taxation (Faculty Award in Taxation) (2008)
Temple University, Beasley School of Law, J.D. (2006)
University of California, Berkeley, B.A. (2000