Trusts & Estates Arbitration & Mediation
PLUS: Real Estate, Construction, Personal Injury, Family Law, & Early Neutral Evaluation
Rebeccah B. Miller, Esq.
Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Litigation Contact Information: 650-328-7000 in Palo Alto, CA [email protected] Rebeccah has practiced in this area for over 20 years. Her practice covers all areas of estate planning and administration. In addition, Rebeccah represents fiduciaries and beneficiaries in all aspects of trust and probate litigation, including will and trust contests, determinations of heirship, accounting controversies, disputes concerning the characterization of property, fiduciary appointment and removal, creditor’s claims, and elder abuse. She is admitted to practice at the United States Supreme Court, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, and all California Courts. She is a graduate of Boalt Hall School of Law. Rebeccah serves as a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. Education: B.A., University of California at Berkeley, 1976 J.D., Boalt Hall, 1987 Professional & Community Affiliations: Palo Alto Area Bar Association; Silicon Vally Bar Association; San Mateo County Bar Association; State Bar of California |
Steven L. Yarbrough, Esq.
Trust and Estate Litigation, Conservatorhsips, and Patient Rights Contact Information: 408-374-4545 in Campbell, CA 650-864-9330 Los Altos, CA [email protected] Steven L. Yarbrough has litigated more than 450 trust, estate, conservatorship and patient rights cases during his legal career. In April of 2000, he joined Jann Besson in Los Altos to form the partnership of Besson & Yarbrough and focuses exclusively on elder law: probate, trust and estate litigation, conservatorships, and patient rights. After obtaining his law degree from Hastings College of the Law, Steve spent five years of intensive trial practice as a court-appointed defense attorney. He handled approximately 300 adult and juvenile felony and misdemeanor cases per year including major felony jury trials, three-strikes cases and homicides. Steve was a partner at the general-practice firm of Cochran, Follett & Yarbrough, in Crescent City, California, which provided legal services to local governments, including the harbor district, hospital district, several water districts, and the solid waste authority. At the appellate level, Steve has participated in both oral argument and appellate briefs and writs before the California Court of Appeal. Steve served as president of the Silicon Valley Bar Association, chair of the Education Sub-Committee, and chair of the Probate, Trusts and Estates Executive Committee. Steve is a member of the California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform Attorney Referral Panel, and the Santa Clara County panel for representation of conservatees. He also serves as a judge pro tem for probate, trust and estate litigation cases. |
John “Jack”
Coward, Esq. Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Litigation, Construction Law Contact Information: 408-358-3773 [email protected] Jack Coward has been a licensed attorney with his law office in Silicon Valley for nearly forty (40) years. He graduated magna cum laude from College of the Pacific, University of the Pacific and the University’s McGeorge School of Law. He has been recognized as a “Super Lawyer” and AV rated attorney by Martindale Hubbel for more than ten (10) years. Because of his trial expertise Jack is regularly appointed as a mediator, arbitrator, and special master by the Courts. He is frequently retained as a private mediator. During the last twelve (12) months Jack has successfully served as a mediator or early neutral evaluator in more than a dozen cases. In addition to the preparation of thousands of estate plans, he is an experienced litigator in the areas of estate and trust law and administration. A cross-section of representative matters include (1) trial counsel in matters where the issues included claims for lack of capacity to execute an estate plan, undue influence, elder abuse and forged instruments including wills and deeds; (2) representation of contractors, design professionals (architects and engineers) and real estate developers in a wide variety of matters; (3) advised members of family owned businesses including dissolution of family partnerships and distribution of the assets. Jack taught law in San Jose State University’s Business School both at the undergraduate and graduate levels for more than twenty four (24) years. His students have become successful accountants and attorneys in Silicon Valley. Currently Jack is a member of California Bar’s Estate and Trust section, Silicon Valley Bar Association and West Valley Bar Association. He also serves on the board of trustees for Silicon Valley Bar Association. |