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Trust Me

Trust Me

Written by: California Lawyers Association - Trusts & Estates
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 Conversations brought to you by the Trusts and Estates Section of the California Lawyers Association..© 2026 Trust Me Economics Personal Finance
Episodes
  • 2025 Legislation: New Laws That Trusts and Estates Practitioners Should Know

    2025 Legislation: New Laws That Trusts and Estates Practitioners Should Know
    Jan 3 2026
    New laws were enacted in 2025 that will affect California trusts and estates practitioners on January 1, 2026. Join our three speakers, attorneys Kristin Yokomoto, Paul Gruwell, and Mara Mahana, on this episode as they summarize the highlights of the new laws and how they affect estate planning, trust administration, incapacity, litigation, and more. Look for an in-depth article on the new laws in an upcoming issue of the Trusts & Estates Quarterly.

    About Our Podcast Panel:

    Kristin Yokomoto is a partner at Baker & Hostetler LLP in the Orange County office. She practices in the areas of estate planning for high net worth clients, trust administration, probate, and fiduciary litigation. Kristin is a Member of the California Lawyers Association Trusts and Estates Executive Committee (TEXCOM) and The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC). She is a Legal Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law certified by the State Bar of California

    Paul Gruwell is a civil litigation partner of Ragghianti Freitas LLP in San Rafeal. He specializes in Trust and Estate Litigation and represents individuals, families, fiduciaries, and charitable organizations in all phases of disputes, including through contested evidentiary hearings, trials, and appeals. His practice in this area spans trust and will contests, fiduciary breach of duty, removal of trustees and executors, accounting disputes, probate disputes, surcharge actions, and fee disputes. Paul is a Member of TEXCOM.

    Mara Mahana is a Wealth Strategist and Senior Director at Syon Capital LLC in San Francisco and formerly a practicing attorney for 20 years in the field of trusts and estates law working with high- and ultra-high net worth clients to review, develop, and consult on estate and wealth transfer plans, taking into consideration clients’ unique values, needs and circumstances. Mara is a Member of TEXCOM.


    Thank you for listening to Trust Me!

    Trust Me is Produced by Foley Marra Studios
    Edited by Cat Hammons and Todd Gajdusek
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    54 mins
  • Trusts as Shields and Swords – Community Property Interests in Third-Party and Self-Settled Trusts

    Trusts as Shields and Swords – Community Property Interests in Third-Party and Self-Settled Trusts
    Dec 19 2025

    Host: Ben Schwefel

    Speaker: Anthony Lai

    This episode explores how community property interests are identified, asserted, and litigated in post-death trust and estate administrations. We break down the legal framework, common pressure points, and practical strategies for navigating disputes when ownership and control are anything but clear.

    Speaker Bio:

    Anthony Lai is a Senior Associate at Feinberg Mindel Brandt & Klein LLP in Pasadena and a Certified Family Law Specialist who represents clients in high-conflict family law matters, focusing on complex litigation with empathetic, client-centered advocacy.

    Anthony represents individuals in all areas of family law, including dissolution of marriage, custody and visitation, division of assets, spousal and child support, and pre- and post-marital agreements. He serves as lead counsel in long-cause matters and trials, particularly those involving contested domestic violence restraining orders, fiduciary breach claims, and move-away hearings.

    Thank you for listening to Trust Me!

    Trust Me is Produced by Foley Marra Studios
    Edited by Cat Hammons and Todd Gajdusek
    Show More Show Less
    30 mins
  • When Beneficiaries Don’t See Eye to Eye: Post-Death Real Estate Disputes

    When Beneficiaries Don’t See Eye to Eye: Post-Death Real Estate Disputes
    Dec 18 2025

    What happens when beneficiaries disagree about the family home or other inherited real estate? In this episode, guest, James Ulwelling and host, Ben Schwefel, will discuss partition actions, co-ownership conflicts, lis pendens (notice of pendency of action), and practical strategies for resolving real property disputes that arise in trust and estate administrations.

    About our guest:

    James Ulwelling practices in the areas of real estate litigation, real estate transactions, community association (HOA) law, business law and general civil litigation. James has served as lead trial counsel in numerous lawsuits and arbitrations over the years, where he has exhibited skills in courtroom strategy, critical analysis and sophisticated advocacy. James, who has over 25 years of legal experience, is a former partner at Morris Polich and Purdy, LLP (now Clark Hill PLC) and Ulwelling | Siddiqui LLP.

    James is actively engaged with professional groups serving the real estate, community association and business communities. He is a member of the Real Property Section of the State Bar of California and the Community Associations Institute. He is a featured speaker for groups such as the Community Associations Institute, Chapman University School of Law, the Orange County Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, the Employer Advisory Council of Orange County, and numerous commercial and residential real estate brokerages. He has served on the Publications Committee and Mediation Committee for the Community Associations Institute. James has been published in periodicals and trade journals such as California Law Business, The Law Journal and OC View.

    Thank you for listening to Trust Me!

    Trust Me is Produced by Foley Marra Studios
    Edited by Cat Hammons and Todd Gajdusek
    Show More Show Less
    44 mins
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