Keystone Quarterly December 2021
Trust / Will Contest | Elder Financial Abuse | Trust Litigation | Estate Litigation |

Conservatorship

KEYSTONE QUARTERLY

DECEMBER 2021

The holiday season is a time for friends and family, gratitude, and reflection. We are grateful for the dedication of our Keystone team members, clients, and colleagues. Our record of success has enabled us to help more clients with their probate matters this year than any year prior. As we come to the close of 2021, we look ahead to the New Year with even greater expectations. In the words of Frank Sinatra, “The best is yet to come.” From our team to you, we wish you a safe and wonderful holiday season and best wishes for 2022. As we reflect on the past quarter, we realized just how much we have to be grateful for. We recently had the opportunity to grow our firm, adding a new partner and offering much-deserved promotions to some of our hard-working team members. Our firm received two prestigious awards that demonstrate the respect we have earned among our professional peers. We also worked together to raise money for a local nonprofit that provides resources and care to women at risk for breast and ovarian cancers. Finally, we were able to reconnect with our team for a much needed in person celebration. Keystone devotes its practice to probate, trust and estate litigation and administration. We are one of the largest firms in California exclusively dedicated to this practice area. LEARN MORE

IN THIS ISSUE

ARTICLES

announcements

ARTICLES

Are Interested Parties Required to Attend Probate Court-Ordered Mediation After Breslin?

Can the Probate Court order interested parties to mediation and bind those who do not participate to the resulting settlement agreement? In this article, we delve into the authority of the Probate Court regarding settlements reached in court-ordered mediation by examining two recent appellate decisions — Breslin v. Breslin and Dunlap v. Mayer. Learn about Probate Court-ordered mediation from Keystone. READ MORE

Can Assisted Reproductive Technology Be Used for Posthumous Reproduction?

Can you get sperm from a dead person? Is posthumous egg retrieval ethical? Assisted reproductive technology makes it possible to store and extract a decedent’s reproductive material, but the rules governing the disposition of a decedent’s reproductive material are different than the laws governing their other assets. In this article, we delve into three cases that set the standard for this complicated legal issue. READ MORE

Announcements

Roee Kaufman Promoted to Partner; Casey A. Reagan Promoted to Senior Associate

Keystone is thrilled to announce the recent promotions of Roee Kaufman to Partner and Casey A. Reagan to Senior Associate. Since joining Keystone, both Roee and Casey have acquired a significant level of expertise in complex probate matters and have proven themselves to be valuable members of our team and capable of more responsibility. VIEW ROEE AND CASEY’S CONTRIBUTIONS

Keystone Welcomes New Partner James A. Bush

Keystone is proud to have seasoned probate litigator James (Jim) A. Bush on our team. Jim comes to Keystone with decades of experience litigating and settling matters in state and federal courts in California and Arizona. MEET OUR NEW PARTNER

Keystone Honored as Top Boutique Law Firm in California by Daily Journal

Keystone was named as a “Top Boutique in California 2021” by the Daily Journal, after the firm was recognized for its unique approach practicing probate law that enabled it to prosper in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The firm adapted business practices while finding opportunities to help clients amid the on-going pandemic. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE AWARD

Keystone Law Recognized as One of the Best Law Firms in 2022 by U.S. News – Best Lawyers®

Keystone made its debut appearance in the twelfth edition of the U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” list, an honor bestowed on law firms across the country that exemplify superior quality and depth of legal experience in their practice area. The rankings are designed to provide consumers with a credible and reliable resource to assist them in finding the right law firm for their needs. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE AWARD

Shawn Kerendian and Roee Kaufman Give Presentations for National Business Institute

Keystone Partners Shawn S. Kerendian and Roee Kaufman provided a series of presentations for the National Business Institute (NBI), delving into topics such as estate planning and executor duties, among others. LEARN MORE ABOUT SHAWN AND ROEE’S TALKS

Keystone Kickin’ Cancer Team Raises Over $15,000

Keystone employees teamed up for the annual Kickin’ Cancer 5K Run, Walk, and Stroll to fight women’s cancers. The firm more than tripled its goal and was the event’s highest fundraising team. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FUNDRAISER

Keystone Holiday Party At The Rose Venice

Keystone celebrated its first in person holiday party in two years, in an outdoor celebration at The Rose Venice. Keystone has grown exponentially over the past year while also being fully remote, so this was a welcome opportunity for everyone to gather safely, reconnect with the team and celebrate all of our accomplishments over the past year. VIEW HOLIDAY PARTY PHOTOS
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