NEW: Listen to Howard Kipnis talk about the Barefoot case on the California Lawyers Association podcast:

Mr. Kipnis has over 40 years of experience representing corporate fiduciaries, financial institutions, broker-dealers and brokerage companies, as well as small businesses and individuals, in dispute resolution and litigation arising from banking, brokerage and probate and trust services. He has handled both the prosecution and defense of numerous claims in the federal and state courts throughout Southern California, including San Diego, Orange, Los Angeles, Imperial, San Bernardino, and Riverside Counties, as well as in FINRA, NASD, and AAA arbitration hearings, arising out of a financial institution’s retail; brokerage; real estate, commercial and installment lending; fiduciary and trust; international; and escrow services. For over 25 years, Mr. Kipnis has received Martindale- Hubbell’s highest peer-reviewed rating for professional excellence (“A-V Preeminent”). and professional achievement (“Distinguished”). In the last eight years he has also been honored as one of San Diego Magazine’s “Top Lawyers” in both Banking and Probate and Trust Litigation, and selected by “San Diego Super Lawyers” in those fields as well.

Mr. Kipnis has represented clients to judgment (or award) in over 50 jury trials, bench trials, or arbitrations, and has successfully represented banks, institutional and familial fiduciaries and individuals in numerous appeals. Nonetheless, he encourages early evaluation of claims and resolution through use of less costly methods, such as through aggressive use of dispositive motions or alternative dispute resolution methods.

Mr. Kipnis has co-authored an attorney practice guide and, over the years, has been a featured speaker at several seminars and trade conferences, including state-wide CEB programs, on topics such as trust and probate administration and litigation practice, HIPAA, fiduciary and FINRA disputes, and claims resolution and avoidance, most recently: Moderator/co-presenter: “Litigation Tools: Civil Financial Elder Abuse Claims – A Primer” (CLE Webinar; 5/20/22); Co-presenter: “Will King still be king after Haggerty: Is the procedure for trust revocation available for modification?” (CLE Webinar: 7/21/22); and a CLA Podcast (Season 2, Episode 9): “Trust Amendments After the Conflicting Decisions of King and Haggerty.” He has also testified as an expert witness in several cases involving issues arising from probate/trust litigation/administration, and banking and fiduciary services.

From 1984 to 1991, Mr. Kipnis practiced at Luce Forward Hamilton & Scripps in San Diego. Thereafter, until 1994, he served as Assistant General Counsel at San Diego Trust & Savings Bank, where he was responsible for the bank’s litigation and claims portfolio, and was lead counsel for its Trusts & Estates Department. For over 25 years he practiced in a firm that he founded which specialized in banking, probate and trust litigation.

For six years, Mr. Kipnis served on the Trust and Estates Executive Committee of the California Lawyers Association (formerly the State Bar of California) (TEXCOM), where he chaired several of TEXCOM’s Subcommittees, including Litigation and Ethics. He also served on the Editorial Board of the Trust & Estate Quarterly Magazine (the Official Publication of the Trust and Estates Section of the CLA).

Mr. Kipnis was the lead author of the only Amicus Brief ever filed on behalf of TEXCOM in the case of Barefoot v. Jennings (2020) 8 Cal.5th 822, in which he successfully advocated on behalf of TEXCOM before the California Supreme Court to reverse a Court of Appeal opinion that prevented formerly-named trust beneficiaries from contesting trust instruments that resulted in their disinheritance in probate court. He has authored several peer-reviewed articles, most recently published in August 2024 in the Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine (https://lalawyer.mydigitalpublication.com/july-august-2024?m=69194&i=827353&p=20&ver=html5) and the Trust & Estates Quarterly (Volume 30, Issue 1) (https://calawyers.org/publications/trusts-and-estates/ca-trs-estates-quarterly-volume-30-issue-1-2024-mcle-self-study-article-how-the-king-v-lynch-case-was-slayed-the-california-supreme-court-clarifies-how-a-revocable-trust-may-be-modified/) on the Supreme Court decision in Haggerty v. Thornton; in 2019 (Vol. 25, Issue 4), entitled, “Barefoot v. Jennings: A Disinherited Trust Beneficiary’s Standing to Bring a Trust Contest in Probate Court Now Teeters Before the California Supreme Court” (Barefoot Article); and was among several acknowledged contributors to TEXCOM’s Ethics Guide, entitled, “Guide to the California Rules of Professional Conduct for Estate Planners, Trust & Probate Counsel” (4th Ed.).”

Mr. Kipnis has been an acknowledged lead counsel in several published opinions, most recently in Haggerty v. Thornton (2024) 15 Cal 5th 729, where the California Supreme Court unanimously held that a revocable trust may be modified by any available revocation procedure unless the trust’s method of amendment is “explicitly exclusive”.

• Commercial and Business Litigation
• Elder Abuse Litigation
• Trust and Probate Litigation
• Financial Institutions
• Complex Civil Litigation

Jim Cimino
Former Executive Vice President/Regional Managing Director, Wells Fargo’s Wealth Management/Private Client Services (Southwestern Region)

“I have been in the Wealth Management industry for over 30 years with Security Pacific and Wells Fargo – -with 25 years in a senior management capacity with Wells Fargo. My last position before retiring from Wells Fargo was EVP and Regional Managing Director for Los Angeles , Manhattan Beach and Las Vegas regions. My responsibilities included direct oversight of Trust and Estate, Investment Management, Private Banking and Brokerage services.

I would not hesitate to recommend Howard and his firm!”

Robert Roszkos
Executive Vice President and Regional Managing Director, Wells Fargo’s Wealth Management Group (Retired)

“When a Trust is written, the hope is that the family will ‘get along’ and allow the parents’ financial legacy to gracefully pass on to their heirs. Unfortunately, this is not always the case! As a Trustee, when you find yourself in a legal battle with your family members, you will need to select an attorney who will know how to navigate the legal system and be able to take on tough issues. Howard Kipnis and his colleagues at his firm are the representation you should consider. Howard was always an ally to me as Trustee and was able to take on some very difficult situations in a very efficient and effective manner. He is experienced, articulate and compassionate. I highly recommend Howard and his associates!”

Martin Buser

“Howard Kipnis is a tremendous resource for anyone needing an attorney who specializes in trusts and estates litigation. We were lucky to find and work with Howard on two different litigation matters where he secured exceptional results in two complex probate/trust litigation matters. In the first, an elderly decedent left her estate to a local non-profit organization with which we are involved, only to have an estranged child challenge the bequest. Howard successfully defended the non-profit organization and resolved the contest on favorable terms, thereby avoiding a lengthy and expensive trial. In a second matter, a relative was bequeathed a significant sum of money by her long-time, best friend only to have an estranged heir contest the inheritance. After undertaking well targeted, cost-effective discovery in the case, Howard ensured all of the bequested funds were received by our relative as the decedent had intended. Howard is smart, analytical, thorough, kind, supportive, and extremely patient. He undertakes the work necessary to secure a great result while supporting his clients during what were both very emotional and stressful situations.”

Robin and Kevin Werner
J.D., Harvard Law School, 1985

“Over the last three decades, I have worked with Howard Kipnis on numerous matters stemming from simple disputes over trust dispositive provisions to complex disposition of unique assets of substantial value benefitting various stakeholders with differing perspectives. In all these cases, Howard’s deep and practical knowledge of the law and alternative dispute mechanisms coupled with a solution-oriented approach offered expedient and excellent results. Although Howard focuses on end-result and is a tough negotiator on behalf of his clients, his style is collegial, attentive, and engaged. He educates as well as advocates with passion and enthusiasm. Howard and his firm are held in high regard by the legal community and the local courts.”

Teresa Ridge
SVP – Wells Fargo Bank: Investment and Fiduciary Services

“For almost 20 years Howard was our “go-to” guy in San Diego for cases filed against Wells Fargo’s retail group. He successfully handled complex cases for the Bank in jury and bench trials, and in arbitration. He is smart and intuitive, as well as tough, but ethical and fair. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him!”

William Reichert
Former Vice President and Senior Counsel, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

• Trust and Estates Executive Committee of the California Lawyers’ Association (TEXCOM); former Managing Editor of the California Trust and Estates Quarterly (the Official Publication of TEXCOM); Chair of the Litigation, Ethics and Incapacity Subcommittees of TEXCOM; Association of Business Trail Lawyers; San Diego Defense Lawyers Association; California Bankers Association (Member, Bank Counsel Section); former Master, Louis M. Welch American Inns of Court; First Place, Beaudry Moot Court Competition, 1984. Recipient, American Jurisprudence Award in Commercial Law, 1984. Extern Law Clerk to Honorable J. Clifford Wallace, Chief Justice, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 1983.

• University of California at Los Angeles (B.S., magna cum laude, 1980).
  Georgetown University Law Center (J.D., cum laude, 1984). First Place, Beaudry Moot Court Competition, 1984. Recipient, American Jurisprudence Award in Commercial Law, 1984. Extern Law Clerk to Honorable J. Clifford Wallace, Chief Justice, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 1983. Admitted to Bar, 1984 California and U.S District Court, Southern and Central Districts of California; U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.

Bar Admissions

• United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• U.S. District Court for the Southern and Central Districts of California
• State of California