MEMBERS OF FIRM
Christopher D. Carico (Partner) admitted to bar, 1988, California and U.S. District Court, Central District of California. Education: Occidental College (A.B., Economics, 1983); Loyola Law School, Los Angeles (J.D., cum laude). Order of the Coif
General Description of Practice:
Christopher Carico is a board certified specialist in estate planning, trust, and probate law. His practice includes all facets of trusts and estates and he represents families, individuals, professional trustees, conservators, guardians, and beneficiaries.
Mr. Carico's estate planning experience includes preparation of carefully tailored estate plans for individuals and families. In addition to preparing foundational documents like revocable trusts, wills and powers of attorney, Mr. Carico counsels clients on more advanced planning techniques, including family limited partnership, grantor retained annuity and unitrusts, qualified personal residence trusts, intentionally defective grantor trusts, charitable remainder trusts, and life insurance trusts.
In the area of trust, estate and probate administration, Mr. Carico has represented numerous individuals and professional fiduciaries charged with the responsibility of administering a decedent's estate. This includes overseeing the entire trust or probate administration process through the appointment of the fiduciary, the division, allocation and sale of assets, the filing of federal estate tax returns, preparation of accountings, audits with the IRS and FTB, and final distribution.
His trust and estate litigation practice includes counseling and representing beneficiaries and fiduciaries in will contests, trust contests, contested conservatorship, Marvin claims, challenged accountings, fiduciary surcharge and removal actions, property characterization disputes and 850 petitioners.
Because of his expertise in federal estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer taxation, Mr. Carico is frequently appointed as an expert by the Los Angeles County Superior Court to provide his opinion to the court on complex, tax-driven trust reformations and administration proceedings. Mr. Carico also acts as a consultant to other estate planning attorneys and CPAs on taxation issues involving decedents and estates.
Awards and Certification:
CSB, Board of Legal Specialization
Southern California Super Lawyers, Estate Planning & Probate, 2009Has achieved the highest rating for legal ability in Martindale-Hubbell
Memberships:
California State Bar, Los Angeles County Bar Association, South Bay Bar Association, Los Angeles County Superior Court Probate Volunteer, Mediation and Guardian Pro Per Panels
Past Professional Affiliations:
Carico Toomey & Associates LLP (2007-2008)
Davis & Carico LLP (1996 - 2007)
Law Offices of Christopher D. Carico (1990 - 1996)
Mullen & Henzell (1989 to 1990)
Seyfarth, Shaw, Fairweather & Geraldson (1988 - 1989)
Member: South Bay and Los Angeles County Bar Associations; State Bar of California. (Certified Specialist, Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law, The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization). Practice Areas: Estate Planning; Trust Litigation; Estate Litigation; Trust Administration; Probate Administration.Email: Christopher D. Carico
S.V. Stuart Johnson (Partner) admitted to bar, 1997, California and U.S. District Court, Central District of California; 1999, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Education: University of California at Los Angeles (B.A., Economics, 1993); Loyola Law School, Los Angeles (J.D., 1997).
General Description of Practice:
Stuart Johnson is a trial attorney whose practice has involved jury trials in state and federal courts as well as arbitrations. Mr. Johnson represents a range of clients from Fortune 100 corporations to privately held small and mid-cap companies. Mr. Johnson counsels clients in a wide variety of business disputes and has particular expertise in the areas of complex commercial disputes and insurance matters.
Mr. Johnson's commercial litigation experience has involved prosecuting and defending a wide variety of claims relating to commercial contracts, trade secrets, trademark and trade dress, fraud and other business torts, real estate, bankruptcy, employment, and First Amendment issues.
In the area of insurance, Mr. Johnson has represented and counseled clients on issues arising out of property, life, inland marine, and commercial policies, including bad faith claims. Mr. Johnson has also handled disputes with insurers' third-party administrators and managing general agents.
Mr. Johnson was an extern law clerk for Judge Harry Pregerson of the United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, and for Judge Richard C. Neal of the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Awards:
Named one of California's Rising Stars, 2007, in Los Angeles Magazine's list of Super Lawyers
Clerkships:
Extern Law Clerk, The Honorable Harry Pregerson, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Extern Law Clerk, The Honorable Richard C. Neal, Los Angeles County Superior Court
Past Professional Affiliations:
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP (1999-2009)
Epport & Richman LLP (1997-1999)
Richman, Lawrence, Mann & Greene LLP (1996-1997) Practice Areas: Business Litigation; Complex Insurance; Bad Faith; Business Law.Email: S.V. Stuart Johnson
Phil Toomey (Managing Partner) admitted to bar, 1979, California; 1980, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit; U.S. District Court, Southern, Central and Northern Districts of California. Education: Loyola Marymount University (B.A., cum laude, 1976); Loyola Law School (J.D., cum laude, 1979).
General Description of Practice:
Philip Toomey is the firm's managing partner and oversees the firm's corporate, business, and employment practices. Mr. Toomey is widely recognized as one of Los Angeles County's top employment and business attorneys. He works with owners of privately held businesses, CEOs, CFOs, in-house counsel, and other corporate executives to fashion long term business plans and solutions for their companies.
Mr. Toomey advises business owners on legal risk assessment, regulatory compliance, in house audits, and other business matters. He has counseled business clients through all phases of business growth, beginning with entity formation, transitioning through employment of non-family members, protection of product lines through trademark, copyright, and trade secret protection, acquisition of competitors, and vertical or horizontal integration. He has developed and implemented business succession plans, transferring businesses to key employees or younger generations.
Mr. Toomey has litigated multiple matters through trial or arbitration involving contract disputes, wrongful termination claims, employment discrimination claims and other lawsuits affecting the financial well-being of the business. He also serves as lead counsel on business and employment related trial work.
Mr. Toomey is a widely publicized author on employment and business law issues in such publications as Accountancy Today, The Deal, Progressive Grocer, Small Firm Business, Electronics Supply & Manufacturing. He has also been retained as mediator on complex business and employment dispute cases.
Awards, Memberships, and Certificates:
Southern California Super Lawyers, Labor and Employment Law, 2005-2009
Has achieved the highest rating for legal ability in Martindale-Hubbell
American Inns of Court, Master
Certificate in Advanced Studies - Corporate Law, University of Southern California
Certificate in Advanced Studies - Multi-State Tax and Business, University of California, Davis
Past Professional Affiliations:
Carico Toomey & Associates LLP (2007-2008)
Artiano, Guzman & Toomey LLP (1989-2007)
Phil Toomey, Law Corporation (1987-1989)
KIS Systems U.S., Inc., In-House Regional Counsel (1985-1987) Practice Areas: Employment Law; Business Law; Corporate Law; Employment Litigation; Business Litigation.Email: Phil Toomey
ASSOCIATES
Bruce M. Macdonald (Associate) admitted to bar, 2001, California and U.S. District Court, Central District of California. Education: University of California at Los Angeles (B.A., Political Science and History, 1997); Loyola Law School (J.D., 2001; LL.M., Taxation, with honors, 2005).
General Description of Practice:
Bruce Macdonald is a seasoned California estate and tax practitioner. He has a particular emphasis on income, estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer tax planning. Mr. Macdonald drafts estate plans, analyzes fiduciary accountings, prepares federal estate and gift tax returns, and solves complex tax problems facing the firm's clients.
Mr. Macdonald also specializes in analyzing and interpreting constantly changing tax laws, rules, and regulations.
Past Professional Affiliations: Carico Toomey & Associates LLP (2007-2008)
Davis & Carico LLP (2004 - 2007)
Norwalk Distributors, Inc., In House Counsel (2002-2003) Practice Areas: Estate Planning; Trust Litigation; Estate Litigation; Trust Administration; Probate Administration; Tax Law.Email: Bruce M. Macdonald
Ditta Reed (Associate) admitted to bar, 2002, California. Education: University of Southern California (B.S., Political Science); Pepperdine University School of Law (J.D., 2002). Lead Articles Editor of National Association for Administrative Law Judges Journal (NAALJ); Moot Court Board and recipient of Dean's Award.
General Description of Practice:
Ms. Reed, manages the day-to-day aspects of much of Carico Rice Toomey LLP's Los Angeles trust and estate contested matters and court-related administration. Ms. Reed focuses her time primarily on the preparation of contested probate and trust petitions and complex administration petitions, including trust/will contests, contested accountings, 850 petitions, Heggstad petitions, and Marvin claims. Ms. Reed oversees the firms ex parte probate matters and discovery in probate litigation. Ms. Reed handles most of the court appearances for contested and uncontested trust and probate matters.
Ms. Reed is also an accomplished tennis player. Prior to attending college, Ms. Reed won US Junior Nationals singles and doubles titles and a professional ITF tournament title. While at the University of Southern California (USC), Ms. Reed was the captain of the women's tennis team, an NCAA All American, and the NCAA Senior Player of the Year. Ms. Reed remains actively involved in the USC community and is a member of the USC Alumni Club of South Bay.
Past Professional Affiliations:
Carico Toomey & Associates LLP (2007-2008)
Davis & Carico LLP (2006 - 2007)
Fuller & Fuller (2002-2006)
Member: State Bar of California. Practice Areas: Trust Litigation; Estate Litigation; Trust Administration; Estate Administration.Email: Ditta Reed
Ronald F. Gari (Associate) born Flushing, New York, May 23, 1959; admitted to bar, 1995, California. Education: California State University, Northridge (B.A., 1983); Glendale University College of Law (J.D., 1995). Member: State Bar of California. Practice Areas: Civil Litigation; Business Litigation; Insurance Litigation; Insurance Coverage; Insurance Bad Faith Litigation.Email: Ronald F. Gari
Carla B. Hoffman (Associate) admitted to bar, 1991, California and U.S. District Court, Central District of California. Education: University of California at Los Angeles (B.S., Biology, 1987); Loyola Law School, Los Angeles (J.D., cum laude, 1991). Order of the Coif.
General Description of Practice:
Carla Hoffman is an experienced Los Angeles estate planning attorney, with a particular emphasis on planning for individuals and families.
Trained initially as a litigator, Carla takes a straightforward approach with estate planning clients, able to ask the tough question while still conveying the support and confidence required by clients to get to the heart of the matter. Also, as the mother of three young boys, Carla recognizes the challenges facing parents and grandparents when making decisions involving their family's future.
Clerkships: Extern Law Clerk, The Terry Hatter, Central District California
Past Professional Affiliations:
Morris, Polich & Purdy 1991-1998
Hoffman & Chodler, LLP 2002-2005
Martin Neely & Associates 2005-2008
Member: State Bar of California. Practice Areas: Estate Planning; Trust Litigation; Estate Litigation; Trust Administration; Probate Administration.Email: Carla B. Hoffman
Anita V. Shah (Associate) admitted to bar, 1993, California and U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California; 1999, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California; 2006, U.S. District Court, Central District of California. Education: University of California at Los Angeles (B.A., Economics, 1987); McGeorge School of Law, Sacramento (J.D., with distinction, 1993).
General Description of Practice:
Anita Shah is a litigation attorney, whose practice has involved trials in both state and federal court, as well as arbitrations. Ms. Shah has litigated cases in such diverse practice areas ranging from labor and employment matters, governmental and municipal tort liability, insurance coverage and criminal law.
Ms. Shah's government work includes completing 20 jury trials and over 30 court trials with the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office. Prior to that, Ms. Shah worked as legal counsel to the California State Controller, drafting opinions, which served as the formal position of the State Controller on a variety of legal issues. Ms. Shah has defended state and local governmental entities in personnel hearings. Most recently, Ms. Shah prevailed in a significant pre-trial motion involving governmental tort immunity.
In the area business litigation, Ms. Shah's experience has involved participating in all phases of trial in employment discrimination and insurance coverage cases. Ms. Shah has litigated cases alleging fraud, defamation and other business torts that have involved both prosecuting and defending anti-SLAPP motions.
As a law student, Ms. Shah obtained practical legal experience by clerking with a class action employment litigation firm, the Sacramento County Public Defender, and Boalt Hall's nationally-recognized clinical training program for law students, East Bay Community Law Center.
Past Professional Affiliations:
Bolender & Associates (2005-2007)
McPharlin, Sprinkles & Thomas (1999-2000)
Screen Actors Guild (1997-1998)
Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office (1994-1997)
California State Controller (1993-1994)
Member: Los Angeles County Bar Association; State Bar of California. Practice Areas: Business Litigation; Insurance Coverage; Labor and Employment; Government Tort Liability; Municipal Torts.Email: Anita V. Shah
William G. Benz (Associate) admitted to bar, 2008, California; 2009, U.S. District Court, Central District of California. Education: University of California, San Diego (B.A., Political Science - Public Law, 2005); University of California, Davis (J.D., 2008). General Description of Practice:
William Benz is an attorney with a primary emphasis on employment and labor litigation. Mr. Benz represents a broad array of employers ranging from large and small privately-owned businesses to public municipalities. He also counsels clients in all stages of the employer/employee relationship.
Mr. Benz's employment litigation experience includes defending employers in class action cases, public employee disciplinary appeals arbitrations, sexual harassment claims, and Employment Development Department matters.
Mr. Benz has also counseled public and private employers on issues such as employee privacy, wage and hour compliance, workplace violence, and narcotics policies.
Beyond the sector of employment law, Mr. Benz has experience in litigating contract disputes, construction defect cases, civil rights claims, and fraud claims involving both private parties and public entities.
Mr. Benz graduated law school in the top fifteen percent of his class. He also served as Senior Editor of the UC Davis Business Law Journal.
Member: State Bar of California. Practice Areas: Employment Litigation; Employer Legal Compliance Counseling; Public Sector Labor Law; Litigation.Email: William G. Benz
Angela Kil (Associate) admitted to bar, 2008, California. Education: University of California at Los Angeles (B.S., Biochemistry, 2000; M.S., Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, 2004); Loyola Law School, Los Angeles (J.D., 2008). General Description of Practice:
Angela Kil is an attorney who practices in the areas of litigation, estate and trust litigation, and probate and trust administration.
Ms. Kil's civil litigation experience includes representing individuals and business entities in contract disputes and employment class action claims.
Ms. Kil's estate and litigation experience has involved counseling and representing fiduciaries and beneficiaries in a wide variety of claims relating to real and personal property disputes, will and trust contests, probate and trust accounting disputes, conservatorships, fraud, and financial elder abuse.
In the areas of probate and trust administration, Ms. Kil has represented individuals and professionals fiduciaries at each stage of the management of an estate, from the initial appointment of the fiduciary through the administration and final distribution of estate assets.
Ms. Kil was an extern law clerk for Judge Richard L. Fruin of the Los Angeles Superior Court.
Clerkships: Judicial Extern, Hon. Richard L. Fruin, Los Angeles Superior Court Practice Areas: Trust Litigation; Estate Litigation; Trust Administration; Probate Administration; Civil Litigation.Email: Angela Kil
OF COUNSEL
David D. Carico (Of Counsel) admitted to bar, 1983, California and U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California. Education: Stanford University (B.A., 1980); University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law (J.D., 1983). (Certified Specialist, Appellate Practice, The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization).