Leslie Yarnes Sugai

California Board of Legal Specialization

Leslie Yarnes Sugai’s two years as an international exchange student sparked her early interest in international law as a career. While attending McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific, Ms. Sugai realized she had an affinity for tax and opted to focus her studies on estate planning and related tax planning. She was recognized with the Order of the Coif, for scholastically landing in the top ten percent of her class.At Sugai & Sudweeks, Ms. Sugai focuses on probate, trust and estate administration, manages the retainer program and advises clients regarding their estate planning. With compassion and empathy she offers comfort and guidance to her clients, often when they are grieving and in need of clarity on complex tax and administration issues. Ms. Sugai has been recognized by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization as a Certified Specialist for Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law and as a Certified Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation. She is an active member of various legal organizations including the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys, and locally serves as secretary of the West Valley Bar Association, is a member of the  Silicon Valley Bar Association and is a member of the Santa Clara County Estate Planning Council.

Practice Areas:

  • Estate Planning
  • Trust Administration
  • Probate
  • Estate Administration
  • Medi-cal Planning

Bar Admissions:

  • State Bar of California

Education:

  • Mc George School of Law University of the Pacific, JD with Distinction, Order of the Coif- 1992
  • University of California, Santa Cruz, BA in Language Studies and Politics- 1988

Associations:

  • Silicon Valley Bar Association
  • West Valley Bar Association, Secretary of the Board
  • Santa Clara County Estate Planning Council
  • National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys

Awards:

  • Pinnacle of Achievement in Law American Biographical Institute- 2010

Certification:

  • Certified Specialist Estate Planning Trust and Probate Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization
  • Certified Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation

Radio/ Television Appearances

  • Mom Died – what Happens to the House?, CreaTV*, June 2012
  • Post Death – How to Sell a House in Probate, KLIV Radio San Jose, May 2012
  • Funding Financial Resources to Help Older Adults Stay at Home, KLIV Radio San Jose, March 2012

Speaking Engagements:

  • Charitable Giving, Silicon Valley Bar Association, February 2019, Santa Clara, CA.
  • Conservatorships, The Other Powers You May Need, Professional Fiduciary Association of California Annual Conference, June 2017, Burlingame, CA.
  • Post Death Sub-Trust Funding Issues and Solutions, Cal CPA, June 2016, Campbell, CA.
  • Trust Administration, Professional Fiduciary Association of California Annual Conference, June 2016, Indian Wells, CA.
  • Public Benefits, Professional Fiduciary Association of California Annual Conference, April 2015, Burlingame, CA
  • Avoiding Mistakes in the Administration of Special Needs Trusts, Professional Fiduciary Association of California Annual Conference, April 2015, Burlingame, CA
  • Should I Take This Trust or Conservatorship, Professional Fiduciary Association of California Annual Conference, April 2014, San Diego, CA
  • Trust Interpretation: What to Know Before You Take the Case, Professional Fiduciary Association of California, April 2013, Monterey, CA
  • How to Use an Attorney Effectively in a Trust Administration Matter, Professional Fiduciary Association of California, April 2013, Monterey, CA
  • American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, Saratoga Retirement Community, February 2013, Saratoga, CA
  • Plan Ahead for Peace of Mind, Avenidas Caregiver Conference, September 2012, Mountain View, CA
  • Trust Interpretation: What to Know Before You Take the Case, Professional Fiduciary Association of California, April 2012, Los Angeles, CA
  • Interpreting the 2011 Estate Tax Law, Spring Client Seminar, May 2011, Los Gatos, CA
  • Resolving Disputes in Post-Death Administration, Silicon Valley Bar Association New Attorney Round Table, May 2011, San Jose, CA
  • VA Benefits: A Comparison of the Basic with SSI and Medi-Cal, Professional Fiduciary Association of California, May 2011, Monterey,CA
  • How to Use an Attorney Effectively in a Trust Administration Matter, Professional Fiduciary Association of California, May 2011, Monterey, CA
  • Life Care Planning, Merrill Lynch, May 2011, San Jose, CA
  • Top Estate Planning Techniques, Simple and Effective Preservation Methods, National Business Institute (NBI) Seminar, September 2010, San Jose, CA
  • The Prudent Investor Act and the Courts: How to Proceed When the Two Don’t Align, Professional Fiduciary Association of California Annual Conference, November 2009, Santa Rosa, CA
  • Managing Your Law Practice, Silicon Valley Bar Association, New Attorney Roundtable, October 2008, San Jose, CA
  • Health, Financial and Health Care Planning for Elder Clients, National Business Institute (NBI) Seminar, October 2007 Milpitas, CA
  • Issues in Probate, Silicon Valley Bar Association, New Attorney Roundtable, March 2007, San Jose, CA