JOHN M. BYRNE specializes in Trusts & Estates and his practice includes estate planning, trust and probate administration, and conservatorships.

Mr. Byrne’s professional activities include serving as a member of the Executive Committee of the Trusts & Estates Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association from 2017 to 2021 and from 2001 to 2009, serving as an officer of the Committee from 2004 to 2008 and as Chair from 2006 to 2007.  In addition,  he served as as a Trustee of the Los Angeles County Bar Association from 2004 to 2008 during which time he served on various committees including three years on the Finance Committee.  He also served as President of the Los Angeles Estate Planning Council from 2002 to 2003 and was an officer from 2000 to 2005.  He is a member of the Chancery Club of Los Angeles founded in 1925 composed of distinguished lawyers who are also active in professional, civic, and philanthropic organizations, and sits on the Board of Directors of Geary’s of Beverly Hills.  Mr. Byrne was selected as one of Southern California’s “Super Lawyers” by Los Angeles Magazine for 19 years (2004-2006, 2008-2010, 2012-2024).

Additionally, Mr. Byrne served as a member of the Los Angeles Superior Court Probate Self-Help Center Team from 2001 to 2003, periodically volunteered as a Judge Pro Tem of the Los Angeles Superior Court, Small Claims and Traffic Divisions, from 1997 to 2001, and regularly assisted as a volunteer attorney for the Guardianship/Conservatorship Pro Per Clinic from 1997 to 2001.

Prior to joining Hill, Farrer & Burrill in 1999, Mr. Byrne served as the Research Attorney for the Probate Department of the Los Angeles Superior Court for two years and worked directly with the Probate Judges in Departments 5 and 11 and the Probate Attorneys of the Los Angeles Superior Probate Court.  From 1995 to 1997, as a Research Attorney for the Los Angeles Superior Court, Mr. Byrne covered special assignments for the Court as directed by the Presiding Judge including working full-time with Judge Lance Ito during the O.J. Simpson criminal trial and full-time with Judge Hiroshi Fujisaki during the O.J. Simpson civil trial in Santa Monica.  From 1992 to 1995, Mr. Byrne worked as a Litigation Associate with Rogers & Wells in Los Angeles.