Trusts and estates litigator Julia Birkel brings over 40 years of experience in her representation of clients in diverse matters, including elder financial abuse, undue influence, will and trust disputes, fiduciary issues, and conservatorships.

Julie is known for her ability to strategize and see the big picture for maximum efficiency in time and cost, and for her responsiveness and connection with her clients, which include individuals and fiduciaries.

Julie is well known and respected in her field, including through her strong involvement in the Los Angeles County Bar Association. She is the past Chair of the Trusts and Estates Section of LACBA and has served on its Executive Committee since 2012. She has served as chairperson of the Court Liaison Committee, and on the Membership Development, and Diversity and Inclusion Committees.

A former Trustee of LACBA from 2019-2021, Julie is currently a Trustee of the Counsel for Justice, the 501(c)(3) arm of LACBA. She was appointed to the President’s Advisory Committee on Women in the Legal Profession for LACBA’s 2021-2022 year. As an appointee to LACBA’s Special Programs Committee, Julie presented a popular recent program, “Critical Race Theory: What It Is, What It Isn’t, and What Attorneys Need to Know.”

Julie has served as a Volunteer Settlement Officer for the Los Angeles Superior Court, Probate Department. She was a finalist in the Los Angeles Times “Most Inspiring Women” award in 2021 and the Los Angeles Business Journal’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award in 2024. Julie is named as a 2024 Southern California Super Lawyer. She chairs the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee and is active in her community on issues of diversity and inclusion. Julie is an alumna of Stanford University and UCLA School of Law.

Practice Area

Education

University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law – J.D. 1984
Stanford University – A.B. 1979
Stanford Mass Media Institute – 1990

Representative matters

Petition for Instructions

Prevailed at trial representing trustee defending against Petition for Instructions challenging interpretation and distribution of trust.

Conservatorship

Prevailed at trial representing daughter of proposed conservatee seeking appointment of professional conservator of estate, despite recommendation of PVP attorney that brother be appointed.

Financial Elder Abuse

Represented a conservator in a long cause trial on financial elder abuse claims, successfully streamlining issues to a short trial, and obtaining judgment for compensatory damages, attorneys’ fees and double damages. Affirmed on appeal in Kerley v. Weber (2018) 27 Cal. App. 5th 1187.

Removal of Trustee

Represented trustee in defending multiple petitions seeking her removal and damages in multi-million-dollar trust dispute.

Omitted Spouse Petition

Prevailed at trial representing children of deceased in defending omitted spouse and spousal property petitions.

Removal of Trustee

Obtained removal of trustee appointed by settlor after prevailing at lengthy trial representing trust beneficiary.

Undue Influence Trial

Represented Executor of Estate in undue influence trial, in which client recovered real property and monetary damages for the estate.

Defense of Undue Influence and Financial Elder Abuse Action

Obtained judgment of dismissal of client following trial on undue influence and financial elder abuse claims against him.

Real Estate Option to Purchase

Obtained judgment for specific performance and damages, including attorneys’ fees, in favor of client seeking specific performance of real estate option to purchase, following week-long bench trial.

Boundary Dispute Quieting Title

Obtained judgment in favor of client following week-long bench trial in boundary dispute lawsuit, quieting title in favor of client, granting client a permanent injunction, and granting client affirmative relief.

Bank Failure to Indemnify

Achieved a judgment in favor of former president of a national bank, who had been sued by the bank for $18 million based on charges he violated U.S. Banking Regulations “Q” and “Z.” Following 3-week jury trial, the client obtained defense verdict on the bank’s claim and a $2.5 million verdict in his favor on the cross-complaint filed on his behalf against the bank for its failure to indemnify him with regard to a prior proceeding instituted by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

Arbitration Medical Partnership

Obtained $3.5 million judgment in favor of a pediatric oncologist following a week-long binding arbitration on the physician’s claims against her former medical partnership and its managing partner for breach of fiduciary duty and fraud. The judgment included an award of $400,000 in punitive damages.

Of Counsel

Julia L. Birkel

OVERVIEW

Trusts and estates litigator Julia Birkel brings over 40 years of experience in her representation of clients in diverse matters, including elder financial abuse, undue influence, will and trust disputes, fiduciary issues, and conservatorships.

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