Where’s the FUN in DysFUNctional Families: Interactive Case Studies

Lauriann Wright is an experienced probate litigator and estate planner. For over 25 years, she has been practicing all phases of probate law and litigation, including conservatorships, guardianships, trusts, and probate estates, throughout Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside Counties. The focus of her practice is the representation of professional fiduciaries, with particular success in helping fiduciaries maintain neutrality in the midst of litigation among family members. She also represents select private clients in trust and estate litigation matters, like will and trust contests.

For 2019, she has been named as one of the Top 50 Women Super Lawyers in Southern California. For the 8 consecutive years of 2012 through 2019, she was named as a Southern California Super Lawyer in Trust and Estate Litigation. For 2016 through 2019, she is also listed as one of “The Best Lawyers in America” in Litigation/ Probate by Best Lawyer and her law firm has been named a Best Law Firm by U.S. News & World Report as well. And she has been named as a member of the National Advocates: Top 100 of Wills, Trust and Estates Lawyers. She is a regular speaker on probate law topics.

Brenda Shorkend is a Certified Aging Life Care™ Manager/Geriatric Care Manager, with over 25 years of experience working with older people and people with disabilities and their families. She has a background in Rehabilitation Psychology and is a member of the Aging Life Care Association. She has worked in a wide variety of hospital and community settings, including Huntington Hospital’s Senior Care Network in Pasadena. Brenda has broad knowledge of local resources and services. Brenda is a strong advocate for her clients. She works with her clients to tailor unique solutions for each individual that maximizes their independence and autonomy while ensuring their safety and well-being. She is on the board of the San Gabriel Valley Financial Planning Association and the advisory boards of the West San Gabriel Valley Elder Abuse Task Force and of Community Healthcare Ethics.

Judge Mary Thornton House retired from the Los Angeles Superior Court in September 2018 after serving for 22 years. She is a private neutral for Alternative Resolution Centers (ARC). Prior to her retirement, she presided over trusts, wills, estate, conservatorship and guardianship matters in Pasadena and the Stanley Mosk Courthouse. The bulk of her years on the Superior Court was in probate or general civil litigation individual calendar courts.

Robert A. Earnest is a California licensed professional fiduciary and the principal of Earnest Trust Management. Robert earned his Certificate of Fiduciary Management from CSUF and is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School. Before establishing Earnest Trust Management, he practiced law for 30 years for both international law firms, including Paul Hastings in Los Angeles, and multinational companies, such as ARCO and Nissan. He started his career as a professional fiduciary in 2016.

Robert’s professional activities include serving on the Legislative Committee of PFAC and organizing the Fiduciary Forums for the San Gabriel Valley Chapter of PFAC. He also serves on the boards of the Fiduciary Round Table of San Gabriel Valley, the Estate Planning Counsel of San Gabriel Valley and the Pasadena chapter of Rotary International. He enjoys lecturing on the profession to anyone who will listen, including local chapters of CalCPA and the Financial Planning Association.