Stan Hutchinson is an of council attorney in the estate planning department at Copenbarger & Copenbarger LLP. Stan embarked on his legal journey in 1979 when he first entered the legal profession as a sole practitioner. Stan has a passion for education and teaching. Prior to joining our firm, Stan dedicated thirteen years to teaching at Pasadena City College, where he imparted his extensive knowledge of law to aspiring students. He joined our firm in September 2021 after Copenbarger and Copenbarger absorbed his forty two year old practice. Stan firmly believes that empowering individuals with an understanding of the law enables them to make informed decisions and protect their interests effectively. His impressive track record, combined with his passion for education, distinguishes him as a valuable asset to our firm and a trusted advisor to clients seeking legal guidance in matters of estate planning, Probate, and Administration. We are happy to have Stan and his wonderful clients as part of our Copenbarger Law Family.

Toni DeGasperin is an of council attorney in the estate planning department at Copenbarger & Copenbarger LLP. Since the early 1980s, Toni has been actively practicing law, specializing in estate planning. She has a deep love for travel and exploration. Toni served 5 years as an attorney for the Air Force and achieved the titles of Staff Judge Advocate and Chief of Military Justice. In October 2022, Toni joined our practice, marking a significant milestone in her career as she began her path to retirement. While transitioning into this new phase, Toni will continue to share her wealth of knowledge and expertise as “Of Counsel” to our firm.

 

Victoria Horvatich is an attorney with Copenbarger & Copenbarger, LLP.

About Victoria

Victoria Horvatich co-leads the Estate Planning and Medi-Cal departments. She works with clients in each office, focusing on San Jose, Santa Cruz, and Sacramento, to create customized estate plans that fit their individual needs. Victoria assists in the administration and litigation departments as needed.

Victoria is passionate about helping people establish their legacies and educating prospects and clients whenever possible. She believes that each client should be in control of their plan and understand what that plan entails. She particularly enjoys speaking to prospective clients at workshops and church seminars. Victoria knew she was meant to be an Estate Planning Attorney because she gets to serve clients every day and help protect them from situations that would seek to harm them or their families.

Victoria graduated from Santa Clara University School of Law in 2017 and was admitted to the California State Bar in 2018.

Personal

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, their two cats, and dog. Victoria has volunteered with the high school youth group at her church since 2017. She also enjoys gardening, golfing, and traveling whenever possible.

Awards

Top Attorneys of North America 2021-2022

Practice Areas / Responsibilities

Victoria co-leads the Estate Planning and Medi-Cal departments. She works with clients to create their customized estate plan that fits their individual needs and captures their wishes for what they want their legacy to be. Victoria also assists in the estate administration department and litigation department. Victoria primarily runs and works from the San Jose, Santa Cruz, and Sacramento offices, while assisting in our Southern California offices as needed. Victoria was also named as one of the 2022 Top Attorneys of North America.

Professional Qualifications

Member, State Bar of California
Certified Mediator for Santa Clara County
Notary License

Robert Galliano is an attorney with Copenbarger & Copenbarger, LLP.

About Robert

Robert Galliano is an estate planning attorney in our Temecula Office, Riverside County and San Bernardino County. He focuses on creating custom estate plans that protect clients from probate, long-term care costs, and conservatorships. Robert has over 30 years of experience helping families with their Estate Planning. As an Elder Law Attorney, Robert helps families in planning for long-term care options, qualifying for Medi-Cal and Asset Protection.

Robert believes in protecting his clients from entities or people who would seek to take his client’s hard-earned assets. He is passionate about protecting elders from predators, as well as veterans who are in need of benefits assistance.

Robert graduated from California Southern Law School and was Admitted to the California State Bar in 1981. Robert is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law in California. Robert is passionate about educating and was an Adjunct Professor at National University where he taught Graduate Tax Courses. He has given hundreds of educational seminars and is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). Robert has a Masters Degree in Taxation and is a licensed Professional Engineer.

Personal

In his free time, Robert enjoys researching new and changing laws, spending time with his wife and their kitties, traveling, and experiencing adrenaline-based activities (he has run with the bulls in Pamplona!).

Awards

Certificate of Recognition National Association of Tax Professionals 2013
Masters Council Prudential 2012
Elite Producer Questar Capital Corporation 2012

Practice Areas / Responsibilities

Robert is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law by the California Board of Legal Specialization and holds a Master’s degree in Taxation from Golden Gate University. Robert has over 30 years of experience helping families with their Estate Planning. As an Elder Law Attorney, Robert helps families in planning for long-term care options, qualifying for Medi-Cal and Asset Protection. Robert was also an Adjunct Professor at National University where he taught Graduate Tax Courses and is a co-author of the book, “More Than Money”. Robert has given hundreds of educational seminars and is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). Robert holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering and is a Professional Engineer in Control Systems.

Professional Qualifications

Member, State Bar of California
U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
Admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States
Admitted to practice before the United States Tax Court
Accredited Attorney under the Department of Veteran Affairs
Licensed California Real Estate Broker
Securities License Series 6, 7 and 24
Certified Fund Specialist (CFS)

Education

B.S.EE California State University
B.S. Law California Southern Law School
Masters in Tax Golden Gate University
J.D. California Southern Law School

Sunny Boren is an attorney with Copenbarger & Copenbarger, LLP.

About Sunny

As a premier small Business and Tax Planning Attorney in California, Sunny Boren specializes in establishing and safeguarding client assets in business entities and irrevocable trusts. She ensures meticulous compliance and adept contract management. Under her guidance, clients receive personalized strategies to protect their assets and ventures, fortifying them against external risks.

Sunny also provides expert estate planning, focusing on strategies like Charitable Remainder Trusts to minimize capital gains taxes and leverage charitable deductions. She excels in high-net-worth planning, aiming to significantly reduce potential estate taxes. Leveraging her CPA background and tax expertise, Sunny crafts tailored estate plans that optimize the use of gift and estate tax exemptions. Her proficiency includes setting up specialized trusts like Intentionally Defective Grantor Trusts and Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts. For gifts, she ensures accurate valuation by collaborating with skilled business appraisers, safeguarding her clients’ legacies for future generations.

Sunny is passionate about assisting individuals in creating charitable trusts, private foundations, and similar exempt organizations. She refers to Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRTs) as the “trifecta” of charitable planning, offering clients capital gains tax avoidance, substantial charitable deductions, and a beneficial income stream for retirement. 

Private foundations, while similar, also provide significant tax advantages and opportunities for philanthropic engagement over the long term.

Personal

In her leisure moments, Sunny cherishes exploring new destinations and creating memorable experiences with her loved ones. She enjoys nature, engages in personal fitness through training, Pilates, walking, and dedicates her spare time to Mariner’s Church where she leads women’s groups and contributes to the prayer team.

Awards

Cum Laude from UC Law San Francisco
Gamma Beta Phi Society, Chapman Law

Practice Areas / Responsibilities

Sunny leads the Business and Tax Department, focusing on business formation, annual compliance, big and small contracts, high net worth estate planning, and supervises tax return preparation.

Professional Qualifications

Licensed to practice in all courts in the State of California
California Board of Accountancy – CPA Certificate (Inactive)
Member, State Bar of California – 1983

Education

LL.M, Taxation, Chapman University – Fowler School of Law
J.D., University of California – San Francisco, Hastings College of Law, Order of the Coif (Top 10%)
B.S., Colorado State University, With Highest Distinction

Larry G. Copenbarger is an attorney practicing estate administration, probate, and tax law in the firm’s office.

Practice Areas / Responsibilities

Larry co-leads the Estate Planning and Medi-Cal departments. He establishes estate plans and Medi-Cal planning for clients in all of our office areas, focusing on Santa Ana, Pasadena, and San Diego. Larry helps clients capture their wishes for themselves and their families, while protecting the legacies they have built. Larry is passionate about speaking at client seminars, as well as church seminars.

Larry follows in his father’s footsteps, believing that every legacy matters and that we should protect the gifts that God has given us. Larry goes above and beyond for clients, often going to client’s homes for those who cannot travel.

Larry graduated from Western State University and was admitted to the California State Bar in 1996.

Personal

In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and their 4 children. He loves to garden, travel, and volunteer his time with Christian philanthropic organizations in his community.

Awards

Recognized Excellence in Elder Law 2018

Professional Qualifications

Member, State Bar of California, Admitted 1996
Admitted to argue before the Supreme Court of the United States
Member, Orange County Bar Association

Education

B.A., History and Political Science, California State University Fullerton
J.D., Western State University
LL.M, Tax, Chapman University – In Progress

James M. Kosareff is an attorney practicing estate administration, probate, and tax law in the firm’s office.

About James

James Kosareff is a Partner of the Copenbarger law firm and the leader of the estate administration and probate department at the firm. He handles the vast majority of probate and trust administration matters, routinely advising clients and making court appearances on their behalf. He is also heavily involved in the tax and estate planning departments. James represents clients in all of our offices, including Santa Ana, Temecula, and San Jose.

James believes that every client deserves honorable and excellent representation, which he provides. He understands the hardships that court can cause a family, especially after they have lost a loved one. He walks his clients through each step of the process and is there to hold their hand as needed.

James graduated from Western State University and was admitted to the California Bar in 1994. He is a Certified Specialist in Probate, Estate Planning, and Trust Law in California. He received his LLM in Taxation from Chapman University School of Law in 2006.

Personal

James spends his free time with his wife and their two children, volunteering with Kiwanis, and rooting for the LA Dodgers.

Awards

Top Attorneys of North America 2021-2022
Legions of Honor 2021

Practice Areas / Responsibilities

Mr. Kosareff is the leader in the trust administration and probate section of the firm. He currently handles the vast majority of probate and trust administration matters, routinely advising clients and making court appearances on their behalf. He is also heavily involved in the tax and general estate planning areas.

Professional Qualifications

Member, State Bar of California, Admitted 1994
Admitted to argue before the Ninth Circuit Federal Courts
Certified Specialist in Probate, Estate Planning, and Trust Law by the California Board of Legal Specialization, State Bar of California
Member, State Bar of California Trust, Probate, and Estate Planning Section and Tax Law Section
Member, Orange County Bar Association Trusts and Estates Section and Tax Law Section
Member, Kiwanis Club of Huntington Beach

Chris is the Chief Executive Officer of the Copenbarger law firm.

About Chris

Chris has the responsibility of leading and managing the firm’s employees, pushing them to grow beyond their comfort zones, and overseeing projects from the ideas phase through implementation – all while balancing the unique rules and limits of the legal industry.

His goal for himself, and for the firm, is to inspire and help others build and grow a fulfilling legacy. Whether he is talking to coworkers, friends, family, or others, his desire is to find out what drives them and what he can offer, if anything, to help propel them closer to achieving their hopes, dreams, and desires.

Personal

In his free time, Chris enjoys spending time with his family, their dogs, and friends, playing golf, cooking and baking, gardening, and traveling. Chris loves adrenaline sports and activities, and is always ready for the next adventure.

Awards

Silicon Valley Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 2021
Intellectual Contribution Award from Stanford Graduate School of Business LEAD 2019

Qualifications

Notary Public
Founding member of Vistage – Silicon Valley
Member of Silicon Valley CEOs
Chevalier in the Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knight’s Hospitaller

Lloyd Copenbarger is senior partner of the firm and the firm’s founder, practicing all aspects of estate and tax planning in the firm’s office.

About Lloyd

Lloyd Copenbarger is the founder of the Copenbarger law firm. He has dedicated his life to protecting legacies and families from the unnecessary cost and hardship caused by probate and other court matters. Lloyd built a firm that could help his clients through each phase of the estate planning process so that his attorneys and staff could walk alongside clients and their families for generations to come.

Lloyd grew up on a farm in Oklahoma where he witnessed his parents be told they were too “poor” for an estate plan. This fueled his passion for estate planning that is accessible to all. Lloyd believes that every person’s legacy matters, regardless of their financial means, and that they should be treated as such. Lloyd moved to California after graduating from University of Oklahoma and opened the Copenbarger & Copenbarger law firm. For over 40 years, he has run a firm that embodies his “why” – that every client’s legacy does matter.

Lloyd is licensed to practice law in Ohio, Oklahoma, and California, and is a Certified Specialist in Probate, Estate Planning, and Trust Law in California. He practices full time as an estate planning and trust administration attorney, while working with our business and tax department focusing on more advanced planning. Lloyd has extensive experience with high net worth individuals and the specific planning this takes.

Personal

In his free time, he spends time with his family, including his wonderful wife Laura Copenbarger, their two children, his grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He loves going back to Oklahoma to harvest pecans so that he can make some of the best pecan pie ever made. He enjoys going to church with his family, gardening, flying planes with his grandson, and cheering on the University of Oklahoma’s football team.

Awards

Who’s Who Continental 2022
Top 500 Most Influential Professionals 2022
Top Attorneys of North America 2021-2022
Client Champion Award Martindale-Hubbell 2019 & 2021
Recognizing Excellence in Estate Planning 2021 & 2018

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