Matt Brown's profile

    Matt Brown

    Top rated Estate Planning & Probate attorney in Irvine, California

    Education Qualification:

    Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law

    Practice Areas:

    Estate planning & probate,

    Tax,

    Nonprofit organizations

    40 Pacifica 15th FloorIrvine, California, 92618

    First Admitted: 1999, Texas

    Professional Webpage: https://www.brownandstreza.com/team/matt-brown/

    Bar/Professional Activity:
    • University of California, Irvine School of Law - Adjunct Professor - 2014-2015
    • Thompson & Knight LLP, Dallas, Texas - Associate Attorney - 2000-2002
    • Brown & Streza LLP, Irvine, California - Associate Attorney - 2002-2008
    • Brown & Streza LLP, Irvine, California - Partner - 2008-Present
    • Winstead, Dallas, Texas - Associate Attorney - 1999-2000
    Transactions:
    • Structured $100 Million gift of closely held stock to charitable remainder trust to defer taxation on sale proceeds from $205 Million business sale
    • Structured $200 Million gift of closely held stock to a private foundation, successfully avoiding excess business holdings challenges
    • Structured tax-deferred $100 Million business sale by implementing complex multi-tiered partnership structure
    • Converted for-profit nursing home into nonprofit corporation using tax-exempt housing bonds
    • Created multi-tiered partnership holding company structure designed to split royalty income of a renowned author among the author, a charitable remainder trust, and a supporting organization while avoiding assignment of income issues
    • Converted $12 Million S-Corporation into nonprofit publishing company, avoiding liquidation tax, minimizing UBIT during conversion period, and ultimately eliminating UBIT entirely
    • Converted $32 Million C-Corporation into nonprofit publishing company, avoiding liquidation tax and ultimately eliminating all corporate level taxes
    • Structured private foundation’s investment in foreign for-profit bank designed to provide microenterprise lending to the poor as a program-related-investment instead of a taxable expenditure or jeopardizing investment
    • Structured supporting organization designed to secure government financing for renovation of distressed housing with profits going to local charities
    • Created supporting organization subsidiary of a national community foundation to accept and direct international gifts
    • Created supporting organization subsidiary of a national community foundation to accept and direct gifts of real property
    Special Licenses/Certifications:
    • Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law (California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization), 2010
    Pro bono/Community Service:
    • Phi Delta Phi Legal Honor Society - Member
    • College of the State Bar of Texas – Member
    • University of California, Irvine - Center for Investment and Wealth Management - Charter Member
    • Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners of Orange County (STEP-OC) - Founding Board Member; Member
    • Orange County Estate Planning Council - Member; former Board Member
    • Crossline Community Church - Member
    • Kingdom Advisors - Charter Member
    • Planned Giving Round Table of Orange County - Past President
    Honors/Awards:
    • AV® Preeminent™ Rating, Martindale-Hubbell -Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings are established by lawyers and judges who have personal knowledge of an individual attorney’s work and ethical standards. An AV® certification mark is a significant rating accomplishment - a testament to the fact that a lawyer's peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence.
    • Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) – October 2014 - Elected to membership by demonstrating the highest level of integrity, commitment to the profession, competence and experience as trust and estate counselors
    Educational Background:
    • Bachelor of Science, Agricultural and Managerial Economics, University of California at Davis -1996
    • Licensed to practice law in both Texas(inactive) and California
    • Juris Doctor, cum laude, Southern Moethodist University School of Law - 1999
    Other Outstanding Achievements:
    • 2016 - 2021 “Top 50 Attorneys In Orange County” as published in Los Angeles magazine, February 2016
    • 2011 “40 Under 40” as published in OC Register Metro, May 2011 - Honors top young professionals in Orange County based upon individual accomplishments, current projects, and standing in the community, among other factors
    • 2010,  2012 and 2013 “Five Star Wealth Manager”, as featured in Orange Coast magazine. Survey identifies the top 3% of wealth managers in Orange County, including CPAs, attorneys, bankers, and financial planners. Survey results come from 44,000 high-net-worth Orange County residents and 6,200 leaders of financial service industry companies. Surveys reflect evaluation by those who personally know nominees and rank nine criteria: customer service, integrity, knowledge/expertise, communication, value for fee charged, meeting of financial objectives, post-sale service, quality of recommendations, and overall satisfaction.
    • 2011 - 2014 “OC Top Attorney” (Estate Planning) as published in OC Register Metro, August 2011, August 2012, August 2013 and August 2014
    Industry Groups:
    • ACTEC Fellow
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