First Admitted: 1987, Tennessee

Professional Webpage: https://hatleylawgroup.com/about/rodney-j-hatley/

Bar/Professional Activity:

State Bar of California, 1992
State Bar of Tennessee, 1987

Special Licenses/Certifications:

California Life Insurance License (0C87849), 2018
California Real Estate Broker's License., 2014

Pro bono/Community Service:

Nice Guys San Diego, 2012
San Diego Downtown Breakfast Rotary Club, 2012

Honors/Awards:

San Diego Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2024
San Diego Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2023
SD500: The Most Influential People In San Diego, San Diego Business Journal, 2022
Leaders In Law: Estate Planning, San Diego Business Journal, 2022
San Diego Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2022
Leaders In Law: Estate Planning, San Diego Business Journal, 2021
San Diego Super Lawyers, Thomson Reuters, 2021
Top Wealth Managers of San Diego, San Diego Magazine, 2021
Best Attorneys, Estate Planning, San Diego Metro Magazine, 2020
Finalist, Leaders In Law, San Diego Daily Transcript, 2020
Top Wealth Managers of San Diego, San Diego Magazine, 2019
Best Attorneys, Estate Planning, San Diego Metro Magazine, 2018
Finalist, Best Estate Planning For Pre-Merger & Acquisition, BNY Mellon, 2015
Paul Harris Fellow, Rotary International, 2012
"For meritorious service while serving as Staff Judge Advocate [i.e., General Counsel], Naval Air Weapons Station, China Lake, California, from August 1991 to August 1995. Lieutenant Hatley demonstrated exemplary leadership, initiative, and dedication through providing consistently outstanding legal services to the Station, its 8 tenants commands, and more than 1,250 active duty military, retired personnel, and their family members. During his tenure, he expertly prosecuted 30 Captain's masts [a form of non-judicial punishment whereby commanders administratively discipline troops without a court-martial], 5 courts-martial, and conducted 8 administrative discharge boards. Serving as the Command Liaison for the United States Attorney's office, he was frequently commended for his superb performance. He distinguished himself by presenting clear and concise briefs on Standards of Conduct to 5,600 military and civilian personnel during the Chief of Naval Operations mandated Sexual Harassment Training [in the wake of the Tail hook scandal]. Sensitive to the needs of remotely located legal assistance clients with immigration problems, his office coordinated with the Immigration and Naturalization Service for an unprecedented field visit to China Lake. His expertise, "can-do" attitude, and dedication to quality resulted in a total reorganization of the Staff Judge Advocate's Office's standard operating procedures for claims adjudication resulting in a marked improvement in processing times of 395 claims. Lieutenant Hatley's dedication, superb professionalism and untiring initiative reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.", Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (Gold Star In Lieu Of Second Award), Department of the Navy, 1995
"For meritorious service as Defense Counsel and Legal Assistance Officer at Naval Legal Service Office, (NLSO), Treasure Island from June 1989 through October 1990, and Officer-in-Charge, NLSO Detachment, Naval Air Station (NAS), Moffett Field, California from October 1990 through August 1991. As a Defense Counsel, Lieutenant Hatley provided zealous representation for 82 clients at courts-martial and administrative discharge boards. As one of the Navy's preeminent legal assistance officers, he provided superior legal assistance to over 2,000 clients. During Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM, Lieutenant Hatley made numerous pre-deployment assistance visits which included around-the-clock work for 19 consecutive days. As Officer-in-Charge at NLSO Detachment, NAS Moffett Field, he provided superb personal representation and legal assistance services. When two P-3C Orion aircraft collided, Lieutenant Hatley provides expert and timely advice to the command and extraordinary legal assistance to the dependents [family members] of the 27 service members who perished. By his exemplary performance, initiative, and loyal devotion to duty, Lieutenant Hatley reflected credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.", Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Department of the Navy, 1991
National Defense Service Medal, Department of Defense, 1990

Educational Background:

LL.M., Taxation, University of San Diego School of Law, 1996
J.D., The University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, 1986
B.A., Political Science, Rhodes College, Memphis, TN, 1983

Scholarly Lectures/Writings:

Chapter on spousal lifetime access trust or SLAT., Author, Spousal Lifetime Access Trust, Estate Planning Strategies: Collective Wisdom, Proven Techniques, 2d Edition, WealthCounsel, LLC, Law, 2022
Powerful estate planning strategies that instill values for generations., Foreword, Your American Legacy: Powerful Strategies That Instill Lasting Values For Generations, Best Seller Publishing, LLC, 2020
A guide to asset protection, tax, and estate planning for California doctors., Editor, For California Doctors: A Guide To Asset Protection, Tax and Estate Planning, Guardian Publishing, LLC, 2009
Practical answers from America's foremost charitable planning authorities, Co-Author, Giving: Philanthropy for Everyone (with Robert A. Esperti, Esq., and Renno L. Peterson, Esq.), Quantum Press, LLC, 2003
Probate information for naval judge advocates serving on active duty in California., Co-Author, California Probate Information, Naval Legal Service Office, Naval Station Treasure Island, San Francisco, CA, 1990
Case comment on Christensen v. Murphy., Author, Torts - Abolition of the Fireman's Rule in Oregon and What It May Mean for Tennessee - Christensen v. Murphy, 15 University of Memphis L. Rev. 312 (1985), 1985

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Rodney J. Hatley