Katie has spent her career working with individuals, families and business owners on their estate planning, trust and estate administration and business succession planning. Katie’s approach is a personal one - she wants to understand each client’s goals and concerns before preparing their estate planning documents. Her approach is also educational - she wants her clients to receive all of the information and support that they need to make thoughtful decisions about their planning.
Katie’s clients range from those with straightforward issues to those with highly complex ones. Her work covers all types of issues, including basic core planning, complex trusts, intrafamily gifts and wealth transfers, income tax mitigation and trust modifications. Regardless of the complexity, Katie works to create a prioritized approach to address each client's needs.
Katie also assists individual and corporate fiduciaries with a wide range of issues, including valuation, distribution and management of assets, fiduciary income taxes, passing family businesses through estates, and defending high-net worth estates through IRS audit.
Admissions
- Washington, 2003
- Oregon, 2006
Education
- University of Washington School of Law, LL.M., taxation (2004)
- Seattle University School of Law, J.D. (2003)
- University of Washington, B.A. (2000)
Honors and Recognitions
- Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel
- Washington Super Lawyers (2014 - 2025)
- The Best Lawyers in America in Trusts and Estates (2018 - 2025)
- Chambers High Net Worth Guide for High Net Worth Planning (2017 - 2025)
- Rising Star, Washington Super Lawyers (2012 - 2013)
Professional and Community Activities:
- Member, Seattle Estate Planning Council
- Member, Washington Women in Tax
- Former Adjunct Faculty, Seattle University School of Law (2012-2013)
- Member. Drafting Committee for 2013 Washington Uniform Trust Code Revisions (2012-2013)
- Member, Editorial Board, OSB Estate Planning & Administration Section Newsletter (2008-2011)
- Member, Editorial Board, WSBA RPPT Section Newsletter (2005-2006)
Publications and Speaking:
- "Fiduciaries," Co-Author, WSBA Estate Planning, Probate, and Trust Administration in Washington Deskbook, Chapter 5 (2020)
- Practical Drafting Issues for Powers of Attorney and Directed Trusts, Co-Presenter, WSBA RPPT Mid-Year (2017)
- "Did Aragona Answer All Questions? An Analysis of Outstanding Issues for Trusts Owning Rental Real Estate," Co-Author, Steve Leimberg's Estate Planning Newsletter (2015)
- "Notice, Information-Sharing and Other Issues Under the Washington Trust Act – Three Perspectives: the Drafter, Fiduciary and Litigator," 59th Annual Estate Planning Seminar, Panelist (2014)
- "Estate Planning Issues for the $2M to $10M Estate," the East King County EPC, Panelist (2014)
- "The 2013 Updates to the Washington Trust Act: Notice and Virtual Representation," Speaker, KCBA (2014)
- "2013 Updates to the Washington Trust Act," author, WSBA RPPT Newsletter, (2013)
- "Washington Trust Laws' Extreme Makeover: Blending With the Uniform Trust Code and Taking Reform Further With Innovations in Notice, Situs, and Representation," Co-Author, Washington Law Review, 88 Wash. L. Rev. 813 (2013)
- "Drafting for the Updated Trust Act," Co-Presenter, WSBA (2013)
- "Trust Act: One Year Later," Co-Presenter, WSBA (2012)
- "Proposed 2013 Trust Act Legislation," KCBA ( 2012)
- "Managing Estate Assets," Co-Author, Administering Oregon Estates, OSB (2012)
- "Drafting Tips for the Washington Trust Act," Co-Presenter, WSBA (2011)
- "Reporting Requirements of the Oregon Uniform Trust Code," OSB Newsletter (2007)
- "Good Governance Practices for Family Foundations," Co-Author, WSBA Newsletter (2006)
- "Will Drafting for the 'Shifting' Taxable Estate," Speaker, WSBA (2005)
- "Avoiding Probate: Keeping Estate's Assets Out of Court is Preferable," Co-Author, Puget Sound Business Journal (2005)