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Johnson

Sonja K. Johnson

Counsel

Johnson
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  • 415-421-6500
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Areas of Expertise

  • Family Wealth Planning
  • Charitable Planning
  • Trust & Estate Administration
  • Overview
  • Publications

Sonja Johnson advises individuals, families, fiduciaries and charitable organizations on tailored strategies to maximize wealth transfer and minimize tax impact.

Sonja helps clients implement lifetime transfers and estate plans tailored to their particular family circumstances, unique assets and tax needs. This includes effective use of gift-, estate- and GST-tax exemptions, along with associated income tax planning. She frequently assists clients with closely held business matters and charitable planning.

Sonja also represents professional and individual fiduciaries in trust and estate administration matters and has substantial experience advising charitable organizations, including large community foundations, private family foundations and new non-profit organizations seeking tax-exempt status.

Education

Stanford Law School; J.D., with distinction, 2006

Carleton College; B.A., sociology and anthropology, magna cum laude; 2000

University of New South Wales, Australia; 1998

Bar Admissions

California

Publications

Notable Publications

  • “California Income Taxation of Trusts and Estates,” co-author with Richard S. Kinyon and Kim Marois, 21(3) CAL. TRUSTS & ESTATES QTLY. 6; 2015
  • “Chapter 48: United States – California,” coauthor with Patrick McCabe, INTERNATIONAL SUCCESSION 743 (Louis Garb and John Wood eds.); 2010

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