Robert Strauss skillfully guides high net worth families, business owners and real estate developers and investors through the complex process of estate and wealth transfer planning. Rob approaches each client with a fresh perspective, conducting extensive discovery to discern their unique objectives, challenges and concerns. By considering a client’s full array of needs, assets and goals, Rob develops creative and customized solutions that reduce estate taxes, achieve liability and creditor protection and, if desired, incorporate charitable giving and life insurance planning. Rob’s clients appreciate his interactive style, responsiveness, and ability to communicate complex structures in plain English, enabling them to make informed decisions.

Rob applies experience as a transactional attorney to advise owners of businesses and real estate regarding business succession plans and pre-liquidity event wealth transfer plans. Conversant in current business and real estate trends, Rob effectively considers external variables along with the client’s business goals and personal needs to provide sound guidance.

As a teacher of Advanced Estate Planning at UCLA Extension and a frequent speaker, Rob is well-versed at communicating sophisticated estate planning concepts to a diverse audience. He enjoys the challenge of ensuring that everyone in the room, regardless of background, gains a visceral understanding of the topic. As a by-product of his teaching and speaking engagements, Rob remains ahead of trends in estate planning and tax law.

Highly-respected by his clients and peers, they have awarded Rob the highest possible rating, “AV® Preeminent™ 5.0/5.0,” on Martindale-Hubbell®. Additionally, he has been named a “Southern California Super Lawyer” by Super Lawyers® every year since 2005 and has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© each year since 2013.

Education

  • J.D., UCLA School of Law, 1990
  • A.B., Economics, Harvard University, 1986
    • Honors: Magna Cum Laude

Bar Admissions

  • State Bar of California, 1990
  • U.S. District Court Central District of California, 1991
  • U.S. Tax Court, 1991

Professional Associations & Memberships

  • Beverly Hills Bar Association: 1994 – present
  • Los Angeles County Bar Association: 1991 – present
  • Los Angeles Estate Counselors Forum, Past President
  • ProVisors, Beverly Hills I, Group Leader

Speaking & Teaching

Teaching Positions

  • Advanced Estate Planning, UCLA Extension, 2003 – Present

Notable Speaking Engagements

  • “Implications of the Estate Tax Proposal and Proposition 19,” CPA Business Managers virtual Zoom event, March 1, 2021
  • “Exit Planning,” EPI Business Owners Forum, October 9, 2018
  • “Advanced Estate Planning Under the New Tax Code,” Beverly Hills Bar Association, July 17, 2018
  • “Pre and Post Sale Planning for You, Your Company and Your Family,” A Conference for Business Owners: M&A Solutions for Privately Held Companies, May 2, 2018
  • “Planning Opportunities Under the New Estate Tax Law,” San Fernando Valley Estate Planning Council, April 26, 2018
  • “Estate Tax Issues in Business Succession Planning,” South Bay Estate Planning Council, March 8, 2018
  • “Why You Should Take Estate Planning Seriously,” Financial Sense Podcast, October 31, 2017
  • “Pre-liquidity Event: Wealth Transfer Planning Ideas for Business Owners,” Beverly Hills Estate Planning Council, October 2, 2017
  • “Pre and Post Sale Planning for You, Your Company, and Your Family,” A Conference for Business Owners: M&A Solutions for Privately Held Companies, April 26, 2017
  • “Estate Planning Prior to your Deal,” Provisors M&A Group, October, 2013
  • “GRATs: Unconventional Uses for the Common GRAT,” Beverly Hills Bar Association, August 2013
  • “Current State of Estate Planning,” 2013 IRS Valuation Summit, August, 2013
  • “Estate Planning Prior to Your Deal,” YPO MAST Seminar, May 2013
  • “Creating the Legal Structure Including the Tax Consequences,” Pepperdine University, December 2012
  • “Creating the Legal Structure Including the Tax Considerations,” Pepperdine University, March 2012
  • “Opportunities for $5M Exemptions,” The Financial Planning Association of Los Angeles, March 2012
  • “No Regrets: Smart Advance Planning for the Eventual Sale of Your Company,” California CEO Forum, March 2012
  • “Creating the Organizational Structure Including the Legal Tax Considerations,” Certificate in Financial Management for the Family Office:  Managing and Building Wealth through Effective Financial Management, Oversight, and Making Informed Investment Decisions, Pepperdine University, October 2011
  • Estate Planning Update, Business Managers Discussion Group, July 2011
  • The Basics of Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts (“GRATS”) and Case Studies, South Bay Estate Planning Council, March 2011
  • Estate Planning in a Low Interest Environment,” Critical Issues Affecting Estate and Charitable Planning, The Jewish Community Foundation, Los Angeles, April 2009

Media & Publications

Publications

  • Planning with Family Limited Partnerships, co-author, Credit Suisse, June 2012
  • Plan Before You Sell

Media

Honors & Awards

  • “Leaders in Their Field – Private Wealth,” Chambers & Partners High Net Worth Guide, 2017 – Present
  • “The Best Lawyers in America®,” Best Lawyers, 2013 – Present
  • Hollywood’s Troubleshooters: Top 35 Lawyers for Death, Divorce and Other Disasters,” The Hollywood Reporter, 2022
  • “Top 20 Power Lawyers,” The Hollywood Reporter, 2018
  • “AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 / 5.0” Peer Review Rated and Client Rating, Martindale-Hubbell®
  • “Southern California Super Lawyers,” Super Lawyers, 2005 – Present
  • “Five Star Professional – Estate Planning Attorney,” Los Angeles, 2014

Related News

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August 18, 2022

Ten Attorneys from Weinstock Manion Selected to 2023 “Best Lawyers in America”; Three Selected to “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch”

Weinstock Manion is pleased to announce that Jessica Babrick, Gary Borofsky, Jonathan Forster, Jeffrey Geida, Martin Neumann, Diane Park, Blake Rummel, Sussan Shore, Neil Solarz,...

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August 16, 2022

Robert Strauss Speaks to Business Insider About Estate Planning Strategies to Take Advantage of Trump Tax Cuts Before They Expire

Robert Strauss was recently featured in Business Insider’s article “Rich Americans are running out of time to take advantage of Trump tax cuts. Here’s how...

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April 20, 2022

Robert Strauss Quoted in Business Insider Article Examining Strategic Use of Loans to Pay Estate Taxes

Robert Strauss was recently featured in the Insider article, “The ultrawealthy can take loans to save millions on estate taxes. Here’s the exclusive tactic they...

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January 20, 2022

Ten Weinstock Manion Attorneys Selected to 2022 Southern California “Super Lawyers” List

The firm is pleased to announce that ten of its attorneys have been named to Thomson Reuters‘ 2022 list of Southern California “Super Lawyers.” Robert...

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October 11, 2021

Robert Strauss Appears On “Celebrity Estates: Wills of the Rich and Famous” Podcast

Robert Strauss was recently the guest of David Lenok’s Wealth Management podcast, “Celebrity Estates: Wills of the Rich and Famous.” The episode focuses on the...

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August 19, 2021

Ten Attorneys from Weinstock Manion Selected to The Best Lawyers in America – 2022; Three Selected to Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch

Weinstock Manion is pleased to announce that Jessica Babrick, Gary Borofsky, Jonathan Forster, Jeffrey Geida, Martin Neumann, Diane Park, Blake Rummel, Sussan Shore, Neil Solarz,...

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June 7, 2021

Rob Strauss Quoted in Business Insider Article Highlighting Surge in Demand for Estate Planning Services

Rob Strauss was recently quoted in a Business Insider article entitled, “Estate lawyers are working around the clock 7 days a week and turning away...

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March 4, 2021

Robert Strauss Covers Biden’s Estate Tax Proposal and Proposition 19 in Presentation to CPA Business Managers

On, March 1, 2021, Robert Strauss was the guest speaker at the CPA Business Managers monthly Zoom event. Topics covered included President Joe Biden’s estate...

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January 21, 2021

Ten of the Firm’s Attorneys Selected to 2021 Southern California Super Lawyers

Robert Strauss was selected for Estate Planning & Probate and Closely Held Business; Neil Solarz for Estate Planning & Probate, Estate & Trust Litigation, and...

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August 20, 2020

Ten Attorneys from Weinstock Manion Selected to Best Lawyers in America 2021; One Selected to Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch

Weinstock Manion is pleased to announce that Sussan Shore, Neil Solarz, Jonathan Forster, Martin Neumann, Robert Strauss, Blake Rummel, Gary Borofsky, Jeffrey Geida, Jessica Babrick,...

Read morearrow
August 17, 2020

Robert Strauss Quoted in Financial Advisor Article on Estate Planning

Robert Strauss was recently the focal point of Karen DeMasters’ Financial Advisor article “Pandemic Motivating People To Plan For Their Death, Lawyer Says.” In the article, Rob discusses how COVID-19 has convinced people...

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January 18, 2020

Ten of the Firm’s Attorneys Selected to 2020 Southern California Super Lawyers

Robert Strauss was selected for Estate Planning & Probate and Closely Held Business; Neil Solarz for Estate Planning & Probate, Estate & Trust Litigation, and...

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