This interactive MCLE and CE accredited program will feature a mock breach of fiduciary duty trial involving a professional fiduciary and a disgruntled beneficiary. Attendees will observe direct and cross-examinations, expert testimony from realtor and forensic accountant, opening and closing arguments, and judicial commentary. The session will illuminate how fiduciary decisions are evaluated in contested trust matters, demonstrate courtroom strategy on both sides, and provide practical takeaways for professionals navigating fiduciary obligations and litigation risk. Audience members will serve as the jury, rendering a verdict and participating in a guided debrief discussion by a panel of dispute resolution professionals.
D5 – Fiduciary Takes the Stand: A Mock Breach of Fiduciary Duty Trial and Lessons From the Hot Seat
Speakers
Matthew Stein
Law Stein Anderson LLP
Matthew G. Stein is a Probate Litigation Attorney and owner of Law Stein Anderson, LLP. Matthew represents those entangled in probate litigation, including trust contests, will contests, breaches of fiduciary obligations, allegations of trustee wrongdoing and claims of elder abuse. His work includes consulting with individuals to provide advice on strategic planning and positioning before litigation becomes necessary.
Mr. Stein is also recognized for his years of experience in defending against personal injury, premises and product liability matters. He has aggressively defended against catastrophic injuries brought against manufacturers, land owners, and business owners in trial. It has been shown that his effective trial experience protects businesses and their financial interests. Mr. Stein has successfully litigated and/or tried numerous multi-million dollar lawsuits. Mr. Stein has also been named California “Super Lawyer”, and has been consistently ranked in Super Lawyers’ list of top attorneys in Southern California.
His clients include large corporations, world-wide nonprofit organizations, corporate executives, prominent individuals and family-owned businesses. However, every client and every project, whether big or small, receives the same level of commitment, diligence and ingenuity which distinguishes Mr. Stein’s practice.
As an experienced trial lawyer and skillful negotiator, Mr. Stein is a tenacious adversary who consistently obtains significant results for his clients regardless of the challenges presented. Licensed in all State and Federal courts throughout California, he is well versed in handling arbitration, mediation, and other alternative dispute resolutions. Mr. Stein continues to obtain several significant trial wins for his clients and believes that the best results are achieved when every case is meticulously prepared for trial.
In addition to running a successful law firm, Matthew is a ProVisors Group Leader and serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors for Alzheimer’s Orange County as Vice Chair. He is also an avid triathlete, marathon runner, certified scuba diver, snowboard enthusiast, and obstacle course racer.
Scott Rahn
RMO LLP
https://rmolawyers.com/team-view/scott-e-rahn/
Scott Rahn has been litigating contentious probate matters for more than 20 years, including the last decade at RMO LLP, a firm he launched in 2015 to focus exclusively on contentious trust, estate, and conservatorship matters. Mr. Rahn has earned a reputation for his keen ability to manage family dysfunction while securing real-world results. He has extensive experience in courts, arbitration, mediation, and dispute resolution forums across California as well as in key retirement centers in the United States and through strategic partnerships in international locations. Representing beneficiaries, heirs, executors, trustees and fiduciaries, his clients are typically embroiled in inheritance disputes involving trust contests, will contests, undue influence, incapacity, fraud, financial elder abuse and claims for breaches of fiduciary duties.
Mr. Rahn has worked to bring a better, more professional and results-oriented contentious trusts and estates experience to our communities. The effective solutions he and the firm have been able to bring to even the most fraught trust and estate fights have earned him well-deserved recognitions, including being named to the Chambers and Partners “2024 High Net Worth Guide” in Private Wealth Disputes and the “Best Lawyers in America” list by Best Lawyers. He also has been recognized as a “Top Litigator” by the Los Angeles Business Journal and a “Leading Litigator in America” by Lawdragon.