(310) 277-8011

James K. Andrade

PRACTICE AREAS:

  • Private client wealth planning
  • Private client and fiduciary disputes
  • Elder financial abuse
  • Business advice

Mr. Andrade’s areas of practice include private client wealth planning and management, private client and fiduciary disputes, and elder financial abuse, while also advising on various business, ownership, and succession issues.

He has represented companies, financial institutions, professional fiduciaries, trustees, administrators, executors, heirs, beneficiaries, and creditors in litigation matters and in the administration of trusts and estates.

A graduate of the University of Kansas with a degree in Economics, James earned his Juris Doctor degree from the Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law, where he also received a certificate from the Palmer Center for Entrepreneurship and the Law.

James is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law in California, and he is admitted to practice in California and Texas.

BAR ADMISSIONS:

  • California
  • Texas

EDUCATION:

  • Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law
  • University of Kansas

MEMBERSHIPS:

  • Society of Legal Scholars (Texas Bar College, State Bar of Texas)

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES:

  • National Business Institute, Presentation on topic: Resolving Disputes and Navigating Probate Litigation (September 2025)
  • National Business Institute, Presentation on three topics: California Probate Inventory, California Probate Final Accounting, and California Probate Estate Closing and Distribution Documents (November 2021)

RECOGNITIONS:

  • Certified Legal Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law (State Bar of California)
  • Southern California Best Lawyers in Trusts and Estates Litigation (2023-present)
  • Southern California Super Lawyer in Estate and Trust Litigation by Super Lawyers Magazine (2025-present)
  • Top Up-and-Coming 100: 2023 Southern California Rising Stars Top List by Super Lawyers Magazine
  • Southern California Rising Star in Estate and Trust Litigation by Super Lawyers Magazine (2020-2023)
  • Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards reflecting the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and Judiciary

PUBLICATIONS:

  • “Probate: The Fundamentals” in December 2018 edition of Valley Lawyer

NEWS AND EVENTS

James Andrade Publishes Three Trust Resources on CEB

James Andrade Publishes Three Trust Resources on CEB

James Andrade has authored three resources on California trustee accounting obligations for CEB Practitioner, the practical guidance component of CEB’s...

INSIGHTS

Steps to Take Years Before Selling Your Company

Steps to Take Years Before Selling Your Company

For many entrepreneurs, the sale of a business is the single largest financial event of their lives. But many successful...

Apportioning Attorney Fees When There Are Multiple Claims

Apportioning Attorney Fees When There Are Multiple Claims

To support efforts to protect vulnerable seniors, California allows plaintiffs who prevail on financial‑elder‑abuse claims to recover their attorney fees...