Our Team

ATTORNEY & CO-OWNER

Adrienne Jeffrey

Adrienne has practiced tax and estate planning law since 1978. She began her career in Pennsylvania, where she had the pleasure of working with a number of the Pittsburgh Steelers to minimize exposure to income tax through advanced planning techniques.  Her husband’s military service brought Adrienne to San Diego, California, where she continued her tax work and developed a love of estate and trust work.  Adrienne relocated to Washington State in 2005 and continues to work with clients who have residences and/or property in both California and Washington.

Adrienne has extensive experience in all areas of estate planning, including planning for large and small estates, handling probate and trust matters, post-mortem tax planning, charitable giving, preparation of federal and state estate tax returns and federal gift tax returns, and drafting wills, trusts, and associated documents.  Adrienne assists high-net-worth clients to achieve their financial and estate planning goals through the use of sophisticated wealth-transfer arrangements.  Her background in income tax planning and facility with taxation of entities beyond estates and trusts makes her a valuable asset to a diversity of clients and sets her apart from most estate planners.

Adrienne has taught masters-level taxation courses at University of San Diego and Seattle University Schools of Law, and also worked for the California Board of Equalization.

In her free time, Adrienne enjoys spending time with her husband, two children, and grandchildren.

adrienne@firuzjeffrey.com * | 206.635.4201 | linkedin

*Submission of email does not create or constitute an attorney-client relationship.

More About Adrienne

    • LL.M., University of San Diego School of Law, summa cum laude, taxation, 1989

    • J.D., University of Pittsburgh School of Law, cum laude, 1978

      • Topics editor, University of Pittsburgh Law Review

    • B.A., Chatham College, 1970

    • Washington, 2005

    • California, 1980

    • King County Bar Association

      • Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section

    • Washington State Bar Association, member

    • The State Bar of California, member

    • American Bar Association, member

      • Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section

    • Seattle Estate Planning Council, member

    • Seattle University School of Law, Adjunct Professor of Law, estate planning drafting, 2007, 2009

    • Seattle Downtown Rotary, member 2005-2019

    • The San Diego Foundation, Professional Advisors Council, 2001-2005

    • University of California at San Diego, Planned Giving Committee, 1997-2004

    • University of San Diego School of Law, Adjunct Professor of Law, estate planning, state & local taxation, and federal tax research, 1990-2001

    • “Trust Law Modernization in Washington State,” Washington Bankers Association, Issues & Answers (Nov./Dec. 2015)

    • “Is the End of Discounted Family Partnership in Sight?” Miller Nash Graham & Dunn, Estate Planning Advisor (Sept. 2015)

    • “Keeping Separate Property Separate: Trusts for Beneficiaries,” Miller Nash, Estate Planning Advisor (May 2014)

    • “Fundamentals of Community Property,” Miller Nash, Estate Planning Advisor (Feb. 2014)

    • “Supreme Court Took One Big Step for Marriage Equality; IRS Takes Another,” Miller Nash, Estate Planning Advisor (Aug. 2013)

    • “The 2012 Taxpayer Relief Act,” Miller Nash, Estate Planning Advisor (Feb. 2013)

    • “Using a Charitable Remainder Trust to Sell Appreciated Assets,” Miller Nash, Estate Planning Advisor (Sept. 2012)

    • “Keeping Your Estate Plan Up to Date,” Miller Nash, Estate Planning Advisor (May 2012)

    • “Benefits of a Dynasty Trust,” Miller Nash, Estate Planning Advisor (Feb. 2012)

    • “California Snowbirds: Avoid an Additional Tax Burden,” Miller Nash, Estate Planning Advisor (Sept. 2011)

    • “How to Maximize Nontaxable Gifts to Family Members,” Miller Nash, Estate Planning Advisor (May 2011)

    • “The Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax,” Miller Nash, Estate Planning Advisor (Jan. 2011)

    • “Taxation of International Activity: Over Relief From Double Taxation Under the U.S. Tax System,” International Tax & Business Law 101, co-author (1991)

    • “Unique But Not Unusual Transactions with Trusts: How to Advise Trustees to Avoid the Landmines When Trying to Accommodate Beneficiary Requests,” Washington State Bar Association, 2017 Real Property, Probate and Trust Section Midyear Meeting (June 2017)

    • “Grantor Trusts,” National Business Institute, NBI Seminar: Estate Planning A to Z (Aug. 2015)

    • “Generation Skipping Transfer Tax (GST) Planning in the Months Ahead,” Washington State Bar Association, Managing

    • Uncertainty in Changing Times: Probate and Trusts CLE Seminar (Dec. 2012)

    • “56th Annual Estate Planning Seminar,” Washington State Bar, 56th Annual Estate Planning Seminar (Nov. 2011)

    • “State Income Taxation of Trusts,” Holland & Knight (Jan. 2015)

ATTORNEY & CO-OWNER

A. Paul Firuz

Paul enjoys helping clients to envision and establish estate plans that make sense for their families, whether the goal is to protect future generations, transfer wealth without incurring unnecessary taxes, or provide a clear roadmap and discourage future litigation among loved ones. Paul also counsels clients through disputes involving estate and trusts, and has represented beneficiaries, personal representatives, and trustees in court, mediation, arbitration, and collaborative non-judicial dispute resolutions. Paul is an active member of the Washington State Bar Association’s Real Property, Probate and Trust Section and speaks frequently regarding trust and estate matters.

Paul is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), and has been designated by his peers as a “Rising Star” and then “Super Lawyer” every year since 2014.

paul@firuzjeffrey.com * | 206.635.4202 | linkedin

*Submission of email does not create or constitute an attorney-client relationship.

Paul Firuz
Rated by Super Lawyers


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More About Paul

    • LL.M., Tax, University of Washington School of Law, 2015

    • J.D., University of Washington School of Law, 2012

      • Notes and Comments Editor, Journal of Environmental Law & Policy

    • B.A., New York University, cum laude, History

      • National Merit Scholar

      • NYU Baird Scholar

    • Washington, 2012

    • Real Property, Probate and Trust Section of WSBA, former executive committee member

    • Washington State Bar Association, member

    • King County Bar Association, member

    • Paul has been selected for inclusion as a Rising Star in Washington Super Lawyers magazine since 2014. Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.

    • “Even Unmarried Couples Need to Consider Their Property Rights,” Puget Sound Business Journal (Spring 2017)

    • “Living in a Committed Intimate Relationship? Planning for Unmarried Couples” Real Property, Probate & Trust Newsletter, Washington State Bar Association (Fall 2016)

    • “Recent Developments: Probate and Trust—Court Declines to Invalidate Disproportionate Distribution of Tangible Property under Theories of Undue Influence and Interference with a Right to Inherit,” Real Property, Probate & Trust Newsletter, Washington State Bar Association (Spring 2016)

    • “The Basics of Charitable Remainder Trusts—Part Two” (Oct. 2016)

    • “The Basics of Charitable Remainder Trusts” (Sep. 2015)

    • “Take a Proactive Approach to Protect Your Institution From Data Breaches,” Campus Legal Advisor (Jan. 2015)

    • “Keeping Separate Property Separate: Trusts for Beneficiaries” (May 2014)

    • “Who Will Make Decisions for You? An Essential Part of Your Plan” (Feb. 2014)

    • “The Advantages of Using LLCs for Estate Planning—Part II” (Aug. 2013)

    • “The Advantages of Using LLCs for Estate Planning” (May 2013)

    • “Estate Planning for Washingtonians with California Connections” Washington State Bar Association, Real Property Probate and Trust Section, Midyear Meeting (Summer 2021)

    • “Fiduciary Accounting: Best Practices and Pitfalls to Avoid for Trustees, Personal Representatives, and Powers of Attorney” Washington State Bar Association, Real Property Probate and Trust Section, Midyear Meeting (June 2019)

    • “Vulnerable Adult Protection Act: Pleading, proof, and procedure. Addressing how RCW 74.34 claims arise in TEDRA litigation under RCW 11.96A” Washington State Bar Association, Real Property Probate and Trust Section Spring Litigation CLE (May 2019)

    • “Community Property, Committed Intimate Relationships, and Planning for ‘Community Issues’” Spokane Estate Planning Council (November 2019)

    • “Estate Planning for Washingtonians: Planning in the Land that the High Federal Exemption Forgot” Washington Estate Planning Council’s 63rd Annual Estate Planning Seminar (November 2018)

    • “TEDRA On Tap: Half-Day Primer for Trust and Estate Litigation in Washington” Co-Chair, King County Bar Association CLI (June 2018)

    • “Evidentiary Issues with Emphasis on Deadman’s Statute” Washington State Bar Association, Real Property Probate and Trust Section Spring Litigation CLE (April 2018)

    • “Living in Sin? Estate Planning for Unmarried Couples” Washington State Bar Association, Real Property Probate and Trust CLE (December 2017)

    • “Unique But Not Unusual Transactions with Trusts: How to Advise Trustees to Avoid the Landmines When Trying to Accommodate Beneficiary Requests,” Washington State Bar Association, 2017 Real Property, Probate and Trust Section Midyear Meeting (June 2017)

ATTORNEY

Skylar Brett

Skylar Brett has extensive experience in litigation, having argued before the Washington State Supreme Court multiple times and every appellate court in the state (Divisions I, II, and III).  Skylar loves the opportunity for creative problem solving afforded by Washington State’s Trust and Estate Dispute Resolution Act (TEDRA).  But when a dispute cannot be resolved by the parties out of court, she is not afraid to go to court – whether that’s to enforce the rights of beneficiaries, contest a will, or to protect a trust or estate.  Skylar brings the same love for innovative thinking to her planning practice, where her deep experience litigating disputed matters helps her guide clients away from potential landmines. Overall, Skylar views legal and logistical obstacles to meeting her clients’ goals as personal challenges, inspiring her to dig deep to come up with the right solution for each particular issue.

skylar@firuzjeffrey.com * | 206.635.4203 | linkedin

*Submission of email does not create or constitute an attorney-client relationship.

More About Skylar

    • J.D., with honors, University of Washington School of Law, 2012

    • B.A., the Evergreen State College, 2005

    • Washington, 2012

    • Western District of Washington, 2025