Helen is a partner in the private client and tax team.
She is a trusts and estates attorney who focuses on exempt organizations and international tax planning for inbound and outbound transactions. She assists clients in all aspects of estate planning, estate and trust administration and charitable planning.Helen brings a diversity of experience to her clients. After graduating from Stanford Law School, she practiced international corporate tax law in China and California where she worked with multinational corporations, such as Oracle, Intel and Seagate, on sophisticated international tax planning techniques. Helen is also certified as a specialist in estate planning, trust, and probate law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.
Previously, Helen worked at the San Diego Zoo to create its licensing and technology transfer program. She was directly responsible for the creation of the San Diego Zoo Global Centre for Bioinspiration and worked with companies such as Procter & Gamble, WD-40, Nike and Qualcomm to develop technologies inspired by nature.
Helen is a lecturer at the UC Irvine School of Law, where she teaches Charitable Planning and Tax Exempt Organizations and inspires the next generation of legal professionals. She currently serves as chair of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners San Diego Branch (STEP SD) and on the STEP USA board of directors. She is also general counsel for the International Community Foundation and a board member at the Balboa Art Conservation Center.
Helen is recognized as a Leader of Influence in Law by San Diego Business Journal for 2024. She is also recognized as a recommended lawyer in The Legal 500 US 2024 guide in the area of Not-for-Profit Tax and as a Best Lawyers "One to Watch" for 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Recent recognition
