Mr. Riley has more than 25 years of focused experience as a Certified Legal Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law. For more than 30 years, he maintained a successful practice limited to estate and tax planning; trust and probate administration; transfer and fiduciary income tax matters; and related litigation. He was most recently with the firm of Hughes & Pizzuto, APC. In November of 2019, Mr. Riley retired as an active member of the state bar to focus on his mediation practice and various charitable endeavors.
Mr. Riley has mediated more than 150 probate-related matters. He also continues to serve as a judge pro tem in the Probate Division of the San Diego Superior Court where he handles both mandatory settlement conferences and regular court calendars. Drawing from this experience, Mr. Riley is exceptional at resolving complex and highly-emotional probate disputes.
Rates:
- Mr. Riley generally utilizes a combination of facilitative and evaluative approaches tailored to the particular circumstances
- Mr. Riley’s rate is $450 per hour, with an administrative fee of $195 per party
Legal Career & Prior Experience:
- Judge Pro Tem – San Diego Superior Court (Probate Division)
- Court-appointed referee, guardian ad litem and counsel in probate matters
- Successfully mediated dozens of highly emotional and complex probate matters
- Certified Legal Specialist by the California Board of Legal Specialization of the State Bar of California in estate planning, trust and probate law
- Mediation training from the National Conflict Resolution Center
- Frequent CEB and SDCBA speaker on various estate planning and probate topics
- Primarily facilitative approach to mediations, with evaluative analysis applied as appropriate
- Attorney, Hughes & Pizzuto, APC (2011-2019);
- Branton & Wilson, APC (1994-2010)
- Maintained the highest peer-review rating of "A/V" by Martindale-Hubbell
- Consistently recognized as one of San Diego's "Top Lawyers" in Probate, Estate Planning and Trust Law
- Recipient of Distinguished Service award given by Probate Department judges
- Successfully mediated scores of highly-emotional and complex probate matters
Education & Professional Affiliations:
- Bachelor of Arts (1981) and Juris Doctorate (1984) from the University of Wisconsin - Madison
- Mediation Skills Training – National Conflict Resolution Center
- Attorney with Hughes & Pizzuto, APC (2011 – present); Branton & Wilson, APC (1994-2010)
- Judge Pro Tem – San Diego Superior Court (Probate Division)
- Court-appointed referee, guardian ad litem and attorney in various probate proceedings
- Frequent speaker on estate planning and probate matters – Probate Attorneys of San Diego, CEB, San Diego County Bar Association and Professional Fiduciary Association of California
- State Bar of Wisconsin (1984); State Bar of California (1986)
- Certified Legal Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law – California Board of Legal Specialization of the State Bar of California (1994)
- Member and past co-chair of the Estate Planning section of the San Diego County Bar Association
- Founding member and former director of Probate Attorneys of San Diego
- Consistently rated among “Best Lawyers/Top Lawyers in San Diego” in estate planning
- “AV” rated by Martindale-Hubbell and LexisNexis peer review
- Wiley W. Manuel Award for pro bono service
- Recognized by the San Diego probate judges for exceptional service to the court and probate bar as a settlement judge, judge pro tem, member of the court-appointed attorney panel and mentor to court-appointed attorneys (2016)
ADR Experience & Specialties:
• Trust and Will contests
• Disputes between beneficiaries, or between beneficiaries and the fiduciary concerning
trust/estate accountings, distributions and fiduciary removal issues
• Disagreements over proper ownership, characterization (e.g., separate versus community
property) or valuation of assets; and allocation of liabilities and expenses
• Fiduciary or attorney fee disputes
• Contested petitions to establish conservatorship or guardianship
• Use of Advance Health Care Directives – questions of placement, care, treatment or visitation of
incapacitated persons
• Contested creditors’ claims
• Other matters brought pursuant to Probate Code §§850, 17200
Achievements & Awards:
- Rated “AV” by Martindale-Hubbell and LexisNexis peer review
- Named San Diego “Super Lawyer” in estate planning (2009-2012)
- Past Co-Chair of SDCBA Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Law section
- SDCBA, Section Committees on Local Probate Court Rules, including new rules governing Probate mediation Program, member since 1991
- State Bar of California (1986); State Bar of Wisconsin (1984)
- Certified Specialist, State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization, in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law (1994)
- Recipient, Wiley W. Manuel Award for pro bono legal services
To schedule a mediation please contact Case Manager Kathy Purcell at
619-238-7282, or email Tim at TRiley@westcoastresolution.com.