James Cowley brings more than 30 years of experience to his practice in the fields of estate planning, estate and trust administration, charitable giving, and the representation of tax-exempt organizations. He emphasizes a comprehensive, integrated approach to meeting the needs of wealthy clients, whose interests often include not only all of the above areas, but also family business considerations. Mr. Cowley acts as general counsel or principal outside counsel for many nonprofit clients. With a national reputation as an attorney with expertise across his practice areas, he has served as an expert witness in a number of cases involving wills, trusts, charitable gifts, and nonprofit organizations.
Mr. Cowley has written and lectured extensively for such organizations as the NYU Tax Institute, USC Tax Institute, Practising Law Institute, ALI-ABA, and the California Bar Association's Continuing Education of the Bar Program. He has also served on the committee that drafted California's Nonprofit Corporations Law. Author of "Chapter 1: Attorney's Role During Formation and Operation," Advising California Nonprofit Corporations, 2d ed. (California CEB) (2003).
Memberships
Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.
American Bar Association - Committee on Estate and Gift Tax and Committee on Exempt Organizations of the Section of Taxation, and Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section).
State Bar of California - Taxation Section and Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law Section).
YMCA of San Diego County: Director and Chair of Endowment and Planned Giving Committee.
The San Diego Foundation: Member of the Board of Governors and of its Executive and Compensation Committees and Professional Advisors Council.
Recognition
Martindale-Hubbell® AV Rating.
The Best Lawyers in America® - First Year Listed: 2005 - Most Recent Listing: 2012 (Trusts and Estates).
San Diego Super Lawyers - Most Recent Listing: 2010 (Estate Planning & Probate).
Publications / Presentations
Media Presence / Articles About Attorney / Attorney Contribution
09 | 08 | 2011 Recognition
Thirty-Four Luce Forward Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America®
06 | 05 | 2011 Recognition
Thirty Luce Forward Partners Named San Diego Super Lawyers
06 | 15 | 2010 Recognition
Thirty Luce Forward Attorneys Named San Diego Super Lawyers
08 | 04 | 2009 Recognition
Luce Forward Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America
06 | 17 | 2009 Recognition
Thirty-Two Luce Forward Attorneys Named San Diego Super Lawyers
05 | 19 | 2008 Recognition
32 Luce Forward Attorneys Named San Diego Super Lawyers - Five Attorneys Receive Top Honors
09 | 21 | 2007 Recognition
Luce Forward Attorneys Named Best Lawyers in America: Attorneys at Prominent California Law Firm Receive Recognition
06 | 07 | 2007 Recognition
34 Luce Forward Attorneys Named San Diego Super Lawyers
All Authored Works
Co-Author, "Warren Buffett's $37 Billion Surprise," San Diego Lawyer, March / April 2007.
Written and lectured extensively for such organizations as the NYU Tax Institute, USC Tax Institute, Practising Law Institute, ALI-ABA, and the California Bar Association's Continuing Education of the Bar Program.
Served on the committee that drafted California's Nonprofit Corporations Law. Author of "Chapter 1: Attorney's Role During Formation and Operation," Advising California Nonprofit Corporations, 2d ed. (California CEB) (2003).
Articles Editor of the University of Chicago Law Review.
Presentations
"Nonprofits Are Different and So Are Their Investments," presented at the 2003 National Conference on Planned Giving.
"Self-Defense for Planned Giving Advisors: What Color is Your Belt?" presented at several professional association meetings in 1996 and 1997.
"Challenges Arising in Postmortem Administration of Wills and Trusts That Fund Charitable Remainder Trusts," presented at the 1995 UCLA-CEB Estate Planning Institute and published in Estate Planning 1995 (UCLA-CEB).
"Coping With Partnership Interests in Estate Planning and Post-Mortem Administration," presented at the 1996 USC Probate and Trust Conference.