John D. Rees III

John ("J.D.") Rees is Special Counsel in the Business Trial Practice Group in the firm's Century City office.

Areas of Practice

John’s practice currently focuses on trusts and estates litigation.  In that practice area, he represents individuals and institutions with various disputes occurring in California probate court, such as trust and will contests, fiduciary-removal cases, conservatorships, and guardianships.  John also works with Business Trial partners representing clients in civil disputes.  In the past, John has worked in an array of practice areas, including insurance bad faith, consumer financial services, general commercial disputes, and entertainment litigation. 

By the end of his fourth year, John has second-chaired two trials, managed a team of six attorneys handling discovery and document review/production, and has taken and assisted at depositions, including expert depositions.

In his spare time, John enjoys coaching law students at UCLA for mock-trial competitions, playing basketball in the Landau Lawyer League, and writing articles about cryptocurrencies and the law.

Articles

Speaking Engagements

• "Administering Trusts and Estates in the Age of Cryptocurrencies," Fiduciary Roundtable of the San Gabriel Valley (November 2019)
• "Crypto and Blockchain 101 for California Estate Planners, Fiduciaries, and Fiduciary-Litigation Counsel," Professional Fiduciary Association of California, Inland Empire Chapter (July 2019)
• "Crypto and Blockchain 101 for California Estate Planners, Fiduciaries, and Fiduciary-Litigation Counsel." San Francisco Estate Planning Council (May 2019)

Memberships

Assistant Vice President of Special Events, Executive Committee, LACBA Barristers/Young Attorneys Section

Former Secretary, Executive Committee, LACBA Barristers/Young Attorneys Section (2018–19)

Executive Committee Member, LACBA Trusts and Estates Section

Member, Association of Business Trial Lawyers

Attorney Coach, UCLA School of Law Mock Trial Program