Tell us a little bit about yourself and your law practice.
I moved to Austin with my then-fiancée, now wife, in June of 2021. I had just graduated from the University of Washington School of Law, and my wife was working remotely because of the pandemic. We were in the position of being able to pick and choose where we lived, and, after a bit of deliberation, we decided on Austin. For most of my legal career I have worked in family law, with a focus on complex property issues, litigation, and mediations. I am currently in the process of switching practice areas to estate planning, estate administration, and related tax issues.
How long have you been involved in AYLA and what has been your best AYLA experience so far?
I began my involvement with AYLA in January of 2022. While I have had many incredible experiences through AYLA, the best experience was AYLA’s Leadership Academy. I am a member of the 2023 AYLA Leadership Academy class. I was absolutely blown away by the dedication and commitment of the other members of the Leadership Academy. Participating in the Leadership Academy was also a fantastic way to meet prominent legal leaders in the wider Austin community. I would highly encourage all eligible Austin attorneys to apply to upcoming Leadership Academies.
What was your childhood dream job?
I am a huge Star Wars nerd, and so my childhood dream job was to be a movie director and producer just like George Lucas.
What are some of things you enjoy most about living in Austin?
There are too many to mention! Austin is an incredible place to live. Some of the highlights for me would be the incredible food and live music scene, the amazing outdoor swimming areas like Deep Eddy and Barton Springs, and, of course, the incredibly supportive and involved legal community.
What’s your best piece of advice for fellow young attorneys?
Mistakes happen. When a mistake does happen, it is important to acknowledge it as soon as you realize the error and then take any and all steps to remediate the issue. And, maybe most importantly, I think it is helpful to view any mistake as an opportunity to learn and not repeat that error again.