Richard J. Lee

Richard J. Lee has been an attorney in private practice for more than 30 years, helping to protect and empower families, businesses, nonprofit organizations and independent filmmakers.

Mr. Lee provides advice and guidance to clients buying, starting, operating or selling their businesses. He emphasizes thorough planning that anticipates possible complications and works vigorously to solve problems once they have arisen.

In his estate planning work, Mr. Lee stresses the planning and preparation of appropriate legal documents (such as durable powers of attorneys, advance health care directives, wills and living trusts) to safeguard families from unexpected events with potentially wide-ranging legal and monetary ramifications. He also conducts detailed planning for complex estates and works with clients to meet the financial and personal goals that precede death and the transition of assets.

Mr. Lee helped establish the Film Arts Foundation in 1976 and served as its counsel until 2008, when he assisted in the transition of the services it provided to independent media professionals to the San Francisco Film Society. As one of the first panel members of Bay Area Lawyers for the Arts (now California Lawyers for the Arts), he represents many nonprofit corporations, including numerous filmmakers and videographers, and provides group legal services to members of the San Francisco Film Society.

Mr. Lee was born in Spokane, Wash., and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. He graduated from Stanford University in 1969 with a B.A. in Sociology with honors and with distinction. He received his Juris Doctor from UC Berkeley Boalt Hall School of Law in 1974. While in law school, he worked for the Environmental Defense Fund and the California Attorney General's Consumer Protection and Environmental Protection Units.

Richard J. Lee is affiliated with the following organizations:

State Bar of California (http://www.calbar.ca.gov)
member since 1975, past chair —
Group and Prepaid Committee of Legal Service Section

Alameda County Bar Association (http://www.acbanet.org)
Member, Judicial Appointments Evaluation Committee, 2007 to present

San Francisco Film Society (http://www.sffs.org)
Provider, group legal services to members

National Alliance for Media Arts and Culture (http://www.namac.org)
member, past board member

California Lawyers for the Arts (http://www.calawyersforthearts.org)
panel attorney

Mira Vista Golf and Country Club (http://www.miravista.org)
past president

Northern California Golf Association (http://www.ncga.org)
member, past certified rules official