Robert E. Strauss

Robert Strauss skillfully guides high net worth families, business owners and real estate developers and investors through the complex process of estate and wealth transfer planning. Rob approaches each client with a fresh perspective, conducting extensive discovery to discern their unique objectives, challenges and concerns. By considering a client’s full array of needs, assets and goals, Rob develops creative and customized solutions that reduce estate taxes, achieve liability and creditor protection and, if desired, incorporate charitable giving and life insurance planning. Rob’s clients appreciate his interactive style, responsiveness, and ability to communicate complex structures in plain English, enabling them to make informed decisions.

Rob applies experience as a transactional attorney to advise owners of businesses and real estate regarding business succession plans and pre-liquidity event wealth transfer plans. Conversant in current business and real estate trends, Rob effectively considers external variables along with the client’s business goals and personal needs to provide sound guidance.

As a teacher of Advanced Estate Planning at UCLA Extension and a frequent speaker, Rob is well-versed at communicating sophisticated estate planning concepts to a diverse audience. He enjoys the challenge of ensuring that everyone in the room, regardless of background, gains a visceral understanding of the topic. As a by-product of his teaching and speaking engagements, Rob remains ahead of trends in estate planning and tax law.

Highly-respected by his clients and peers, they have awarded Rob the highest possible rating, “AV® Preeminent™ 5.0/5.0,” on Martindale-Hubbell®. Additionally, he has been named a “Southern California Super Lawyer” by Super Lawyers® every year since 2005 and has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© each year since 2013.

Education

• J.D., UCLA School of Law, 1990
• A.B., Economics, Harvard University, 1986
  • Honors: Magna Cum Laude

Bar Admissions

• State Bar of California, 1990
• U.S. District Court Central District of California, 1991
• U.S. Tax Court, 1991

Professional Associations & Memberships

• Beverly Hills Bar Association: 1994 – present
• Los Angeles County Bar Association: 1991 – present
• Los Angeles Estate Counselors Forum, Past President
• ProVisors, Beverly Hills I, Group Leader

Speaking & Teaching

Media & Publications

Honors & Awards

• “Deaths! Divorces! DUIs! Here’s Who the Stars Call When They Really Need a Lawyer,” The Hollywood Reporter, 2024
• “Hollywood’s Troubleshooters: Who the Stars Call to Put Out Fires and Prevent Future Disasters,” The Hollywood Reporter, 2023
• “Leaders in Their Field – Private Wealth,” Chambers & Partners High Net Worth Guide, 2017 – Present
• “The Best Lawyers in America®,” Best Lawyers, 2013 – Present
• “Hollywood’s Troubleshooters: Top 35 Lawyers for Death, Divorce and Other Disasters,” The Hollywood Reporter, 2022
• “Top 20 Power Lawyers,” The Hollywood Reporter, 2018
• “AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 / 5.0” Peer Review Rated and Client Rating, Martindale-Hubbell®
• “Southern California Super Lawyers,” Super Lawyers, 2005 – Present
• “Five Star Professional – Estate Planning Attorney,” Los Angeles, 2014