JKZ LLP

What JKZ LLP does

JKZ LLP is a California-based limited partnership law firm founded in 2012 as Johnston, Kinney & Zulaica LLP and rebranded to JKZ LLP in January 2025. The firm specializes in four core practice areas — estate planning, family law, estate administration, and estate litigation — and operates from four California offices: San Francisco (headquarters at 101 Montgomery Street, Suite 1600), San Diego (opened July 2024), Santa Cruz, and Chico. The firm is majority women-owned, LGBTQ-friendly, and multilingual, with primary service to high-net-worth individuals, LGBTQ+ clients requiring specialized family and estate planning, and noncitizen/international clients with cross-border asset planning needs. The practice is led by Managing Partner Yulissa Zulaica and four additional partners (John S. Rueppel, Joseph L. Urbanski, Val Sluetzky, Vanessa J. Sundin) with a roster of senior and associate attorneys supported by an Executive Director, Director of Human Resources, and Director of Operations.

Service offerings span wills, revocable living trusts, complex trusts (charitable, dynasty), entity formation, estate tax planning, international estate planning, and wealth transfer instruments (GRATs, QPRTs, ILITs, FLPs) on the planning side; divorce, child custody, child and spousal support, property division, domestic violence proceedings, and prenuptial/cohabitation agreements on the family law side; and probate, trust administration, and estate litigation (trust contests, will challenges, fiduciary disputes, financial elder abuse claims) on the post-death side. The team includes multiple California State Bar Board-certified specialists in Estate Planning/Trust and Probate Law, Family Law, and Taxation Law. The firm uses Centerbase Payments (powered by Stripe) for client billing via wire, e-check, and credit card; there is no proprietary technology product, app, or API.

Revenue is generated through professional services billed primarily on hourly rates, with probate fees set by a California statutory schedule (tiered from 4% on the first $100,000 down to reasonable fees above $25,000,000) and extraordinary services billed hourly with court approval. The firm reaches clients through direct office consultation, phone/video meetings, an online contact form, community involvement with 25+ nonprofits, educational seminars for corporate and community audiences, an active blog, a LinkedIn presence, and professional referrals — a marketing approach explicitly oriented around community presence rather than traditional advertising.

Name

JKZ LLP

Legal name

JKZ LLP

Website

https://jkzllp.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

JKZ LLP is a California-based, majority women-owned law firm providing estate planning, family law, estate administration, and estate litigation services to high-net-worth, LGBTQ+, and international clients across four California offices (San Francisco, San Diego, Santa Cruz, Chico).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Services - Trusts, Estates & Family Law

NAICS

Legal Services (5411), Other Legal Services (54119)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAHAAAK

Family & Private Client (Trusts & Estates) Law

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Legal Services

SECONDARYFSAAABAE

Private Wealth Planning (Tax, Estate & Succession)

Financial & Insurance/Asset & Wealth Management/Private Banking & HNW/UHNW Wealth Management

SECONDARYFSAAADAF

Estate Planning, Trust Structuring & Governance

Financial & Insurance/Asset & Wealth Management/Family Offices (Single- & Multi-Family)

SECONDARYFSAAANAE

Estate Administration & Probate Services

Financial & Insurance/Asset & Wealth Management/Trust & Fiduciary Services (Trust Companies, Estate & Custody Trusts)

Keywords

• Estate planning services
• Family law representation
• Probate administration
• Trust and estate litigation
• Wealth transfer planning

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco, California

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Legal Services - Hourly/Statutory Fees: JKZ LLP generates revenue through professional legal services billed primarily on hourly rates and statutory fee schedules. Probate fees are set by California statute (4% on first $100,000, 3% on next $100,000, 2% on next $800,000, 1% on next $9,000,000, 0.5% on next $15,000,000, and reasonable fees on amounts exceeding $25,000,000). Extraordinary services are billed at hourly rates. Initial consultations and retainer arrangements are standard.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

JKZ LLP is a California law firm providing legal services in four core practice areas: Estate Planning (wills, revocable living trusts, complex trusts, entity formation, estate tax planning, international planning, and wealth transfer strategies), Family Law (divorce, child custody, child and spousal support, property division, relationship agreements, domestic violence proceedings, and same-sex divorce), Estate Administration (probate and trust administration), and Estate Litigation (trust and probate disputes, will challenges, fiduciary claims, and elder abuse cases). The firm serves individual clients across California through direct consultations at four office locations and via phone/video channels.

Product overview

JKZ LLP is a majority women-owned law firm offering comprehensive legal services in estate planning, family law, estate administration, and estate litigation. The firm's core practice areas encompass wills, revocable living trusts, complex trusts (charitable, dynasty), entity formation (LLCs), estate tax planning, international estate planning, and wealth transfer strategies. Family law services include divorce, child custody, child and spousal support, property division, domestic violence proceedings, and relationship agreements. Estate administration covers probate and trust administration services. Estate litigation handles trust contests, will challenges, fiduciary disputes, and elder abuse claims. The firm serves clients throughout California with offices in San Francisco, San Diego, Santa Cruz, and Chico.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Estate Planning Comprehensive estate planning services for high-net-worth individuals and families, including wills, revocable living trusts, complex trusts (charitable, dynasty), powers of attorney, guardianship nominations, entity formation (LLCs), estate tax planning, international estate planning, and wealth transfer strategies with asset protection and tax advantages.
• Family Law Family law representation for individuals and couples covering divorce, child custody, child and spousal support, property division, domestic violence proceedings, relationship agreements (prenuptial, postnuptial, cohabitation), and same-sex divorce representation.
• Estate Administration Probate and trust administration services including court-supervised probate for transferring legal title of assets after death, creditor notification, tax filing, asset inventory and appraisal, beneficiary notification, sub-trust establishment, and property distribution to beneficiaries.
• Estate Litigation Trust and probate litigation representing executors, trustees, heirs, and beneficiaries in disputes including will challenges, trust contests, trustee removal, breach of fiduciary duty claims, financial elder abuse, fraud, and undue influence cases.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully represented thousands of clients in family law matters including complex property division
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered community, professional and strategic.

• Lambda LegalcommunityOthersJKZ LLP supports Lambda Legal through volunteer time, money, and community involvement. Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full civil rights for LGBTQ people and those with HIV.
• Southern Poverty Law CentercommunityOthersJKZ LLP supports the Southern Poverty Law Center through volunteer time, money, and community involvement.
• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)communityOthersJKZ LLP supports the ACLU through volunteer time, money, and community involvement.
• Equal Rights AdvocatescommunityOthersJKZ LLP supports Equal Rights Advocates through volunteer time, money, and community involvement.
• Latino Community FoundationcommunityOthersJKZ LLP supports the Latino Community Foundation through volunteer time, money, and community involvement. Managing Partner Yulissa Zulaica has served on the board.
• San Francisco La Raza LawyerscommunityOthersJKZ LLP supports San Francisco La Raza Lawyers through volunteer time, money, and community involvement. The firm sponsors the annual Noche de Gala event.
• National LGBT Bar AssociationcommunityOthersJKZ LLP supports the National LGBT Bar Association through volunteer time, money, and community involvement.
• Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom (BALIF)communityOthersJKZ LLP supports BALIF through volunteer time, money, and community involvement. Several attorneys are members.
• National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR)communityOthersJKZ LLP supports NCLR through volunteer time, money, and community involvement.
• Horizons FoundationcommunityOthersJKZ LLP supports Horizons Foundation through volunteer time, money, and community involvement. Jean Johnston serves on the Horizons Foundation Advisory Board.
• Transgender Law CentercommunityOthersJKZ LLP supports the Transgender Law Center through volunteer time, money, and community involvement.
• San Francisco-Marin Food BankcommunityOthersJKZ LLP supports the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank through volunteer days and community involvement. Firm employees participate in regular volunteer activities.
• Habitat for HumanitycommunityOthersJKZ LLP supports Habitat for Humanity through volunteer days and community involvement.
• California Lawyers AssociationprofessionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerJKZ LLP attorneys speak at CLA events including the Estate and Gift Tax Conference, Leveling Up Your Practice Conference, and other CLE programs.
• Professional Fiduciary Association of CaliforniaprofessionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerJKZ LLP partners with PFAC for educational events. Managing Partner Yulissa Zulaica spoke on cross-border and foreign assets topics for the Fiduciary Education Forum.
• Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB)professionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerJKZ LLP attorneys contribute to CEB publications on estate planning topics including California Domestic Partnerships and other trust/estate matters.
• La Raza Centro LegalcommunityStrategic or Co-development PartnerJKZ LLP partners with La Raza Centro Legal for community workshops on powers of attorney, legal guardianship, and planning for minors or adults with disabilities.
• Brio Financial GroupstrategicGTM or Marketing PartnerJKZ LLP partnered with Brio Financial Group for the MoneySmarts seminar series, including a Generational Wealth Planning seminar and 199A Tax Deduction Seminar.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Withers: Global private client and trusts & estates law firm with deep cross-border and HNW practices. Comparable to JKZ in international estate planning, family office work, and wealth transfer for UHNW individuals, but operating at much larger scale across multiple jurisdictions.
• Day Pitney: Northeast-based law firm with a flagship private client and trusts & estates practice serving HNW families. Comparable to JKZ in estate planning, trust administration, and family law, with similar emphasis on cross-generational wealth structuring.

Broad incumbents

• McDermott Will & Emery: Global law firm with a major private client and trusts & estates group serving HNW and family office clients. Overlaps with JKZ's estate planning, trust administration, and tax planning offerings but as part of a much broader corporate, healthcare, and IP practice.
• Sidley Austin: Global AmLaw firm with a substantial private client, trusts and estates practice. Comparable to JKZ in estate planning and wealth transfer for UHNW clients, particularly cross-border planning, but operating with vastly larger resources.
• Loeb & Loeb: Full-service firm with a notable trusts and estates practice, particularly strong in California. Comparable to JKZ in private client and estate planning work, with broader capabilities in entertainment, media, and tax.
• Holland & Knight: Large US law firm with a private wealth services group covering estate planning, trust administration, and litigation. Comparable to JKZ in HNW estate planning and litigation, with significantly broader geographic and practice coverage.
• Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck: Western US-based law firm with a private client and trusts & estates practice. Comparable to JKZ in estate planning for HNW and business-owner clients, particularly with cross-border planning elements, while operating at much larger scale.

Regional players

• Farella Braun + Martel: San Francisco-based law firm with established trusts & estates, tax, and family law practices. Comparable to JKZ in serving Bay Area HNW clients with estate planning, business succession, and tax-related matters.
• Wendel Rosen: East Bay-based full-service law firm with strong estate planning, trust administration, and tax practices serving business owners and HNW families. Comparable to JKZ's mix of estate planning and tax services for Northern California clients.
• Hanson Bridgett: Northern California full-service law firm with trusts & estates, family law, and litigation practices. Most direct California-based peer to JKZ, serving similar SF Bay Area HNW and family clients with overlapping estate planning and family law services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jkz-llp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about JKZ LLP