Katherine J Hughes

Katherine (Katie) Hughes Schock received her B.A. from Texas A&M University in 1997 and her J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law in 2002. Katie received her LL.M. in Taxation, cum laude, from the University of San Diego in 2003. She is licensed to practice law in California and Texas.

Both prior to and after law school, Katie worked for the national accounting firms PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and Deloitte LLP in various tax departments ranging from international tax to state and local tax. She joined Snell & Wilmer LLP in Costa Mesa, California in 2005 focusing on estate planning, probate and trust administration. Katie subsequently became a partner at Albrecht and Barney Law Corporation in Irvine, California, the largest trust and estates law firm in Orange County, California.

Katie’s expertise is in estate planning for families ranging from basic wills and trusts to complex tax planning for high net worth individuals. Katie has extensive experience in administrating large trusts and estates, including appearing before the California probate court, preparing estate and gift tax returns, trust accountings, and negotiating with the IRS. She has spoken at various nonprofit organizations, conferences and continuing legal education providers in the areas of estate planning and trust administration. Katie was named as a “Rising Star” by California Super Lawyer Magazine in 2008 and 2012-2016.

In addition, Katie served on the board of a local nonprofit charity, including two terms as president, and was awarded the Wiley W. Manuel Certificate for Pro Bono Legal Services from the State Board of California for her pro bono work on behalf of low income clients.

Katie provides freelance legal services in the area of estate planning, probate and trust administration for attorneys and law firms in California and Texas on an individual project basis.