Charles W. Riley Jr.

Vice President | Seattle | 206.223.7959 | rileyc@lanepowell.com

Areas of Practice

Chuck Riley is the vice president of Lane Powell and chair of the Firm’s Trusts and Estates Group. He has practiced exclusively in the trusts and estates area since his admission to the Bar in 1987. His practice focuses upon tax-sensitive estate planning and estate and trust administration for high net worth families.

Chuck is listed in Best Lawyers in America, is a Fellow in the American College of Trust & Estate Counsel, and is a member of the Estate Planning Council of Seattle. He has also served on the Executive Committee of the Real Property, Probate & Trust Section of the Washington State Bar Association.

Admitted to Practice

• Washington
• Missouri

Academics

• University of Missouri (J.D., 1987)
• Member, Missouri Law Review (1985-1987)
• University of Missouri (B.S. in Business Administration, 1984)
• Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan (1982-1983)

Practice Group and Specialty Team Memberships

• Vice President, Lane Powell PC
• Member, Lane Powell Board of Directors
• Chair, Lane Powell Trusts and Estates Practice Group

Publications

• “Law Firm Makes Critical Legal Connection,” The Alaska-Washington Connection magazine, Quoted (2011)
• Washington State Bar Association Estate Planning Deskbook (2005) (Editor of Chapter on Basic Federal and State Tax Relevant to Estate Planning)
• Seattle Estate Planning Council Fiduciary Handbook, Revisions, Editor
• “Valuation of Closely-Held Business Interests: Current Application of Minority Discount and the Control Premium,” The Journal of Taxation of Estates and Trusts, pages 17-30, Co-chair (Spring 1990)

Speaking Engagements

• “Conflicts of Interest, Loyalty and Privilege From the Perspectives of an Estate Planner and an Estate Litigator,” Washington State Bar Association, Estate Planning Council of Seattle (October 31, 2011)
• “Drafting and Litigating Prenuptial and Property Status Agreements,” Washington State Bar Association, Real Property, Probate & Trust Section Midyear Meeting (June 2009)
• “Drafting and Litigating Charitable Gifts,” Washington State Bar Association, Real Property, Probate & Trust Section Midyear Meeting (June 2008)
• “Drafting Exculpation Clauses,” Washington State Bar Association, Real Property, Probate & Trust Section Midyear Meeting (June 2006)
• “Real Property, Probate & Trust Section Midyear Meeting,” Washington State Bar Association, Co-chair (2005)
• “Considerations in Choosing Between GRATs & Sales to Intentional Grantor Trusts,” Real Property, Probate & Trust Section Midyear Meeting, Washington State Bar Association (June 2004)
• “Crossing the Line — Oregon Estate Planning and Probate Practice for Washington Lawyers,” Washington State Bar Association, Co-chair (November 2002)
• “Fundamental Issues with the Creation of Intentional Grantor Trusts,” Estate Planning Council of Seattle/Washington State Bar Association, Annual Estate Planning Seminar (September 2001)
• “Federal Estate Tax Returns — Confronting the Generation Skipping Transfer Tax,” Washington State Bar Association (September 1998)
• “Marital, Credit Shelter & Irrevocable Trust Drafting Workshop — Practical Guidance on Use of Credit Shelter Trusts & Marital Trusts,” Washington State Bar Association (November 1996)
• “Uses of Trusts in Estate Planning,” Northwestern Washington Estate Planning Council (September 1996)
• “Selecting & Drafting Trusts for Estate Planning, Practical Guidance on Use of Credit, Shelter Trusts & Marital Trusts,” Estate Planning Council of Seattle/Washington State Bar Association (July 1996)
• “Uses of Trusts in Estate Planning,” South Puget Sound Estate Planning Council (September 1995)

Awards and Honors

• Peer Review Rated “AV” in Martindale-Hubbell
• Named as one of The Best Lawyers in America®, Trusts and Estates (2003-2012)
• Named as a “Washington Super Lawyer,” Super Lawyers magazine, Estate Planning and Probate (2006-2011)
• Named in “Best Lawyers” survey published by Seattle Metropolitan (2006-2007)

Professional and Community Activities

• Seattle Police Foundation
  • Board of Directors (2007-Present)
  • Treasurer (2011-Present)
• Seattle University Planned Giving Committee (2007-Present)
• National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Greater Washington Chapter
  • Board of Directors (2005-2007)
• Seattle Children’s Hospital Foundation
  • Children’s Legacy Council (2005-Present)
• Washington State Bar Association
  • Executive Committee, Real Property, Probate and Trust Section (2001-2004)
  • Co-chair, Real Property, Probate and Trust Section Midyear Meeting (2005)
• Estate Planning Council of Seattle
• Fellow, American College of Trusts and Estate Counsel
• Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
  • Planned Giving Advisory Committee (2004-2007)