Attorneys
Riley, Charles W. Jr.

Practices & Industries

Charles W. Riley Jr.

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

Areas of Practice

Chuck Riley is 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 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
  • Chair, Lane Powell Trusts and Estates Practice Group
  • Board of Directors

Publications

  • Washington State Bar Association Estate Planning Deskbook, 2005 (Editor of Chapter on Basic Federal and State Tax Relevant to Estate Planning)
  • “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, Spring 1990 (Co-Author)

Speaking Engagements

  • Drafting and Litigating Prenuptial and Property Status Agreements,” Washington State Bar Association, Real Property, Probate & Trust Section Mid Year Meeting, June 2009
  • “Drafting and Litigating Charitable Gifts,” Washington State Bar Association, Real Property, Probate & Trust Section Mid Year Meeting, June 2008
  • “Drafting Exculpation Clauses,” Washington State Bar Association, Real Property, Probate & Trust Section Mid Year Meeting, June 2006
  • “Real Property, Probate & Trust Section Mid-Year Meeting,” Washington State Bar Association, 2005 (Co-Chair)
  • “Considerations in Choosing Between GRATs & Sales to Intentional Grantor Trusts,” Real Property, Probate & Trust Section Mid-Year Meeting, Washington State Bar Association, June 2004
  • “Crossing the Line – Oregon Estate Planning and Probate Practice for Washington Lawyers,” Washington State Bar Association, November 2002 (Co-Chair)
  • “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

  • Named as one of The Best Lawyers in America®, 2003-2010
  • Named as Washington “SuperLawyer,” Washington Law and Politics, 2006-2009
  • Named in “Best Lawyers” survey published by Seattle Metropolitan Magazine, 2006-2007

Professional and Community Activities

  • Seattle Police Foundation
    • Board of Directors, 2007-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
  • First Presbyterian Church Foundation, Bellevue, Washington
    • Board of Directors, 2004-Present
  • Washington State Bar Association
    • Real Property, Probate and Trust Section
    • Executive Committee, 2001-2004
    • Co-Chair of Mid-Year Meeting, 2005
  • Estate Planning Council of Seattle
  • American College of Trusts and Estate Counsel – Fellow
  • Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
    • Planned Giving Advisory Committee, 2004-2007
  • Japan/America Society
    • Board of Directors, 2002-2005
  • ALS Society of Washington
    • Board of Directors, 1992-1994