News

Farella’s Family Wealth and Private Client Offerings Bolstered by Two New Partners

June 23, 2022 Announcement

Hons Yung Joins as Partner, Kristine Waggener Elevated

Northern California legal powerhouse Farella Braun + Martel is pleased to announce that Hons Yung has joined as a partner and Kristine Waggener has been elevated to partner from special counsel in the firm's Private Client Group.

Hons counsels high-net-worth individuals, families, and closely held businesses with respect to tax, estate, and succession planning – crafting bespoke strategies that minimize income, estate, gift, and property taxes. He also works with fiduciaries and beneficiaries in probate and trust administration, assisting with federal gift and estate taxes returns, and representing clients in tax disputes with state and local taxing agencies and the IRS. Hons is a graduate of Golden Gate University School of Law (LL.M., with honors, 2012; J.D., 2011) and the University of San Francisco (B.A., 2004). He joins Farella from Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP where he was a partner.

Kristine works with high-net-worth individuals and multi-generational families to minimize income, estate, gift, and California property taxes while focusing on each client’s priorities. She represents families owning substantial interests in closely held and publicly traded corporations and she advises on how to hold wealth in family partnerships, limited liability companies, and S corporations. She guides clients through liquidity and insurance planning, shareholders’ agreements, and buy-sell arrangements to ensure coordination of their personal and business planning. Kristine is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley School of Law (J.D., 2005) and Grinnell College (B.A., 1996).

“Hons and Kristine are outstanding lawyers and are the latest examples of Farella’s strong commitment to strategically grow and position its Private Client Group to serve increasing client demand for the high-quality services the firm provides,” said Tony Vecino, Farella partner and chair of its Private Client Group. “Farella’s client base, reputation, and platform for personal success serve to attract top-tier lateral partners such as Hons, and we are always pleased to promote lawyers from within such as Kristine, who will continue to make meaningful contributions to the firm’s clients and the Private Client Group.”

About Farella

Celebrating our 60th anniversary, Farella Braun + Martel is a leading Northern California law firm representing corporate and private clients in sophisticated business transactions and complex commercial, civil, and criminal litigation. Clients seek our imaginative legal solutions and the dynamism and intellectual creativity of our lawyers. We are headquartered in San Francisco and maintain an office in the Napa Valley that is focused on the wine industry.

Farella is recognized in the 2021 Chambers High Net Worth (HNW) guide as a leading firm in the Private Wealth Law category for Northern California.

Contact:
Cheryl Loof
Farella Braun + Martel LLP
(415) 954-4433 / [email protected]