Pacific Coast Legacy Partners, LLP

Above: L to R, front: Samuel Ford, Grace Lou, Eric Harris Back: Heather Valentine, Linda DeVito, Jennifer Eaton, Michelle Chen

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Highlights

• Estate, Gift & Charitable Planning
• Probate & Trust Administration
• Business Succession & Incorporation
• Family Office Services

Pacific Coast Legacy Partners, LLP, is a boutique estate planning and administration law firm with offices in Manhattan Beach and Torrance. Partners Eric Harris, Samuel Ford and Grace Lou each had separate planning and administration practices before they joined forces and formed Pacific Coast Legacy Partners in June 2024.  

What inspired you to pursue this profession?

Grace: I appreciate the sacred nature of this area of the law, where clients are contemplating their life, death and legacy.

Sam: I am a second-generation estate planning attorney, and all my life I’ve seen the amazing personal impact you can have on someone’s life. There is a very brief moment in some people’s lives when their estate planning attorney becomes one of the most important people in their life. It’s an absolute honor and a truly humbling experience to be that person for others in those moments.

Eric: I initially worked in corporate America, which did not provide enough of an intellectual challenge. Thankfully, being an estate attorney provides more than enough. Aside from connecting with clients, I also enjoy the entrepreneurial and business development aspects of owning a business.

What’s a piece of advice that many clients initially resist? 

Many clients resist the advice to plan their estate because of the fear of confronting their mortality or stressful family dynamics. They may also be uncomfortable discussing their level of wealth or knowledge about financial matters. Our firm is comprised of attorneys and staff who make it easy and safe to discuss estate planning. We encourage our clients to view estate planning as a lifelong journey and that their plans can be changed to accommodate each chapter of their story.  

What is your area of expertise?

All the partners are board-certified in estate planning, trust and probate law by the State Bar Board of Legal Specialization. That means we each have a track record of handling diverse estate matters, passed a comprehensive exam demonstrating competence in our field and have been evaluated favorably by our attorney peers.

What do you think distinguishes an average advisor from an exceptional one? 

An exceptional advisor is a humble teacher who can simplify complex concepts for their clients and invites questions without judgment. We strive to create a firm with clients who are empowered and in-the-know about trust and estate concepts and feel confident to share such knowledge with their neighbors.

What is your advice for your younger clients?

It’s never too early for younger clients to start planning for incapacity or death. You don’t need to have amassed a certain amount of wealth to appoint a fiduciary to make financial or health care decisions if you are rendered incapable of doing so. It is empowering for younger clients to become financially literate, and a good entry point is meeting with an estate planning attorney.

How do you provide peace of mind for clients?

Our Family Office program provides annual reviews of clients’ estate plan, amendments and ongoing assistance with titling of assets in their trust or designating beneficiaries of financial accounts, annuities and life insurance. This program provides clients a sense of stability knowing that the details of their estate planning is being tracked as laws and circumstances change.  

Can you assist with charitable contributions?

We enjoy working with clients who have charitable inclinations. We stand ready to advise them on the best way to provide gifts, whether that be during their lifetime or at death. We are also available to advise on setting up 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporations, donor-advised funds or private foundations.

What are you grateful for at the holidays?

Grace: I am grateful that the holiday season gives us time to examine what we believe and where we put our faith. It is time where we can recalibrate for the New Year and incorporate more forgiveness, grace and love into our lives.

Sam: I get to visit my family in southern Florida over the holidays. It’s perhaps the only place in the USA with better weather than Southern California in December.

Eric: With so much turmoil and hostility in our nation and world, I hope that the holidays will cause us to reflect and then do whatever it takes to bring real lasting peace. There’s no doubt we would realize that we have much more in common if we got off our phones and start listening to each other.

Photographed by Fabien & Laura Castro