Lani M. Collins
Partner
Lani Meanley Collins specializes in trust and estate planning and administration, as well as nonprofit tax-exempt organizations. After law school, she became an associate at Price, Postel & Parma, the oldest continuous law firm west of the Mississippi river, and she became the firm's first woman partner. Ms. Collins left the firm almost 30 years ago and formed her own practice, now known as Collins & Associates, specializing in trusts and estates as well as nonprofit tax-exempt organizations. Ms. Collins received her BA in Religious Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara, as number one in her class, with highest honors, and Phi Beta Kappa. She received her J.D. from Cornell Law School. Ms. Collins is a past chair of the Nonprofit & Unincorporated Organizations Committee of the Business Law Section of the State Bar of California (now the California Lawyers Association). She has been a speaker for the Committee’s statewide live programs, including “Legal Basics for Nonprofit Management” and “Nonprofit Governance in the Form 990 Spotlight.” Ms. Collins has taught the University of California, Santa Barbara Extension course entitled “Laws for Nonprofit Finance and Fundraising.” For several years, she served as a panel speaker for the CEB program “Estate Planning & Administration: Annual Recent Developments.” Ms. Collins is a certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate by the State Bar of California. She has served on numerous boards for local nonprofit organizations, often serving as chair. Ms. Collins was named Distinguished Woman of the Year by the Santa Barbara Associates. She has also attended Woodbadge and received the District Award of Merit, Silver Beaver, and Legacy Award by Los Padres Council, Boy Scouts of America.
