John S. Rueppel - San Francisco, CA
Attorney at JKZ LLP
Trust and Estates Litigation Lawyers in San Francisco, CA
101 Montgomery Street Suite 1600 (between Bush and Sutter) San Francisco, CA 94104 - 4133
- Free Consultation
- 1 Super Lawyers®
-
17
Years
Experience
San Francisco Trust and Estates Litigation Lawyer
Updated: 04/14/2026
Areas of Practice
- Trust and Estates Litigation
- Trust Administration
- Probate
Litigation: 90%
Attorney Information
Overview
John Rueppel is a Partner at JKZ LLP. John has extensive experience with trust and estate litigation in all Bay Area jurisdictions as well as around California. He has represented trustees and trust beneficiaries in contested matters such as trust contests, removal petitions, contested accountings, and other trust matters. He has also represented executors and administrations and estate beneficiaries in will contests, accountings, and Probate Code 850 claims as well as individual parties in cases involving financial elder abuse, fraud, and undue influence.
Before joining JKZ LLP, John was a founding partner at O’Neil & Rueppel, LLP, a trust and estates boutique firm located in San Francisco. John was recognized as a certified specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law in 2018.
John is a member of the State Bar of California, the Bar Association of San Francisco, and is a member of the Litigation and Trusts & Estates Sections of both organizations. He has been recognized as a Northern California Super Lawyers Rising Star from 2015 to 2019, and in 2020 was recognized as a Northern California Super Lawyer. He earned his B.A. from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, and his J.D. magna cum laude from University of California College of the Law (formerly UC Hastings). John also volunteers with TEXCOM, the trust and estates committee of the California Lawyers association, and advises there on issues of legislation.
John has contributed to the community through his pro-bono work for Bay Area organizations such as the Aids Legal Referral Panel, and the California Lawyers for the Arts. He is also on the Diversity Committee of the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association and is a member of the Edward J. McFetridge Inn of Court.
John lives and works in San Francisco, and enjoys time with his two sons when they are back from college. In his spare time, John enjoys meditation, running, yoga, and creative pursuits.
Awards and Honors
Honors
- “Perfectly Matched Client and Attorney = Another Successful LRIS Referral” February 25, 2016, Bulletin of the Bar Association of San Francisco
Other Sources of Feedback About John S. Rueppel
Included on the 2026 Northern California Super Lawyers list
Past Lists
- 2025 Northern California Super Lawyers list
- 2024 Northern California Super Lawyers list
- 2023 Northern California Super Lawyers list
- 2022 Northern California Super Lawyers list
- 2021 Northern California Super Lawyers list
- 2020 Northern California Super Lawyers list
- 2019 Northern California Super Lawyers list
- 2018 Northern California Super Lawyers list
- 2017 Northern California Super Lawyers list
- 2016 Northern California Super Lawyers list
- 2015 Northern California Super Lawyers list
Education
-
Legal Education
-
University of California College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings),
San Francisco,
California, 2009
JD -
University of San Francisco School of Law,
San Francisco,
California
2006 to 2007
-
University of California College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings),
San Francisco,
California, 2009
-
Non Legal Education
-
Cornell University,
Ithaca,
New York
B.A., Bachelor of Arts, 1993 -
Loyola College of Baltimore
M.Ed. 2000
-
Cornell University,
Ithaca,
New York
Current Employment Position(s)
-
Partner
Classes and Seminars
-
CLE Presentation: Evidence, Trial, Motions in Limine, Experts, Damages, and Remedies. August 22, 2025
-
CLE Presentation: The Probate Process: Creditor’s Notices and Responses. August 20, 2025
-
CLE Presentation: Trusts: Key Provisions, Trustee Duties and the Trust’s Impact on Probate. August 20, 2025
-
CLE Presentation: Trust and Estate Litigation, Trial, and People v. Sanchez. June 18, 2025
-
CLE Presentation: Understanding the CA Uniform Directed Trust Act. February 26, 2025
-
CLE Presentation: Spears v. Spears: New Paths for Trust Creditor’s Claims. December 10, 2024
-
CLE Presentation: Trust and Estate Litigation, Trial, and People v. Sanchez. June 7, 2022
-
CLE Presentation: “Uberwhelmed? Try Under? The Legal Troubles of an Upstart Business” January 10, 2018
-
CLE Presentation: “Discovery: It Isn’t Sexy, But It Makes You Attractive to a Potential Employer” October 19, 2016
- CLE Presentation: “I See Dead People: Fatalities in Litigation” January 13, 2016
Pro Bono Activities
- AIDS Legal Referral Panel, 2010 to 2020
- California Lawyers for the Arts, 2010 to 2018
Published Works
Articles
-
Spears v. Spears: A Shiny New Option for Enforcing a Creditor's Claim Against a Trust - Trust and Estates Quarterly Vol 30. Issue 4, 2024 - Sole Author
-
People v. Sanchez and Expert Use of Hearsay in Trust and Estate Litigation - Trust and Estates Quarterly Vol 30. Issue 1, 2024 – Co-Author
-
Filing a Creditor's Claim: Sidestep the Pitfalls of CCP Section 366.2 – The Trial Lawyer- Summer 2023
Bar Admissions
- California, 2009
Specialties and Certifications
- Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law, CA State Bar, 2018
Other Affiliations
- San Francisco Bar Association, Member
- Lawyer's Club San Francisco Inn of Court, President
- San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, Diversity Committee, Membership Committee
- California Lawyer for the Arts, Member
- American Bar Association, Member
Photo
Contact
101 Montgomery Street
Suite 1600
(between Bush and Sutter)
San Francisco, CA 94104 - 4133
Phone: 415-527-0788
Fax: 415-693-0500
Email: Send a message
Website: https://www.jkzllp.com
Disclaimer
Your Profile? Update Now
When viewing a listing, consider the state advertising restrictions to which lawyers and law firms must adhere, as well as our FindLaw.com Legal Directory disclaimer. Some lawyers publish comparative information regarding the services that they provide which may be subject to specific comparative communications restrictions.