Douglas K. Freeman

Douglas K. Freeman, J.D., LL.M., is Chairman of First Foundation Advisors. In this capacity, he provides strategic planning and organizational management advice for business, nonprofit, foundation, and family clients. He is a noted, now retired, tax attorney and founder of the law firm, Freeman, Freeman & Smiley, LLP, located in Los Angeles and Irvine, California. In 2008, 2007, 2006 and 2005, he was recognized by Worth magazine as among the 100 top attorneys in the United States, and, in 1999, he was featured by Bloomberg Financial as one of the nation’s leading estate planning attorneys. He is the founder of National Philanthropy Day, proclaimed by Congress and celebrated throughout the United States since 1986.

Mr. Freeman has been a consultant to nearly 300 family foundations, support organizations and public charities throughout the United States. He is a director of seven family or independent foundations, and three public charities – Immediate Past Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of California, Irvine Foundation and current chairman of its $1 billion campaign; past Chairman and current member of the Executive Committee of the Board Directors of Orange County’s Pacific Symphony; and a member of the Board of Advisors of the University of Southern California Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy.

Mr. Freeman is the author of three books and over 30 articles and treatises on philanthropy and wealth planning. His new book, which he has co-authored with Dr. Lee Hausner, Ph.D., entitled “The Legacy Family… The Definitive Guide to Creating a Successful Multigenerational Family” is due to be released by Macmillan-Pulgrave Publishers in the fall, 2009. He is the co-author with Dr. Hausner of a leading treatise for family foundations, entitled “A Founder’s Guide to the Family Foundation," published by the Council on Foundations. He authored a leading professional book, entitled “Estate Tax Freeze: Tools and Techniques," originally published by Matthew Bender (1984), is the former contributing editor to the Journal of Financial Service Professionals and has written dozens of professional articles published in a variety of journals. He speaks throughout the country on behalf of professional associations, such as the Council on Foundations, the Association of Small Foundations and the American Bar Association.

Mr. Freeman is a graduate of Stanford University (A.B. with Distinction, 1967), University of California at Los Angeles (J.D., 1970), and the University of San Diego (LL.M. in Taxation, 1984). Until retirement, Mr. Freeman was designated a Certified Specialist in Taxation under the State Bar of California.