About Cookman Law
Serving families across the state of California
At Cookman Law, we are passionate about helping families with complex situations plan for the future. We believe that each family has unique needs, and their estate plan should be customized to meet those needs.
Ellen Cookman started the firm in 2015, to provide broad estate planning services in the California Bay Area with a subfocus in special needs planning. Many families need “parenting when you’re gone,” and we help them put together a team of professionals and family members to provide additional financial and care management and support. We also offer trust administration services upon a loved one’s death.
At Cookman Law, a typical estate plan takes about 2 months from start to finish. We generally charge a flat fee for all practice areas. We’ve found that our clients prefer the certainty of knowing up-front what they’ll be paying, and this also encourages clients to contact us with questions without worrying about being “on the clock.”
Ellen Cookman
Owner/Principal Attorney
Ellen Cookman started Cookman Law in 2015 to help families of all shapes and sizes plan for the future and utilize available resources. Ellen is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law from the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization. She received her J.D. from UC Berkeley School of Law and her LL.M. in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate from Golden Gate University. Ellen lives in East Palo Alto with her husband, two middle school boys (her older son has high-functioning autism), a husky mix named Rosie, and a kitty named Skittles.
Diana Quigley, Senior Attorney
Diana is an estate planning attorney who provides compassionate guidance to help families with diverse needs plan for a secure future. She combines legal expertise with clear advice to create thoughtful plans that reflect her clients’ values and provide peace of mind. Diana earned her J.D. from the University of Southern California School of Law, her LL.M. in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate from Golden Gate University and her B.A. in Communications and Accounting from UCLA.
Diana lives near Manhattan Beach with her husband and two young sons. Though she is Southern California native, Diana previously lived in San Francisco and enjoys serving clients in all areas of California.
Hannah McLeod, Attorney
Hannah enjoys working with families to realize their estate planning goals and bring confidence to them in a secure future. She received her J.D. from UC Hastings School of Law and attended UCLA as an undergraduate. Before joining Cookman Law, Hannah worked in trust administration at a bank, and in employment and tax law.
In her free time, Hannah spends time with her family, engaging in any activity that might wear out her two young children. Frequent contenders include hiking, biking, playing soccer, tennis and swimming.
Amiee Lee, Associate Attorney
Amiee is a Bay Area native whose practice focuses on special needs and estate planning. She works closely with individuals and families to create thoughtful plans that protect loved ones, preserve essential benefits, and adapt as needs change over time.
She earned her B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, San Diego, and her J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law.
In her free time, Amiee enjoys spending time with her husband and two young sons. She loves traveling, exploring new restaurants, and tracking down the best iced latte.
Megan Orsini, Lead Paralegal
Megan comes to Cookman Law with nearly fifteen years of experience as a legal assistant, including ten years in Trusts and Estates. She is currently completing Yoga Teacher Training with a focus in Trauma and Social Justice, and is working on a certification in Yoga for Sexual Abuse Survivors.
Megan spends her spare time reading, writing, and dreaming of living by the sea.
Roby Anne Albarracin, Paralegal
Roby Anne received her J.D. from San Beda University and is a Philippine Bar passer. She previously worked as an Associate in a legal firm and as a Technical Assistant in a government agency.
During her free time, you can often see her reading books, watching shows of different genres, listening to music, and attending concerts of her favorite artists. She also loves spending quality time with her loved ones and her pets.
Catarine Datora, Paralegal
Catarine is a Brazilian law graduate from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil. Her passion for law lies in its ability to bring positive change to people’s lives.
When she is not working, you’ll find her immersed in books, as she has a deep love for reading. She also adores spending time with her dogs, cherishing every moment with them.
Wendy Farrie, Office Manager
Wendy has an extensive background in Office Administration, working primarily in banking and city departments. She has also worked in HR, Customer Service and Admin Support.
Wendy has a degree in Accounting from Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus, GA. She has a love of reading, traveling (especially to museums, any beach, outdoor parks), movies, and especially enjoys spending time with her husband and two children.
Huong Pineda, Systems & Strategic Initiatives Manager
Huong is passionate about collaborating with people to find solutions. She graduated from UC Davis with a Bachelor of Science and 9 years of extensive experience in project coordinating, marketing, and system management in Environmental Consulting Engineering and Sustainability. Using her diverse background and knowledge, Huong channels her experiences to support our firm with our marketing needs as well as maximizing the functionality of all the systems that we use. Outside of her work life, Huong enjoys going on spontaneous adventures with her family, cooking, painting, and collecting house plants.
Vanessa Lawson, Administrative Assistant
Vanessa has over 10 years’ experience working in administrative support roles. Her background also includes data organization and a degree in Management of Information Systems.
Vanessa enjoys volunteering with Project Read, traveling, line dancing, and hosting fun gatherings (especially board games and cards) with family and friends.
Jessica Jemente, Marketing & Firm Development
Jessica was born and raised in the East Bay (California) and currently resides in San Diego. She has a passion for visual communication, social media outreach and all things organizational. Having a daughter with a genetic disorder and other disabilities, Jessica spends most her free time advocating and spreading awareness for the disabled community. She works closely with the Children’s Tumor Foundation as the volunteer walk organizer for their yearly Southern California Shine the light on NF Walk. In her spare time Jessica enjoys beach trips with her husband and two girls.
Marianne Ingle, Receptionist
Marianne was born in Mexico City and attended ELD Law School there. She has worked in the legal affairs area of Mexico´s Ministry of the Interior, and as a Translator & Teacher (English & Civic/Ethical Education) for more than 10 years.
She loves animals, spending time with her family, watching great classic films, reading and listening to 80’s music.
Nancy De Leon, Intake Specialist
Nancy De Leon is the Intake Specialist at Cookman Law, with 20 years of experience in sales and client relations. Based in Menifee, California, she holds an associate’s degree in Business Administration and enjoys helping clients make informed decisions about their future.
A proud mom of four, Nancy and her family love attending sporting events – especially those her kids are playing in – and she enjoys traveling with them in her free time.
Keli Kennerley, Client Happiness Coordinator
Keli earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Utah Valley University. She brings with her a professional background of program coordination and client support. She is passionate about people-centered work and finds purpose in helping others in any way she can.
Outside of work, she loves staying active – whether that’s running marathons, playing volleyball, or chasing after her energetic baby. She also enjoys spending quality time with her husband and family.
Rafaela Silveira, Executive Assistant
Rafaela is from Brazil, where she earned her degree in Languages and a postgraduate degree in Human Resources.
She loves traveling and exploring different cultures. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, and they love trying new foods together.
Caroline Silveira, Client Liaison
Caroline is from Brazil and has a background in client relations, administrative support, and virtual assistance. She also holds a degree in Nursing, bringing a compassionate and client-centered approach to her work. Caroline is dedicated to creating a smooth and supportive experience, helping clients feel informed and comfortable throughout their planning process.
A proud mom of three, Caroline enjoys reading, visiting cozy cafés, going to the beach, and spending quality time with her family.
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