About Daniel J.
Daniel J. Leahy earned his law degree from the University of California, Berkeley after completing a Bachelor of Arts in History at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He followed a traditional academic path into law, studying at institutions known for rigorous programs. His undergraduate grounding in history informs a practical approach to documents and precedent.
Leahy's early career included a position as an associate at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP in 2008. He moved from a large firm environment into solo practice two years later, operating under the Law Offices of Daniel Leahy in 2010. Records show he later served as a lawyer at Sowards Law Office in 2019. Those moves trace a trajectory from national firm associate to independent practitioner and then to a role inside a smaller office setting.
He is admitted to practice in California and holds certification from the California State Bar as a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate. That specialist credential marks a formal recognition by the state bar in matters governing wills, trusts and estate administration. It complements the memberships he maintains in local and statewide professional groups.
Leahy belongs to several bar and professional associations. He holds memberships in the Contra Costa County Bar Association and the Alameda Bar Association. He is also a member of the East Bay Trusts and Estates Lawyers and the California Bar Association Trusts & Estates section. Those affiliations place him in networks focused on estate, trust and probate law and on regional practice developments.
In practice he manages matters common to estates and trusts: drafting estate planning documents, advising trustees and executors, guiding families through probate and handling related disputes when they arise. His work includes preparation of wills and trusts and overseeing trust and estate administration. He combines document work and courtroom readiness, depending on the needs of each matter.
Clients find in his background a mix of big-firm training and years spent running or collaborating in smaller practices. That combination has shaped how he approaches case strategy and client communication. He operates out of Sowards Law Office and remains active in local trusts and estates circles. He currently concentrates on estate planning, trust administration and probate matters.
