About Mark Abbott
Mark Abbott Lester is a attorney specializing in business law, estate planning, real estate law, and tax law. He is a founding partner of Jones & Lester LLP, located at 300 East Esplanade Drive, Suite 1200, Oxnard, California 93036. Mr. Lester has been practicing law for over 40 years, having been admitted to the State Bar of California in 1981. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Stanford University in 1977. He was an active member of the Leland Stanford Junior University Marching Band and participated in the orchestra for two musicals. Mr. Lester received his Juris Doctor from Seattle University School of Law in 1980, where he was an Associate Editor of the Seattle University Law Review and received the American Jurisprudence Award in Trusts and Estates. He furthered his education with a Master of Laws in Taxation from Boston University School of Law in 1981.
Throughout his career, Mr. Lester has been recognized for his expertise in estate planning, trust administration, and estate litigation. He has been certified as a specialist in estate planning, trust, and probate law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. In September 2022, he completed a six-year term as Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the California Board of Legal Specialization. He has also served on the Estate Planning Law Advisory Commission, contributing to the development and grading of certification examinations for California attorneys seeking specialization in estate planning, trust. Probate law. Mr. Lester has been recognized annually as a Southern California Super Lawyer in Estate & Trust Litigation since 2015, and in Estate Planning & Probate in 2015 and 2018. He was also recognized in Corporate/Business law in 2018 and as a Top 100 Southern California Super Lawyer in 2022 through 2025.
He has served as trial and appellate counsel in several published opinions, including Breslin v. Breslin (2021) 62 Cal.App.5th 801, Christie v. Kimball (2012) 202 Cal.App.4th 1407, and Estate of Odian (2006) 145 Cal.App.4th 152. Additionally, he co-authored an Amicus Brief relied upon by the California Supreme Court in reversing the Court of Appeal in Barefoot v. Jennings (2020) 8 Cal.5th 822. Mr. Lester is an active member of the Ventura County Bar Association, serving on the Executive Committee of the Estate Planning and Probate Section. He is also a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He has volunteered for the Attorney-Client Dispute Resolution Services Panel and served as a Judge Pro Tempore for the Small Claims Department of the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
In addition to his legal practice, Mr. Lester has been involved in community service, including serving as an Assistant Scoutmaster and merit badge counselor for Western Los Angeles County Council Boy Scout Troop 485. Three of his sons attained the rank of Eagle Scout. He is also an avid outdoorsman with interests in golfing, camping, hiking, and RV-ing. Mr. Lester's experience and dedication to his clients and community have established him as a respected figure in the legal field.
