Vivian Lee Thoreen practices trust and estates litigation in one of the few places where that often byzantine area of the law gets real attention — Los Angeles. Described as the “right hand” to Holland & Knight partner Bruce Ross, Thoreen, 36, has worked with such clients as Howard K. Stern, the executor of Anna Nicole Smith’s estate, a case that went to the U.S. Supreme Court twice; Jamie Spears, the conservator for his daughter Britney Spears; and one of the daughters of the late Richard Pryor in a case involving issues of first impression in California.
Most recently, she and Ross’ team represented Hollywood film star Mickey Rooney in his effort to reclaim his assets from his stepson and stepson’s wife. Thoreen helped win a restraining order in February against the couple and got the court to appoint a conservator for the actor and his estate. Rooney testified to Congress about his experience the following month accompanied by Thoreen and Ross. “In addition to children, I have a soft spot for the elderly — to take advantage of an elderly person in our society is an unbelievable thing,” said Thoreen, who was born in Seoul, South Korea, and is a graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles School of Law.
