2025 Seminar Speakers
Judge John G. Evans, Ret.
Judge Evans began his legal career after earning a B.S. in Mathematics from the University of California, Riverside. He practiced law for nearly 29 years, focusing on civil litigation in general practice and insurance defense before transitioning to solo practice for over a decade, where he handled personal injury and other civil matters.
He became a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), San Bernardino/Riverside Chapter in 1998. In 2002, he received the Chapter’s Civility Award for exemplifying professionalism, courtesy, and civility in his practice and in the courtroom and served as Chapter President in 2007.
In 2008, he was appointed to the Riverside County Superior Court, where he served for 15 years in civil, criminal, and probate assignments. He became widely known for beginning each court day by reading a “Civility Quote” aloud, a daily reflection of his deep belief in respect and collegiality in the legal process.
Since retiring from the bench in 2023, Judge Evans serves as a mediator and arbitrator with Judicate West, handing civil and probate matters. He remains a strong advocate for civility, integrity, professionalism, and mentorship within the legal community.
Lavar Taylor
A. Lavar Taylor, the founder of Taylor Nelson Amitrano LLP, has over 43 years of experience in
handling civil and criminal tax controversies involving the IRS and state tax agencies. Mr.
Taylor handles tax-related litigation in all trial and appellate courts. He also handles
administrative disputes with the IRS and state tax agencies, including audits, collection matters,
criminal investigations, Collection Due Process Appeals, other types of administrative appeals
before the IRS Office of Appeals, and disputes before the California Office of Tax Appeals and
the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board. He is widely recognized for his
expertise in bankruptcy-related tax matters. Since 2004, Mr. Taylor has been an Adjunct
Professor of Law at Chapman University School of Law in Orange, California, where he
currently teaches Federal Tax Procedure. He has also taught as an Adjunct Professor of Law at
the University of California at Irvine Law School. Mr. Taylor has authored numerous briefs as
amicus curiae in tax-related cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and the federal Courts of
Appeal. He is a regular speaker at continuing legal education events, including programs
sponsored by the Tax Section of the ABA and the Tax Section of the California Lawyer’s
Association.
Gordon Stuart
Gordon Stuart is a Shareholder in Buchalter’s Los Angeles office, a Co-Chair of the Trust & Estate Group, and a member of the Firm’s Litigation Practice Group. Mr. Stuart’s practice focuses on trust and estate litigation, representation of fiduciaries, conservatorship and guardianship matters, as well as real estate and general business litigation. Mr. Stuart has extensive experience representing high-net-worth individuals in complex trust, estate, and conservatorship proceedings.
Teresa Rhyne
Teresa J. Rhyne, is the principal of The Teresa Rhyne Law Group, A Professional Corporation where her practice focuses on developing comprehensive and sound estate and charitable tax plans for business owners, individuals and families—however defined. Teresa believes that life can be complicated, families can be complicated, but your estate planning shouldn’t be. Teresa acquired her legal expertise at U.C. Santa Barbara, where she graduated with a BA and high honors in Law and Society, and Loyola Law School, where she earned a Doctorate of Law at the age of 23. Her strong educational background is enhanced by over 35 years in the field of estate planning, business and tax law.
Teresa is a frequent presenter at seminars for the general public as well as instructing other attorneys and professionals on estate planning, wealth protection planning, charitable planned giving and family business succession planning. She also writes for the column “Women and Money Mindset” for the Southern California News Group. She is a past president of the Riverside County Estate Planning Council, and a founder and current President of the California Central Coast Estate Planning Council.
In a fun fact side note, Teresa is the author of a memoir “The Dog Lived (and So Will I),” which was a New York Times #1 bestseller, a Wall Street Journal #1 bestseller, and a USA Today bestseller. Her most recent book is “Poppy in the Wild: A Lost Dog, 1500 acres of wilderness, and the dogged determination that brought her home,” which prominently features Riverside’s Sycamore Canyon.