Our Team

Stefanie Herrington.jpeg — **Stefanie M. Herrington**

Stefanie is an estate planning attorney whose compassionate and caring approach has helped hundreds of families plan for their future over the past decade. Her practice focuses on estate planning, trust administration, and probate. She helps clients design plans that efficiently accomplish their goals and routinely counsels clients in crisis and following the loss of a loved one. Stefanie is also a licensed broker and represents buyers and sellers on real estate transactions.
Stefanie obtained her B.A. at the University of Colorado at Boulder, while working full time as a copy editor for the *Boulder Daily Camera*. Stefanie went on to receive her J.D. from the University of Oregon School of Law, where she served as editor-in-chief of the *Oregon Law Review* before clerking for the Hon. Daniel M. Taubman at the Colorado Court of Appeals. Stefanie founded Montecito Law Group in 2018, after serving as a partner in a Carpinteria law firm for six years.
Stefanie is an active, adventurous person who loves exploring the world with her dog Boulder. She is passionate about her hobbies, including live music, theater, yoga, gardening, and philanthropy work. She has been involved in Rotary for over a decade and even chartered the Carpinteria Sunset chapter and its charitable foundation. Stefanie devotes her time to supporting the Climate Protection & Restoration Initiative, a vital organization dedicated to restoring our climate system. Stefanie is past president of Girls Inc. of Carpinteria and led its largest fundraiser for six years. Stefanie also served as vice chair of the Santa Barbara County Commission for Women in 2021-22.
Stefanie is passionate about changing the stigma associated with mental health after learning at age 38 that she is in fact bipolar, something she had suspected in law school, but doctors convinced her otherwise. Stefanie boldly and publicly tells her story, and two months after her diagnosis, she was appointed to the Santa Barbara County Behavioral Wellness Commission to use her experience to advocate for others. Stefanie hopes that through her own journey, she can empower others to doggedly pursue their goals in spite of challenges.

Education
J.D., University of Oregon School of Law, Eugene, Oregon, 2009
Editor-in-Chief, Oregon Law Review
Judicial Extern, The Hon. Michael Hogan
U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon
B.A., University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, 2005

Professional Affiliations
Member of WealthCounsel and Atticus Advantage
California Bar Member (SBN 279579), 2011-current
Real Estate Broker (DRE 02127282), 2021-current
Santa Barbara Association of Realtors, California Association of Realtors

Community Leadership
Santa Barbara County Behavioral Wellness Commission, 2023-current
Climate Protection & Restoration Initiative, Board Member, 2022-current
Santa Barbara County Commission for Women, Commissioner, 2021-2023; Vice Chair
Rotary Club of Carpinteria Sunset, 2017-current; President, Secretary, Charter Member
Rotary Club of Carpinteria Sunset Charitable Foundation, 2017-2022
Girls Rock Santa Barbara, Board of Trustees, 2019-2020
Girls Inc. of Carpinteria, Board of Trustees, 2012-2019; President, Bloom Event Co-Chair
Rotary Club of Carpinteria Morning, Member, 2011-2017; Secretary, President-Elect
Volunteer History: Plaza Playhouse Theater, Carpinteria Beautiful, Carpinteria Boys & Girls Club, California Avocado Festival, Planned Parenthood & Carpinteria Chamber of Commerce, Aliso Elementary School reading volunteer

Professional Affiliations — Boulder is our 12-year-old Vizsla, who spends his mornings and evenings on an organic avocado ranch in Carpinteria, and his days snoozing in the office and greeting clients. His favorite tricks are “Die Like a Fly” and “Peekaboo.”
Boulder’s N Fusion’s Boy Who Cried Woof aka “Boulder”
Born in Boulder, Colorado
AKC Trick Dog (Novice, Intermediate & Advanced Trick Titles)

Rachel Huang
Legal Assistant

Rachel is a fourth year Political Science major at UCSB. She dedicates her time to assisting clients with their legal concerns while executing important administrative assignments. Prior to joining our firm, Rachel gained valuable experience as a legislative intern for Senator Chang at the Hawaii State Capitol, where she worked on policy research, drafted legislative reports, and assisted with constituent relations. She plans to attend law school after taking a gap year to travel and work in Europe and Asia, broadening her global perspective and professional skills. In her free time, Rachel enjoys the simple pleasures of life, including taking refreshing ocean dips, exploring thrift stores for unique finds, and experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen. Having grown up in Hawaii, she brings a deep connection to island culture and is fluent in Chinese, adding a valuable multilingual asset to her skill set. Rachel’s passion for social justice drives her interest in international human rights law, where she hopes to make a meaningful impact. Her diverse experiences and dedication to community service make her a well-rounded and empathetic future lawyer.

Nika Zoufan

Nika is a second-year student at UCSB double majoring in Economics and Communications. She is from Los Altos, and in her free time loves to explore hikes in San Francisco with her dog Cooper and read a good book, specifically a thriller novel, on the beach. She is trilingual in Farsi and Spanish. Nika is excited to gain legal knowledge while offering her marketing experience to the Montecito Law Group!

Garrett Kinnard

Garrett is a third-year student at UCSB, majoring in Political Science with a minor in History. He plans to attend law school, ideally in California, where he aspires to settle in the future. He gained experience as a student shadow at the San Diego Superior Court. Garrett is enthusiastic about immersing himself in the legal field and is eager to learn how he can use the law to create a positive impact in his community.