Atty. Michael Paul Varela

Atty. Michael Paul Varela

Michael P. Varela is an attorney with the Orange County, California law firm of Brown & Streza, where his practice focuses on estate planning, trust and estate administration, charitable giving, and other tax matters.

Irvine Irvine 22 yrs experience 22 year
Call (877) 326-9253 Email Book Appointment

Profile Summary

About Michael Paul Varela at a glance

Michael Paul Varela is a Partner based in Irvine, California, practicing at Brown And Streza Llp. They have 22+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 2004. Their practice focuses on trusts, probate, estate planning, and tax. Admitted to practice in California (2004). Educated at Santa Clara University School of Law (J.D. University, 2004) and University of Southern California (B.A. International, 2001). Active member of State Bar of California, Taxation Section - Executive Committee State Bar of California, Taxation Section and Trusts and Estates Section - Member Orange County Estate Planning Council - Member Silicon Valley Bar Association - Member. Serands clients in Irvine, CA and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • Michael P. Varela is an attorney with the Orange County, California law firm of Brown & Streza, where his practice focuses on estate planning, trust and estate administration, charitable giving, and other tax matters
  • He works closely with families and individuals assisting with trust formation, charitable planning, life insurance planning, intra-family transactions and post-mortem trust and probate administration, as well as estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax
  • Michael received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Southern California in 2001, his Juris Doctor from Santa Clara University School of Law in 2004, and his Master of Laws in Taxation (LL.M.), summa cum laude, in 2008 from the University of San Diego School of Law
  • Gaining recognition as a speaker, Michael has presented at several California Tax Bar & California Tax Policy Conferences, the State Bar of California’s Young Tax Lawyers Conference, and the Silicon Valley Capital Club
  • Michael also served on the Executive Committee of the Taxation Section of the California Lawyers Association
  • He is a member of the Taxation Section and the Trusts and Estates Section of the California Lawyers Association
  • Recently relocating to southern California with his wife and two children, Michael enjoys hanging out with his kids, going to the beach, and playing golf

Practice Areas Explained

Michael Paul Varela's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Michael Paul Varela handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Trusts

Michael Paul Varela is one of 104,171 trusts attorneys indexed nationally. Browse trusts attorneys in California →

Probate

Michael Paul Varela is one of 128,014 probate attorneys indexed nationally. Browse probate attorneys in California →

Estate Planning & Probate

An estate planning attorney prepares wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives to protect your family and pass on your assets.

Michael Paul Varela is one of 226,536 estate planning attorneys indexed nationally. Browse estate planning attorneys in California →

Tax Law

Tax attorneys handle IRS audits, tax debt, international tax, estate planning, and tax court litigation.

Michael Paul Varela is one of 85,302 tax attorneys indexed nationally. Browse tax attorneys in California →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in California

Practicing law in California. Legal matters in California are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Irvine are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate California state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in California brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in California courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional California attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Irvine or all attorneys in California.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about Michael Paul Varela

Where is Michael Paul Varela's law office located?
Michael Paul Varela's law practice is located in Irvine, California. The firm is Brown And Streza Llp. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does Michael Paul Varela handle?
Michael Paul Varela focuses on trusts, probate, estate planning, tax. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in California.
How long has Michael Paul Varela practiced law?
Michael Paul Varela has 22+ years of legal experience and has been licensed since 2004.
Where did Michael Paul Varela go to law school?
Michael Paul Varela earned their education at (J.D. University, 2004); (B.A. International, 2001).
How can I contact Michael Paul Varela for a consultation?
You can contact Michael Paul Varela directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.

Education

J.D. University
Santa Clara University School of Law
- 2004
B.A. International
University of Southern California
- 2001

Bar Admissions

California
Admitted: 2004

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