Currently a principal in the firm of Walter & Pistole, Valerie Pistole was admitted to the Supreme Court of California in 1975. Prior to moving her practice to the City of Sonoma, she was a trial attorney in civil and felony criminal matters in the nine Superior Courts of the Northern California counties and the Northern and Eastern District Federal Courts of California.
Valerie now focuses her practice in estate planning. Her clients also include families and individuals, creating wills and trusts as well as administering probate, trusts and conservatorships.
Community
Valerie was commended by the State Bar of California Board of Governors in 1985 in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the delivery of pro bono services in California. She was a co-founder of the Napa Commission on the Status of Women. Valerie was an associate professor in the Management Studies Department of Sonoma State University and a member of the Legislative Committee of the State Bar.
Valerie was also a host of the radio program "The Resource Network" on KSVY and was a guest columnist for "Legal Matters" for the Sonoma Sun. She is currently a member of the State Bar Committee of Trusts and Estates and the attorney coach for the Sonoma High School Mock Trial team.
Valerie was most recently honored as “Woman of Year” by the Sonoma Valley Hospital Foundation.
Publications
“Registering a Business Name”, Sun Newspaper, August 12, 2008
"New Laws for 2009 Affecting Wineries and Nonprofits in CA," Legal Matters, 2008
"Corporations are the Dominant Form of Business Ownership Today," Legal Matters
Education
MS Taxation, Golden Gate University, 1980
JD University of Santa Clara Law, 1975
BS Syracuse University, 1972
Bar Admissions
Supreme Court of California
United States Tax Court
United States District Court for the Northern District of California
United States District Court for the Eastern District of California
