Sarah Bowman is a partner in the Estate Planning and Trusts & Estates group in the firm's Seattle office. Sarah focuses her practice on complex estate planning, probate estate and trust administration, charitable planning, family office structuring and management, and resolving estate and trust disputes.
Sarah counsels and represents clients in all aspects of their estate planning needs, including tax planning, wealth transfer strategies, business succession planning, asset protection, charitable giving, prenuptial and postnuptial arrangements, and document preparation related to these personal planning matters. Sarah often works with owners of growing businesses to assist with estate, tax and wealth transfer plans, providing for a long-term strategy to effectively meet personal and business planning goals. Sarah also assists principals of family offices, collaborating with colleagues in practice groups across the firm, to manage complex family, trust, philanthropic, and investment structures.
Sarah also represents clients in trust and estate administration matters upon the death of a loved one, including probate and non-probate proceedings, as well as estate and trust litigation matters. Sarah counsels beneficiaries of estates and trusts as well as both individual and professional fiduciaries, such as personal representatives and trustees, in estate and trust matters.
Sarah graduated first in her law school class from Seattle University in 2006. She was selected to the Washington Super Lawyers list from 2017-2021, and to the Washington Rising Stars list from 2010-2016. In addition, Sarah was ranked by Chambers USA in 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022 for Private Wealth Law.
Sarah is a co-founder and president of the Butterfly Guild of Seattle Children's Hospital, a non-profit that aims to fund research of pediatric bone marrow failure disease like Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome. She also serves on the Seattle Children's Philanthropic Advisory Council.
Sarah is active in the firm, serving as a co-chair of the Seattle office professional development committee, a member of the Seattle office associate review committee, and a member of the women in profession committee.
- Recognized as one of the “Top Attorneys in Washington,” Seattle Met magazine, 2017 - 2021
- Named to the Washington Super Lawyers list, 2017 - 2021
- Named to the Washington Rising Stars list, 2010 - 2016
- Recognized as one of the “Top Women Attorneys in Washington,” Seattle Met magazine, December 2013 - 2020
- Ranked by Chambers USA, Private Wealth Law – Washington, 2021, 2022
- Ranked Up and Coming, Chambers USA, Private Wealth Law – Washington, 2018 - 2019
- 2012 Pro Bono Public Service Commendation from the WSBA Board of Governors for contributing more than 50 hours to pro bono services in 2012, published in NW Lawyer, October 2013
- Champion for Children's Award from Seattle Children's, September 2012
- Graduated first in her class from Seattle University School of Law in 2006
- Butterfly Guild of Seattle Children's Hospital, President and Co-Founder
- Seattle Children's Philanthropic Advisory Council, Member
- Seattle Children's Medical Legal Partnership Pro-Bono Attorney, Volunteer
- Estate Planning Council of Seattle, Member
- Lakeside School Planned Giving Advisory Committee, Member
- “End-of-Year Trust Funding and Estate and Income Tax Considerations,” Washington State Bar Association 2022 Annual Fall Probate and Trust Seminar, December 2022
- "Marshalling the Assets & Preparing the Inventory,” King County Bar Association 18th Annual Probate Administration CLE, November 2022
- “Optimizing Your Financial Plan,” 2022 Wealth Planning Summit, 17 May 2022
- “Year End Transactions Planning,” K&L Gates webinar, October 2020
- “Advanced Care and Estate Planning During Times of Uncertainty,” U.S. Bank webinar, August 2020
- “Preparing for a Potential Hospital Visit,” University of Washington Foster School of Business webinar, April 2020
- “Washington State Estate Tax and Planning Update,” Washington Planned Giving Council, April 2019
- “Planning for Washington State Estate Tax,” Seattle Children’s Hospital Philanthropic and Legacy Planning CLE for Professional Advisors, Seattle, June 2018
- “Case Law and Legislative Updates,” Washington State Bar Association 13th Annual Trust and Estate Litigation Seminar, Seattle, April 2016
- “Estate Planning for Small Business Owners,” BECU client event, October 2015
- “Spring Cleaning for your Estate Plan,” Business Briefing and Northwest Vine Time radio show, May 2015
- “Estate Planning for Your Loved Ones,” Seattle Children’s Hospital, January 2015
- “End of Year Estate Planning Considerations,” Business Briefing and Northwest Vine Time radio show, December 2014
- “Give Less to the IRS: Unique Estate Planning Strategies,” client Family Summit, June 2014
- “Initiating the Charitable Conversation,” Washington Planned Giving Council Planned Giving Day CLE, May 2014
- “Estate Planning and Tax Law Updates for 2013," Empirical Investing Radio, Guest Speaker, April 2013
- “End-Of-Year Estate and Financial Planning Strategies,” Salish Lodge in Snoqualmie, Washington, November 2012
- “Essential Planning Steps for Women with Young Children,” Seattle Children’s Hospital Luncheon, October 2012
- “Preparing a Basic Estate Plan,” Washington State Bar Association CLE, Table Coach, September 2012
- “Talking With Clients About Charitable Planning,” Washington Planned Giving Council, June 2012
- “Probate: Beyond the Basics,” Washington State Bar Association Real Property Probate and Trust Midyear CLE, Spokane, June 2012
- “Annual Case Law Update,” Washington State Bar Association Ninth Annual Trust and Estate Litigation CLE, Seattle, March 2012
- “The Power of Philanthropy,” Seattle Children’s Hospital Luncheon for Professional Advisors, September 2011
- “Probate Creditor Claims: Tricks, Traps, and Tales,” King County Bar Association, September 2011
- “Probate Closing Procedures,” King County Bar Association, September 2011
- “Advanced Probate,” Washington State Bar Association, Chair, December 2009
- “Probate Boot Camp,” Washington State Bar Association, Chair, July 2009
- “Probate Litigation: Understanding TEDRA,” Washington State Bar Association, July 2009
- Author, “How to grow an estate plan alongside a fast-growing business,” Puget Sound Business Journal, March 2022
- Author, “New reality is an opportune time to review your estate plan,” Puget Sound Business Journal, May 2020
- Author, "Is Your Retirement Plan SECURE?," Puget Sound Business Journal, March 2020
- Author, “New SECURE Act Impacts Estate Planning for Retirement Plans,” K&L Gates Legal Insight, January 2020
- Author, “Protect the Life of your Business: Succession Planning Should be Part of Any Business Owner’s Will,” Puget Sound Business Journal, March 2017
- Contributing Author, “2011 King County Bar Association Probate and Procedure Manual,” 2011
- Author, “Considerations for Young Families,” Puget Sound Business Journal, February 2009
- Author, “Estate Planning Considerations for Young Families,” Bar Bulletin, November 2007
- Contributing Author, “Racial Integration and the Legacy of Brown at Seattle University School of Law,” Seattle Journal for Social Justice, Fall/Winter 2004
