Yumi Higashi
Associate
New York, NY156 West 56th Street
New York, NY 10019
P 212.237.1185 F 212.262.1215
P 212.237.1185 F 212.262.1215
Experience
Yumi Higashi concentrates her practice on cross-border and domestic trusts and estates matters. She advises clients on estate planning and prepares a broad range of estate planning instruments, represents individuals and fiduciaries in probate and estate administration proceedings, and assists with the preparation and filing of estate tax returns. Her practice also includes conducting legal research on complex trusts and estates law, with particular emphasis on U.S.-Japan cross-border matters.
Prior to her admission to the bar, Ms. Higashi developed substantial experience in trusts and estates: She served as a Legal Intern to the Honorable Hilary Gingold, Surrogate, New York County Surrogate’s Court; a Court Evaluator under the Honorable Lisa Sokoloff, J.S.C., in the Supreme Court of the State of New York; and a Legal Intern at Project Guardianship, Inc.
Prior to entering private practice, Ms. Higashi held senior corporate communications and marketing leadership positions in both the U.S. and Asian offices of prominent banks.
She is fluent in Japanese and actively involved in the Japanese American community.
Publications & Presentations
- Outlier on LGBTQ Rights: Japanese Ban on Same-Sex Marriage and Its Contradiction in the Age of Globalization, 50 Brook. J. Int'l L. (Forthcoming Spring 2025)
- Calling for Greater Autonomy for Modern American Families Through Standby Guardianship (2024)
Community Involvement
- U.S.-Japan Council - Council Leader, Shin-Issei Affinity Group Co-Chair
Pro Bono
- Courtroom Advocates Project, Brooklyn Law School - Volunteer
- Weinberg Center for Elder Justice - Researcher and Writer
Law School Academic Awards, Honors
- Brooklyn Journal of International Law, Executive Article Editor
- Dean's Merit Scholarship
- Glasser Scholarship
- Marsha Garrison Family Law & Policy Fellowship
Practices
Education
- J.D., Dean's Merit Scholarship, Brooklyn Law School, 2025
- B.A., Keio University (Japan), 1999
Admissions
- New York (2026)