Heather Johnston

Personal Introduction

Heather Johnston founded Sapphire Law Group in 2017, after practicing law for many years at a boutique regional law firm in Sacramento. Heather first became interested in estate planning in law school, where she earned the Witkin Award in Wills & Trusts and received a Concentration in Taxation. Over the years that she represented clients in all facets of real estate transactions, Heather developed a specific focus on planning and distributions from family trusts comprised of complex real estate portfolios and entity interests. Today, Heather uses this specific background to counsel clients with complex real estate planning, business succession planning and property tax planning opportunities. Heather has been practicing law for 17 years, and is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law, by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. Despite her love for engaging in complex planning opportunities, and to collaborate with her client’s financial advisors, accountants, and insurance advisors, Heather finds her work directly with her clients to be the most gratifying. The opportunity to truly make a difference by listening to her clients, learning about their values, their worries, and to be able to provide peace of mind is what matters most. Heather has shaped the mission and the culture of the firm to place the interests of our clients first, to be exceptional listeners, and to leverage technology so that the Firm’s legal staff can focus where it matters - on creating comprehensive and thoughtful estate and business plans for our clients, and guiding them through the administration of a loved one’s trust or estate - using reliable processes and without the distraction of traditional law firm inefficiencies. Among other career achievements, Heather was selected as one of only 10 attorneys in the country to serve as a 2015-2017 Fellow for the Real Property Trust and Estates Section of the American Bar Association and continues to serve the Section as the chair of several committees within the organization. Heather is committed to engaging in the profession of the practice of law, to improving the experience of clients seeking legal services and to creating a culture of curiosity and responsibility at Sapphire Law Group. One of her guiding principles is that people will not remember what you told them, they will not remember the details of their estate plan, but they will always remember the way that you made them feel. In her free time, Heather is an avid reader, boater, paddle boarder, novice baker, enthusiastic gym rat, and spectator at her children’s swim meets. She is a wife, sister, business owner, auntie and a mother to two beautiful girls and she passionately works to support small businesses in her community, and is committed to a legacy of leaving this world better than she found it.