Brian Leck

With heavy hearts, we are sad to announce the passing of our friend, colleague, and founding partner, Brian Leck, on November 17, 2022. He was 77.

Brian, along with Fred Allen, Mike Matkins, John Gamble, and Rick Mallory, friends and partners at the firm of Stephens, Jones, LaFever & Smith, founded Allen, Matkins, Leck, Gamble & Mallory with a different vision – spending their professional lives with attorneys they liked and respected and to “do great work for great clients.”

Brian served as managing partner from the firm's founding in 1977 until 2011. He steered the firm through times of transition and great success, including some of the largest and most complicated real estate transactions in California. The firm grew from five lawyers into an AmLaw 200 firm with more than 225 lawyers. Brian later served as an advisor to the managing partner before retiring in 2019. As a practicing attorney, Brian had extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, corporate securities, and executive employment and consulting agreements. Brian received a B.A. from Stanford University in 1967 and J.D. from UCLA School of Law in 1970, where he served on the Law Review.

During his illustrious career, Brian served as the President to the board of the L.A. County Sheriff’s Children’s College Scholarship Fund. Its mission was to provide scholarships to the children of active L.A. County Sheriffs. Over the years, more than $1.6 million was raised and helped support over 125 students.

Brian was the consummate professional, remarkable for his graciousness, generosity, wit, and wisdom. Along with his co-founders, Brian had a clear vision of what kind of law firm they wanted to create, and those same core values and culture are reflective of Brian’s passion and love of Allen Matkins to this day.

“We credit Brian with having built a law firm that adheres to the highest ethical standards and applies an unqualified commitment to quality work for the firm's clients, camaraderie, and respect for others. No one demonstrated these qualities better than Brian,” said Mike Matkins, co-founder and close friend.

Brian is survived by his wife of 43 years, Chandra Leck, daughters Robin Shoemaker and Jessica Beaver, sons-in-law Robert Shoemaker and Bobby Beaver, and three grandchildren, Kate Shoemaker, Maisie Beaver, and Bobby Beaver.

As we mourn the passing of our friend and colleague, we also salute his accomplishments and strive to continue his legacy. Brian will be deeply missed, and we extend our heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the Leck family. We invite Brian’s friends, family and acquaintances to share their memories via email at communications@allenmatkins.com.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Brian’s memory to one of the following organizations:

Pacific Neuroscience Institute

• You can make a gift online: https://www.pacificneuroscienceinstitute.org/about-us/pni-foundation/donate-now/
• Please check the box for In Memory and write Brian's name in the box
• Donation by check can be sent to Saint John's Health Center Foundation, 2121 Santa Monica Blvd. CA 90404

UCLA Urology (Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center)

• You can make a gift online: https://secure3.convio.net/jccf/site/Donation2?df_id=1440&1440.donation=form1
• Please select the paper tribute care option
• Donation by check can be sent Jonsson Cancer Center Foundation, Attn: Diana Howard; 9-623 Factor Bldg, Box 951780, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1780

Allen Matkins Foundation

• You can make a gift online: https://www.allenmatkins.com/about-us/am-foundation.html
• Please select the drop down option in memory of Brian Leck
• Donation by check can be sent to Allen Matkins Foundation, Attn: Elias Cervantes; 865 South Figueroa Street, Suite 2800, Los Angeles, CA 90017-2543