About John C. Peiffer II, J.D., A.M.
John Peiffer is a partner with the Orange County, California law firm of Brown & Streza, LLP. John counsels a wide range of nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations, including both public charities and private foundations, with a particular emphasis on religious organizations. He advises dioceses, religious orders, private religious schools, and other religious institutions on mission-focused corporate restructuring, governance, and compliance.
John also co-founded and serves as President and General Counsel of the Napa Legal Institute, a nonprofit organization focused on providing corporate, tax, philanthropic, and other non-litigation legal and financial education for faith-based nonprofits.
John has negotiated and documented numerous pledges, endowments, and other major gifts to charitable, educational, and religious organizations.
John also regularly counsels business owners and their families on charitable planning through charitable trusts, private foundations, supporting organizations, and other structures designed to accomplish clients’ philanthropic goals. He advises nonprofit clients on business transactions, entity structures, and corporate formation and governance.
John received his Juris Doctor from the University of Notre Dame Law School after receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Studies and English from Santa Clara University and a Master of Arts in Religious Studies from the University of Chicago Divinity School.
Professional Background
Brown & Streza, LLP, Irvine, California
Partner, 2021-Present
The Busch Firm, Irvine, California
Chief Executive Officer, 2016-2020
Attorney and Shareholder, 2015-2020
Attorney, 2010-2014
Baker McKenzie, San Francisco, California
Senior Associate Attorney, 2014-2015
Associate Attorney, 2008-2010
Dowling Aaron & Keeler, Fresno, California
Associate Attorney, 2006-2008
O’Melveny & Myers LLP, Los Angeles, California
Litigation Paralegal, 2001-2003
Juris Doctor, cum laude, Notre Dame Law School, Notre Dame, Indiana, 2006
Master of Arts, Religious Studies, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 2000
Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, Classical Studies and English, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California, 1998
Speaking Engagements
Notre Dame Church Properties Initiative Conference, Notre Dame, Indiana, September 17, 2024
- Co-Presenter, Canon and Civil Legal Considerations for Church Property Stewards
Napa Institute Conference, Napa, California, July 26, 2024
- Co-Presenter, Mission Based Planning with Catholic Values
Napa Legal Institute Nonprofit Summit, Napa, California, July 24, 2024
- Co-Presenter, Nonprofit Excellence: Governance and Fiduciary Duties
Notre Dame Religious Liberty Summit, Notre Dame, Indiana, July 11, 2024
- Panelist, Religious Liberty at the State Level
Knights of Columbus Charitable Fund, Live Interactive Webinar, June 11, 2024
- Co-Presenter, Mission Based Planning with Catholic Values
Napa Legal/Charles Institute, Irvine, California, February 21, 2024
- Representing Faith-Based Nonprofits: Analyzing the Impacts of State Laws
Family Enterprise USA, Live Interactive Webinar, September 13, 2023
- Co-Presenter, Philanthropic Strategies for Successful Families
First American Trust, Santa Ana, California, May 1, 2, and 3, 2023
- Philanthropic Strategies for Successful Families
ProVisors Estate & Succession Planning Affinity Group, Irvine, California, April 27, 2023
- Philanthropic Strategies for Successful Families
Napa Legal Institute Continuing Legal Education, New York, New York, October 11, 2022
- Model Rule 2.1: Understanding and Fulfilling the Duty of the Lawyer as Counselor
Napa Institute Conference, Napa, California, July 29, 2022
- Co-Presenter, Bracing for Impact: Protecting Faith-Based & Pro-Life Organizations Post Dobbs
Napa Institute Conference, Napa, California, July 28, 2022
- Co-Presenter, Creative Generosity: Effective Multi-Generational Philanthropy
16th Annual John F. Scarpa Conference on Law, Politics and Culture, Live Interactive Webinar, May 2, 2022
- Aim Small, Miss Small: Lessons for Life and Liberty
Napa Institute Principled Entrepreneurship Conference, New York, New York, October 13, 2021
- Panelist, Faith, Family, & Charitable Giving
Napa Legal Institute, Napa, California, July 23, 2021
- Moderator, Panel Discussion, Cancel Culture: How to Protect Your Nonprofit Against Big Tech
Stand Together, Live Interactive Webinar, March 30, 2021
- Co-Presenter, Strategic and Personalized Approaches to Family Philanthropy
Napa Legal Institute, Live Interactive Webinar, October 12, 2020
- Co-Presenter, Practice What You Preach: Securing and Communicating Religious Identity in Cancel Culture
OSV Institute, Live Interactive Webinar, September 30, 2020
- Co-Presenter, Human Resource and Employment Considerations for Religious Organizations
Napa Legal Institute, Live Interactive Webinar, August 13, 2020
- Co-Presenter, Hardening the Target: Protecting Your Lay Apostolate in the Next America
Napa Legal Institute Webinar, recorded September 16, 2019
- Co-Presenter, Steps for Success for Catholic Lay Apostolates, Part I
Napa Legal Institute Webinar, recorded October 3, 2019
- Co-Presenter, Steps for Successor for Lay Apostolates, Part II: Becoming and Staying Exempt
EWTN Catholic Radio Conference, Birmingham, Alabama, November 8, 2018
- Bylaws Tune-ups: Principles and Proposals
