diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 6624d52805..64d37b8892 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -160,6 +160,7 @@ subprojects {
                 hpack: 'com.twitter:hpack:0.10.1',
                 jsr305: 'com.google.code.findbugs:jsr305:3.0.0',
                 oauth_client: 'com.google.auth:google-auth-library-oauth2-http:0.4.0',
+                google_api_protos: 'com.google.api.grpc:grpc-google-common-protos:0.1.6',
                 google_auth_credentials: 'com.google.auth:google-auth-library-credentials:0.4.0',
                 okhttp: 'com.squareup.okhttp:okhttp:2.5.0',
                 okio: 'com.squareup.okio:okio:1.6.0',
diff --git a/protobuf/build.gradle b/protobuf/build.gradle
index d0c5f7229d..e18cecedc7 100644
--- a/protobuf/build.gradle
+++ b/protobuf/build.gradle
@@ -1,14 +1,39 @@
 description = 'gRPC: Protobuf'
 
+buildscript {
+    repositories {
+        mavenCentral()
+    }
+    dependencies {
+        classpath libraries.protobuf_plugin
+    }
+}
+
 dependencies {
     compile project(':grpc-core'),
             libraries.protobuf,
             libraries.guava,
             libraries.protobuf_util
 
+    compile (libraries.google_api_protos) {
+        exclude group: 'io.grpc'
+        // 'com.google.api' transitively depends on 'com.google.auto.value:auto-value:1.1', which
+        // breaks our annotations.
+        exclude group: 'com.google.api'
+    }
+
     compile (project(':grpc-protobuf-lite')) {
         exclude group: 'com.google.protobuf', module: 'protobuf-lite'
     }
 
     signature "org.codehaus.mojo.signature:java16:+@signature"
 }
+
+configureProtoCompilation()
+
+idea {
+    module {
+        sourceDirs += file("${projectDir}/src/generated/main/grpc");
+        sourceDirs += file("${projectDir}/src/generated/main/java");
+    }
+}
diff --git a/protobuf/src/main/java/io/grpc/protobuf/StatusProto.java b/protobuf/src/main/java/io/grpc/protobuf/StatusProto.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..798c039420
--- /dev/null
+++ b/protobuf/src/main/java/io/grpc/protobuf/StatusProto.java
@@ -0,0 +1,170 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2017, Google Inc. All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are
+ * met:
+ *
+ *    * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ * notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ *    * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above
+ * copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer
+ * in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
+ * distribution.
+ *
+ *    * Neither the name of Google Inc. nor the names of its
+ * contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from
+ * this software without specific prior written permission.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+ * "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ * LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
+ * A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
+ * OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
+ * SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ * LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
+ * DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
+ * THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+ * (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+ * OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ */
+
+package io.grpc.protobuf;
+
+import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkArgument;
+import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkNotNull;
+
+import io.grpc.ExperimentalApi;
+import io.grpc.Metadata;
+import io.grpc.Status;
+import io.grpc.StatusException;
+import io.grpc.StatusRuntimeException;
+import io.grpc.protobuf.lite.ProtoLiteUtils;
+import javax.annotation.Nullable;
+
+/** Utility methods for working with {@link com.google.rpc.Status}. */
+@ExperimentalApi
+public final class StatusProto {
+  private StatusProto() {}
+
+  private static final Metadata.Key<com.google.rpc.Status> STATUS_DETAILS_KEY =
+      Metadata.Key.of(
+          "grpc-status-details-bin",
+          ProtoLiteUtils.metadataMarshaller(com.google.rpc.Status.getDefaultInstance()));
+
+  /**
+   * Convert a {@link com.google.rpc.Status} instance to a {@link StatusRuntimeException}.
+   *
+   * <p>The returned {@link StatusRuntimeException} will wrap a {@link Status} whose code and
+   * description are set from the code and message in {@code statusProto}. {@code statusProto} will
+   * be serialized and placed into the metadata of the returned {@link StatusRuntimeException}.
+   *
+   * @throws IllegalArgumentException if the value of {@code statusProto.getCode()} is not a valid
+   *     gRPC status code.
+   */
+  public static StatusRuntimeException toStatusRuntimeException(com.google.rpc.Status statusProto) {
+    return toStatus(statusProto).asRuntimeException(toMetadata(statusProto));
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Convert a {@link com.google.rpc.Status} instance to a {@link StatusRuntimeException} with
+   * additional metadata.
+   *
+   * <p>The returned {@link StatusRuntimeException} will wrap a {@link Status} whose code and
+   * description are set from the code and message in {@code statusProto}. {@code statusProto} will
+   * be serialized and added to {@code metadata}. {@code metadata} will be set as the metadata of
+   * the returned {@link StatusRuntimeException}.
+   *
+   * @throws IllegalArgumentException if the value of {@code statusProto.getCode()} is not a valid
+   *     gRPC status code.
+   */
+  public static StatusRuntimeException toStatusRuntimeException(
+      com.google.rpc.Status statusProto, Metadata metadata) {
+    return toStatus(statusProto).asRuntimeException(toMetadata(statusProto, metadata));
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Convert a {@link com.google.rpc.Status} instance to a {@link StatusException}.
+   *
+   * <p>The returned {@link StatusException} will wrap a {@link Status} whose code and description
+   * are set from the code and message in {@code statusProto}. {@code statusProto} will be
+   * serialized and placed into the metadata of the returned {@link StatusException}.
+   *
+   * @throws IllegalArgumentException if the value of {@code statusProto.getCode()} is not a valid
+   *     gRPC status code.
+   */
+  public static StatusException toStatusException(com.google.rpc.Status statusProto) {
+    return toStatus(statusProto).asException(toMetadata(statusProto));
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Convert a {@link com.google.rpc.Status} instance to a {@link StatusException} with additional
+   * metadata.
+   *
+   * <p>The returned {@link StatusException} will wrap a {@link Status} whose code and description
+   * are set from the code and message in {@code statusProto}. {@code statusProto} will be
+   * serialized and added to {@code metadata}. {@code metadata} will be set as the metadata of the
+   * returned {@link StatusException}.
+   *
+   * @throws IllegalArgumentException if the value of {@code statusProto.getCode()} is not a valid
+   *     gRPC status code.
+   */
+  public static StatusException toStatusException(
+      com.google.rpc.Status statusProto, Metadata metadata) {
+    return toStatus(statusProto).asException(toMetadata(statusProto, metadata));
+  }
+
+  private static Status toStatus(com.google.rpc.Status statusProto) {
+    Status status = Status.fromCodeValue(statusProto.getCode());
+    checkArgument(status.getCode().value() == statusProto.getCode(), "invalid status code");
+    return status.withDescription(statusProto.getMessage());
+  }
+
+  private static Metadata toMetadata(com.google.rpc.Status statusProto) {
+    Metadata metadata = new Metadata();
+    metadata.put(STATUS_DETAILS_KEY, statusProto);
+    return metadata;
+  }
+
+  private static Metadata toMetadata(com.google.rpc.Status statusProto, Metadata metadata) {
+    checkNotNull(metadata, "metadata must not be null");
+    metadata.discardAll(STATUS_DETAILS_KEY);
+    metadata.put(STATUS_DETAILS_KEY, statusProto);
+    return metadata;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Extract a {@link com.google.rpc.Status} instance from the causal chain of a {@link Throwable}.
+   *
+   * @return the extracted {@link com.google.rpc.Status} instance, or {@code null} if none exists.
+   * @throws IllegalArgumentException if an embedded {@link com.google.rpc.Status} is found and its
+   *     code does not match the gRPC {@link Status} code.
+   */
+  @Nullable
+  public static com.google.rpc.Status fromThrowable(Throwable t) {
+    Throwable cause = checkNotNull(t, "t");
+    while (cause != null) {
+      if (cause instanceof StatusException) {
+        StatusException e = (StatusException) cause;
+        return toStatusProto(e.getStatus(), e.getTrailers());
+      } else if (cause instanceof StatusRuntimeException) {
+        StatusRuntimeException e = (StatusRuntimeException) cause;
+        return toStatusProto(e.getStatus(), e.getTrailers());
+      }
+      cause = cause.getCause();
+    }
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  @Nullable
+  private static com.google.rpc.Status toStatusProto(Status status, Metadata trailers) {
+    if (trailers != null) {
+      com.google.rpc.Status statusProto = trailers.get(STATUS_DETAILS_KEY);
+      checkArgument(
+          status.getCode().value() == statusProto.getCode(),
+          "com.google.rpc.Status code must match gRPC status code");
+      return statusProto;
+    }
+    return null;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/protobuf/src/test/java/io/grpc/protobuf/StatusProtoTest.java b/protobuf/src/test/java/io/grpc/protobuf/StatusProtoTest.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8a085cbc56
--- /dev/null
+++ b/protobuf/src/test/java/io/grpc/protobuf/StatusProtoTest.java
@@ -0,0 +1,196 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2017, Google Inc. All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are
+ * met:
+ *
+ *    * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ * notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ *    * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above
+ * copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer
+ * in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
+ * distribution.
+ *
+ *    * Neither the name of Google Inc. nor the names of its
+ * contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from
+ * this software without specific prior written permission.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+ * "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ * LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
+ * A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
+ * OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
+ * SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+ * LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
+ * DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
+ * THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+ * (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+ * OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ */
+
+package io.grpc.protobuf;
+
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertNotNull;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertNull;
+import static org.junit.Assert.fail;
+
+import io.grpc.Metadata;
+import io.grpc.Status;
+import io.grpc.StatusException;
+import io.grpc.StatusRuntimeException;
+import org.junit.Before;
+import org.junit.Test;
+import org.junit.runner.RunWith;
+import org.junit.runners.JUnit4;
+
+/** Unit tests for {@link StatusProto}. */
+@RunWith(JUnit4.class)
+public class StatusProtoTest {
+  private Metadata metadata;
+
+  @Before
+  public void setup() {
+    metadata = new Metadata();
+    metadata.put(METADATA_KEY, METADATA_VALUE);
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void toStatusRuntimeException() throws Exception {
+    StatusRuntimeException sre = StatusProto.toStatusRuntimeException(STATUS_PROTO);
+    com.google.rpc.Status extractedStatusProto = StatusProto.fromThrowable(sre);
+
+    assertEquals(STATUS_PROTO.getCode(), sre.getStatus().getCode().value());
+    assertEquals(STATUS_PROTO.getMessage(), sre.getStatus().getDescription());
+    assertEquals(STATUS_PROTO, extractedStatusProto);
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void toStatusRuntimeExceptionWithMetadata_shouldIncludeMetadata() throws Exception {
+    StatusRuntimeException sre = StatusProto.toStatusRuntimeException(STATUS_PROTO, metadata);
+    com.google.rpc.Status extractedStatusProto = StatusProto.fromThrowable(sre);
+
+    assertEquals(STATUS_PROTO.getCode(), sre.getStatus().getCode().value());
+    assertEquals(STATUS_PROTO.getMessage(), sre.getStatus().getDescription());
+    assertEquals(STATUS_PROTO, extractedStatusProto);
+    assertNotNull(sre.getTrailers());
+    assertEquals(METADATA_VALUE, sre.getTrailers().get(METADATA_KEY));
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void toStatusRuntimeExceptionWithMetadata_shouldThrowIfMetadataIsNull() throws Exception {
+    try {
+      StatusProto.toStatusRuntimeException(STATUS_PROTO, null);
+      fail("NullPointerException expected");
+    } catch (NullPointerException npe) {
+      assertEquals("metadata must not be null", npe.getMessage());
+    }
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void toStatusRuntimeException_shouldThrowIfStatusCodeInvalid() throws Exception {
+    try {
+      StatusProto.toStatusRuntimeException(INVALID_STATUS_PROTO);
+      fail("IllegalArgumentException expected");
+    } catch (IllegalArgumentException expectedException) {
+      assertEquals("invalid status code", expectedException.getMessage());
+    }
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void toStatusException() throws Exception {
+    StatusException se = StatusProto.toStatusException(STATUS_PROTO);
+    com.google.rpc.Status extractedStatusProto = StatusProto.fromThrowable(se);
+
+    assertEquals(STATUS_PROTO.getCode(), se.getStatus().getCode().value());
+    assertEquals(STATUS_PROTO.getMessage(), se.getStatus().getDescription());
+    assertEquals(STATUS_PROTO, extractedStatusProto);
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void toStatusExceptionWithMetadata_shouldIncludeMetadata() throws Exception {
+    StatusException se = StatusProto.toStatusException(STATUS_PROTO, metadata);
+    com.google.rpc.Status extractedStatusProto = StatusProto.fromThrowable(se);
+
+    assertEquals(STATUS_PROTO.getCode(), se.getStatus().getCode().value());
+    assertEquals(STATUS_PROTO.getMessage(), se.getStatus().getDescription());
+    assertEquals(STATUS_PROTO, extractedStatusProto);
+    assertNotNull(se.getTrailers());
+    assertEquals(METADATA_VALUE, se.getTrailers().get(METADATA_KEY));
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void toStatusExceptionWithMetadata_shouldThrowIfMetadataIsNull() throws Exception {
+    try {
+      StatusProto.toStatusException(STATUS_PROTO, null);
+      fail("NullPointerException expected");
+    } catch (NullPointerException npe) {
+      assertEquals("metadata must not be null", npe.getMessage());
+    }
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void toStatusException_shouldThrowIfStatusCodeInvalid() throws Exception {
+    try {
+      StatusProto.toStatusException(INVALID_STATUS_PROTO);
+      fail("IllegalArgumentException expected");
+    } catch (IllegalArgumentException expectedException) {
+      assertEquals("invalid status code", expectedException.getMessage());
+    }
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void fromThrowable_shouldReturnNullIfTrailersAreNull() {
+    Status status = Status.fromCodeValue(0);
+
+    assertNull(StatusProto.fromThrowable(status.asRuntimeException()));
+    assertNull(StatusProto.fromThrowable(status.asException()));
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void fromThrowableWithNestedStatusRuntimeException() {
+    StatusRuntimeException sre = StatusProto.toStatusRuntimeException(STATUS_PROTO);
+    Throwable nestedSre = new Throwable(sre);
+
+    com.google.rpc.Status extractedStatusProto = StatusProto.fromThrowable(sre);
+    com.google.rpc.Status extractedStatusProtoFromNestedSre = StatusProto.fromThrowable(nestedSre);
+
+    assertEquals(extractedStatusProto, extractedStatusProtoFromNestedSre);
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void fromThrowableWithNestedStatusException() {
+    StatusException se = StatusProto.toStatusException(STATUS_PROTO);
+    Throwable nestedSe = new Throwable(se);
+
+    com.google.rpc.Status extractedStatusProto = StatusProto.fromThrowable(se);
+    com.google.rpc.Status extractedStatusProtoFromNestedSe = StatusProto.fromThrowable(nestedSe);
+
+    assertEquals(extractedStatusProto, extractedStatusProtoFromNestedSe);
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void fromThrowable_shouldReturnNullIfNoEmbeddedStatus() {
+    Throwable nestedSe = new Throwable(new Throwable("no status found"));
+
+    assertNull(StatusProto.fromThrowable(nestedSe));
+  }
+
+  private static final Metadata.Key<String> METADATA_KEY =
+      Metadata.Key.of("test-metadata", Metadata.ASCII_STRING_MARSHALLER);
+  private static final String METADATA_VALUE = "test metadata value";
+  private static final com.google.rpc.Status STATUS_PROTO =
+      com.google.rpc.Status.newBuilder()
+          .setCode(2)
+          .setMessage("status message")
+          .addDetails(
+              com.google.protobuf.Any.pack(
+                  com.google.rpc.Status.newBuilder()
+                      .setCode(13)
+                      .setMessage("nested message")
+                      .build()))
+          .build();
+  private static final com.google.rpc.Status INVALID_STATUS_PROTO =
+      com.google.rpc.Status.newBuilder().setCode(-1).build();
+}