Practice
Michael’s practice focuses on estate planning, probate and trust administration, and business law for families, individuals, and the owners of private businesses. Michael counsels clients concerning their business or professional interests (which often comprise the largest asset in the client’s estate), assisting with business formation, ongoing operation, and purchase, sale, or dissolution of business entities and practices, and business transactions. He then takes his knowledge of his client’s business, and integrates the business into their estate planning through wills and trusts, smoothing the transfer of the business to family, or to other owners through business succession planning, probate, and trust administrations.
Professional Achievements
Michael is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Law, by The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. He is a member of the State Bar of California (Trusts and Estates Section; Business Law Section), the San Mateo County Bar Association (Member, Board of Directors 2017-2021; Finance Committee; Membership Committee, Chair; Funky Credit Day Committee, past Chair; Estate Planning Probate Section; Business Law Section), the Peninsula Estate Planning Council (Member, Board of Directors 2019-2020), the City of San Mateo Investment Advisory Committee (2018-present), and the San Mateo County History Museum Dr. Stanger Legacy Society Advisory Committee (2019-present). Michael is the author of the updates to the Succession Planning for Family Businesses chapter in the Continuing Education of the Bar’s treatise on Estate Planning for Special Assets, a widely-used reference work for California lawyers. He also writes and speaks on business law and estate planning topics.
Education
Michael received his law degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law; a Master of Arts (Philosophy) from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; and a Bachelor of Music (Organ Performance) from the Southern Methodist University Meadows School of the Arts, studying with the renowned Robert T. Anderson.