Top Estate Lawyers Near Me in Walnut Creek Area

Vahishta specializes in real estate law representing individuals and business entities, emphasizing both in transaction and litigation. She has broad experience advising individuals and business entities on formal litigation matters as well as effectively and efficiently negotiating settlements and dismissals.She practices a commonsense approach to litigation, and believes in high-quality, cost-effective, and successful representation. Vahishta is personally active in every aspect of her clients’ cases, and her clients are her priority.Vahishta's clients include real estate professionals, landlords, tenants, title insurers, escrow holders, institutional lenders as well as other business entities and individuals. Over the course of her legal career, Vahishta has represented both individual and institutional clients in matters involving real estate, complex toxic tort litigation, premises liability, construction defect, insurance defense, and general personal injury.Vahishta is Of Counsel to the Richardson Law Firm and Morrill Law Firm.

Tim Williams is the Firm's founder and managing owner. Mr. Williams has over 25 years of experience as an attorney in the areas of real estate, construction and business law. Mr. Williams' practice areas include all aspects of civil litigation and dispute resolution in all courts, government hearings, arbitrations and mediations in the areas of real estate, construction and business law. Mr. Williams also represents and advises clients in business transactions, corporate law, real property transactions, and trademark law.

Thirty-two years of private practice as an advocate for businesses and individuals primarily in the area of real property (commercial) leasing and management, landlord/tenant, real property, construction, business disputes and litigation, including contract enforcement and interpretation, commercial lease matters, including lease negotiation and drafting and dispute resolution for both landlords and tenants.  Represent commerical property owners and managers in a broad range of transactions involving shopping centers, retail, commercial, and industrial buildings.  Experience in commercial and residential real estate and construction matters, including environmental and bankrutcy litigation.  Construction law practice primarily involves representation of suppliers, manufacturers, general, sub and specialty contractors, and owners, developers, public agencies, lenders and sureties/insurers invloving public and private (commercial, industrial, institutional, residential) projects.

Ryan is a graduate of Golden Gate University School of Law. During his studies he was awarded certificates with distinction in Labor & Employment Law as well as Public Interest Law.. During law school Ryan represented low-wage workers at an employment rights clinic. He spent his second summer of law school investigating charges of unfair labor practices at the National Labor Relations Board. Ryan gained further experience working for a federal magistrate judge as a legal intern and teaching assistant for the judge’s evidence course at Golden Gate University. Additionally, he learned valuable litigation experience preparing for trial at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Ryan has also represented thousands of Bay Area school employees through collective bargaining.. Prior to law school, Ryan graduated with distinction from San Diego State University with a BA in International Security and Conflict Resolution, specializing in Global Systems. Ryan performed a year of service in the Americorps *VISTA program where he was assigned to the International Rescue Committee. There he helped run an after school program for refugee teenagers in San Diego's City Heights neighborhood.. Bar Membership. State Bar of California, No. 303197, admitted 2015. Professional Affiliations. Member of the Contra Costa Bar Association. •  Estate Planning & Probate Section. •  Employment Section. •  Barristers Section

My practice is focused almost entirely on civil litigation, with an emphasis on ethics and professional liability, particularly legal malpractice and related issues, real estate litigation, insurance coverage litigation, and appellate advocacy.  I am a certified by the State Bar of California as a specialist in Legal Malpractice Law.

My office offers a range of services in the areas of real estate law, estate planning, and trust and probate administration matters. I represent clients throughout California in a wide variety of transactional and litigation matters, including leasing and lease disputes, landlord-tenant issues, unlawful detainer actions (evictions), mechanics’ liens, ADA compliance, and other contract and property rights matters; entity formations (corporations, LLCs, partnerships); estate planning (trusts, wills, and power of attorneys), and with the administration after the loss of a loved one.. My services are personalized to each client – I appreciate that my client’s trust me with their matters and I take the time to help each client understand their legal circumstance and provide the best legal options available. I understand the business aspect of my client's goals and offer practical and reasoned options to accomplish my client’s goals OR for efficient handling of your situation.. Call the Law Office of Frank Khalil to discuss your legal needs at.

Mr. Kaster is an attorney with offices in Walnut Creek and San Francisco who practices in the areas of estate planning, trust administration, probate, conservatorships, trusts and estates litigation and civil litigation.. Mr. Kaster graduated cum laude from UC Hastings College of the Law in 2000, where he earned membership in the Order of the Coif. He received the highest class score in several of his law school classes (Torts, Civil Procedure and Negotiation/Settlement).. Mr. Kaster began his legal career as a litigator at a major national law firm. More recently, he worked as a senior associate at a mid-sized litigation firm in Oakland.. Mr. Kaster is a member of the Trusts and Estates Section of the State Bar of California, the Elder Law section and Conservatorship, Guardianship, Probate and Trust section of the Contra Costa County Bar Association and has served as a volunteer attorney at Legal Assistance for Seniors in Oakland. He lives with his wife, two children and two dogs.

Michael Schachter is a founder and an owner of Pearson & Schachter, where he is a business, corporate and real estate transactional attorney. Michael has represented a broad range of companies, from early stage to publicly traded companies.

Kelley Way was born and raised in Walnut Creek, California. She graduated from UC Davis with a B.A. in English, followed by a Juris Doctorate. Kelley is a member of the California Bar, and an aspiring writer of young adult fantasy novels. She can be contacted at

Jerome C. Pandell joined the Firm in September 2008.  He is admitted to practice law in all state and federal courts in the State of California.  A 2008 graduate of University of California, Hastings College of the Law, Jerome served as co-chairman of the Moot Court Board and was Executive Editor of the Hastings Communications & Entertainment Law Journal (Comm/Ent).  As a moot court competitor, he won numerous awards for his brief writing and oral advocacy skills.  Notably, he received Best Brief awards at the 2006 John Marshall International Information Technology & Privacy Law and 2008 Tulane University Mardi Gras Sports Law competitions.  During his third year, Jerome received the Witkin Award for Academic Excellence and CALI Excellence for the Future Award® for his performance in the Seminar on the Judicial Process.  Jerome also completed a federal judicial externship in fall 2007 for the Honorable Martin J. Jenkins, formerly of the United States District Court, Northern District of California, now Associate Justice, California Court of Appeal, First District.  Jerome completed his undergraduate education in 2005 at Northwestern University, receiving his B.A. in Political Science and Religion with Honors.  He also served as managing editor of The Daily Northwestern from 2004 through 2005 and as a staff writer at the Tri-Valley Herald from 2003 through 2005.  In October and November 2008, Jerome acted as a volunteer legal adviser to the presidential campaign of Barack Obama in the state of Nevada.  Active in local, state and national politics, Jerome also serves on the State Central Steering Committee of the California Democratic Party.

I help people with financial issues whether Estate Planning or Bankruptcy. I believe one of the most important things I do with all clients is education. I will teach you the law as it applies to your circumstances and options available to you. After 25 years in this industry, I have the knowledge and experience to help guide you through this process.. Our offices are located in Walnut Creek, Brentwood and Antioch. Please call to schedule a free 30 minute consultation at (888)77BK-LAW.  We are here to help.

I am admitted to practice law in California, Arizona and New York.  I began practicing in 1979 as a member of the General Counsel's staff of the National Labor Relations Board in its New Orleans regional office.   I worked for law firms representing managment in all kinds of labor and employment matters in both Phoenix and San Francisico.  Starting in about 1986, I expanded my areas of expertise to include all areas of real estate and business litigation.  A small portion of my practice is also devoted to personal injury litigation.  Starting in 1990, I opened my own solo practice in Walnut Creek, California.  I have handled hundreds of cases and represented hundreds of clients in the past 35+ years of practicing law.  Unlike attorneys who work in large law firms, I can assure every one of my clients that they receive my personal attention on all of their legal matters.  Many of my clients are small business men and women like myself, and just as I am very conscious of keeping my expenses down, and I equally conscious of keeping their legal expenses down.. When I am not practicing law, I spend my time with my wife of 25 years and my daughter, who is now 21.  Since 2007, I have become an avid long distance cyclist.  I have ridden more than 40 century (100 mile) bike rides, and at least once a year, I ride on behalf of and raise contributions for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, which is devoted to finding cures and treatments for all forms of blood cancers.  To date, I am proud to say that I have raised over $10,000 for LLS.. This year, I am taking on a new challenge of completing a Tough Mudder, which is a 10 mile walk/run that contains about 20 obstacles that I wil have to get through.  As the name of the event suggests, much of the time I will be slogging through the mud while trying to complete the event.

In his 23rd year of law practice, Rob Silverman focuses primarily on trusts and estates, including probate and trust administration. His emphasis is on estate planning directed toward wealth preservation and enhancement. He has helped more than a thousand individuals and families establish meaningful estate plans for the benefit of their families, loved ones, and charities.. Mr. Silverman also represents clients in connection with real estate matters, including residential and commercial purchase/sale transactions, commercial leasing, real estate entity formations (e.g. Limited Liability Companies), and joint ownership (aka T.I.C.) agreements. In addition, he serves his clients’ business needs, handling transactions involving the purchase, sale, formation, operation, and management of their business ventures.. Mr. Silverman brings to his practice invaluable practical experience in the fields of real estate and business. He was President and Chief Operating Officer for a franchisor; directed a computerized loan origination operation for a mortgage banking/brokerage company; and conducted real estate brokerage and property management for various companies, including his own.. Mr. Silverman originally practiced in partnership with his father, Donald Silverman, with the law firm “Silverman & Silverman” in Alameda, California. He then served as “Of Counsel” to several local firms, Buchman Provine Brothers Smith LLP and Berding & Weil LLP. Mr. Silverman has been a licensed California real estate broker for nearly 35 years and has also served on the professional advisory board of several non-profit organizations.. Both in and out of the office, Mr. Silverman prioritizes family, health, and happiness. He has been happily married to his wife, Karen, for 26 years with whom he shares three children, each thriving in their own, unique way. Rob is also a regular practitioner of pilates and other sporting endeavors, and he supports his family in their frequent long distance running and martial arts hobbies. He also has a passion for travel, enjoying seeing and learning about the world’s varying cultures and countries. Having worked for a major luxury cruise line in his twenties, he has been fortunate to be able to visit more than 50 countries around the globe.  He is also a life-long supporter of the Bay Area sports franchises, from local high school sports to the California Golden Bears and World Champion Golden State Warriors, Giants, and even the A’s – albeit champions from many years ago (there’s that Oakland optimism).. Mr. Silverman’s expertise in estate planning and related fields enable him to help clients optimally protect, manage and transfer their estates to their loved ones. He understands the importance of family and is skilled in using law as a tool to help clients avoid unnecessary costs and prevent potentially lengthy and emotionally damaging disputes among family and/or trust/estate beneficiaries.  Starting with careful and compassionate discussions with his clients about their objectives and desires, Mr. Silverman takes seriously his role in facilitating the design of a plan that will meaningfully and efficiently achieve those objectives and desires. Mr. Silverman takes pride in his work, enjoying the great satisfaction that comes from building a personalized, customized plan for his clients.. EducationUniversity of California, Davis (B.A. 1978)Golden Gate University (J.D. 1992). Professional MembershipState Bar of CaliforniaContra Costa County Bar AssociationAlameda County Bar AssociationEstate Planning Council of Diablo Valley (Past President)

In 1990, Ms. Benedetto graduated from U.C. Berkeley witha Bachelor's degree in Psychology.  Afterworking for six years as a successful business executive, Ms. Benedetto continuedher education at the University of San Diego School of Law, where she graduatedin the top of her class in 2000.  Duringlaw school Ms. Benedetto clerked with the San Diego District Attorney’s Officeand the U.S. Attorney General’s Office, and also had the honor of publishing ascholarly legal journal article.  Upongraduation, Ms. Benedetto elected to start her own estate planning law firm, drawingfrom her experience in business, finance, psychology and the law.. Over the past nine years, Ms. Benedetto has assistedhundreds of clients with the creation of their Wills, Living Trusts and otherestate planning documents.  She also assistsfamilies with trust administration and probate when loved ones pass away, and helpsclients with bankruptcy planning.. In 2006, Ms Benedetto created the Family Trust Law Center,or Family TLC, to be a firm where families come for professional estateplanning by licensed attorneys, at flat, reasonable fees.  Her goal is to have the Family Trust LawCenter attorneys be considered as long term estate advisors.. In 2009, Ms. Benedetto expanded the legal servicesoffered at Family TLC to include Bankruptcy planning, again, at flat,reasonable fees.  When economic hardshipsaffect families they need good, solid legal advice and a trusted advisor tohelp them navigate through debt collections, foreclosure proceedings, Chapter 7or Chapter 13 bankruptcy filings, and rebuilding their estates.  Ms. Benedetto is there for clients in goodtimes and challenging times, always striving to help her clients achieve peaceof mind.. Ms. Benedetto is a member of the Probate andEstate Planning section of the Contra Costa Bar Association, the Real Propertyand Probate section of the California State Bar, and the American BarAssociation.  She mentors a foster child throughthe CASA program (Court Appointed Special Advocates) and belongs to the Diablo Networking Circleof BNI, the Walnut Creek Masters Swim Club and is Secretary of the Rotary Clubof Walnut Creek.  In her spare time sheenjoys writing novels and spending time with her family and friends.

I have been practicing law in Contra Costa County for over 36 years, focusing in the areas of estate planning, probate, trust administration, probate and trust litigation, real estate, personal injury, and construction litigation.. Free Consultation.  Please feel free to call my office.

I am the founding and managing attorney of California Estate Law firm Absolute Trust Counsel, formerly known as Kirsten Howe, Attorney at Law. The firm focuses on five closely intertwined areas of the law: estate planning, trust administration, probate, special needs planning and Medi-Cal planning.. For more than 20 years, I have dedicated my career to helping individuals and families from a wide range of social and economic backgrounds to ensure their legacy. My ultimate goal is to protect one’s assets, offer compassionate sound legal counsel, and enable individuals to pass on their values, goals and work ethic.. It's an honor to get to know my clients on a personal level in order to gain a thorough understanding of their unique situation. I work to identify and address their most pressing concerns, goals, and hopes for their legacy.. At Absolute Trust Counsel we pride ourselves on practicing personalized law and is a firm that will be there for you and your family today, tomorrow and for years to come.. For further details, visit us at .

I am married to Isabel Harrison and have four children.  I enjoy playing tennis and walking.  I often spend time in my garden to relax.

I am an Estate Planning, Trust Administration, and Probate attorney serving Walnut Creek and the surrounding communities. My previous experience includes work in Family Law, general Civil Litigation, and 8 years in the legal department of a Fortune 500 financial institution. I truly enjoy Estate Planning, Trust Administration, and Probate because it allows me to develop long lasting, trusted, and important relationships with my clients.. Here is some personal information about me: I grew up in the Silicon Valley and am currently a resident of Martinez.  I am a dog lover, enjoy time with my family, and enjoy a good sense of humor.

I am an estate planning attorney in the East Bay. I live with my husband, Jim, my son Benjamin, and two dogs, Penny and Biggie.. I received both my B.A., summa cum laude, and my law degree from the University of California at Berkeley. I spent my last year of law school studying at Harvard Law School, and graduated at the top of my class.. Prior to entering the private practice of law, I was the first Planned Giving Officer at U.C. Berkeley’s Law School. In this position, I helped the school’s most prestigious donors with their bequests and other estate gifts to the University.. My current practice is exclusively estate planning, including Wills, Trusts, Probate and Medi-Cal planning. I have helped hundreds of Bay Area families with their estates and trusts. I also regularly assists clients without long term care insurance who need skilled nursing care to become qualified for Medi-Cal.. I am a Board Member of the Contra Costa County Bar Association Elder Law Committee.. I served as the Chair of the City of Lafayette's Senior Services Commission. As Chair, I worked to prevent elder fraud and abuse and to bring services to seniors in my community. I also served on the Contra Costa Advisory Council on Aging.. I believe that young children should be taught strong money skills and how to save for a “rainy day.” I volunteered with Junior Achievement to teach financial literacy to elementary and middle school students. I am also a frequent speaker at parent groups, where we discusses ways parents can teach their children the basics about money.

I am a family oriented attorney, personally and professionally, helping families to plan for succession and deal with aging parents and problem children.  Ihave been active since 2005 with Children's Hospital Oakland Foundation and since 2010 a Director of the Hospital Board, Chairing its' Audit Committee.

Geoff Robinson's practice focuses on land use, development, and real estate litigation. He represents clients in civil and administrative proceedings involving planning and zoning laws, CEQA, development fees and exactions and public facilities financing.  He is an authority on writs of mandate in the trial court and is co-author of the treatise California Administrative Mandamus (CEB, 3rd Ed. 2007) and other publications on civil writ practice.  He also has substantial experience in the area of development exactions and has litigated numerous cases involving challenges to development exactions, mitigation requirements, and public financing districts. He continues to handle a broad range of litigation and transactional matters, including a groundwater basin rights adjudication, an action to enforce state housing element laws, a Voting Rights Act case, and a challenge to a wastewater treatment plant expansion.. Geoff has been an active participant in the firm’s pro bono program, representing individuals, non-profits and public agencies before state and federal courts, including several matters in the California Supreme Court.  He is the recipient of the firm’s first John J. Curtin Public Service Award and the California State Bar’s President’s Pro Bono Award.. Geoff served as law clerk to Judge Thomas J. MacBride of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California and as extern to Judge Joseph T. Sneed of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.. Geoff is currently the chair of the Language Access Committee of the California Commission on Access to Justice, the managing partner of Bingham’s Walnut Creek office and a reserve JAG officer.

David J. Brillant, founder of Brillant Law Firm in Walnut Creek, California, is one of the Bay Area’s rising stars. Super lawyers consistently recognizes David as one of the top up-an-coming lawyers in Northern California, and one of the few who excel in the subspecialty of trust and estate litigation. Unlike many trust and estate lawyers who mainly are “estate planners,” David started as a complex civil litigator, handling litigation matters ranging from construction to business disputes to tax matters against the Internal Revenue Service and the California Franchise Tax Board.. Over the years, David has represented numerous trustees, helping them administer trusts ranging from the routine to the complex. While the vast majority of David’s work focuses on all aspects of trust and estate matters, he continues to handle business, real estate and tax matters for his clients. In addition to trust and estate litigation, David performs estate planning, trust administration and probate services for clients.. David believes in clear communication and straight talk when it comes to advising his clients. He has a wide range of clients in various facets, including construction, manufacturing, real estate, retail, and professional services. David distinguishes himself from his competitors by learning how each of his clients operate their business and advising them based on his experience and knowledge. Over the years, David has advised clients ranging from small, family owned businesses to publicly traded corporations.

David Ginn advises members of the construction industry on public works, commercial and residential construction projects. His cases involve design and construction agreements, surety and insurance issues, bid protests, project management, project close-out, and claims involving defective construction, false and fraudulent claims, mechanic’s liens, payment and performance bonds, stop payment notices, additional work, disruption, resequencing, construtive acceleration, Eichleay formula claims, delays, and other impacts, CalTrans Standard Specifications, AIA contracts, and Federal Acquisition Regulations. Mr. Ginn also litigates real estate transactional disputes, partition actions, quiet title cases, commercial leasing disputes, disclosures associated with real estate sales transactions, partnership disputes, investor claims, limited liability company disputes, partnership windup and dissolution, landlord/tenant issues, evictions, breach of contract, condemnation, and eminent domain.  Mr. Ginn acts as lead litigation counsel in mediations, arbitrations, court and jury trials.  He is an adjuct professor with Diablo Valley College, teaching a course in Legal Aspects of the Construction Industry.

Christopher Schneider is one of the founding partners of Dorband & Schneider. He passed the California Bar Exam in 2008 and has been practicing primarily in the areas of estate planning and taxation.. Chris was born and raised in the East Bay, graduated from Acalanes High School in 1999 and completed his Bachelor’s from St. Mary’s College in 2003. After graduation he worked for Scott Valley Bank in Walnut Creek as a credit analyst while completing his MBA in finance at St. Mary’s.. Chris attended law school at Golden Gate University where he concentrated in the area of taxation. In 2010, he completed his Masters of Law degree in Taxation. He is one of only 6 attorneys in Contra Costa County that is a certified specialist in Estate Planning and Taxation. Chris is an avid landscape photographer as well as a licensed private pilot.. Today, most of Chris' time outside the office is spent with his wife Jennifer, his son Joseph and daughter Jacqueline.

Brandon Lee Spivack began his legal career in California in 2013 after receiving his LL.M. from the nationally recognized Heckerling Graduate Program in Estate Planning and Tax. As an associate attorney at Gresham Savage Nolan &Tilden, Brandon had many opportunities to learn and expand his expertise beyond estate planning because of the support of his colleagues. Brandon learned the intricacies of proper business planning from his experienced colleagues in the business and tax departments. Other attorneys and staff in the real estate department taught Brandon how to confront challenging title issues that can arise during a probate or trust administration. His mentor and boss in the estate planning department demonstrated to Brandon how to pragmatically approach common and uncommon planning issues. Before leaving Gresham Savage, Brandon gained the knowledge and confidence to become a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Law by the California State Bar, Board of Legal Specialization.. In 2018, Brandon moved his family to Walnut Creek to pursue an opportunity with one of California’s most reputable estate planning firms, Hartog Baer & Hand. As an associate in the planning department, Brandon spent most of his time handling tax issues for clients with significant wealth. He worked with clients to prepare Private Letter Ruling requests; devise and execute estate freezes; draft and file IRS Forms 706, 709, and 1041; and review business structures for tax planning opportunities. Brandon strengthened his skills as a tax attorney through the unique opportunities he received at HBH.. In both Northern California and Southern California, Brandon has had the privilege of working with charitable organizations and philanthropic clients to facilitate lifetime and testamentary gifting. He has worked closely with various Community Foundations to create Donor Advised Funds; draft charitable trusts; review pledge agreements, and establish charitable organizations. Brandon advises clients on entity governance, including mandatory reporting and compliance procedures to ensure charitable organizations maintain their good standing and tax-exempt status with the state and the federal government.. In 2019 and 2020, Brandon was recognized by his peers as a Rising Star. This award is given to 2.5 percent of attorneys below the age of 40 in California.