Peter Myers | San Francisco Estate Lawyer

A family with a substantial closely-held business had a long-term lawyer who was close to retirement and not as familiar with the evolving needs of the business in succession. We worked with the existing lawyer, to transition the business to a governance committee across generations, which included the existing lawyer and our firm, as new prospective counsel. We chose a structure that addressed the following goals of the family: 1. Maximizing the privacy of the transaction given the family profile and the number of employees who would have access to public records 2. Minimize the taxes, both income and transfer tax, of the succession 3. Create a governance structure that would honor not just bloodline inheritance, but incent hard work and effort within the business or in the related philanthropic family foundation 4. Provide for the education and health care expenses of the third, fourth and fifth generations of the family 5. Limit the creditor exposure to the assets and wealth of the family by establishing single-purpose entities where appropriate, and dynastic third-party trusts

A lot of mistakes. I was open minded about trying new things, but coupled that with honesty about my own mistakes. I never oversold a client on a strategy, and never sugar-coated a difficult challenge. I exercised creativity and resourcefulness in finding solutions where other lawyers had failed, or had been too ensconced in their idea to find a better solution.

Commitment to them. Putting the interest of the client and family of the client ahead of their own - truly. Many lawyers say this, and then opt for tactics in conflict or planning situations that increase their time and involvement, or subject the client to exposure to claims of others. Not enough lawyers understand the clients' needs come first.

Somewhat. The Bay Area has 7 counties, whereas in Southern California, there is basically one (1) - Los Angeles - with 2.5 times the population of the entire Bay Area. Surrounding counties to Los Angeles (Orange, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, Riverside) require some local knowledge. The Bay Area counties each have quirks that require some understanding of the landscape.

Generally not a lot. There is a tremendous amount of information about me and our firm online and publicly available. I have written and taught extensively, and so if someone wants to "learn about me" by spending valuable unbillable time during the business day chatting on the telephone, it is probably not a good fit.

An email address where I can send our data intake form, and a general idea of whether it is a planning case, an administration case, or a dispute.

Getting to results efficiently. The speed with which we onboard clients and understand their situation. Avoiding unnecessary distractions and administrative work that other lawyers, plodding through checklists, don't realize they can either skip or streamline in some fashion.

Being the trusted adviser to hundreds of families on everything from their business structures to their wealth planning to their next car or vacation home purchase.

Swimming, bicycling, raising my 6 kids.

The legal and performing arts community primarily.

• Member | Estate & Trust Education Resources | Founding Member and Content Editor
  Member | California CEB Advisory Board | 2007-2014
  Member | California Bar Association | Tax, Estate Planning Sections | Trust Law Section
  Member | San Francisco Bar Association
  Member | East Bay Estate Planning Council
  Member | East Bay Tax Club
  Member | East Bay Trust and Estates Lawyers (EBTEL)
  Member | National Network of Estate Planning Attorneys | California Forum Chair | Faculty, Advanced Planning Program | 2010-Present
  Member | WealthCounsel LLC | WealthCounsel Advisors’ Forum | 2006-2016
  Fellow | The Laureate Circle (a national estate and wealth planning strategies think tank)

• Named a Northern California "Super Lawyer" by Super Lawyers Magazine | 2004-2019
  Named among the “Top 100 Lawyers” in the U.S. by The Robb Report/Worth Magazine | 2005-2006
   "AV" rated | Martindale-Hubbell | 1995 - Present
  Named the Business Succession Attorney of the Year by Lawyers' Monthly magazine | 2013
  Recipient of the Wiley W. Manuel Award | 1990-91 and 1991-92
  (State Bar of California Board of Governors’ Award for provision of legal services to the poor)
  Recipient of the Outstanding Attorney in Public Service Award | 1991
  (BASF Volunteer Legal Services Program)

• July 2017 – Articles
  Location, Location, Location - and a Little T&E Navigation
  Trusts & Estates Magazine
  By Peter S. Myers
  
  September 14, 2016 – Alerts
  New Tax Regulations Will Impact High-Net-Worth Estate Planning
  Taxation and Wealth Planning Alert
  By Peter S. Myers

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