Thomas Michael Fafinski

Thomas Michael Fafinski

also known as Tom Fafinski

4.2
Rating: 9.8

Licensed for 34 years

Business Lawyer at Brooklyn Park, MN
Practice Areas: Business, Estate Planning, Wills & Living Wills ... +5 more

7040 Lakeland Av N, Suite 100, Virtus Professional Center, Brooklyn Park, MN

About Thomas

Biography

Practice Areas

8

Practice Areas

Business 20%

Transactions, formation and operation of technology companies like MSPs.

20%
Estate Planning 20%

Wealth transition planning for wealthy individuals from MSP owners and technology investors to W2 employees with pensions or retirement savings.

20%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Hourly Rates

$ 255-435 per hour

Retainer

Always


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

Looking for an attorney? Avvo can help.

search module image

Search our directory

Quickly connect with top attorneys through our legal directory to get help with your legal issue.

chat module image

Avvo's live chat agents can help coordinate a consultation with a local attorney.

Chat with a live agent who can match you with the right attorney for your legal needs.

Chat with

Licenses

Licensed in Minnesota for 34 years

State: Minnesota

Acquired: 1991

Authorized to Practice

No misconduct found

Location

Virtus Law, PLLC

7040 Lakeland Av N, Suite 100, Virtus Professional Center, Brooklyn Park, MN, 55428

Virtus Law, PLLC

600 Main Street S, Suite 120, Cambridge, MN, 55008

Virtus Law PLLC

2785 White Bear Avenue N, Suite 101, Maplewood, MN, 55109

Virtus Law, PLLC

4916 Lincoln Dr, Edina, MN, 55436

Virtus Law, PLLC

1171 Northland Drive, Mendota Heights, MN, 55120

Ad

Transform legal challenges into solutions.

Connect now to review your situation.

The Avvo Rating explained

display-bg

The Avvo Rating explained

Thomas Michael Fafinski's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.2 /5.0

10 Client Reviews

Showing 6 - 10 of 10 reviews

Posted by anonymous | May 09, 2016 | Debt Settlement

Negative Rating for Thomas Fafinski

I had a mere consultation with Mr. Fafinski as he was a highly recommended attorney. He is a instructor at Colleges which frightens me as he has been the most unethical attorney I have ever dealt with. He continues to charge addition attorney fees while I call his firm to settle a judgement for $2,...400. He or his firm have not called me back to resolve and it has been 7 months of calls/texts. Instead of providing me a finalization, I receive District Court papers to appear in court due to increased costs of $33,000. Yes, that is correct $33,000. Does that sound ethical? I have never experience anything like this. For this $2,400 I have had my friend deposed, writs of execution for my vehicles and the list goes on. I signed no engagement letter and asked him to do nothing. My experience has not been positive and I hope the judge this month will assist me in finalization of this Vindictive action. I have spoke with other attorneys and they agree it is Vindictive. I wonder how many other victims for this highly recommended attorney.

Thomas Fafinski

Replied last May 09, 2016

My law firm secured a judgment for legal services following retention with credit for a deposit. Thereafter, he made claims of unethical conduct and offered to withdraw them if we released him. We refused and the allegations were reviewed and dismissed. The fees we are seeking to collect are for significant efforts we have undergone to collect on the judgment from a debtor actively concealing assets. We are not required to accept something less than the judgment amount and his tactics do not favor such consideration. While unfortunate, as the other reviews reflect, his experience is based more on his refusal to pay, in our opinion.

Posted by anonymous | April 01, 2013 | Mergers & Acquisitions

Trustworthy, knowledgeable and well connected

Tom helped facilitate the sale of my business and was instrumental in connecting me with a qualified buyer and overcoming obstacles to consummate a timely and orderly transaction.

Posted by Todd | March 31, 2013 | Limited Liability Company (LLC)

President

Tom has been a fantastic strategic partner in helping our clients successfully navigate through the rules of setting up an LLC that is owned by the clients retirement plan

Posted by Glenn | March 31, 2013 | Business

Creative, Fair, Even Keeled and Solution Oriented

Tom and his team have been extremely valuable to me, my family and my business in navigating difficult and confusing challenges and needs. He and his team have always educated me and kept me on a path that would keep me and my family safe and protected, while helping me to create wealth generating i...deas.

Posted by John | March 22, 2013 | Corporate & Incorporation

Tom Fafinski and his firm continuously amaze me!

I have been very please with my experience using Tom and his firm Virtus Law for a variety of legal services. I am a business owner and have used he and his firm for personal and business purposes. His Corporate expertise is extraordinary. I have used him for real estate, corporate contracts and h...ave been grateful for his advice and creativity with tax, estate planning and exit/succession planning. Tom's grasp is far more sophisticated than many other lawyers capabilities. His firm also really helped me out when my teenager got a DWI. His firm response was immediate and very comforting. I strongly recommend Tom and the several others in the Virtus law firm that I have experienced. I am grateful for the exceptional job that they do for me. I am committed and confident in using Tom and Virtus Law for any and all of my legal matters.

See All Client Reviews

Thomas Michael Fafinski's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Thomas
Julia Helen Sullivan headshot
Julia Sullivan

Estate planning lawyer | Apr 22

Relationship: Friend

"I endorse this lawyer. Tom is an experienced estate planning attorney who will work for you and with you to ensure that your estate plan addresses your needs, meets your goals, and is consistent with your values."

Margaret Barrett headshot
Margaret Barrett

Business lawyer | Apr 16

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Tom is a top notch lawyer. He is knowledgable and experienced, particularly in business, asset protection and estates. I recommend Tom and his firm for your legal needs."

Justin Hamrick headshot
Justin Hamrick

Business lawyer | Apr 16

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"Tom sets the bar pretty high for attorney excellence. I've consulted with him on a number of business and estate planning matters and have nothing but the utmost respect for him and his practice. I recommend him without hesitation!"

John Paul Farrell headshot
John Farrell

Estate planning lawyer | Apr 16

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Tom is an incredible thought leader in the estate planning community and is a great asset to anyone seeking his services. I highly recommend Tom !!"

Nelson Donovan headshot
Nelson Donovan

Estate planning lawyer | Apr 16

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Tom Fafinski is a first-rate attorney and exceptional mentor. I have had the privilege of working with Tom for a few years and during that time I have come to see how compassionate and dedicated he is to his clients. Not too many people share Tom's ability to explain complex estate planning techniques with such ease. He understands the needs of families and has the knowledge and experience to help them protect, preserve and transfer wealth. As an estate planning attorney myself, I have attended educational programs presented by experts nationwide. Tom's presentations are always among the best and I enjoy learning from him. His dedication and enthusiasm for the subject matter are readily apparent. Tom has a way of explaining complex and interrelated topics so that they make sense. He is a lawyer’s lawyer, with a tremendous grasp of how to use trusts and business entities to accomplish a number of goals efficiently and privately. Anyone would be lucky to have an attorney of his caliber."

Steven Silverman headshot
Steven Silverman

Estate planning lawyer | Apr 16

Relationship: Other

"Tom is an excellent attorney. He is thoughtful and concerned about his clients. He is cutting edge on technology and is great with people skills. You will not be disappointed"

Richard Meyer Chamberlain headshot
Richard Chamberlain

Estate planning lawyer | Apr 16

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Jon S. McCarty headshot
Jon McCarty

Estate planning lawyer | May 11

Relationship: Other

"Tom is the consummate professional. He is a visionary by nature but also possesses the technical skills to carry out the many ideas he has to meet the needs of his clients. As a result, his clients receive the very best results, both in the estate planning and business realms, that he and his highly skilled team can provide. The client is the true winner when working with Tom and his team."

James D McVittie headshot
James McVittie

Estate planning lawyer | May 11

Relationship: Other

"Tom is a very knowledgeable attorney who focuses on the right solutions for his clients. There is no "one size fits all" in Tom's toolbox. Tom is one of those attorneys that just gets it. He puts in the time to make sure he is on the cutting edge of the newest techniques and methods in estate planning."

Lora Michele-Foley Howard headshot
Lora Howard

Business lawyer | Dec 11

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Tom is a wonderful resource for any business person. He will both support you and challenge your assumptions to help you make the best decisions possible for your, unique, situation. Tom's work in various industries and with different corporate cultures makes him a true asset for any company. I endorse this lawyer."

Henry C Weatherby headshot
Henry Weatherby

Estate planning lawyer | Nov 24

Relationship: Other

"I have worked with Tom at the national level dealing with advanced estate planning methods, techniques and trends. I am truly impressed with the wealth of his knowledge and always look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with him. Tom is a thought leader at the national level and has worked to help lawyers across the country to learn about his enlightened approach to client issues."

Keith L Davis headshot
Keith Davis

Unknown lawyer | Nov 23

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Tom is easy going, insightful and able to identify practical solutions to client problems that many lawyers overlook. His interpersonal skills are superb when it comes to advocating for a client."

Stanley Dwight Miller headshot
Stanley Miller

Business lawyer | Nov 22

Relationship: Other

"I know Tom because I am in an attorney peer group with him. In this group, we are all open and transparent about what we are doing, financially and other ways. In this environment, you get to know what the person is really like because you really are behind the curtain so to speak. And seeing Tom in that context provides me the insight to say that he is, without question, a thought leader in the legal profession with a growing national reputation. I'm proud to have a relationship with him and proud to endorse him."

Shawn P. Eyestone headshot
Shawn Eyestone

Estate planning lawyer | Nov 17

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I know Tom through a national group of business and estate planning attorneys, and I learned a lot from him about his creative and client-centered approach to practicing law."

Nathan Wayne Nelson headshot
Nathan Nelson

Business lawyer | Feb 17

Relationship: Co-worker

"Tom focuses on creative solutions that generate a return for the client."

Robert Donald Estes headshot
Robert Estes

Business lawyer | Mar 30

Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"I have had Tom across the table from me. He is tough, but fair minded, very knowledgeable and intent on reaching an amicable solution in a difficult situation. I endorse this lawyer."

Ryan Donald Kaplan headshot
Ryan Kaplan

Business lawyer | Mar 22

Relationship: Worked for lawyer

"I endorse Tom Fafinski in the areas of Business and Commercial Law. He has a large wealth of experience in assisting clients with corporate formation, maximizing their corporate tax deductions and minimizing the partners/members/shareholders personal liability. Tom's corporate strategies for his clients are ground-breaking in both their execution and implementation. Being a business owner himself, he has first-hand knowledge of how to maximize tax savings and best structure a business to fit one's particular needs."

View All Endorsements
David G. Ledbetter headshot
David Ledbetter

Estate planning lawyer

David J. Williams headshot
David Williams

Estate planning lawyer

Daniel H. Serlin headshot
Daniel Serlin

Estate planning lawyer

Judith Urbania Linville headshot
Judith Linville

Estate planning lawyer

Richard Meyer Chamberlain headshot
Richard Chamberlain

Estate planning lawyer

John Paul Farrell headshot
John Farrell

Estate planning lawyer

Nelson Donovan headshot
Nelson Donovan

Estate planning lawyer

Justin Hamrick headshot
Justin Hamrick

Estate planning lawyer

Marc G. Garlett headshot
Marc Garlett

Estate planning lawyer

Manya Deva Natan headshot
Manya Natan

Estate planning lawyer

CL Huddleston III headshot
CL Huddleston

Estate planning lawyer

Michael Cory Howes headshot
Michael Howes

Estate planning lawyer

Thomas Arthur Hackett headshot
Thomas Hackett

Estate planning lawyer

Theodore C. Skokos Jr. headshot
Theodore Skokos

Estate planning lawyer

William Augustine Conway headshot
William Conway

Estate planning lawyer

Lorin Gabriel Page headshot
Lorin Page

Estate planning lawyer

Paulette Cline Mulligan headshot
Paulette Mulligan

Estate planning lawyer

Bernard John Toussaint headshot
Bernard Toussaint

Estate planning lawyer

Thomas M. Flannagan headshot
Thomas Flannagan

Estate planning lawyer

Experience

Rating:  9.8 (Superb)

Honors

2015

Very High Rating in Both Legal Ability & Ethical Standards, The American Registry

2004

Minnesota Super Lawyer, Minnesota Law & Politics Magazine

2003

Minnesota Super Lawyer, Minnesota Law & Politics Magazine

2002

Minnesota Super Lawyer, Minnesota Law & Politics Magazine

2001

Minnesota Super Lawyer, Minnesota Law & Politics Magazine

2000

Minnesota Law and Politics Magazine, Minnesota Super Lawyer

1999

Minnesota Super Lawyer, Minnesota Law & Politics Magazine

N/A

National Leadership Award, Business Advisory Council

Work Experience

2010 - Present

Attorney, Virtus Law

2014 - 2015

Instructor, Kaplan Professional School

2002 - 2010

Attorney, BenePartum Law Group PA

1991 - 2002

Attorney, Fafinski & Wallrich, P.A.

Associations

2015 - Present

Junior Achievement of the Upper Midwest

Board of Directors

2015 - Present

Dakota County Technical College

Advisory Board

2008 - Present

Allied Executives

Peer Group Director

Minnesota State Bar Association

Minnesota Real Estate Investor's Association

Manufacturer's Alliance

MN Multi Housing Association

Sample of Legal Cases

Darlson Manno Limited Partnership v. Diversified Capital Mortgage

Favorable

In re HARSTAD v. Egan & Sons

Affirmed

Rosemount, Inc. v. Blessi Evans, et. al.

Apex IT v. Rhema Bible College

See More Legal Cases

Education

N/A

William Mitchell College of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

N/A

College of St. Thomas

Speaking Engagements

2020

SECURE Act - Development Friday

SECURE Act

2020

Pandemic Planning for Financial Advisors

Pandemic Planning for Financial Advisors

2019

WealthCounsel Symposium

Power of Peer Groups

2018

Wealthcounsel symposium

Peer Groups for Law Firms

2015

WealthCounsel Symposium 2015 Mini-Metric Mastermind

2015

Navigate 2015 Keeping the Stars

2015

Minnesota Home Talk Estate Planning

2014

2014 Planning for the Generations Symposium

Business Essentials

2013

Cover Your Assets

Banking

2012

The Proper Use of Land Trust

The Proper Use of Land Trust

2012

New Age Estate Planning - A Holistic View

New Age Estate Planning - A Holistic View

2012

MNREIA December 2012 All Member Meeting

Government Regulation in Business

2011

Physician's Guide to Legal Planning

Physician's Guide to Legal Planning

2011

Independent's Day

Partnerships Using Other People's Money

2011

Advanced Planner's Monthly Meeting

Estate Planning for Real Estate Investors

2010

Planning Business Success on Purpose

Planning Business Success on Purpose

2010

Monthly investor meeting

Asset Protection and Estate Planning

2010

DCTC course

Real Estate Finance

2010

DCTC

Cashflow Analysis

2010

DCTC

Real Estate Law III

2007

Monthly RE investor meeting

Real Estate Q & A

2007

Allied Executive Quarterly Workshop

Asset Protection Planning for Privately Owned Businesses

2006

Monthly RE investor meeting

Real Estate Q & A

2006

2005

Monthly RE investor meeting

Real Estate Q & A

2005

MAR Monthly Workshop

Planning Business on Purpose

2003

Monthly RE investor meeting

Real Estate Q & A

1999

Landscaper's Seminar

Business Organizations

Publications

2012

Minnesota Business Magazine Avoid Surprise Estate Planning

2011

Dakota County Tribune Using your IRA to invest in Real Estate

2011

Dakota County Tribune Where the Current Economic Outlook and Legal Strategies Intersect.

2011

dakota county tribune Business 101: What if my new business partner is my old partner’s creditor, or worse, an ex-spouse?

2011

Languages

English

Activity

Avvo Rating

Our Rating is calculated using information the lawyer has included on their profile in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals. Attorneys who claim their profiles and provide Avvo with more information tend to have a higher rating than those who do not.

What determines Avvo Rating?
  • Experience & background Years licensed, work experience, education
  • Legal community recognition Peer endorsements, associations, awards
  • Legal thought leadership Publications, speaking engagements
  • Discipline Disciplinary information may not be comprehensive, or updated. We recommend that you always check a lawyer's disciplinary status with their respective state bar association before hiring them.
Avvo Rating Levels
10.0 - 9.0 Superb8.9 - 8.0 Excellent7.9 - 7.0 Very Good6.9 - 6.0 Good5.9 - 5.0 Average4.9 - 4.0 Concern3.9 - 3.0 Caution2.9 - 2.0 Strong Caution1.9 - 1.0 Extreme Caution