$ 255-435 per hour
also known as Tom Fafinski
Thomas M. Fafinski is co-founder of Virtus Law PLLC, a 7 attorney firm in Minnesota which simulates a general counsel’s office for hundreds of privately-held technology businesses and moderate to high wealth estate planning. He graduated 13thin his class at William Mitchell College of Law, cum laude, in January of 1991 and is also a cum laude graduate of the College of St. Thomas where he secured a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Finance.
Tom founded Fafinski & Wallrich, PA, which grew to a medium sized law firm of 10 attorneys. When approached for a second time to merge practices with a large downtown law firm, Fafinski’s group remained independent. Eventually, this group was purchased by an investor attorney from a large law firm and he continued as an employee for roughly 5 years. Tom had the opportunity to start Virtus Law PLLC with his partner, Nathan Nelson, in 2010. While practicing under 3 banners over 24 years, Fafinski has continually served those with an interest in privately-held businesses and real estate investors in a general counsel capacity.
Tom has been an adjunct faculty role of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities teaching business law and real estate issues. Tom has also been featured in roughly one dozen continuing education courses directed toward estate planning for real estate investors sponsored and promoted by Kaplan. Tom has been featured in roughly 30 hours of continuing legal education courses on a national estate planning stage. He is involved in local round table business leader peer group and orchestrates several national estate and trust law firm think tank groups. He has been published or featured in William Mitchell College of Law Magazine, Dakota County Tribune, StarTribune and various association newsletters and has been a guest speaker for several local radio programs.
Tom is also real estate investor, although not involved in daily operations [his spouse is]. Tom he is active with the investment decisions associated with his real estate portfolio.
He is admitted in State and Federal Court for Minnesota. Tom enjoys spending time with his family, learning, reading, Mustangs of the ‘60s, all kinds of sports and is a die-hard Bruce Springsteen fan.
$ 255-435 per hour
Always
Quickly connect with top attorneys through our legal directory to get help with your legal issue.
Chat with a live agent who can match you with the right attorney for your legal needs.
Chat withState: Minnesota
Acquired: 1991
No misconduct found
7040 Lakeland Av N, Suite 100, Virtus Professional Center, Brooklyn Park, MN, 55428
600 Main Street S, Suite 120, Cambridge, MN, 55008
2785 White Bear Avenue N, Suite 101, Maplewood, MN, 55109
4916 Lincoln Dr, Edina, MN, 55436
1171 Northland Drive, Mendota Heights, MN, 55120
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,...
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...
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...
"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."
"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."
"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!"
"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 !!"
"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."
"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"
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
"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."
Estate planning lawyer
Estate planning lawyer
Estate planning lawyer
Estate planning lawyer
Estate planning lawyer
Estate planning lawyer
Estate planning lawyer
Estate planning lawyer
Estate planning lawyer
Estate planning lawyer
Estate planning lawyer
Estate planning lawyer
Estate planning lawyer
Estate planning lawyer
Trusts lawyer
Estate planning lawyer
Estate planning lawyer
Estate planning lawyer
Estate planning lawyer
Estate planning lawyer
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
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.
2015 - Present
Junior Achievement of the Upper MidwestBoard of Directors
2015 - Present
Dakota County Technical CollegeAdvisory Board
2008 - Present
Allied ExecutivesPeer Group Director
Favorable
Affirmed
N/A
JD - Juris Doctor
N/A
2020
SECURE Act
2020
Pandemic Planning for Financial Advisors
2019
Power of Peer Groups
2018
Peer Groups for Law Firms
2015
2015
2015
2014
Business Essentials
2013
Banking
2012
The Proper Use of Land Trust
2012
New Age Estate Planning - A Holistic View
2012
Government Regulation in Business
2011
Physician's Guide to Legal Planning
2011
Partnerships Using Other People's Money
2011
Estate Planning for Real Estate Investors
2010
Planning Business Success on Purpose
2010
Asset Protection and Estate Planning
2010
Real Estate Finance
2010
Cashflow Analysis
2010
Real Estate Law III
2007
Real Estate Q & A
2007
Asset Protection Planning for Privately Owned Businesses
2006
Real Estate Q & A
2006
2005
Real Estate Q & A
2005
Planning Business on Purpose
2003
Real Estate Q & A
1999
Business Organizations
2012
2011
2011
2011
2011
2011
2011
English
Legal Answers
I own my car and the previous owner wants it back saying that I owe him money. can he take it?
09 Mar 2014
I'm unintentionally involved in money laundering. How can I prove my innocence?
22 Feb 2014
I am a licensed nail technician MN renting a space in a hair salon. Do I need to set up a business & pay sales tax separate.
24 Feb 2014