Gary Michael Stern

Gary M. Stern is Chairman of the firm's Business Transaction and Taxation Department with a practice emphasis on business transactions, taxation and estate planning.  In particular, Mr. Stern has extensive expertise in buying, selling and joint venturing of businesses, creating opportunities through domestic and foreign distribution and licensing relationships, structuring executive compensation programs, designing family business and real estate succession plans, income tax planning for businesses and real estate investors, and designing and implementing sophisticated estate planning documentation and techniques. His focus is always on creatively maximizing after-tax value, successfully completing the transaction or plan, and protecting the client against future surprises. 

In addition, Mr. Stern has considerable hands-on accounting and business experience, having passed the CPA examination in 1973, and served as head of the family office of the direct descendant of the founder of a 140-year old NYSE company, Chief Executive Officer of a real estate subsidiary of a Savings and Loan Association, and Chief Executive Officer of a national distribution and publishing company. 

In 2006, 2007 and again for 2011, Mr. Stern has been named to the Southern California Super Lawyers list, a designation bestowed on only the top 5% of lawyers in this region.