David Lawrence Gibbs

Mr. David L. Gibbs has served as a Senior Estate Planning, Real Estate, Bankruptcy, and Business Partner at The Gibbs Law Firm, APC since 1993. In 2013, with the retirement of his father Gerald R. Gibbs, he stepped into the role of Senior Partner. Also in 2013, Mr. Gibbs accepted an appointment to the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys (AAEPA) which is an exclusive, national organization of Estate Planning attorneys committed to a level of service and quality of work product that is rare in small firms. Mr. Gibbs was one of only two AAEPA appointed attorneys in Orange County, and one of only 26 AAEPA appointed attorneys in California. Through his previous appointment to the Academy, and his current membership in several national organizations, Mr. Gibbs demonstrates a substantial commitment to the practice of Estate Planning law. The firm's alignment with these national organizations gives the firm big-firm, national resources while retaining the personal, hands-on approach cultivated over the past 50 years. Mr. Gibbs' practice involves all aspects of Estate Planning, Trust Administration, and Business Succession Planning. Mr. Gibbs' focus in Estate Planning is the development of a life-long, proactive approach to protecting client's wealth, and preserving their Legacy through his unique Legacy approach.

In his Real Estate Transactional practice, Mr. Gibbs represents buyers and sellers of commercial and residential income real estate. In this role, he is often responsible for financial feasibility analysis, negotiations, contract preparation, due diligence, and pre-and-post-acquisition disputes.

In his bankruptcy and business practice, Mr. Gibbs represents individuals in insolvency proceedings in the United States Bankruptcy Court. Mr. Gibbs also works regularly with individuals and businesses in out-of-court resolution of their debts.

Mr. Gibbs has, in addition to his role as the Senior Partner at The Gibbs Law Firm, APC, previously founded and operated several small businesses. As the former CEO of Homes of the West, LLC, a company Mr. Gibbs founded, he occupied a leadership role involved in establishing, launching, and operating a start-up Manufactured and Modular Home Sales and Development Company.

Mr. Gibbs oversaw all aspects of manufactured/modular home sales, real estate brokerage, and general contracting; including legal issues, financial analysis, contract negotiations, construction management, marketing, human resources, and customer service. As the former CEO, Mr. Gibbs represented nonprofit developers in new home development with factory-constructed housing, including single-lot developments as well as community development. Mr. Gibbs provided ongoing leadership and direction to a team of employees/agents and external sub-contractors and vendors. In the course of operating this business, Mr. Gibbs maintained a class “B” general contractor's license and a manufactured home dealer's license (the Manufactured Home Dealer's License has been retired). Mr. Gibbs still maintains his Contractor's & California Real Estate Broker's license and is an active member in the Pacific West Association of Realtors®. Homes of the West, L.L.C. was dissolved in 2009.

Prior to starting Home of the West, L.L.C., Mr. Gibbs started his first entrepreneurial venture – Pacific Housing Group, Inc. – in 1998. Pacific Housing Group, Inc. was started and operated as an independent Real Estate Brokerage and Consulting Firm. In his leadership role, Mr. Gibbs represented buyers, sellers, and developers in all aspects of real estate acquisition and development including title issues; hands-on management of all aspects of real estate brokerage, including direct responsibility for 75-100% annual growth for three years straight, balancing rapidly changing day-to-day needs of a small business, including operations, marketing, contract negotiations and enforcement, and management of 10 employees/agents; representation of nonprofit developers in subdivision and sales of subdivided units; representation of community associations in both management and consultative roles; ensuring compliance with DRE and other regulatory agency regulations and standards. After successfully growing the firm, Mr. Gibbs sold his interest to focus on his legal practice.

In his work as an Estate Planning, Real Estate, Bankruptcy, and Business attorney, Mr. Gibbs' experience with the start-up, management, and sale of multiple businesses gives him unique insight into the workings of small businesses and real estate transactions. Unlike many attorneys with no “real world” experience, Mr. Gibbs is uniquely qualified to represent clients in a wide range of Estate Planning, Real Estate, Bankruptcy, and Business matters.

Practice Areas

• Estate Planning
• Real Estate
• Bankruptcy
• Business Law

Memberships

• National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys
• Orange County Bankruptcy Forum
• Inland Empire Bankruptcy Forum
• Pacific West Association of Realtors®

Education

California Western School of Law, JD

• San Diego, CA
• San Diego City Attorney Internship,
• Multiple Academic Achievement Awards
• 1990-1993

Loyola Marymount University

• Los Angeles, CA
• Bachelor of Arts, Political Science
• 1986-1990