Mark R. Gilfix

Mark R. Gilfix

4.9
Rating: 8.5

Licensed for 12 years

Estate planning Lawyer at Palo Alto, CA
Practice Areas: Estate Planning, Trusts, Business

2479 E. Bayshore Rd. Ste 220, Palo Alto, CA

About Mark

Biography

Practice Areas

3

Practice Areas

Estate Planning 80%

Estate and tax planning. Special Needs planning. Trusts, wills, and related document expertise. Related business law.

13 years | 400 cases

80%
Trusts 15%

Special Needs Trusts, Dynasty Trusts, Living Trusts and other structures relevant to each client's situation.

13 years | 200 cases

15%
Business 5%

Strategic Business and Tax Advice.

12 years | 40 cases

5%

Fees and Rates

We have not found any cost information for this lawyer


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Licenses

Licensed in California for 12 years

State: California

Acquired: 2013

Active

No misconduct found

Location

Gilfix & La Poll Associates

2479 E. Bayshore Rd. Ste 220, Palo Alto, CA, 94303

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Mark R. Gilfix's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.9 /5.0

7 Client Reviews

5 star (6) 4 star (1)
3 star (0)
2 star (0)
1 star (0)

Posted by Ed | October 8, 2022 | Consulted Attorney

This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.

The Best

Mark And Mike Gilfix Are The Best We would like to share a few words of praise about our recent meeting with Gilfix & La Poll Associates. Our adult family had a recent zoom meeting with Mark to discuss estate plans, trusts, and special needs trusts. Mark’s knowledge, expertise, experience, ...friendly manner & attentiveness regarding each & every one of our concerns provided the safety net we were searching for. Mark can be depended on to truly connect, communicate & facilitate plans with his clients. Now, for one example, money left for our special needs child is protected. Of tremendous continuing value has been his recent book, SPECIAL NEEDS TRUST, CREATION AND MANAGEMENT GLUIDE, by Mark & Mike. We are confident that with Mark & the resources he manages we have developed plans that respects and honors our wishes. Ed

Posted by anonymous | January 23, 2018 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Relatable, Professional

I've had a great experience over the past three years with Mark and his team at Gilfix & La Poll Associates, and have no doubt that I will continue to use his services in the years to come. He has helped me countless times to fluidly navigate what otherwise would have been a tangle of legal jargon ...and details. He's an exceptional listener and problem solver, and has a knack for simplifying the convoluted. I have recommended family and two friends to their firm already.

Posted by anonymous | August 7, 2017 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Personable, Engaging, Intelligent, and Effective

Mark is the lawyer you wish for. He is an excellent listener, he understands things quickly, and he knows how to efficiently, and effectively put a course of action into place. He is also easy to spend time with because he is so personable and friendly. I have gone to Mark multiple times with my l...egal questions, and he is always able to answer in a way that makes sense. In other words, he speaks in plain English! I love it. I always walk away feeling as though my issues have been mindfully and completely addressed. I have full confidence in Mark and the entire team at Gilfix & La Poll Associates. It is Easy to recommend Mark and his entire firm. In fact, I have already referred many friends to them.

Posted by Bill | July 25, 2016 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Questions about our Gilfix trust

I am a client of Mark's. He listened carefully to my questions about the powers of the trustees and beneficiaries in our living trust. He explained the relevant complex provisions with great clarity.

Posted by anonymous | April 5, 2016 | Consulted Attorney

This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.

Medi-Cal Assets Limit and a Special Needs Trust

I had the pleasure of consulting with Mr. Mark Gilfix about my compliance with Medi-Cal assets limit and possibility of establishing a Special Needs Trust. Mark clearly advised me that my overseas assets would count towards Medi-Cal assets limit. He gave detailed information about engaging him or a...nother attorney at his firm, Gilfix & La Poll Associates, for establishing a Special Needs Trust. He thoroughly outlined the process. He was compassionate about my disability and showed a personal interest. At present, I have chosen not to undertake establishing a Special Needs Trust. If I choose to pursue it, Mr. Mark Gilfix would be my top choice. From my interaction with him, I see him as an excellent professional who cares for the clients. He has an interest in helping clients to the best of his ability.

See All Client Reviews

Mark R. Gilfix's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Mark
Ori Samuel Blumenfeld headshot
Ori Blumenfeld

Estate planning lawyer | Sep 01

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Mark is everything a lawyer should be both as an advocate and as a friend. he is thoughtful, a great listener, articulate, analytically spot-on, and a fantastic advocate. I highly recommend him for any of my estate planning needs for my clients."

Alec Reuven Borenstein headshot
Alec Borenstein

Estate planning lawyer | Jul 27

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Mark understands that estate planning is more than putting together documents for his clients. His hands-on approach to estate planning makes him unique and I highly endorse him."

Tiffany Renee Tucker headshot
Tiffany Tucker

Estate planning lawyer | Jul 20

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Mr. Gilfix is a knowledgeable attorney in the area of estate planning and is a strong advocate for his clients. I highly recommend him for any estate planning services or trust settlement and administration matters."

Steven L. Lundberg headshot
Steven Lundberg

Estate planning lawyer | Jun 10

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Mark is an exceptionally bright attorney. Every encounter I have had with him, he has always been professional, courteous, and approachable. Mark has a wealth of knowledge in estate planning and especially special needs planning. I endorse this lawyer."

Thomas Daniel Johns headshot
Thomas Johns

Estate planning lawyer | Jun 10

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I have worked with Mark on several matters. He is very sharp, courteous, and easy to work with. I endorse this lawyer."

View All Endorsements
Ori Samuel Blumenfeld headshot
Ori Blumenfeld

Chapter 11 bankruptcy lawyer

Andrew Gregory Morrison headshot
Andrew Morrison

Estate planning lawyer

Alec Reuven Borenstein headshot
Alec Borenstein

Estate planning lawyer

Tiffany Renee Tucker headshot
Tiffany Tucker

Estate planning lawyer

Thomas Daniel Johns headshot
Thomas Johns

Estate planning lawyer

Steven L. Lundberg headshot
Steven Lundberg

Estate planning lawyer

Melissa Shoshana Lewkowicz headshot
Melissa Lewkowicz

Criminal defense lawyer

Experience

Rating:  8.5 (Excellent)

Honors

2013

Order of the Coif, Loyola Law School

2013

Commencement Speaker, Loyola Law School Class of 2013

Work Experience

2013 - Present

Attorney, Gilfix & La Poll Associates

2012 - 2013

Consultant, Workshop Facilitator, Ferrazzi Greenlight Consulting

2010 - 2012

Consultant, Independent Management Consultant

2007 - 2013

Professional Actor, Screen Actors Guild

2002 - 2009

Management Consultant, Monitor Group (now Deloitte Consulting)

Associations

2018 - Present

Pacific Autism Center for Education

Board Member

2017 - Present

Sprouts Cooking Club (Nonprofit)

Advisory Board

2014 - Present

Bay Area Housing Corporation

Advisory Board Member

Education

2013

Loyola Law School

JD - Juris Doctor

2001

Stanford Univ

BS - Bachelor of Science

Speaking Engagements

2016

Stanford Monthly Caregiver Series The Critical Pieces of an Estate Plan

2016

Stanford Monthly Caregiver Seminar Protecting Family Assets in the Face of Long Term Care

2016

Parent / Professional Workshops The ABLE Act and Special Needs Trusts

2016

Monthly Caregiver Series Guardianships, and How to Avoid Them

2016

2015

KTVU Fox 2 TV Show "Bay Area People" How Parents Can Protect Special Needs Children

2015

11th Annual Special Needs Trust Seminar Special Needs Trusts

2015

"Art of Caregiving" 2015 Annual Conference Creating Your Legal Safety Net

2014

2014

Peace of Mind Seminar

Your Digital Estate

2014

Morgan Autism Center 13th Annual Conference Ensuring Safe Housing for Special Needs Adult Child

Publications

Languages

English

Avvo Rating

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  • Experience & background Years licensed, work experience, education
  • Legal community recognition Peer endorsements, associations, awards
  • Legal thought leadership Publications, speaking engagements
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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