L. Rob Werner
Will attorney
L. Rob Werner is the founding attorney of The Werner Law Firm and is ranked as one of the most experienced lawyers in the state of California. He launched the Law Offices of L. Rob Werner in 1975 and has since built the company into an award-winning firm. Attorney L. Rob Werner has repeatedly been recognized for his quality service to his clients and to the community.
Some of the honors he has received include:
- Readers’ Choice Award for Best Attorney from the Los Angeles Daily News
- SCV Bar Association Attorney of the Year
- Voted “Best Of” Santa Clarita Valley by The Signal for eight consecutive years
- Awards for Best Bankruptcy, Civil, and Criminal Attorney by The Signal
He continually gives back to the community through participation in Rotary, Elks, and other organizations. Not only is he a member of the State Bar of California, but is also a life member of the Los Angeles Consumer Lawyers (Trial Lawyers) Association.
Education:
B.A., California State University Northridge (1972)
J.D., Southwestern School of Law (1975)
Other memberships he has held include:
- Los Angeles Bar Association
- San Fernando Bar Association
- American Arbitration Association
- Criminal Courts Bar Association
- Antelope Valley Bar Association
- Santa Clarita Valley Bar Association
Mark Swatik, Esq
Will attorney
Mark Swatik has earned the honorable distinction of Certified Legal Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate law under the State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization. He has also earned the Super Lawyers distinction and holds the highest possible AV Preeminent Rating in both Legal Ability and Ethical Standards with Martindale Hubbell. Additionally, Mr. Swatik has been voted both the Daily Breeze Readers’ Choice Awards: Best Living Trust Attorney and the Easy Reader Magazine’s Best of the Beach Awards: Best Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Attorney.
Mark Swatik is a Board Certified Legal Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate law under the State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization, which is a distinction held by less than 1% of California attorneys. Mr. Swatik was voted “Best Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Attorney” in the Easy Reader Magazine’s South Bay’s “Best of the Beach” awards two years running and was voted a Daily Breeze Readers’ Choice “South Bay’s Favorite Attorney” and then the Daily Breeze Readers’ Choice “South Bay’s Best Living Trust Attorney”. He was extremely honored to receive these recognitions from our community. Mark was also selected as a Super Lawyer in 2021.
Mr. Swatik practices in the area of Estate Planning, Revocable and Irrevocable Trusts, Probate, and Trust Administration. Mr. Swatik’s practice also includes advanced tax planning, Asset Protection, Special Needs planning, and Elder law, as well as civil litigation with an emphasis in Trust and Will contests, Personal Injury & Wrongful Death. Mr. Swatik also works with financial advisors and CPA’s to assist their clients in drafting complex irrevocable trusts, including Dynasty Trusts, Grantor Retained Trusts (GRATS/GRUTS), Intentionally Defective Grantor Trusts (IDGTS), Qualified Personal Residence Trusts (QPRTS), Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (ILITS), Family Limited Partnership Trusts (FLPS), Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts (SLATS), and Charitable Remainder/Lead Trusts (CRATS/CRUTS/CLATS).
Kern Singh
Will attorney
Kern Singh is a Founding Partner & President of the Singh Law Firm, and has served as trusted counsel to his clients for over a decade. He is recognized as Northern California’s premier and most-sought after Estate Planning Attorney. Mr. Singh is also renowned as the preeminent attorney for Advanced Estate Planning, specializing in Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) Issues, Start-Ups, Estate Taxes, IPOs, and Liquid Events all within the Estate Planning wheel-house.
Mr. Singh began his career under Vice President Kamala Harris at the San Francisco County District Attorney’s Office before transitioning to private practice. At the District Attorney’s Office, Mr. Singh honed his lawyering skills which made a seamless transition to being a private practitioner.
Mr. Singh has been named “Super Lawyer Rising Star,” by SuperLawyers (a distinction awarded only to the top 2.5% of Attorneys in the country), and is a noted “Superb Attorney” with a 10/10 rating on Avvo. Mr. Singh is the industry leader in Estate Planning, and has prided himself on being the best for his clients.
Outside of the office, Mr. Singh devotes his time and attention to his wife, his two lovely daughters, and his dogs. Mr. Singh and his family are avid tennis players, skiers, and sailors. As a family, they also have a keen interest in equestrian sports and are sure to take a yearly trip to Disneyland amongst their other adventures.
Mr. Singh holds a dual Bachelor’s of Science in Political Science and Criminology from UC Irvine and a Juris Doctorate from Monterey College of the Law.
Michael J. Patinelli
Will attorney
Prior to joining Patinelli & Chang, LLP, Michael was the seminar presenter at one of the largest estate planning law firms in Southern California. Mr. Patinelli joined the California State Bar in 1992 and spent the early years of his legal career working with some of the most talented litigators in Los Angeles. He later transitioned to the more family-oriented practice of estate planning after the birth of his beautiful daughter.
Mr. Patinelli received his Bachelor’s Degree in History from Loyola Marymount University and his Juris Doctorate Degree from Loyola Law School. He was born and raised in Hollywood, where he still resides with his beautiful wife and daughter. Michael is quite a food connoisseur and dinner table conversationalist and as a Southern California native is an avid fan of the Dodgers, Lakers, Rams and Kings.
Justin Shiau
Will attorney
Justin is a Chicago native and obtained his B.A. in English from the University of Chicago. After college, Justin attended USC Law School, graduating with high honors in 2003. He has been a California licensed attorney for over 20 years and is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law.
Justin founded Athlon Legal, APC in 2010 with the goal of bringing high quality, yet accessible, legal services to the public. His practice focuses practice on estate planning, probate administration and trust administration.
Estate planning can seem intimidating and confusing at times. But Justin is committed to making the process as clear, simple and efficient. Justin designs plans which are individually customized for each client’s personal situation. He believes in building long-lasting relationships with his clients and takes the time to truly understand his client’s concerns and goals during the planning process. Justin feels truly honored when a client chooses him to help protect his clients’ family and financial future.
By constantly educating and challenging himself to stay on the cutting edge of planning techniques, Justin is able to provide superior value and service to his clients. He is committed to the highest standards of practice excellence and is a member of WealthCounsel, a national organization of estate planning attorneys.
Actively involved in his local community, Justin has served on the board of the Financial Planning Association of San Gabriel Valley, the Taiwanese American Lawyers Association and Project by Project, Inc., a nonprofit focused on leadership development. He is also a member of the Pasadena Bar Association, the Asian Pacific American Bar Association, the Monrovia Chamber of Commerce, the Asian Pacific CPA Association, and the Alhambra Chamber of Commerce. In the past, he has served on the scholarship committee of the USC Asian Pacific American Alumni Association.
Justin has also volunteered his legal expertise by providing estate planning seminars to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Habitat for Humanity, the Asian Pacific CPA Association and the Glendale Library, Arts & Culture Trust.
During his personal time, Justin enjoys hiking, playing golf with his wonderful wife Stephanie, and spending time with their baby daughter.
Natasha L. Carroll-Ferrary
Will attorney
After graduating law school, Natasha L. Carroll-Ferrary worked as a federal law clerk to the Honorable Robert C. Chambers of the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of West Virginia.
She became a licensed California attorney in 2008, starting her career as a litigation attorney. In 2018, Natasha transitioned to Estate Planning, Trust Administration, and Probate. She opened the Los Angeles office of a Northern California-based law firm.
Natasha is passionate about helping families think through some of the most complicated issues relating to incapacity and death, and helping people navigate the legal system while grieving.
Natasha grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area, went to the University of California, Berkeley (Go Bears!), and has lived in Los Angeles since 2008. She spends her free time running, reading, and hanging out with her husband Adam and two kids, Jason and Ryan.
Shawn S. Kerendian
Will attorney
Shawn S. Kerendian is the founder and Managing Partner of Keystone Law Group, P.C., and is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law (State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization). Shawn founded Keystone to provide clients with specialized, focused and efficient legal services in probate, trust and estate matters. Shawn supervises and manages a team of probate attorneys in the administration and litigation of estates, trusts, conservatorships, and guardianships.
As an experienced litigator with over 15 years of experience in this practice area, Shawn helps clients resolve contested litigation through creative thinking and the implementation of short-term and long-term strategies to accomplish a client’s goals within the client’s budget. Shawn and his firm has litigated thousands of probate disputes, including heirship claims, community/separate property issues, property ownership disputes (850 petitions), breach of trust and other fiduciary misconduct claims, financial elder abuse claims, will contests, trust contests, Marvin actions, creditor’s claims, equitable adoption claims, breach of contracts to make a will, interpretation and construction disputes, etc.
Shawn is comfortable handling all stages of litigation, from the development of case strategy at the inception of the case through settlement or trial. Shawn represents professional fiduciaries, trustees, beneficiaries, heirs, executors, administrators, creditors, corporations, non-profit organizations, conservators and guardians.
Will attorney los angeles responsibility
- Drafting Wills and Trusts: They help clients create legally valid wills, which outline how assets are distributed, appoint executors to manage the estate, and designate guardians for minor children. They also create trusts, which can manage assets during a lifetime and distribute them to beneficiaries without probate.
- Estate Planning: This involves a broader approach to asset protection and wealth transfer, including minimizing estate and inheritance taxes. Estate planning attorneys understand California’s specific laws and regulations to create tailored plans.
- Probate Guidance: If a will or trust requires court oversight (probate), the attorney assists the executor or administrator in navigating the process. This includes filing the will, managing creditor claims, distributing assets, and closing the estate.
- Trust Administration Guidance: For trusts, the attorney helps trustees manage and distribute assets according to the trust’s terms.
- Asset Protection: They advise clients on strategies to protect assets from creditors and other legal threats.
- Updating and Reviewing Estate Plans: They review existing estate plans, making necessary changes after major life events (marriage, divorce, etc.).
- Resolving Disputes: In cases of contested wills or trusts, the attorney can represent clients and work to resolve disputes through mediation or court action.
- Legal Expertise: They must have a deep understanding of California estate laws and relevant tax laws.
- Ethical Obligations: Attorneys owe a duty of loyalty and confidentiality to their clients. They must also be competent and diligent in their work.
- Client Communication: Attorneys are responsible for clearly communicating with their clients, defining the scope of their services, and obtaining informed consent when necessary.
- Avoiding Conflicts of Interest: They must be careful to avoid situations where their representation could benefit one client to the detriment of another.
- Capacity Assessment: Attorneys must be able to assess a client’s mental capacity when preparing estate planning documents.