Partner Attorney

Practice Areas

• Estate Planning - Wills and Trusts

• Tax Reduction Planning

• Trust Administration & Probate

• Asset Protection Planning

• Prop13 Planning

• Real Estate Transactions

• Family Entity Formation & Restructuring

James “Jake” Walker is a California State Bar Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Law who is regularly engaged in estate and tax planning. A San Francisco native, he has practiced law in Marin County for over 45 years. Mr. Walker was admitted to the California Bar and the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California in 1976. He was admitted to practice before the U.S. Tax Court in 1980.

Jake has a masters degree in taxation. He was awarded an AV rating, the highest possible, for skill and ethics, by Martindale-Hubbell, Inc.  Jake was named as a Super Lawyer of Northern California by Law & Politics Magazine. Only five percent of the lawyers in the state are named as Super Lawyers, the selection is made after a rigorous multi-phase selection process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, independent evaluation of candidates by Law & Politics’ attorney-led research staff, a peer review of candidates by practice area, and a good-standing and disciplinary check. 

Jake advises individuals and families regarding estate planning, including wills & trusts; post death trust transfers and administration; probate; estate and gift tax strategies; real estate taxes; liability protection planning; philanthropic & charitable giving arrangements; income tax strategies; real estate sales and financing transactions; family-owned real estate and business entity formation, restructuring and multi-generational planning; partnerships, LLC’s and corporations; and other business, contract & transactional matters.

Certifications

• Certified Specialist, Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law

• State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization 

  The reasons for and the significance of the designation are explained below, adapted from the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization brochure: What Can a Certified Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law Specialist Do for You?: 
  
  What does it mean when an attorney is a Certified Specialist? 
  
  A Certified Specialist is more than just an attorney who specializes in a particular area of law. An attorney who is certified by the California State Bar as an Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law Specialist must have: 
  
  • Taken and passed a comprehensive full-day written examination in estate planning, trust, and probate law administered by the State Bar Board of Legal Specialization;
  • Demonstrated a high level of expertise and requisite number of years of experience in estate planning, trust, and probate law;
  • Fulfilled mandated ongoing education requirements in estate planning, trust, and probate law;
  • Been favorably evaluated by other attorneys and judges familiar with his or her estate planning, trust, and probate work.
  
  
  Why does the State Bar certify legal specialists? 
  
  • To help the public identify attorneys who have demonstrated proficiency in specialized fields of law;
  • To encourage the maintenance and improvement of attorney competence in specialized fields of law.
  
  
  Estate planning, trust, and probate law is complex and constantly changing - a Certified Specialist stays current with the law. 
  
  What can a certified Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law Specialist do for you? 
  
  • Create and implement your estate plan by preparing wills and trusts;
  • Minimize death, gift, and income taxes in connection with your estate plan;
  • Assist with probate, trust, conservatorship, and guardianship proceedings and disputes.