Epstein Holtzapple Christo LLP

What Epstein Holtzapple Christo LLP does

Epstein Holtzapple Christo LLP is a boutique litigation and estate-planning law firm headquartered at 1305 Grant Ave., Suite 200, Novato, California, with a complementary mailing address in San Rafael, Marin County. Founded in 2012 as Epstein Law Firm by Robert F. Epstein, the firm has restructured twice — first as Epstein + Holtzapple in 2019 with the addition of Robert C. Holtzapple, then as Epstein Holtzapple Christo LLP in 2021 when Robyn B. Christo joined as a named partner. The current name reflects the firm's three-partner origin and has remained stable through additional leadership hires in 2024, including the addition of Lisa A. Poncia as Partner and Elizabeth Frohlich as Counsel.

The firm delivers a unified portfolio of legal services centered on trust, estate, and fiduciary litigation, with five core practice areas: Trust, Estate, and Fiduciary Litigation (its flagship service, with 30+ years of experience); Trust Administration and Probate; General Civil Litigation; Estate Planning (wills, trusts, powers of attorney, advance healthcare directives); and Protective Proceedings (conservatorships, guardianships, restraining orders, elder-abuse remedies). Its primary customer segments are high-net-worth individuals and families involved in fiduciary disputes, plus enterprises such as Fetzer Vineyards (trademark defense) and Deutsche Bank National Trust Company (national coordinating counsel). Matters handled range from $100,000 to more than $1 billion in estate or company value, and the firm cites landmark outcomes including the largest civil jury verdict ever recorded by a Marin County jury at the time of issuance (nearly $10M including punitive damages). Service is delivered entirely through direct attorney engagement in California state and federal courts; pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed.

The business model is a partner-led LLP with referral-driven client acquisition. Marketing channels are limited to Chambers and Partners and Super Lawyers directory listings, plus client referrals and community involvement; the firm operates without disclosed external investors, subsidiaries, or public-market listing. Ownership and control rest entirely with the named partners and Of Counsel attorneys, supported by a small staff of associates, paralegals, and an office manager. Recognition includes a Tier 1 Best Lawyers/U.S. News ranking for Commercial Litigation (San Francisco, 2023) and Benchmark Litigation "Litigation Star" designations for California (2011 and 2019).

Name

Epstein Holtzapple Christo LLP

Legal name

Epstein Holtzapple Christo LLP

Website

https://ehc.law

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Epstein Holtzapple Christo LLP is a 10-employee Marin County boutique law firm handling trust, estate, and fiduciary litigation, probate, general civil litigation, estate planning, and protective proceedings for high-net-worth individuals, families, and institutional clients throughout California, with matter values ranging from $100,000 to over $1 billion.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Services — Trust, Estate, and Probate Litigation

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (541110), Legal Services (5411)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Private Client (Trusts & Estates) Law (BPAHAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Guardianship, Conservatorship & Special Needs Trust Services (FSAEAKAG), Litigation & Dispute Valuation (damages, shareholder disputes) (FSAEAHAI)

Keywords

• Trust and estate litigation
• Probate administration
• Estate planning services
• Civil business litigation
• Conservatorship and guardianship

Headquarters

HQ city

Novato

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Epstein Holtzapple Christo LLP is a boutique California law firm delivering specialized legal services in trust, estate, and fiduciary litigation, trust administration and probate, general civil litigation, estate planning, and protective proceedings (conservatorships, guardianships, and restraining orders). The firm represents individuals, families, and companies — with matters involving estates and companies valued from $100,000 to more than $1 billion — in state and federal courts throughout California.

Product overview

Epstein Holtzapple Christo LLP is a law firm offering a unified portfolio of legal services centered on trust, estate, and civil litigation. The core service lines include Trust, Estate, and Fiduciary Litigation; Trust Administration and Probate; General Civil Litigation; Estate Planning; and Protective Proceedings. These services are delivered as integrated legal practice areas, with attorneys collaborating across matters to provide comprehensive representation in high-stakes disputes and estate administration throughout California.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Trust, Estate, and Fiduciary Litigation Legal representation in trust, estate, and fiduciary disputes, including will contests and trust contests, handled across California for over 30 years for individuals, families, trustees, executors, and beneficiaries.
• Trust Administration and Probate Guidance through trust administration and probate complexities including asset distribution, tax planning, and navigating court proceedings, serving individuals and families during estate settlement.
• General Civil Litigation Civil dispute representation with courtroom advocacy, serving companies and individuals in business disputes, including commercial litigation, corporate divorces, shareholder claims, trade secret theft, and trademark infringement.
• Estate Planning Design of wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance healthcare directives tailored to client wishes and estate complexity, serving individuals and families seeking comprehensive estate planning services.
• Protective Proceedings Legal proceedings including conservatorships for incapacitated adults, guardianships for minors, and restraining orders to address financial elder abuse, domestic violence, and other threats to vulnerable adults and children.

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Steptoe & Johnson PLLC: Full-service firm with notable private client and fiduciary litigation capabilities. Comparable to EHC on contested estate matters for high-net-worth individuals and trusts.
• Holland & Knight: Large national firm with a substantial private wealth services and trust/estate litigation group. Overlaps with EHC's probate and fiduciary work while offering broader corporate and tax resources.
• McDermott Will & Emery: Global law firm with a leading private client and trusts practice. Comparable to EHC on estate planning, trust contests, and probate disputes, with broader transactional scale.
• Thompson Hine: Full-service firm with a dedicated private wealth and estate planning practice. Comparable to EHC for trust administration, probate, and estate litigation work.
• Venable LLP: National firm with a private client and trusts practice handling estate administration and litigation. Comparable to EHC on fiduciary disputes and probate representation.
• Proskauer Rose: National firm with a strong private client and trust & estate litigation practice. Comparable to EHC on contested probate and fiduciary matters for HNW and family-office clients.

Direct peers

• Withers Bergman: International law firm widely recognized for private client, trusts, and estates litigation. Highly comparable to EHC given overlapping trust, estate, and fiduciary litigation focus serving HNW individuals and family offices.
• Foster Garvey: West Coast-focused firm with a prominent trusts and estates practice serving HNW clients. Comparable to EHC for estate planning, trust contests, and probate litigation in the Pacific region.
• Loeb & Loeb: Full-service firm with one of the most prominent private client and trusts & estates practices in the U.S. Comparable to EHC for high-stakes trust contests, estate administration, and fiduciary disputes for HNW clients.
• Day Pitney: East Coast-based firm known for its trusts and estates practice serving HNW families. Direct peer given comparable boutique-like focus on estate planning, trust administration, and fiduciary litigation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/epholtzlaw

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Epstein Holtzapple Christo LLP