Schwartz & Shapiro

What Schwartz & Shapiro does

Schwartz & Shapiro is a boutique estate planning law firm headquartered at 11400 West Olympic Boulevard in Los Angeles, California. Founded by partners David P. Schwartz and Samuel D. Shapiro, the firm operates as an LLP/LLC and currently consists of three partners, with Kevin Harrington joining in 2016 and being named partner in 2022. All three partners hold the Certified Specialist designation in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law from the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization, and the firm is recognized in Southern California Super Lawyers (continuously since 2012 for Schwartz, with earlier Rising Stars recognition for Shapiro and Schwartz dating to 2005).

The firm practices exclusively in estate planning, post-death probate and trust administration, trust and probate disputes, and business transactional work. Service offerings span three core areas: Estate Planning (revocable living trusts, wills, advance health care directives, HIPAA authorizations, durable powers of attorney, ILITs, Dynasty Trusts, Special Needs Trusts, and Charitable Lead/Remainder Trusts), Trust Administration and Probate (estate tax return preparation, trustee fiduciary counsel, beneficiary distributions, and court filings), and Business Transactions (corporation/LLC/partnership setup, relationship documentation, and tax-efficient transfer of business interests). The firm uses no proprietary technology, software platforms, or AI tooling; service delivery is manual legal advisory work.

The business model is professional services billing on a per-matter basis, with no publicly disclosed pricing. Go-to-market is sales-led, driven by client referrals and educational presentations to accountants, insurance and financial advisors, and other attorneys, alongside active leadership in the Beverly Hills Estate Planning Council, Beverly Hills Bar Association, Los Angeles County Bar Association, and San Diego County Bar Association. The firm serves two primary segments: California families (individuals, couples, and HNW households with real property or closely held business interests) and closely held businesses needing succession and transfer planning. Geographic scope is regional, covering Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, and Riverside Counties within California.

Name

Schwartz & Shapiro

Legal name

Schwartz and Shapiro LLC

Website

https://schwartzandshapiro.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Schwartz & Shapiro is a three-partner boutique estate planning law firm in Los Angeles serving California families and closely held businesses with estate planning, trust administration, probate, and business transaction services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Estate Planning Legal Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (541110), Offices of Lawyers (54111), Legal Services (5411)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Estate planning services
• Trust administration
• Probate legal services
• Business transaction law
• Wealth transfer planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Legal Services - Estate Planning: Professional legal services for estate planning matters including revocable living trusts, wills, advance health care directives, durable powers of attorney, and various irrevocable trust structures for high-net-worth individuals and families.
2. Trust Administration and Probate Services: Legal counsel for trust administration and probate proceedings, including preparation of estate tax returns, trustee fiduciary duties, and court filings for disputes or clarification of decedent's intent.
3. Business Transaction Services: Legal counsel for business entity setup, documentation of business relationships, and tax-efficient transfers of business interests.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Schwartz and Shapiro LLC is a boutique estate planning law firm providing legal services exclusively in three practice areas: Estate Planning (revocable living trusts, wills, advance health care directives, HIPAA authorizations, durable powers of attorney, and specialized irrevocable trusts such as ILITs, Dynasty Trusts, Special Needs Trusts, and Charitable Trusts); Trust Administration and Probate (estate tax returns, trustee duties, court filings, and beneficiary distributions); and Business Transactions (entity formation, relationship documentation, and tax-efficient transfers of business interests). The firm serves California families and closely held businesses.

Product overview

Schwartz & Shapiro LLP is a boutique estate planning law firm providing legal services exclusively in estate planning, post-death probate and trust administration, trust and probate disputes, and business transactional work. The firm offers a comprehensive suite of legal services including Estate Planning (revocable living trusts, wills, advance healthcare directives), Trust Administration and Probate, and Business Transactions. Services also include specialized trust vehicles such as ILITs, Dynasty Trusts, SNTs, Charitable Trusts, GRATs, IDGTs, and family business structures (FLPs, FLLCs).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Estate Planning Comprehensive estate planning legal services for California families and individuals, including revocable living trusts, simple and pour-over wills, advance health care directives, HIPAA authorizations, durable powers of attorney, and specialized irrevocable trust vehicles such as ILITs, Dynasty Trusts, Special Needs Trusts, Charitable Lead and Remainder Trusts, GRATs, IDGTs, and family business structures (FLPs, FLLCs). Service focuses on eliminating uncertainty over asset administration and disposition, reducing estate taxes and expenses, and providing for minor children.
• Trust Administration and Probate Post-death trust administration and probate services for estates and trusts, including preparation of estate tax returns, trustee fiduciary counsel, setup of survivor trusts, asset identification and valuation, court proceedings for trust and probate disputes or clarification of decedent's intent, and beneficiary distributions.
• Business Transactions Legal counsel for closely held business owners covering entity setup (corporations, LLCs, partnerships), documentation of business relationships, and tax-efficient transfers of business interests to family members, co-founders, third parties, and charities.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Stubbs Alderton & Markiles LLP: California-based boutique law firm with a trusts and estates practice serving HNW families, founders, and closely held businesses. Comparable in boutique scale, regional California focus, and integrated estate planning and business services.
• Greenberg Glusker Fields Claman & Machtinger LLP: Los Angeles-based full-service firm with a dedicated Trusts and Estates practice serving HNW families and business owners in Southern California. Directly comparable as a competitor for estate planning, trust administration, and probate work in the same regional market.
• Caplin & Drysdale: Boutique tax and estate planning law firm serving HNW individuals, families, and closely held businesses. Comparable in practice specialization (estate planning, trust structuring, tax-efficient wealth transfer) and boutique positioning, though based on the East Coast.
• Buchalter: California-based law firm with a Trusts and Estates practice serving HNW individuals, families, and business owners. Comparable in California regional focus and integrated estate planning, probate, and business transaction service offering.
• Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP: Los Angeles-based mid-size firm with a Trusts & Estates group handling estate planning, probate, and business succession for California families and business owners. Comparable in client base (HNW individuals and closely held businesses) and practice mix.

Broad incumbents

• Loeb & Loeb LLP: Los Angeles-headquartered national firm with a large Private Client / Trust and Estates practice serving HNW families, family offices, and closely held businesses. Overlaps in estate planning, trust administration, and business succession, but at meaningfully greater scale and geographic breadth.
• Sidley Austin LLP: Global law firm with a substantial Private Client, Trusts and Estates practice serving ultra-HNW individuals, families, and family offices. Comparable in sophisticated estate and wealth transfer work, but operates at much larger scale and broader geographic reach.
• Withers Worldwide: International private client and trust and estates firm with a California presence. Serves HNW individuals and families on estate planning, trust structuring, and wealth transfer—comparable client segment and practice focus, though larger and globally distributed.
• McDermott Will & Emery LLP: National firm with a leading Private Client / Trust and Estates practice advising HNW individuals, families, and family offices. Overlaps substantively in sophisticated estate planning and wealth transfer work, though at considerably larger scale.
• Proskauer Rose LLP: National firm with a dedicated Private Client and Trust & Estates group advising HNW families, family offices, and closely held businesses on estate planning, succession, and philanthropy. Overlaps in client base and practice areas but at significantly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Schwartz & Shapiro