Biography

Mark Weaver is the chair of the Business Department at Farella and past chair of the Family Wealth Group. Mark assists individuals and families with estate and business succession planning, and guides family members through the trust and estate administration process. His practice is founded on a deep understanding of both the unique needs of families and multi-generational family businesses and ever-changing federal, state, and international tax laws.

His experience is both as a personal and tax attorney, and includes a full spectrum of income, gift, estate, and property tax issues. He regularly leverages sophisticated wealth preservation techniques, including the formation and administration of irrevocable trusts, business entities, sole purpose entities, and charitable vehicles, to implement his clients’ objectives. Mark also advises winery and vineyard owners on a broad range of business, tax, and succession issues.

A key aspect of Mark’s practice is counseling clients on cross-border issues. He provides estate planning advice for clients with beneficiaries and/or assets that are located in multiple countries, as well as for individuals planning to enter or leave the United States. He also advises clients on reporting requirements in connection with foreign trusts, bank accounts, and other foreign assets, including the benefits and risks associated with the offshore voluntary disclosure and streamline programs.

Mark also engages in privacy planning to limit publicly available information about clients and their holdings, and asset protection planning to protect clients and their families from potential liabilities.

Distinctions

  • Best Lawyers in America, Trusts and Estates (2021-2023), Tax Law (2023-2024)
  • Chambers High Net Worth Guide, Private Wealth Law, Northern California (2022-2023)

Memberships and Affiliations

  • Society of Trust and Estates Practitioners (STEP), San Francisco Branch, Member and Past Chair
  • California State Bar Association, Section of Trusts and Estates, Section of Taxation
  • Bar Association of San Francisco, Section of Estate Planning, Probate and Trust
  • San Francisco Estate Planning Council
  • Regional Parks Foundation, Planned Giving Committee

Firm Highlights

Publication

California Regulation of Charitable Fundraising Platforms Part 2 - Reporting Due Diligence, Recordkeeping, and Disclosure Rules

Welcome to  EO Radio Show - Your Nonprofit Legal Resource . This episode covers the provisions of California’s Charitable Fundraising Platforms law (Gov. Code, § 12599.9) relevant to all covered charitable fundraisers and fundraising...

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News

Farella Awards 2024 Diversity Scholarships to Bay Area Law Students

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Event

AI and Privacy: What Every Company Needs To Do Today

Sushila Chanana and Benjamin Buchwalter will present "AI and Privacy: What Every Company Needs To Do Today" at the ACC 2024 Privacy Summit.  The session will introduce the basics of AI governance, such as ownership...

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Publication

Hsu Untied Interview With Jeff Hamilton, Partner at Farella Braun + Martel

Jeff Hamilton was a guest on Hsu Untied , an award-winning podcast hosted and produced by Richard Hsu featuring entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, best-selling authors, and more.  In the podcast, Jeff discusses his journey from...

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News

Burdened by Debt, Savvy SF Office Owners Get Creative

Restructuring, insolvency, and creditors rights partner Gary Kaplan provided expert commentary in The San Francisco Standard article, "Burdened by Debt, Savvy SF Office Owners Get Creative." In the article, Gary explained that in most cases...

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Publication

Nonprofit Quick Tip: State Filings in Kentucky and Tennessee

Welcome to  EO Radio Show - Your Nonprofit Legal Resource . Episode 78 is the 11th in a series of Quick Tip episodes focusing on the details of state registration of nonprofit corporations. With Joe...

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News

Linda Gilleran Selected to MCCA Sources of Success Program

Linda Sobczynski Gilleran headshot
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Publication

California’s Estrada Decision and Impact on Employers and PAGA Claims

Following Estrada v. Royalty Carpet Mills, Inc. , the California Supreme Court’s employee-friendly Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) ruling earlier this year, employers must remain more diligent than ever to prevent and mitigate costly...

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Publication

IRS Dirty Dozen Warnings on Charitable Scams

Welcome to  EO Radio Show - Your Nonprofit Legal Resource . In this episode, Cynthia Rowland highlights some tax schemes designed to exploit both taxpayers and the Treasury. The Internal Revenue Service just wrapped up the...

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News

EPA Designates PFOA and PFOS as Hazardous Substances

Don Sobelman provided expert commentary in the  Chemical & Engineering News article "EPA Designates PFOA and PFOS as Hazardous Substances." Excerpt from the article: Lawyers are warning anyone purchasing an industrial site where PFOA...

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