Coblentz Family Wealth practice and four partners are recognized in the 2021 Chambers HNW (High Net Worth) Guide in the Private Wealth Law category for Northern California. Chambers HNW, published by Chambers & Partners, ranks the top legal advisers to high net worth individuals and organizations. Practice chair Jim Mitchell and partners Phil Feldman and Jaime Mannon are again ranked as Leading Lawyers, and partner Mitchell Edwards is listed among only four Up & Coming attorneys in the category.
Jim Mitchell is again ranked as a Leading Lawyer in Band 2. Jim advises high net worth clients on tax planning and trust and estate administration. One source noted he “is very experienced and expert in the area of estates and trusts,” adding that, “much more important to me is that he cares and is deeply personally involved. Jim is thoughtful and has the ability to put himself in his clients’ shoes.”
Phil Feldman is again ranked as a Leading Lawyer in Band 2. Phil assists wealthy individuals and families with income, philanthropic, and gift and estate tax planning, with Chambers noting that he is also “praised for his handling of complex inter-generational succession planning.” One source commented that “Phil’s approach is detail-oriented and very current. With over 30 years of experience, he brings a lot of knowledge on how other families have handled similar situations.” Another source noted, “Phil is an excellent attorney, and an even better human being.”
Jaime Mannon is ranked as a Leading Lawyer in Band 2. Jaime offers affluent individuals and families assistance with estate and gift tax planning and cross-border tax planning. According to one source, she “is everything you want in a lawyer for estate planning purposes.” Another commented, “Jaime’s strength is her focus; if there is a particularly complex document that needs to be drafted, she disappears into her work and her focus is incredible.” Another interviewee noted, “She is really honest and a straight shooter, so I appreciate her candor. She is not in any way arrogant or non-transparent.”
Mitch Edwards is listed in the Chambers HNW Up & Coming category. Mitch assists high net worth clients with estate planning, administration matters, and litigation. An industry adviser commented, “He is able to digest complex planning situations quickly. Many of the clients that I refer to him require highly sophisticated [trust and estate] solutions, and Mitch has always stepped up to the plate and delivered. He has a strong ability to listen to a family’s specific needs and deliver tailored solutions rather than standard, out-of-the-box recommendations. He communicates in a calm and reassuring way, and gives clients confidence and trust in his work.”
The Coblentz Family Wealth practice is also listed by Chambers HNW in Band 2 for Private Wealth Law, Northern California. One client commented, “They are expert and offer both practical and legal advice. They stay current and reach out with new developments in the law that will affect us. I think they are very good.” Another noted that “one of their strengths is that they have specialists in the firm that can handle various different types of problems and situations that come up.” A wealth expert added, “If you go to an attorney there, assume they are smart and technically perfect. I cannot function without them in my life. Their strengths are they surround and support you and come with their best game.”
Independent and objective, Chambers USA and Chambers HNW are carefully researched and widely considered to be one of the most reputable law firm directories in the world. Ranking criteria include technical legal ability, professional conduct, client service, business understanding, diligence, commitment, and other qualities most valued by legal clients.
Additional Chambers USA Rankings
Six additional Coblentz partners and three practices are recognized in the Chambers USA 2021 Guide, also published by Chambers & Partners. Real Estate and Land Use partners Pamela Duffy, Harry O’Brien, and Alan Gennis; Litigation partners Timothy Crudo and Rees Morgan; and Employment partner Fred Alvarez are ranked as Leading Lawyers in their respective categories. Coblentz’s Land Use, Real Estate, and White Collar Defense and Government Investigations practices are also listed. You can read more about our Chambers USA rankings here.
