Stephen holds the highest AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell and is registered in the Martindale-Hubbell’s prestigious Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers—a distinction limited to less than 5% of attorneys in America.
One of the original founding members of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and one of the select few lawyers across America who participated in giving name to the body of law now known as “Elder Law,” Stephen is a published writer, a frequent local and national lecturer as well as an instructor to non-attorneys and attorneys alike in the field of trusts and estates.
Stephen has nearly 25 years of experience as an estate planning, trust and elder law attorney over which time he has represented people from all walks of life—as well as fellow attorneys, and members of the judiciary; in trust, estate and elder law matters.
Stephen has a warm and open personality. Creative in thought, compassionate in approach and appropriately assertive when necessary, Stephen understands the often delicate and sensitive family dynamics occasioned by a loved-one’s failing health, a death in the family, money issues and intra-family rivalry.
Raised in San Luis Obispo, Stephen attended San Luis Obispo High School, where he was a California Scholastic Federation and Bank of America Scholar. Stephen’s post-high school education is a reflection of his insatiable intellectual curiosity.
Working as a professional musician, an English-French translator, a waiter, and a law clerk, Stephen put himself through school at the l’Universite de Bordeaux, France where he studied French Literature and Civil Law; California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo where he studied Biochemistry, Ornamental Horticulture, Landscape Architecture and Political Science; and Tulane University School of Law in New Orleans, Louisiana where he fell in love with the field of trust and estates and was named by Tulane’s professors as one of ten Senior Fellows for his legal writing, analysis and research. After law school, Stephen attended McGeorge School of Law Business and Taxation LLM program to round-out his education before becoming a trust, estate and elder law attorney in San Luis Obispo.
Stephen currently serves on the Board of Directors for Transitions Mental Health Association, which is a nonprofit organization committed to reducing the stigma of mental illnesses, maximizing personal potential and providing innovative mental health services to individuals and families in need.
Stephen lives in Arroyo Grande with his wife, Lori Mainini Hall, and his teenage sons, Braeden and Karsten. When not at the office, Stephen can be found at home with his family, in his garden, cycling the back roads, or occasionally getting away to trek a wilderness stream fly fishing for that elusive monster rainbow trout.
Contact us to schedule a personal appointment with Stephen.
