Michael Blacksburg

Michael is a senior estate planning attorney with a diverse background in estate, business and wealth advisory. Michael Blacksburg started practicing law in San Francisco in 2001, beginning his career as a tenants’ rights attorney. In 2005, Michael discovered his passion for estate planning when he was asked by the AIDS Legal Referral Panel to be available for deathbed Wills. It turned out to be the most moving experience of his legal career. Beyond the gratification of helping others to preserve the life they love and maintain a legacy beyond their death, he learned so much about what is truly important to people as they near that passage.

In 2014, Michael closed his neighborhood law practice in the Castro to work with a Private Bank, helping his clients with complicated wealth and family structures develop and communicate their wealth and estate plans. Michael led a team of subject matter experts to deliver comprehensive wealth management and advice to his clients. In that role, Michael brought his neighborhood sensibilities to these complexities and focused on a values-centered approach to planning, management and communication.  In 2018, Michael joined Continuity Family Business Consulting as its West Coast family consultant.  He obtained his certificate in leadership coaching from Georgetown University’s Institute for Transformational Leadership and later earned his coaching credentialization through the International Coaching Federation.  In his role as family business consultant, Michael worked as part of a multi-disciplinary team supporting family business operations and succession planning.  He coached rising gen leaders as well as senior gen transition in both family and business spheres.  

In 2019, Michael re-established his law practice with the intent to bring the skills learned through his professional hiatus back to Main Street.  In so doing, he has taken leadership positions in his personal and professional communities to support a more thoughtful process to estate planning.   

Michael is a rare find in today’s legal world: a knowledgeable generalist who can be your family attorney and counselor. With a background in law and wealth management, Michael brings extensive experience to his current practice, transcending the mechanics of document preparation by becoming connected to what really matters most in his clients’ lives. It’s this passion for estate planning combined with Michael’s integrity and discretion that make him the top-rated lawyer on Yelp.com with over 150 five-star reviews.

Drawing on his experience as a small business owner, husband, father, world traveler, Eagle Scout, and member of the Burning Man community, Michael has a friendly, approachable, and accommodating style to law and life in general.