Firm Philosophy
When faced with a legal problem, either in your personal life or your business, having the right legal counsel is critical to both your success and your peace of mind. Our experience across multiple practice areas ensures that you have security for yourself, your family and your business during your lifetime, and as your legacy. Our services are personal and tailored to you and your needs, and we develop relationships for the long-term, based on trust, exceeding our clients’ expectations, and offering exceptional services. Our clients include individuals, couples, families, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and businesses of various shapes and sizes.
About Kristen Marquis Fritz, Principal (She/Her)
An experienced attorney, Kristen:
- Counsels individuals, couples, and families through the process of estate planning, crafting documents to secure their needs and goals for their life and legacy.
- Represents clients in trust, estate and probate matters
- Assists owners of businesses with formation, maintenance, growth and, where needed, dissolution
- Handles litigation, arbitration, and appeals
Aside from being an attorney, Kristen is a California Licensed Professional Fiduciary and a National Certified Guardian. She acts as trustee, executor, administrator, conservator and guardian.
Areas of Practice
- Estate Planning
- Asset Protection
- Trust and Probate litigation
- Business representation, including transactions
- Business-related litigation
- Appeals
- Registration and maintenance of Trademarks and Copyrights
- Dispute resolution, including through arbitration and mediation
Licenses and Bar Admissions
- California
- Massachusetts
- New York
- Texas (inactive)
- Supreme Court of the United States
- United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- United States District Courts for the Northern, Central, Southern and Eastern Districts of California
- United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts
- State of California Professional Fiduciary License
Education
- Northeastern University School of Law – Juris Doctorate
- Boston University – Bachelor of Arts (Psychology), summa cum laude; with honors
- Boston University – Paralegal Certificate
- California State University, Fullerton-Certificate in Fiduciary Management for Trustees
- California State University, Fullerton-Certificate in Fiduciary Management for Conservators
Awards
Kristen was selected to Super Lawyers’ Southern California Rising Star list in 2013, and their San Diego Rising Star list in 2015 and 2016. In 2018, she was named one of the 10 Best Estate Planning Attorneys for California by the American Institute of Legal Counsel.
Memberships and Community Service
In addition to her active law practice and professional fiduciary work, Kristen supports several organizations dedicated to serving the public, improving access to justice, and ensuring that the rights of all persons are protected. These organizations include: Lawyers Club of San Diego, San Diego County Bar Association, Probate Attorneys of San Diego, California Lawyers Association, Professional Fiduciary Association of California, Think Dignity, and Jewish Family Service of San Diego.
John Lindon Smaha, Of Counsel (He/Him)
With more than 42 years as a business professional and California licensed attorney, John Lindon Smaha brings extensive knowledge, experience, and business acumen to his clients. He provides counseling and advice to enable individuals and families to secure and plan for their personal and business futures. John’s resume includes:
- Acting as a Trustee for his clients, with more than $60 million in assets on average under his management;
- Counseling businesses through Chapter 11 reorganizations, out-of-court creditor compositions and assignments for the benefits of creditors;
- Preparing Estate Plans (or coordinating with a team of outside professionals for mega-estates), including Special Needs Trusts, Insurance Trusts, and Administering Estates;
- Asset Protection Plans for individuals, families, and businesses concerned with catastrophic risks and events;
- Assisting with business and corporate transactions, including formation, termination, operation, purchases, sales, reorganizations, mergers and acquisition along with compliance, financial viability evaluation, and business management;
- Real estate purchase sales and related transactions;
- Business startup planning;
- Facilitating finance transactions in the multi millions of dollars, including representation of borrowers in multiple Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae financings;
- Advising on tax disputes, including estate returns, implementing tax-deferred and reverse exchanges (i.e., 1031 exchanges), and negotiating with creditors of all types, including taxing authorities;
- Coordinating and working with all types of fiduciaries;
- Business succession planning;
- Representing individuals and businesses in litigation of various types;
- And much, much more.