Patrick P. Phancao

Unlike many traditional lawyers, attorney Patrick Phancao began his career abroad. Having been raised in Europe, Asia and Africa, traveling has always been a part of his life. After law school, when the opportunity arose to act as the Assistant Legal Counsel to a French Bank based abroad, he took on the challenge. He worked as the Bank’s Assistant Corporate Counsel for a year, where he learned a great deal about the financial industry. When he came back to California, Mr. Phancao was offered a position as Legal Counsel to a Supplemental Nutrients Company in Los Angeles. There, he became acquainted with the previous owner who had a wide range of legal needs. In his year and a half at the company, Mr. Phancao received a great deal of legal exposure in the following areas of the law—Patents and Trademarks, Corporate Governance, and Asset Protection to name a few. A few months back and in full practice, Mr. Phancao set the highest bond in California history in the White Collar Crime Division in the Superior Court of Los Angeles. He also participated in the biggest individual tax case of 2003. Given results like this, affluent individuals, families and businesses in both California and Florida began seeking Mr. Phancao’s counsel on all aspects of Asset Protection and Estate Planning, particularly complex matters. He soon realized that many of his clients, particularly baby boomers, needed counsel in the areas of Elder Law and Medi-Cal eligibility. He set out to change the landscape in this area as well, helping seniors and the people who love them take the proper steps to safeguard their life savings against the high cost of long-term care. Mr. Phancao then partnered with Ms. Shaffer to further strengthen his capabilities in this complicated and increasingly important arena. The two of them started a boutique law firm in Irvine, California specializing in Estate Planning, Asset Protection, Business Planning and Succession, and Medicaid/Medi-Cal Planning.