Murtaugh partners named top estate and wealth management lawyers by Daily Journal

Murtaugh LLP said partners Marin Bradshaw and Benjamin R. Schwefel were named to the Daily Journal’s 2026 list of Top Estate and Wealth Management Lawyers. The recognition spotlights the firm’s work in California estate planning, trust administration and probate matters involving high-value assets and disputes.

Why it matters: - The Daily Journal recognition puts a spotlight on two Murtaugh LLP partners who handle complex estate planning, trust administration and probate disputes for high-net-worth clients. - The honor also underscores the firm’s profile in California trusts and estates work, including contested matters involving substantial assets, fiduciary roles and closely held businesses.

What happened: - Murtaugh LLP announced that partners Marin Bradshaw and Benjamin R. Schwefel were named to the Daily Journal’s 2026 list of Top Estate and Wealth Management Lawyers. - Both attorneys are profiled in the publication’s special supplement recognizing California practitioners in estate planning, trust and estate administration, probate, fiduciary representation and litigation. - Bradshaw is Murtaugh LLP’s Co-Managing Partner and a California State Bar Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law. - Schwefel is also a California State Bar Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law.

The details: - Bradshaw’s practice includes estate planning, trust and estate administration, conservatorships, fiduciary representation, and trust and probate disputes for high-net-worth individuals, trustees, beneficiaries and professional fiduciaries. - Bradshaw’s profile highlights litigation that recovered more than $500,000 in trust assets after a co-trustee transferred the funds to a company he controlled. - Bradshaw secured a judgment requiring the funds to be returned, plus double damages under California Probate Code section 859. - Bradshaw continued representing the client through enforcement, including the sale of trust-owned commercial property. - Bradshaw also advised an owner of multiple professional practice businesses whose estate exceeded $100 million and who had no comprehensive estate plan. - Bradshaw developed a strategy to address inheritance goals across a large extended family while accounting for the client’s financial picture and long-term administration needs. - Bradshaw represented a professional fiduciary administering an approximately $15 million trust after prolonged litigation, with issues involving commercial real estate, beneficiaries, charitable matters and taxes. - Schwefel advises individuals, families, trustees, beneficiaries, professional fiduciaries, corporate trustees, trust companies and charitable organizations in estate planning, administration, probate and litigation. - Schwefel’s profile highlights a trial victory involving allegations that a trustee forged a revocable transfer-on-death deed. - Schwefel won double damages under Probate Code section 859, then defeated an effort to unwind the result and obtained attorneys’ fees. - Schwefel has advised clients with taxable estates exceeding $200 million on lifetime wealth-transfer strategies. - Schwefel also counseled multiple generations of a family whose closely held partnership owns more than $100 million in real estate. - Schwefel coordinated estate planning for a business owner during a private equity transaction exceeding $30 million. - Schwefel advised a professional fiduciary administering a trust estate exceeding $40 million with an operating business, multiple real estate holdings and related business and fiduciary issues. - Schwefel also wrote an article in the supplement, “Boyajian got it right. The Legislature should change the law,” on California law governing the revocation of wills. - Murtaugh LLP said the recognition reflects the depth of its trusts and estates practice and its ability to handle sophisticated planning, administration and contested matters. - Murtaugh LLP is a Southern California law firm founded more than 45 years ago that handles transactional and litigation needs for businesses, families and professional firms. - The firm’s work includes complex civil litigation, business transactions and trusts and estates, including sophisticated estate planning and high-value trust and estate disputes. - More information is available on Murtaugh LLP's website. - The firm’s LinkedIn presence is available at Murtaugh LLP on LinkedIn.

Between the lines: - The profiles point to a practice focused on large estates, real estate-heavy family wealth and disputes involving fiduciary conduct. - The Daily Journal supplement gives Murtaugh LLP a public credential that may help the firm market its estate and trusts practice to affluent families, fiduciaries and business owners.

What's next: - Bradshaw and Schwefel will likely continue handling planning, administration and litigation matters involving substantial assets and complex family structures. - Murtaugh LLP is positioned to lean on the recognition in future trust and estate business development.

The bottom line: - The Daily Journal recognition reinforces Murtaugh LLP’s standing in California trusts and estates work and highlights two partners with experience in high-stakes disputes and sophisticated planning.