Our Attorneys

Robert L. Hobson
Partner

Robert L. Hobson graduated from
Wabash College and, after serving
in the US Navy as a
commissioned officer, received his
J.D. from the University of
California, Hastings College of the
Law. He has been a member of
the California Bar since 1964 and
is also admitted to practice before
the Supreme Court of the United
States.

Bob was Vice President and
National Director of the
Endowment and Charitable Trust
Services Group at Bank of
America where he created the
Bank’s Pooled Income Fund
administration, which became an
industry leading service. Bob left
Bank of America in early 1986 to
concentrate on providing
independent administration
services for charitable remainder
trusts and Pooled Income Funds.

He was formerly a Tax Attorney
with the Internal Revenue Service,
General Council for an investment
advisory firm and a special
consultant to a national fund
raising consulting firm.

Bob presently devotes his law
practice to tax and estate planning
for individuals, particularly as it
relates to charitable trusts. He
also works with many charitable
organizations in providing trust
administration for their charitable
trusts and Pooled Income Funds.
Other aspects of his practice
include planning for Wills,
revocable living trusts and
probate. He has become a
popular speaker on these topics,
both locally and nationally.

He is a member of the California
Bar Association, the San
Francisco Estate Planning
Council, the Mount Diablo Estate
Planning Council, the Northern
California Planned Giving Council
and the National Society of Fund
Raising Executives.

Bob was the President of the
Endowment Board of the
Methodist Church, a member of
the National Advisory Committee
of the YMCA and Treasurer of
Clausen House, an organization
which provides services for
developmentally disabled adults.

He is married and has two sons,
both graduates from the University
of California at Berkeley. His
older son, Steve, having spent 10
years in the health insurance
industry is now an independent
health and life insurance broker.
His younger son, Mike, also a
graduate of Hastings College of
the Law, recently rejoined Bob in
practice. His wife, Mary, is a
retired school counselor from the
Pittsburgh School District.

Bob retired from the US Naval
Reserve and holds the permanent
rank of Captain.

Michael B. Hobson
Partner

Mike received his Juris Doctorate
Degree from the University of
California, Hastings College of
the Law in 1995, and his
Bachelor of Arts Degree in
Economics from the University of
California, Berkeley. He has
been a member of the California
Bar since 1995.

Mike started his career as an
associate Tax and Estate
Attorney practicing with his
father, Robert Hobson. For two
years, Mike practiced with his
father primarily in the areas of
taxation, planned giving, probate,
and estates and trusts.

In 1997 Mike joined Ernst &
Young’s Private Client Service
Practice. Mike specialized in
wealth transfer planning, planned
giving and tax planning for
individuals, estates and trusts. He
primarily focused on advising high-
net-worth individuals in
connection with wealth transfer
planning, income tax planning,
structuring of charitable gifts, and
planned giving associated with
private foundations and charitable
remainder trusts. Mike advised
U.S. Citizens, resident aliens, and
non-resident aliens, with both
onshore and offshore concerns.
His clients included exempt
entities organized within the
United States. Mike also acted
as National Segment Leader for
the Private Client Service portion
of Ernst & Young’s Online Tax
Advisor. Mike led Ernst &
Young’s Gift and Estate Tax
Network in the Pacific
Northwest. Mike has also
contributed to the Ernst and
Young Tax Guide for several
years as an author and as an
editor. He enjoyed a very
challenging and rewarding career
with Ernst & Young, but
ultimately decided to return to the
practice of law.

Mike rejoined his father as a
partner in February of 2006 with
a continued focus on estate
planning, planned giving, trust and
estate administration, and income
tax planning for individuals,
estates and trusts.

Mike is a member of the
California Bar Association, the
American Bar Association, and
the Northern California Planned
Giving Council. He frequently
speaks on various areas of tax
and estate planning.

Mike and his wife, Nina, live in
Los Gatos. Nina practices
surgery in a private group located
in Los Gatos. Mike and Nina are
looking forward to the birth of
their first son, who is due March
27, 2006.