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Phillip Ghaderi
Attorney at Law

Philip Ghaderi, attorney

I (Phillip Ghaderi) am a Bay Area native and product of California public education; growing up in Castro Valley, graduating from Castro Valley High School (Class of 1997) before attending and graduating from Cal. State Hayward (Class of 2001). I graduated magna cum laude from California Western School of Law in 2009, then passed the bar exam and started my law practice later that year.

Initially, I handled virtually all types of cases but now I focus almost exclusively on estate planning and post-death administration (probate and trust administration). My broad experience

Outside of the office, I enjoy spending time with my kids and being involved in the community. I coach my kids’ soccer and baseball teams. I have been on the board of Castro Valley Arts Foundation since 2015 and recently joined the board of the Castro Valley Independent Sports League (also known as CVI Baseball & CVI Flag Football) have been tasked with revitalizing the Chabot Parents Club Garden. I also enjoy woodworking, gardening, and home repair projects.


My son asked me: “Dad, what do you do as a lawyer?” and the answer was simple,
“I get to help people”


Current Community Affiliations:

  • Board Member - Castro Valley Arts Foundation (former Treasurer)

  • Sponsorship Coordinator - Castro Valley Independent Sports League

  • Garden Committee Chair - Chabot Parents Club

  • Friday Lunchtime Volunteer - Chabot Elementary

  • Coach - Castro Valley Soccer Club

  • Volunteer – Real Property Transfers Clinic - Alameda County Bar Association

Education

  • Juris Doctor, California Western School of Law – 2009

  • B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Criminal Justice, California State University East Bay – 2001

Bar Associations

  • California -2009

  • United States District Court for the Eastern District – 2011

  • United States District Court for the Northern District – 2009

Awards & Recognition

  • Wiley E. Manual Certificate for Pro Bono Legal Services -2013

  • Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from U.S. Representative Barbara Lee 2013

  • American Bankruptcy Institute Medal of Excellence -2009

  • ALI-ABA Scholarship & Leadership Award

Legally Relevant Experience

  • I have helped hundreds of families prepare customized estate plans that meet their specific needs and goals.

  • I have litigated matters in various courts throughout the Bay Area in both federal and state courts, including Alameda County Superior Court, Contra Costa County Superior Court, San Mateo County Superior Court, and Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of California.

  • I have given presentations to various professional groups on various topics related to estate planning, including a presentation with current Alameda County Tax Assessor, Ron Thomson.

  • While in law school, I received numerous awards, including academic achievement awards in Trusts & Estates and Contracts as well as the American Bankruptcy Institute’s Medal of Excellence. I also served as an editor of the law review and as a tutor for my first year - Prior to law school, I worked for the law firm of Jackson & Wallace, LLP as a senior paralegal overseeing a team of paralegals that was responsible for managing discovery on over 500 active litigation matters, mostly representing insurance companies and self-insured defendants.