OCBA member Mark Powell, Orange County partner at Snell & Wilmer, has been appointed to the Orange County Superior Court Probate Mediation Panel.
The Orange County Superior Court Probate Mediation Panel is a collection of highly accomplished legal professionals to which the court refers mediation work. The rigorous selection process takes place over the course of several months and is led by the probate court judges and an independent selection committee. To be considered for selection applicants must be a member in good standing of the California Bar for a minimum of 10 years, have completed at least 30 hours of mediator training from a recognized provider, and have conducted at least eight mediations of two hours or more during the past three years. Additionally, applicants must maintain a mediation practice or place of business within Orange County and agree to serve as a mediator on a pro bono basis in at least one case per year if selected to the panel.
“I am honored to act as a leader in the Orange County mediation community,” said Powell. “Along with the other panelists, I hope to continue serving the court as a go-to resource for mediation cases.”
Powell is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law, California Board of Legal Specialization, and a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. He focuses his practice on three areas: estate and gift tax planning, with a strong emphasis on charitable planning and family philanthropy; family governance and succession planning for clients wanting to provide benefits over multiple generations; and trust and probate administration, including trust and estate litigation. Powell has over 20 years of experience mediating trust and estate disputes. In 2019, he completed a Negotiation Master Class through the Harvard Law School Executive Education program. Powell is a proud Board Member of several community organizations including J.F. Shea Center for Therapeutic Riding, Dreams for Schools and Laguna Beach High School Scholarship.