Biography

Attorney Gary Winter’s business and estate planning
practice focuses on helping entrepreneurial families
enhance their lives today and secure their futures
tomorrow. He excels in guiding his clients through
the often confusing maze of financial and legal decisions to create plans
that ensure the well-being of their families, businesses and the accomplishment
of cherished family goals. His considerable legal expertise
includes family and business protection, wealth preservation and valuesbased
planning. Whether you are a startup or established business, with
a traditional family or blended family, just starting out or looking back on a
life well-lived, Gary will help you craft a plan that achieves your goals for
your business and loved ones today and for years to come.
After a ten year career as a commercial airline pilot, Gary graduated second
in his law school class from San Joaquin College of Law in 2006 and
served as a judicial extern to the Honorable Justice Timothy S. Buckley
on the 5th District Court of Appeal in 2005. While at San Joaquin College
of Law, Gary received Bernard E. Witkin Academic Excellence Awards
for being at the top of the class in Legal Research and Writing, Criminal
Law and Legal Remedies. Gary also won the Best Brief award and
was a Best Oral Advocate Finalist in the George A. Hopper Moot Court
Competition in 2005. Gary was a member of the school’s scholarly publication,
The San Joaquin Agricultural Law Review, from 2003 to 2006.
After graduation, Gary was an associate at the prestigious law firm of
McCormick, Barstow, Sheppard, Wayte and Carruth, LLP, where he represented
high net-worth families and their businesses, in their real estate,
business and estate matters. Before opening his own practice, Gary was
a partner with the law firm of Powell and Pool, PC, which specialized in
representing lenders.
In 2008, Gary was published as author of a professional article in the
Review advocating for farmers’ rights to cancel Williamson Act contracts.
The article is titled “Does A Williamson Act Contract Have Constitutional
Status?” (17 SJALR 1 (2008)). Gary advocates for efficient and green
use of real estate and has written several articles for websites on the
complex subject of fractional ownership of vacation homes, which allows
owners to buy, use and sell their proportional fractional (1/6th, 1/8th,
etc.) interest in a vacation home. In December, 2008 Gary was featured
in “Fractional Properties: Own a Piece of Paradise” in Where to Retire
magazine. Gary is a frequent lecturer for real estate brokers on the subjects
of co-ownership and business planning issues. Gary has chosen
to serve entrepreneurial families because he is passionate about helping
families create happy and secure futures.
Most importantly, Gary is husband to Julie and proud father of Marci,
Lanson and Jackson.