Steffi Gascón Hafen

Steffi Gascon Hafen is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law, California Board of Legal Specialization. She is a partner of the firm’s Private Client Services and General Federal Tax practice groups and works in the Orange County and Los Angeles offices. Steffi's practice is concentrated in tax, trust, and estate matters with emphasis in estate planning, trust and probate administration, and estate and gift taxation. She employs advanced estate planning techniques, including grantor retained annuity trusts, family partnerships, limited liability companies, charitable remainder trusts, defective grantor trusts, insurance planning, public charities, and private foundations. She also advises clients regarding succession planning for closely held businesses. In addition, Steffi has experience in state and local taxation, including income taxation, sales and use taxation, and property taxation, as well as issues regarding residency and domicile. Steffi also represents clients in front of the California state and local taxing authorities, and the Internal Revenue Service. She works with clients’ certified public accountants, financial planners, and other service providers to provide holistic solutions to clients’ needs.

Representative Presentations and Publications

• Managing Business Needs During a Pandemic: Tax/Charity, Presenter, Snell & Wilmer Live Webinar to ACC SoCal (April 8, 2020)
• Gift Tax and GST Tax: Deadline to Report and Pay Tax Extended, Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (April 6, 2020)
• Tax and Estate Planning in the Current Environment, Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (March 23, 2020)
• California COVID-19 Tax Relief, Author, Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert (March 20, 2020)
• Securing Your Legacy Through Estate Planning, Presenter, Entrepreneurs' Organization Orange County (EO OC) Event, Costa Mesa, CA (April 17, 2019)
• Staying Tax Exempt, (Training Program for Pro Bono Nonprofit Organizations Legal Assessment Clinic), Co-Presenter, ACC-SoCal, Public Law Center, Snell & Wilmer Orange County Offices, Costa Mesa, CA (April 4, 2019)
• Estate Planning for Cryptocurrency Doesn’t Need to be Cryptic, Author, Lex Mundi Blockchain White Paper Series (February 6, 2019)
• Don't Lose Your Client's Cryptocurrency in Cyberspace, Co-Author, Wealth Management (September 20, 2018)
• How the Rich Can Dodge Trump’s Property Tax Hike, Quoted, Bloomberg News (June 15, 2018)
• Does the Floor Number of My Los Angeles Condo Determine the Taxes I’ll Pay? Quoted, Mansion Global (February 15, 2018)
• The Down and Dirty on the New Tax Rules and Estate Planning, Author, Accounting Today (February 8, 2018)
• 'Repeal the Estate Tax!' And Other Sound Bites, Co-Author, Orange County Business Journal (October 2, 2017)
• A Death in the Family - Now What ? Co-Author, Orange County Business Journal (March 14, 2016)
• Estate Planning in 2015, Co-Author, Orange County Business Journal (October 12, 2015)
• Law Firm Models: Improving Gender Equity and Performance, Roundtable Presenter, American Bar Association Women of the Section of Litigation Conference, Chicago, IL (November 5-7, 2014)
• Negotiate Your Way to Success: Best Practices for Women Rainmakers, Co-Moderator, ABA Women Rainmakers Spring Workshop, Costa Mesa, CA (May 9, 2014)
• Estate Planning in 2014, Co-Author, Orange County Business Journal (April 7, 2014)
• Strategic Networking: A Guide for Women Rainmakers, Co-Moderator, ABA Women Rainmakers Fall Workshop, Costa Mesa, CA (November 5, 2013)
• The 'Permanent' Relief Act, Co-Author, Orange County Business Journal (June 24, 2013)
• The Disappearing Estate and Gift Tax Exemption, Co-Author, Orange County Business Journal (September 17, 2012)

Professional Recognition and Awards

•On the Rise - Top 40 Young Lawyers Honoree, American Bar Association (2019)
•Top Latino Lawyers of 2019, Latino Leaders Magazine (2019)
•Southern California Super Lawyers, Rising Stars Edition, Estate Planning and Probate (2018-2019)
•Top Latino Lawyers of 2018, Latino Leaders Magazine (2018)

Community Involvement

•Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach
•Board of Directors (2018-present)
•OC Head Start
•Chairman of the Board (2019-present)
•Board Member (2016-present)

Other Professional Experience

•Baker & McKenzie, Associate (2011), Summer Associate (2009)
•Warner Brothers Studios, Music Legal Department, Summer Intern (2004)

Related News & Events

• Apr 13
Snell & Wilmer Continues Growth in Southern California With New San Diego Office

• Dec 04
Snell & Wilmer Partner Steffi Gascon Hafen Named by Latino Leaders Magazine as Top Latino Lawyer of 2019

• Jul 10
American Bar Association Names Snell & Wilmer Partner Steffi Gascon Hafen as a On the Rise - Top 40 Young Lawyer

• Jul 02
Orange County Head Start, Inc. Elects Snell & Wilmer Partner Steffi Gascon Hafen as Chairman of the Board of Directors

• Jun 07
Southern California Super Lawyers Recognizes Four Snell & Wilmer Attorneys as Rising Stars

• Jan 09
Snell & Wilmer Partner Steffi Gascon Hafen Named Among Top Latino Lawyers of 2018 in Latino Leaders Magazine

• Dec 26
New Partners and Counsel Elected for the Class of 2019 Announced by Snell & Wilmer

• Jun 08
Southern California Super Lawyers Recognizes Five Snell & Wilmer Attorneys as Rising Stars

• Mar 29
Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach Welcomes Snell & Wilmer Attorney Steffi Gascon Hafen to Board of Directors

• Dec 08
Hispanic Bar Association of Orange County Reelects Snell & Wilmer Attorney Steffi Gascon Hafen to Board

• Oct 02
“Repeal the Estate Tax!” And Other Sound Bites
Orange County Business Journal

• Mar 14
A Death in the Family - Now What?
Orange County Business Journal

• Oct 18
Estate Planning in 2015
Orange County Business Journal

• Nov 14
Snell & Wilmer Attorneys Patricia Lee Refo and Steffi Gascon Hafen Present at Inaugural American Bar Association Women of the Section of Litigation Conference

• Apr 13
Estate Planning in 2014
Orange County Business Journal

• Mar 06
The Hispanic Bar Association of Orange County Elected Snell & Wilmer Attorney Steffi Gascon Hafen to Serve as Board Member

• Jun 24
The “Permanent” Relief Act
Orange County Business Journal

• Sep 17
The Disappearing Estate and Gift Tax Exemption

Related Publications

• Apr 06
Gift Tax and GST Tax Deadline to Report and Pay Tax Extended

• Mar 23
Tax and Estate Planning in the Current Environment

• Mar 20
California COVID-19 Tax Relief