Shadi Ala’i Shaffer

Partner & Co-Founder, Asset Protection & Elder Law Center

Empathetic Advocacy. Sophisticated Strategy. Family First.

Attorney Shadi Shaffer is a self-made entrepreneur and dedicated advocate who believes that “business is personal.” As a co-founder of the Asset Protection & Elder Law Center, Shadi has spent over 20 years protecting the legacies of families, children, and business owners throughout California. Driven by her own background in an immigrant family, she approaches the law with a “proactive, offensive” mindset—striving to educate and protect her clients long before a crisis occurs.

Shadi’s practice is built on the foundation of lifelong relationships. She is not your “typical attorney”; her clients frequently describe her as both a brilliant legal counsel and a trusted friend. Her mission is simple yet powerful: To Educate, Motivate, and Protect.

Professional Journey & Expertise

Shadi began her career at the San Diego Labor Board and in insurance defense, where she represented large corporations. However, she quickly realized her true calling was serving individuals and families with a level of personalized care that large firms often lack. In 2004, she partnered with her lifelong best friend, Patrick P. Phancao, to establish their boutique firm in Orange County.

Today, she focuses her expertise on:

• Comprehensive Estate Planning: Creating “bulletproof” holistic trust plans that avoid the California probate system and meet the needs of the clients and their families for years to come.
• Trust Administration: Assisting trustees in the efficient and successful distribution of assets.
• CA Probate: Helping Clients all throughout California efficiently navigate through Probate administration – she focuses on representing Administrators and Executors from start to finish. 

Commitment to Community

Shadi’s passion for advocacy extends far beyond the office. A dedicated philanthropist, she has served on the Board of Stand Up For Kids OC for over a decade, helping homeless youth find safety and stability. Her community involvement includes:

• Board Member: For The Unseen (International humanitarian aid).
• Big Sister: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County (since 2007).
• Volunteer Attorney Arbitrator: Orange County Bar Association.