Guzman Law Group Attorney Marcus Chang Brings Strong Leadership and Passion to His Approach to the Law
Raising the bar.
- CategoryPeople
- Written byLaura L. Watts
- Photographed byMarisa Guzmán-Aloia
“Marcus gives 200% of himself at all times.” That’s how attorney Denise M. Guzman, founder of Guzman Law Group in Manhattan Beach, describes Marcus Chang—an enthusiastic associate attorney on her team. “You simply cannot teach someone that type of dedication,” she points out. “He is truly a natural fit for the legal world.”
Helping others was at the heart of Marcus’ career selection. “I chose law because I wanted to be in a profession where I could directly help people,” he shares. “I serve as a guide—providing clients with options and information, helping them navigate the process, providing support and dealing with family dynamics.”
Marcus earned his bachelor’s degree from UCLA and went on to complete his law degree at Arizona State University. He began his career in the Phoenix prosecutor’s office and joined Guzman Law Group in 2013 as an estate planning, trust administration and business attorney. “With estate planning,” he says, “I meet with wonderful people who want to provide for their families, friends or charitable organizations.”
“I am part of a team that works efficiently and effectively to accomplish the goals of our clients.”
Marcus is careful to ensure that everyone he represents is fully informed so they can make the best choices for themselves and their families. “I take the time to make sure clients understand all of their estate planning documents—and especially the legal language in those documents,” he explains. “Often, clients who come to me with existing documents for an amendment or restatement of a trust are surprised by what their documents stated versus what they understood their trust to say.”
While his primary focus is estate planning and guiding clients through the administration process of trusts or probate estates, Marcus also works closely with the firm’s other attorneys in the business and litigation department. His knowledge of business formations and acquisitions serves the family businesses he works with to create their corporate succession and estate plan.
Marcus is known for his collaborative style, and clients truly appreciate his sincerity and dedication to helping them accomplish their personal and financial goals. For example, a client came to Marcus when he was being sued for inaction as a trustee of a trust. Unfortunately, prior to retaining Guzman Law Group as counsel, the client didn’t understand all of the requirements of being a trustee. Marcus used his skills to negotiate a settlement on the client’s behalf with the disgruntled beneficiaries.
In another case, Marcus’ client was the trustee of her mother’s trust. During the process of selling her mother’s residence, she discovered that the residence was not in the name of the trust—meaning the sale could not be completed. Marcus procured an emergency certified order confirming the residence as an asset of the trust, which allowed the sale to close without delay.
“Marcus’ dedication to his clients is truly unique,” says Denise. “His superpower is his natural ability to care about the client’s legal situation and use his talent, knowledge and resources to guide and protect the client into the best optimal legal position.”
Guzman Law Group has been advocating for the Los Angeles community—and clients from the West Coast to the East Coast—for more than 30 years. With their wide breadth of legal services and collaborative approach that gives clients a competitive advantage, this team of attorneys excels at protecting the wishes and objectives of both individuals and family businesses.
“I enjoy working at Guzman Law Group,” Marcus shares. “I am part of a team that works efficiently and effectively to accomplish the goals of our clients.”