Max Shilleto

I first met Max through a mutual client in West Van. We were dealing with a fairly complex estate. This included a blended family, two businesses, and an outdated will that was more of a time bomb than a plan. Max didn’t flinch. He walked everyone through it, calmly explained the moving pieces, and somehow managed to keep the family from tearing each other apart.

He’s not one of those lawyers who throw Latin at you or bury you in documents. Max actually listens, then comes back with a plan that works in real life. We’ve worked on numerous files together, including estate plans, trust setups, and even a multi-generational business handoff that I honestly thought would go off the rails.

What makes him different? A few things:

He builds estate plans that work before and after death. Stuff like dual wills, power of attorney setups, and representation agreements. All tailored. No cookie-cutter stuff.

He has been through messy family dynamics and knows how to navigate conflict effectively. I've seen him mediate between three adult kids who couldn’t agree on where to scatter ashes.

He’s big on protecting wealth from unexpected curveballs. This includes creditor protection, addressing future disputes, and planning for incapacity, even when no one wants to discuss it.

For business owners, he sets up succession plans that actually hold up. One of our mutual clients had a complex web of holding companies and trusts, along with a complicated family structure — Max made it look easy. (It wasn’t.)

He also knows how to handle estate administration. Probate, taxes, land transfers, dealing with the Public Guardian, cleaning up a decade of disorganized paperwork... he gets it done.

He began his legal career in Alberta after completing law school in Calgary, but he’s now based on the West Coast, working out of Vancouver. If you’ve got an estate or a private business situation you don’t want to screw up, he’s someone worth talking to.

Outside the office, he’s a dog dad (Bernedoodle named Mookie), spends weekends hiking around the North Shore with his partner Katrina, and has an unhealthy collection of vinyl and Canucks gear. Likes rain and heartbreak, which makes him a true Vancouverite.

You may have seen him give talks to insurance groups, unions, or wealth management firms. Topics like “what to do when your executor lives in a different province,” or “how to keep your ex-spouse from inheriting your house.” Practical stuff, not just law school theory.

If you’re a lawyer, accountant, or advisor and you’re dealing with a client who needs serious planning or needs help cleaning up a mess, Max is the guy I’d call.

You can reach him here:

📞 604.595.9925

📠 604.688.3830

📧 [email protected]

He works at Richards Buell Sutton in downtown Vancouver. Ask for Maggie or Eduardo if he’s in a meeting, they’ll help you out.

(Also: He’s part of STEP, the Estate Planning Council, and all that professional group stuff. The credentials are there. But honestly, it’s the real-world experience that sets him apart.)