Paul Tour-Sarkissian

Paul Tour-Sarkissian specializes in international private law, estate planning, trust law and probate (including international estate planning), business law, and food and beverage law. He is the co-author of The Essential Guide to California Restaurant Law (Carolina Academic Press 2010) and the 2017 Supplement to The Essential Guide to California Restaurant Law (Carolina Academic Press 2017). He has extensive expertise in forming and advising start-ups on behalf of domestic and foreign clients. Paul is the author of numerous articles on restaurant law and safety, and private international legal issues. Trained as an attorney in both France and the United States, Paul received a diploma in Banking and Law (1978) and a Masters in Law (1979) from Université Jean Moulin in Lyon, France, an MBA in Banking and Finance from Golden Gate University (1982), a J.D. from University of San Francisco School of Law (1985), and a Master of Laws in Taxation (with honors) from Golden Gate University School of Law (2003). Admitted to practice law in California and New York, Paul is a member of the ABA, and the State Bars of California and New York.

Paul has been appointed by the Consulate General of France in San Francisco as one of its two official legal advisors ("avocat conseil"). In this capacity, he represents numerous individuals and companies from France and other European countries. He is the co-author of Trusts Américains et Pratique Notariale Française (American Trusts and French Notary Practice), published in 2013 by Defrénois (France). Paul has been appointed by Honorable Ed Lee, Mayor of San Francisco, to serve on the San Francisco Small Business Commission for a 4-year term.