David G. Shaftel

David G. Shaftel is an attorney at Shaftel Delman in Anchorage and has practiced law in Alaska for decades. David’s work centers on estate planning, tax planning, trusts, and the development of Alaska planning vehicles. He has participated in drafting Alaska legislation and has written extensively about self-settled discretionary spendthrift trusts, family limited partnerships, limited liability companies, and Alaska’s optional community property system.

David earned an A.B. from Stanford University, a J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, and an LL.M. in Taxation from New York University. His advanced tax education supports a practice focused on sophisticated estate planning structures and the tax consequences of wealth transfer. The combination of legal and tax training has informed his work on new planning tools used by Alaska clients and advisors.

David has taught and presented in continuing legal education programs sponsored by organizations including the Alaska Bar Association, the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, the Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning, and other tax and estate planning groups. His writing and legislative involvement have focused on Alaska trust law, family entities, community property planning, and related wealth-transfer strategies.

David G. Shaftel is a member and former Alaska Chair of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and founded the Taxation Section of the Alaska Bar Association. David has also held leadership roles in estate planning and community organizations. His long involvement in Alaska trust and estate law provides clients and professional colleagues with experienced guidance on planning structures, tax issues, and legislative developments.

Law Office Affiliations

• Attorney, Shaftel Delman, LLC
• Member, Alaska Bar Association
• Founder, Taxation Section and Director, Estate Planning Section, Alaska Bar Association
• Member, The State Bar of California
• Member, Washington State Bar Association
• Former Alaska Chair, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel
• Former President, Anchorage Estate Planning Council
• Former Director and Founding Member, Alaska Community Foundation
• Director, Alaska SPCA

Licensed State

• Alaska
• California
• Washington

Education

• New York University
  LL.M. (Taxation)
• University of California, Berkeley
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Stanford University
  A.B.

Awards & Badges