Manuella W. Hancock, Esq.
Manuella W. Hancock is a founding member of Hancock Legal PLLC. Born and primarily raised in Washington DC, Manuella is half Chilean and spent formative years living outside of Paris France. Manuella began her career as a civil litigator in California, working in a large firm environment. Recognizing a passion for personal connections with her clients, Manuella’s practice developed around working with small businesses and working professional clients. Manuella now represents clients in both California and the District of Columbia.
Manuella has developed her practice around the specific needs she has identified through her work with her clients. As a litigator, having represented businesses ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, Manuella focuses on clients who need counseling on how to resolve disputes as well as how to avoid them. With experience practicing in state, federal district and bankruptcy courts as well as various ADR venues, Manuella is able to guide her clients to the most effective resolution of disputes when they arise. And, having encountered the most typical issues that arise for her target clients, Manuella also actively counsels on practices for her clients that will prevent disputes from ever arising. Manuella’s counseling philosophy assumes that clients are looking for answers that take into account financial, personal and business considerations beyond simple dispute avoidance, and she advises on this basis.
Perhaps one of the most important needs for small business ownership and working professionals is an effective integration of business into personal financial management. Manuella has spent years advising clients on Life Change Management techniques. With a particular emphasis on alternative families, including same sex couples, Manuella has significant experience advising individuals on the many legal issues that impact Life Change Management. Fluent in Spanish and French, and familiar with the different tax regimes of numerous other countries, Manuella also assists bi-national couples with negotiating income and estate tax issues unique to expatriate families.
As a tax practitioner with a focus on trusts and estates and small businesses, Manuella advises frequently on planned giving techniques. Working with both individual donors and nonprofit organizations, Manuella helps identify and structure techniques that make sense for the client given the short and long term tax and economic outlooks.
Manuella frequently presents on legal issues of interest including Life Change Management, human resources issues, and litigation avoidance techniques.
