Michael R. Bamvakais is a principal of the law firm Dill, Bamvakais & O’Keefe, P.C.
Mr. Bamvakais has practiced law in the Metropolitan St. Louis area for 40 years and concentrates his practice in the areas of estate planning (i.e. preparing Wills, Trusts, Durable Powers of Attorney, Advanced Medical Directives, HIPAA Releases and Waivers, etc.), probate estate administration, and trust administration. Mr. Bamvakais’s goal is to tailor his advice to conform to a client’s unique legal needs, for a solid estate plan that will be there when a client’s family needs it.
Mr. Bamvakais received his Bachelor of Science Degree (cum laude) from the University of Missouri – St. Louis and his Juris Doctorate Degree from the Washington University School of Law.
For the last 23 years, Mr. Bamvakais has been rated "AV Preeminent" by Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, the highest rating for legal ability and general ethical standards in the practice of law. An AV rating is a testament to the fact that a lawyer's peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence and denotes adherence to professional standards of conduct and ethics, reliability, diligence and other criteria relevant to the discharge of professional responsibilities.
A Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating attests to a lawyer’s legal ability and professional ethics, and reflects the confidential opinions of the legal Bar and the Judiciary.
Mr. Bamvakais’s legal affiliations include The Missouri Bar, the Estate Planning and Probate Administration Committee of the Missouri Bar, and the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis.
In addition to his legal practice and legal affiliations, Mr. Bamvakais has been very active in civic activities, having served as a Member of the Board and President of the Affton Chamber of Commerce, a Member of the Board and President of the Affton Historical Society Endowment Trust, a Member of the Board and President of the Crestwood-Sunset Hills Rotary Club, a Member of the Board and Treasurer of the South County Police Business Association, a Member of the Board and Vice-President of the Citizens’ Police Academy Alumni Association – South County, and Chairman of the Meritorious Action Awards Committee of the St. Louis Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Through his contributions to the Rotary Foundation, he has been recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow from Rotary International.
Mr. Bamvakais is frequently asked by financial advisors, charitable organizations and other professionals to speak and present estate planning seminars to groups.
