Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael “Mike” Hollander, Attorney At Law.
Hi Michael “Mike”, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My story starts and ends in St. Charles. Growing up, I was always deeply involved in the community, particularly through sports and the local parish school system. I spent my youth on the baseball fields at St. Peter and Duchesne, learning early on that success is usually the result of a solid game plan and a lot of preparation. That mindset led me to pursue a double major in Accounting and Finance at Missouri Western, where I continued playing baseball. I’ve always been drawn to the “logic” of numbers and how they can be used to protect a person’s hard work.
After law school, I didn’t take the traditional path of a small-town lawyer. I went straight into the deep end of the pool—working for a “Big Four” accounting firm and later a global law firm. I spent years focused on international tax, corporate structures, and massive mergers. It was an intense, fast-paced environment where there was zero margin for error. I learned how to look at a complex financial situation and spot the hidden risks that most people miss.
While I was successful in the corporate world, I started to realize that the people who needed this level of sophisticated planning the most weren’t the Fortune 500 companies—it was the families and small business owners back in my hometown. I saw too many instances where a family would lose a loved one and then lose their shirt in the probate process because they didn’t have a solid plan. I saw business owners who had spent 30 years building a legacy, only for it to crumble because they hadn’t structured their succession correctly.
I decided to take all that “big firm” technical expertise and bring it back home to St. Charles. I founded Hollander Legal Estate Planning & Probate in 2019 with a simple mission: to provide high-level, sophisticated legal strategies with the personal touch of a neighbor. I wanted to create a firm where clients felt like they were talking to a friend, but knew they were getting the same level of protection that a major corporation would receive.
Today, I’m right where I want to be. I reside in St. Charles with my wife, Lauren, our daughter, Murphy, and our Cavapoo, Shep. When I’m not at the office, I’m usually making the most of my time with family and friends, or heading to the mountains to go skiing.
However, my deepest connection to the community remains on the field. I’ve come full circle at my alma mater, Duchesne Catholic High School, where I serve as the Varsity Baseball Coach. Whether I’m in the dugout or at the conference table, my goal is the same: helping Missouri citizens prepare for the future and protect what they’ve built.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My path to founding Hollander Legal wasn’t a straight line. After finishing my education at Mizzou and UMSL, I spent several years in the high-pressure world of international tax and corporate law. I was working on complex mergers and acquisitions for a global ‘Big Four’ accounting firm and a major international law firm. It was an incredible training ground—it taught me how to handle high-stakes environments and how to find solutions to incredibly intricate financial problems.
As much as I enjoyed the intellectual challenge of corporate law, I felt a disconnect. I was helping massive entities save money, but I missed the human element. I realized that the same tools I was using for multi-million dollar corporations—tax strategy, asset protection, and succession planning—were exactly what families and small business owners in St. Charles needed.
I decided to bring that ‘big firm’ expertise back to my hometown, but with a ‘small town’ heart. I wanted to be the person my neighbors could call when they were worried about their kids’ future or their parents’ care. If I had to summarize my journey, I’d say I’m a St. Charles kid who went out to learn the most complex parts of the law so I could come back and make estate planning and probate simple my community at large.
We’ve been impressed with Hollander Legal – Estate Planning & Probate, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
What should we know? What do you do?
Hollander Legal is a law firm based in St. Charles, Missouri, dedicated specifically to helping families and small business owners navigate the complexities of the future. We specialize in Estate Planning and Probate Administration.
Our daily work involves crafting strategic legal frameworks—such as Wills, Trusts, and Powers of Attorney—that ensure a person’s legacy is preserved and their loved ones are protected. When a family loses someone, we step in to handle the Probate process, taking the legal and administrative burden off their shoulders during a time of grief.
What do you specialize in / What are you known for?
We are well-known for our specialized focus. Unlike “general practice” firms, we dedicate all our efforts to estate and probate matters. This expertise allows us to navigate the nuances of the Missouri county Probate Court’s with precision.
What sets you apart from others?
What truly sets us apart is our entrepreneurial perspective. Our founder, Attorney, Michael “Mike” Hollander, has a strong legal background. We don’t just look at an estate plan as a set of legal documents; we look at it as a comprehensive life and business strategy.
We also pride ourselves on being relatable and accessible. We hear from clients all the time that they expected the process to be “scary” or “stuffy,” but found our team to be personable and easy to talk to. We speak in plain English, not “legalese,” because we believe you can’t make good decisions if you don’t fully understand your options.
What are you most proud of brand-wise?
We are most proud of our reputation for integrity and community deep-rootedness. Being a part of the St. Charles community isn’t just a marketing tag for us—it’s who we are. We are proud to be the firm that neighbors recommend to neighbors.
Brand-wise, we take great pride in the “peace of mind” we provide. Our brand isn’t just about the law; it’s about the relief a client feels when they walk out of our office, knowing that if the worst happens, their family is taken care of.
What do you want readers to know about your brand and services?
We want VoyageSTL readers to know that estate planning isn’t just for the wealthy. It is for anyone who has a house, a child, or a business. Many people put this off because it feels overwhelming, but we’ve designed our process to be efficient, cost-effective, and surprisingly simple.
Whether you are a young family looking to name guardians for your children or a retiree wanting to ensure your assets pass to your heirs without the delay of probate, we are here to be your trusted partner. At Hollander Legal, you aren’t just a case file—you’re a member of our community, and we treat your legacy with the respect it deserves.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was proudly born and raised in St. Charles, Missouri, so my childhood was very much centered around this community. Looking back, I think I was a mix of someone who was highly disciplined but also very social and team-oriented.
I grew up attending St. Peter Catholic School and later Duchesne High School. Those years really shaped my values—especially the importance of community and giving back. I was the kind of kid who enjoyed being part of a group effort, whether that was in the classroom or on the field. I’ve always had an analytical side, too; before I ever considered law, I was drawn to the logic of numbers, which eventually led me to double major in Accounting and Finance in college.
If you knew me growing up, you probably saw me with a baseball glove in my hand. Baseball was a huge part of my identity. I played all through my youth and eventually at the collegiate level for Missouri Western State University.
That experience taught me a lot about leadership, persistence, and how to handle pressure—traits that I rely on every single day as an attorney. Even today, that passion for the game hasn’t left me; I’m back at my alma mater, Duchesne High School, serving as the Varsity Baseball Coach. It’s a great way to stay connected to the same environment that helped raise me.
Even when I was younger, I knew I wanted to do something that had a tangible impact on people’s lives. While my early career took me into the world of international tax and high-level corporate mergers at a global firm, my ‘hometown’ upbringing eventually pulled me back. I realized I wanted to take those complex skills I’d learned and use them to help my neighbors here in St. Charles and around Missouri protect their families and their legacies.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hollanderlegal.com/
