About

Provided by Withers

Withers Bergman LLP, also known as Withersworldwide outside of the United States, is one of the world's best-known (and most sought-after) law firms for privately held capital, in particular, among multi-generational, high net worth, and ultrahigh net worth families to service their sophisticated legal needs. 


With 17 global offices, including 3 California offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego, our California attorneys leverage the firm’s regional strength and global platform to best service our clients’ needs on a daily basis.


Our California offices cover a wide range of practices within private wealth law including tax, trusts, estate planning, financial services, trust and estate litigation, dispute resolution, real estate, charities, philanthropy, art and cultural assets, employment, family law and more to address the issues individuals and families face, and we leverage our business and dispute resolution practices globally to support their wider interests. We are proud that founders, creatives, leaders, senior executives, artists, entertainers, trustees and fiduciaries, families and family offices turn to our private client and tax attorneys for their private wealth law needs.

 

Withers’ other office locations include London, Cambridge, Geneva, Milan, Padua, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, British Virgin Islands, New York, Greenwich, New Haven, Boston and Texas.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Private Wealth Law - California: Southern

1
Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Withers is a well-regarded firm and a major player in private wealth with a strong international practice. The Los Angeles and San Diego offices also have a litigation team experienced in dealing with contested trusts, estates and conservatorships.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Marsha Dungog
1
Marsha Dungog
1
Band 1

Marsha Dungog is managing director of the San Francisco office and advises wealthy clients in regard to international income, gift and estate tax issues.

Marsha is consistently thoughtful and accurate in her information.

Marsha Dungog is a first-rate excellent lawyer and tactician. Her ebullient nature and sense of humour immediately puts people at ease and makes her a pleasure to deal with.

Marsha Dungog easily identifies issues and works towards finding a solution for clients.

She has been amazing - very creative and commercial in her solutions. She has been extremely responsive and I can reach her almost anytime. She is deeply connected in the US and Australian tax world.

Marsha is one of the top international planning attorneys, with particular expertise in Canadian and Australian cross-border planning expertise. I rate her very highly.

Elizabeth A. Bawden
2
Elizabeth A. Bawden
2
Band 2
Elizabeth Bawden advises high net worth clients on extremely complex domestic and international estate and tax planning matters.

Elizabeth is my go-to attorney for estate planning matters for high net worth clients. She is very commercial, client-focused and attentive.

Elizabeth Bawden is technical in her expertise, very thorough and incredibly knowledgeable about anything related to trust law.

Elizabeth has a fantastic client touch.

Michael Brophy
2
Michael Brophy
2
Band 2

Michael Brophy is an experienced litigator representing prominent individuals, families, charities and fiduciaries in highly sensitive trust and estate contests.

Michael Brophy is a very high-quality trust and estate litigator, and knows what he is doing. He's very sharp and very technical.

I trust Michael's judgement, quality of work and ethics.

Paul Sczudlo
2
Paul Sczudlo
2
Band 2

Paul Sczudlo is highly experienced in advising wealthy clients on international planning matters.

Paul Sczudlo is a top-notch cross-border private client lawyer.

Paul is a well-regarded attorney and is very strong on estate planning.

Paul is professional, thorough and effective.

Jeremy Moffit
3
Jeremy Moffit
3
Band 3

Jeremy Moffit represents wealthy clients in trust, estate and probate litigation, conservatorships and administration matters.

Paul Gordon Hoffman
3
Paul Gordon Hoffman
3
Band 3

Paul Gordon Hoffman has maintained a good reputation in the market for his estate, tax and charitable planning expertise. He is known for advising clients in the entertainment industry.

Paul Hoffman is a terrific lawyer.

Craig Weinstein
U
Craig Weinstein
U
Up and Coming

Craig Weinstein is a partner in the trust, estate and inheritance disputes team at Withers. He assists on many of the team's most complex matters.

Craig is an outstanding practitioner and provided exceptional service. Our matter was highly sensitive, and Craig's attentive manner was much needed and highly valued.

Helen S. Cheng
U
Helen S. Cheng
U
Up and Coming

Helen Cheng is regularly instructed by high net worth clients on complex trust and estate planning matters.

Helen is an excellent attorney. She's very responsive, has a high level of expertise in charitable planning and is always great to work with.

Helen has been wonderful. She is very collegial, responsive, sophisticated in her planning and very technical.

Ranked Individuals at
Withers

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

California

Private Wealth Disputes

Michael Brophy
2
Michael Brophy
2
Band 2
Jeremy Moffit
3
Jeremy Moffit
3
Band 3
Craig Weinstein
U
Craig Weinstein
U
Up and Coming

California: Northern

Private Wealth Law

Marsha Dungog
1
Marsha Dungog
1
Band 1

California: Southern

Private Wealth Law

Elizabeth A. Bawden
2
Elizabeth A. Bawden
2
Band 2
Paul Sczudlo
2
Paul Sczudlo
2
Band 2
Paul Gordon Hoffman
3
Paul Gordon Hoffman
3
Band 3
Helen S. Cheng
U
Helen S. Cheng
U
Up and Coming

Members

Provided by Withers

Amy Hespenheide

Charles Kolstad

Helen Cheng

Joy Chang

Kristina Hancock

Louis Mezzullo

Marsha Dungog

Michael Brophy

Michael Brophy

Head of Department

Naomita Yadav

Steven Chidester

Industries

Provided by Withers

Charities / Not for Profit

Energy

Financial Services

Insurance

Media

Pharmaceuticals & Life Sciences

Private Clients / Individuals

Real Estate

Software & Computer Services

Sports

Technology, Hardware & Electronics