Catherine Swafford
High Net Worth Guide 2024
Band 3 : Private Wealth Disputes
Band 3
About
Provided by Catherine Swafford
Practice Areas
Based in Withers’ San Diego office, Catherine M. Swafford is a partner in the firm’s trust, estate and inheritance disputes team. She practices exclusively in trust, estate, conservatorship, elder abuse and fiduciary litigation. Her practice includes representing clients in will and trust contests, elder abuse actions, breach of fiduciary duty and accounting cases, conservatorships, intestacy and heirship disputes, contract to make a will disputes, creditor claim disputes and related litigation and administration matters brought under the California Probate Code. Catherine has extensive experience litigating cases from the initial stage of filing a petition through discovery, including depositions, and finally through mediations, trial, and post-judgment.
Catherine represents beneficiaries, heirs, fiduciaries, charities, creditors and related clients in Probate and Civil Court. While based in San Diego, Catherine's practice is state wide throughout California. She has appeared in many Probate and Civil Courts throughout the state. Catherine has also developed special expertise in probate disputes involving issues of foreign law and international beneficiaries. She has experience representing clients in cross-border probate matters involving other jurisdictions such as Mexico, Switzerland, Russia, China, Hong Kong, British Virgin Islands and Hungary. She also regularly advises clients who have beneficial interests in California but reside in foreign jurisdictions.
Catherine is actively involved in the legal community. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Probate Attorneys of San Diego (PASD), where she is the Chair of the Education Committee. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Estate Planning Council of San Diego, where she is Programs Chair and Vice President. She also serves as court-appointed counsel for the San Diego Probate Court. Catherine is a frequent speaker in the community on a wide range of topics. She also is a contributing author of numerous publications, including CEB Practitioner™ attorney-drafted templates, the Litigation Alert in the California Trusts & Estates Quarterly, the California Decedent Estate Practice Guide, the California Civil Practice - Probate & Trust Proceedings Practice Guide and the California Code of Probate Forms book.
While devoted to her law practice, Catherine is the proud mother of 4 young children. She takes great pride in being able to contribute to the community both as an attorney and as a mother.
Professional Memberships
Estate Planning Council of San Diego, Board of Directors, Programs Chair and Vice President
North County Estate Planning Council
San Diego County Bar Association, Trusts & Estates Section
California State Bar, Trusts & Estates Section
Probate Attorneys of San Diego (PASD), Board of Directors, Chair of Education
San Diego Probate Court Appointed Attorney
La Jolla Bar Association
UCLA Alumni Group of San Diego
UCLA Bruin Professionals
Lawyers Club of San Diego
Chambers Review
High Net Worth
Catherine Swafford is a partner on the trusts, estates and inheritance disputes team. Swafford represents clients on conservatorships, trust contests, elder abuse actions and estate administrations.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Catherine's insights, knowledge and strategic approach help you make informed decisions at every stage of litigation."
"Catherine is extremely knowledgeable in probate law issues and communicates very well to explain everything that is going on in the case."
"Catherine is fantastic and I would refer her to anyone going through litigation."
"Catherine's insights, knowledge and strategic approach help you make informed decisions at every stage of litigation."
"Catherine is extremely knowledgeable in probate law issues and communicates very well to explain everything that is going on in the case."
"Catherine is fantastic and I would refer her to anyone going through litigation."
Articles, highlights and press releases
2 items provided by Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Greenberg Traurig Continues West Coast Expansion of Corporate Practice with John Cleary
Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP added John P. Cleary to its Corporate Practice in San Diego. He joins the firm from Procopio, where he was the leader of the firm’s corporate and transactional practice.
Greenberg Traurig Doubles Size of San Diego Office
Firm Significantly Expands Private Wealth Services Practice Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP significantly expanded its San Diego footprint, including five attorneys and two paralegals, who joined the firm’s Private Wealth Services Practice from Withers LLP.
Greenberg Traurig Continues West Coast Expansion of Corporate Practice with John Cleary
Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP added John P. Cleary to its Corporate Practice in San Diego. He joins the firm from Procopio, where he was the leader of the firm’s corporate and transactional practice.
Greenberg Traurig Doubles Size of San Diego Office
Firm Significantly Expands Private Wealth Services Practice Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP significantly expanded its San Diego footprint, including five attorneys and two paralegals, who joined the firm’s Private Wealth Services Practice from Withers LLP.