Aaron Buckley

At Withers Bergman LLP, Steven focuses his practice on estate planning, trust and estate administration, charitable giving and representing tax-exempt organizations. He has designed and used computer modeling to show the economic consequences of various estate planning and charitable giving techniques. Steven is also experienced in the area of executive compensation, focusing on compensation and intermediate sanctions issues for tax-exempt organizations. Steven has represented exempt organiza...

AnneElise P. Goetz is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Health Care Law and Real Estate Law. AnneElise P., who practices law in San Diego, California, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which AnneElise P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Chris Hoffman is the founding and managing partner of the San Diego office. He has represented hundreds of employers in matters ranging from class action litigation, to traditional labor matters and general employment advice. While litigation remains a significant portion of his practice, Chris also spends a significant amount of time counseling clients regarding day-to-day employment issues and assisting them to find practical and proactive solutions to their legal problems. Chris was select...

Robert Brown focuses on tax structuring and deal-making across a broad range of transactions, with particular emphasis on multifamily, mixed-use, and office/retail investment real estate. Robert synthesizes tax structuring into his transactional practice with a combination of sophistication. creativity and pragmatism. He has served as lead counsel for approximately $15 billion in transactions over the last five years. Robert’s practice encompasses negotiating and closing large-scale inv...

Mike Hurvitz is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Mike, who practices law in San Diego, California, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Mike is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Scott J. Ingold is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Scott J., who practices law in San Diego, California, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Scott J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Matthew C. Smith has extensive experience in all aspects of civil litigation, including trials, arbitrations, and mediations. Matt represents individuals and business clients on a wide variety of professional and business litigation matters. He has served as lead counsel or co-counsel in more than a dozen trials and arbitrations. Matt also handled several successful appeals and has argued before the Fourth District Court of Appeal. Matt earned his Juris Doctor from Washington & Lee Univer...

Jeremy A. Roth practices exclusively in the area of labor and employment law, representing retailers, hotels, and other management clients in state and federal courts and before various governmental agencies. He defends employers in all phases of litigation, up through and including trial by jury or bench, and has handled countless mediations and arbitrations. His experience includes: Alleged discrimination Wrongful termination Employment-related torts Wage and hour claims Class and collectiv...

Jesse Ferrantella is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Labor and Employment. Jesse, who practices law in San Diego, California, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jesse is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Steven Cologne was elected Managing Partner of the Firm in 2016. He devotes his practice to complex Tort and Commercial litigation in State and Federal Courts. In 2020, Mr. Cologne achieved the distinction of being certified as a Fellow in the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) effective May 2020. On May 4, 2020, he was admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia. Mr. Cologne joined Higgs Fletcher & Mack in 1999 after previously enjoying 15 years as an associate, partner ...