David C. Boatwright

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...

Karen Albence is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Karen, 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 Karen is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Louis Mezzullo’s principal areas of practice are Taxation, Estate and Business Succession Planning, and Employee Benefits. He was on the faculty of the University of Miami School of Law Graduate Program in Estate Planning from 2004 to 2007 and on the faculty of the University of San Diego School of Law in 2009. He was an adjunct professor of law at the University of Richmond Law School from 1978 until 2006. He is listed in Who's Who in American Law, Who's Who in Emerging Leaders and Who...

Leslie is a partner in the family law team at Withers. Her practice focuses on handling all aspects of family law, concentrating in the area of complex financial issues and custody disputes. While Leslie is adept at litigating cases, she prefers to utilize her experience to achieve settlement whenever possible. Leslie is also experienced at negotiating and drafting cohabitation, prenuptial, and postnuptial agreements. Leslie has been recognized as a Best Lawyer by US News and World Report sin...

Cheryl Dunn Soto's practice has focused on representing commercial policyholders in insurance coverage matters and insurance/bad faith litigation since 2008. Her clients include law firms, accountants, contractors, developers, real estate professionals, medical groups, broker-dealers, HOAs, distributors and manufacturers, and other companies throughout California. Cheryl handles a wide variety of coverage matters and has significant experience with liability policies, including directors and ...

Deyan P. Spiridonov is a member of the firm’s Mergers & Acquisitions practice. He is a member of the California State Bar Association. Deyan practices in the area of mergers and acquisitions and has represented public and private companies in the telecommunications, semiconductor, software, technology-related defense contracting, biotechnology and financial industries. Mr. Spiridonov has experience in structuring and negotiating all aspects of acquisition transactions, including sto...

Cecilia O’Connell Miller is a Shareholder in Buchalter’s San Diego Office. She is Co-Chair of the Insurance Law practice group and a Member of the Firm’s Board of Directors. Ms. Miller’s practice encompasses trial and appellate representation of her policyholder clients in arbitrations, state courts and federal courts across the country. Her practice focuses on complex commercial litigation and pre-litigation counseling with an emphasis on insurance coverage recovery f...

Douglas “Doug” Clifford is a Partner in the firm’s Class Action and Employment Law Practice groups. Doug has spent approximately twenty years practicing employment law in a variety of legal roles: litigator, in-house counsel, adjunct professor, mediator and a business owner. At Wilson Turner Kosmo, Doug represents employers for all their employment law needs. He advises clients on the full spectrum of employment law issues, including wage and hour issues, wrongful terminatio...

Aaron T. Winn is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Aaron T., 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 Aaron T. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

John Hammerstrand is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. John, who practices law in San Diego, California, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.