Helen S. Cheng

Helen S. Cheng

La Jolla, CA recognized lawyers icon Recognized in Ones to Watch since 2022
Withers

37 Best Lawyers awards

Withers logo

Awarded Practice Areas

Nonprofit / Charities Law Trusts and Estates

Biography

Helen is a partner in the private client and tax team at Withers Bergman LLP. She is a trusts and estates attorney who focuses on exempt organizations and international tax planning for inbound and outbound transactions. She assists clients in all aspects of estate planning, estate and trust administration and charitable planning.

Helen brings a diversity of experience to her clients. After graduating from Stanford Law School, she practiced international corporate tax law in China and California where she worked with multinational corporations, such as Oracle, Intel and Seagate, on sophisticated international tax planning techniques. Helen is also certified as a specialist in estate planning, trust, and probate law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.

Previously, Helen worked at the San Diego Zoo to create its licensing and technology transfer program. She was directly responsible for the creation of the San Diego Zoo Global Centre for Bioinspiration and worked with companies such as Procter & Gamble, WD-40, Nike and Qualcomm to develop technologies inspired by nature.

Helen currently serves as chair of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners San Diego Branch (STEP SD) and on the STEP USA board of directors. She is also general counsel for the International Community Foundation and a board member at the Balboa Art Conservation Center.

Withers

37 Best Lawyers awards

Withers logo

Overview

  • Stanford University, J.D.
  • University of Kansas, B.A.

  • California, 2000

  • Balboa Art Conservation Center - Board Member
  • International Community Foundation - General Counsel
  • San Diego County Bar Association, Taxation Section - Member
  • STEP San Diego - Branch Chair
  • STEP USA - Board of Directors
  • California, 2000
  • Balboa Art Conservation Center - Board Member
  • International Community Foundation - General Counsel
  • San Diego County Bar Association, Taxation Section - Member
  • STEP San Diego - Branch Chair
  • STEP USA - Board of Directors
  • Stanford University, J.D.
  • University of Kansas, B.A.

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America 2026 for work in:
  • Nonprofit / Charities Law
  • Trusts and Estates

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