Westwood trusts and estates law firm Hoffman Sabban & Watenmaker has merged with global law firm Withersworldwide.
The move brings eight attorneys, three paralegals and other support staff into the Withers outpost in Century City, where the local managing director, Michael Brophy, helps run the regional trust, estate and inheritance disputes team.
Partner-level attorneys from HSW include Paul Gordon Hoffman, Alan Watenmaker, Chang Chae and Eric Tokuyama. Hoffman, a founding partner of HSW, said Withers’ culture aligned well with his firm, which he co-founded in 1981.
“As the leading international law firm for private client work, Withers offers an unrivaled platform for our team,” Hoffman said in a statement. “Not only does this move expand the global services available to our clients, we will now be able to offer a full range of dispute resolution, corporate, IP and broader tax and wealth planning advice.”
Added Chae: “The attorneys, paralegals and staff at Withers share our commitment to serving our clients with excellence and exhibit a collegiality that was always the hallmark of HSW.”
HSW’s clientele included business, entertainment and real estate professionals, working with them for a variety of tax and estate planning, litigation and succession planning.
“Their team is exceptionally well-regarded in the Los Angeles market, and they will further strengthen our California offering, which already includes over 20 attorneys in Los Angeles and more than 35 private client attorneys statewide,” Jay Dinwoodie, chief executive of Withers’ private client and tax division, said in a statement. “Our new colleagues will provide immense value to our clients, who require innovative answers to complex questions.”
