WELCOME

Founded in 1981, Los Angeles-based Hoffman, Sabban & Watenmaker, APC (“HSW”)  is one of the nation’s preeminent law firms devoted exclusively to the practice of all aspects of trusts and estates law, including estate and tax planning, dispute resolution, probate and post-death trust administration.

HSW represents a diverse clientele, both national and international in scope.  Our clients are engaged in a wide variety of business and professions, with many having extensive involvement in the entertainment industry.  We work with estates ranging in size from several million dollars to in excess of $1 billion.  This diversity has provided our attorneys with an unmatched depth of knowledge and experience to better serve our clients. We take pride in providing the highest quality service while remaining efficient and cost-effective.

U.S. News & World Report ranks HSW as a “Los Angeles Tier 1” law firm in three practice areas: “Trusts & Estates Law”, “Litigation – Trusts & Estates” and “Tax Law.”   Four members of HSW are Fellows of the prestigious American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, an international organization of approximately 2,600 lawyers elected to membership by demonstrating the highest level of integrity, commitment to the profession, competence and experience as trust and estate counselors.  In addition, six attorneys have been designated as Southern California “Super Lawyers,” a statewide peer ballot process recognizing attorneys who are in the top 5% of their practice areas.  Paul Gordon Hoffman and Alan Watenmaker have also been twice named among the Top 100 Southern California Super Lawyers (without regard to speciality).  Six HSW attorneys are listed in The Best Lawyers in America, the oldest and one of the most highly respected peer review guides to the legal profession worldwide, and Mr. Hoffman was chosen by Best Lawyers as the 2010 “Top Tax Lawyer” in the metropolitan Los Angeles area.

At HSW, we are committed to finding solutions to the varied needs of our clients while understanding their particular concerns and emotions.  We strive to address these emotional needs by fully explaining options and keeping our clients informed, at the same time we address the legal and technical issues presented.  We consider ourselves to be true “counselors” as well as “attorneys at law.”