Bringing over three decades of experience in complex litigation, in July 2010 David W. Baer joined Hartog & Baer as the firm's trial counsel. David represents charities and non-profit entities, individuals and financial institutions in a broad array of matters, such as will and trust contests, fiduciary litigation, estate distribution disputes, spousal property claims, no contest clause claims, financial elder abuse, and estate planning malpractice. While David has focused almost exclusively on litigation in Probate Court since the 1990s, he has a wealth of experience in other substantive areas frequently at the heart of trust and estate matters including real estate, tax, corporate, and partnership law. David is particularly skilled in negotiating and drafting complex multi-party settlements. Drawing on that strength, David’s practice also encompasses serving as a mediator. He also has acted as a consultant and expert witness at trial.When appropriate, David has the tenacity to litigate a matter to conclusion through trial or appeal, where he has a proven track record of success. He prevailed in overturning the trial court judgment in Murphy v. Murphy (2008) 164 Cal.App.4th 376, the first case in the nation to hold that a substituted judgment order approving a conservatee's estate plan bars any beneficiary from contesting the plan after the conservatee's death.David is one of the authors of California Trust and Probate Litigation, the California Continuing Education of the Bar's two-volume practice guide. He was a 2003 recipient of the Wiley W. Manual Award for Pro Bono service.