David Kim
Managing Partner
David Kim, Managing Partner of WKD, is an experienced litigator with an extensive business and real estate background, and handles exclusively probate and trust matters, both litigated and non-litigated.
Mr. Kim has successfully conducted several notable trials involving probate and trust disputes on behalf of Private Professional Fiduciaries and individuals. He also counsels clients in all phases of trust administration, conservatorships and probate matters.
Prior to practicing law, Mr. Kim's background and experience was mainly in real estate finance, working for Comerica Bank, California Federal Bank, and the Irvine Company. He has been an active licensed broker for more than 30 years and has transacted numerous investment properties throughout California.
Mr. Kim also serves as Court Appointed Counsel on Conservatorship cases and Guardian ad Litem for Trust matters for the Los Angeles Superior Court. He continues his role as Special Master for the California State Bar in connection with conducting searches for documentary evidence under the control of attorneys, physicians, psychotherapists and clergy members, Penal Code 1524.
Since graduating from law school, Mr. Kim has obtained over a decade of legal and management government experience. His prior government experience included working at the Orange County District Attorney's Office, and various Los Angeles County departments, including: the District Attorney's Office, Child Support Services (CSS), Department of Beaches & Harbor, Department of Children & Family Services, Office of Affirmative Action Compliance (OAAC), and Department of Human Resources (DHR).
During his tenure at the District Attorney’s office and CSS, Mr. Kim honed his trial skills by conducting numerous preliminary hearings, and jury trials. Mr. Kim is comfortable in a courtroom and is an experienced passionate trial advocate. During Mr. Kim's last three years at Los Angeles County, he was the Risk Manager at the OAAC and DHR responsible for overseeing all aspects of Title VII (Federal) and FEHA (State) litigation involving a workforce of over 100,000 government employees within 37 County departments. Mr. Kim was directly responsible for assessing numerous high risk claims against the County, working with the Board of Supervisors to reduce the County’s potential exposure. Mr. Kim is experienced in assessing the strengths and weaknesses of claims, determining which ones should be settled and which claims should instead go to trial.
Mr. Kim received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Southern California, with an emphasis in Real Property and Development Finance and his Juris Doctorate from Western State University. During law school, he received the American Jurisprudence Bancroft-Whitney Award for being top in his class for Legal Research and Writing. Mr. Kim was also within the top 5% of his class for both Trial and Advanced Trial Practice. 
He has been named consistently as a Southern California Super Lawyer in Trust and Estate Litigation, in addition to Real Estate & Business Litigation due to his multidisciplinary background.
Mr. Kim is also listed as one of "The Best Lawyers in America" in Litigation- Trust & Estates, by Best Lawyers of U.S. News & World Report and his law firm has been named consistently as Best Law Firm.
Mr. Kim serves on several Boards- Board Chairman at Dignity Health, Glendale Memorial Hospital and YMCA of the Foothills Board (Former Board Chairman).
Mr. Kim is admitted and certified to practice before all courts in the State of California, the United States Federal District Court for the Central District, Washington D.C., and United States Tax Court.
Speaking Events: Mr. Kim also gives speeches on probate topics. Some of his recent and upcoming speeches are:
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Fiduciary Boot Camp, Pincus Professional Education with Co-Speaker Norine Boehmer, DoubleTree by Hilton, Los Angeles Downtown, March 9, 2018
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Employing Caregivers, 23rd Annual PFAC Educational Conference with Co-Speaker Norine Boehmer, Riverside Convention Center, Riverside, CA, June 2, 2018
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When to Join the Fight: Fiduciary Neutrality and Rules of Ethics, Glendale Estate Planning Council, with Co-Speaker Lauriann Wright; Tam O'Shanter, Los Angeles, CA, July 17, 2018
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The Interplay Between Business Entities and Fiduciary Trustees, 24th Annual PFAC Educational Conference with Co-Speaker Hon. Brenda Penny, Assistant Supervising Judge, Los Angeles Superior Court, Disneyland Resort Hotel, Anaheim, CA, May 4, 2019
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When to Join the Fight: Fiduciary Neutrality & Rules of Ethics, Fiduciary Round Table, University Club, Pasadena, CA, May 8, 2019
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The Interplay between Business Entities and Fiduciaries/Trustees, Estate Planning Council of San Gabriel Valley, Pasadena, CA, November 25, 2019
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Nuances of Real Estate Management & Challenging Sales in a COVID Environment, 27th Annual PFAC Educational Conference with Co-Speakers Hon. Clifford L. Klein (Ret.), Los Angeles Superior Court, Vineendra Jain, MBA, CPM, Ingenious Asset Group, Inc., Disneyland Resort Hotel, Anaheim, CA, May 4, 2022
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LACBA- Aviva Bobb Advance CAC Training- 2023 Edition, CAC & Private Counsel, the New Rules & Ethical Considerations, with Co-Speaker J. Andrew Douglas, Wright Kim Douglas, ALC, Los Angeles, CA, March 18, 2023
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Are you Afraid of Conservatorships of the Persons? Risks, Exposures and Solutions, 28th Annual PFAC Educational Conference with Co-Speakers Hon. Ana Maria Luna, Los Angeles Superior Court, Brenda Shorkend, Shorkend Care Management, Sam Gopinathan, New Wave Home Care, Hyatt Regency Embarcadero Center, San Francisco, CA, June 1, 2023
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To Sell or Not to Sell: When is it time to Sell the Conservatee’s Residence? Beverly Hills Bar Association with Co-Speakers Hon. Craig Karlan (Ret.), Los Angeles Superior Court, Carmen Alberio (Ret.) Los Angeles Superior Court Supervising Probate Counsel, Nancy Sanborn, Brian Joy, The Sanborn Team, October 25, 2023
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A New Frontier in California- Directed Trusts, South Bay Bar Association with Co-Speakers Hon. Barbara Johnson (Ret.), Los Angeles Superior Court, Carmen Alberio (Ret.) Los Angeles Superior Court Supervising Probate Counsel, October 24, 2024
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2024 New Real Property Sale Commission Rules- When is it Time to Sell the Conservatee’s Residence and should the Seller Pay Buyer’s Commission, 30th Annual PFAC Educational Conference, with Co-Speakers Hon. Craig Karlan (Ret.), Los Angeles Superior Court, Carmen Alberio (Ret.) Los Angeles Superior Court Supervising Probate Attorney, Brian Joy, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services California Properties, Disneyland Resort Hotel, Anaheim, CA., May 8, 2025
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An Introduction to and Overview of California Directed Trusts, Santa Monica Bar Association with Co-Speakers Hon. Barbara Johnson (Ret.), Los Angeles Superior Court, Carmen Alberio (Ret.) Los Angeles Superior Court Supervising Probate Counsel, May 15, 2025
Probate is a court proceeding in which a Personal Representative marshals all of your assets, pays off all of your creditors, then distributes what is left to your heirs. When you have a Will, the Personal Representative is called an Executor. If you do not have a Will, the Personal Representative is called an Administrator..jpg)
Assets that are held in joint tenancy are distributed outside of probate. Joint Tenancy is sometimes referred to as "Poor Man’s Estate Planning" because it happens automatically, without the need for any probate proceeding. Assets that you hold in joint tenancy cannot be left to someone else through a Will or Trust. Instead, assets held in Joint Tenancy go by way of what is known as the “Right of Survivorship.” Right of Survivorship means that whomever is on title to the asset with you will inherit your share of it when you die. So, for example, if you own your home in joint tenancy with one of your children, when you die, that child would then own 100% of the home through the Right of Survivorship.