Richard W. S. Pershing
Senior Attorney at Law
Meet Richard S. Pershing, an esteemed attorney with a diverse and accomplished legal practice catering to clients with estates and businesses of all sizes and types. His expertise ranges from assisting small enterprises to multi-million-dollar operations, including both for-profit and nonprofit entities. Richard’s focus lies in estate planning, with a particular passion for supporting business owners and family-owned businesses in their estate and business planning needs.
With a keen understanding of the unique concerns faced by healthcare professionals, Richard has represented various medical practitioners, including physicians, osteopaths, podiatrists, dentists, optometrists, chiropractors, and allied health professionals. Moreover, he advocates for licensed professional fiduciaries, showcasing his commitment to the well-rounded representation of his clients.
Richard’s prowess extends to tribal courts, where he is admitted to practice before the San Manuel Tribal Court and the Morongo Tribal Court, expertly handling conservatorship and guardianship matters. His experience encompasses representation of non-profit and for-profit hospitals, multi-hospital systems, multi-specialty medical groups, home health care agencies, clinical laboratories, independent practice associations, and foundations.
While Richard’s primary focus is now on estate and business planning, his legal journey has encompassed various areas, including medical employment contract matters, physician rights, anti-trust, unlicensed practice of medicine, and third-party payor contracting disputes.
Renowned for his legal acumen, Richard is ranked as a Super Lawyer by Thompson Reuters and has earned a five-star rating on Avvo.com. Prior to entering the legal field, he had a successful career in hospital administration and public relations and development at Loma Linda University, La Sierra Campus. Additionally, he has served as a faculty member at California Southern College of Law, imparting knowledge in business law and related subjects.
Richard’s commitment to giving back to the community is evident through his involvement in various civic, religious, and charitable boards and committees. He has played an active role in organizations such as hospice, Rotary, Kiwanis, United Way, and the Riverside and San Bernardino County Bar Associations. Richard currently serves on the University of California, Riverside, Paralegal Advisory Committee Meeting.
In his pursuit of conflict resolution and restorative practices, Richard is the founding Director for the Center for Conflict Resolution in the Tom and Vi Zapara School of Business at La Sierra University. He conducts educational programs in conflict resolution and restorative practices across North America, the Caribbean, and Europe.
Richard’s mediation expertise stems from training at Pepperdine University, School of Law, Straus Institute, and extensive post-doctoral coursework at Chapman University, Fowler School of Law. He firmly believes in the transformative power of mediation, where parties take ownership of their disputes and collaborate towards resolutions. Richard serves as a mediator for the Riverside County Superior Court and the Riverside County Bar Association Dispute Resolution Service, handling trust and will disputes and business conflicts.
Beyond his illustrious legal career, Richard treasures his family life. He is happily married and has two daughters. In his leisure time, he indulges in painting and water coloring alongside his wife, adding a creative touch to their lives. Richard’s joy extends to his blessings as a proud grandfather, with three grandchildren and another one on the way.

Areas of Practice
- Probate
- Estate Planning
- Wills and Trusts
- Conservatorships
- Special Needs Trusts
- Fiduciary Accountings
Education
- Western State University College of Law
Juris Doctor, 1990 - Pepperdine University, School of Law, Straus Institute
- La Sierra University
Bachelor’s – Cum Laude, 1980
Publications
- Contributor to Advanced Guide for Mediators by Susan Exon
- Adventist Center for Conflict Resolution is Training Thousands in Mediation, Spectrum Magazine
Professional Positions, Associations, and Memberships
- State Bar of California
- Riverside County Bar Association
- San Bernardino County Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
Bar and Court Admissions
- State Bar of California, 1990
- Admitted to the Southern District of California, United States Federal Court
- Admitted to the Bar of the San Manuel Tribal Court, Bar #12
Get in touch with us
Schedule Your In-Person Or Virtual Consultation Today!
Whether you are a spouse, a parent, or an adult child, we all know that even the most joyous of lives have challenges – including protecting your children in the event of a disaster, organizing your affairs and ensuring your beneficiaries’ well-being, caring for elderly or disabled family members, or settling an estate after the death of a loved one, we’re here to assist you every step of the way.
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With office locations throughout Southern California, Sandoval Legacy Group, a division of Holstrom, Block & Parke, offers comprehensive and personalized estate planning, special needs planning, trust administration, probate, and conservatorships expert services in Riverside County, San Bernardino County, Orange County, San Diego County, and Los Angeles County.
Why Choose Us?
Estate Planning
A comprehensive approach to estate planning that preserves your family’s legacy and wealth based on your individual circumstances.
Elder Law
Prepare for the unexpected by obtaining a medical power of attorney, healthcare directives, and eldercare options.
Probate
Please contact us if you need representation in probate court, or if you wish to avoid probate court altogether. Incorporating probate avoidance strategies into your overall estate plan is one of the greatest gifts you can leave your loved ones.
Special Needs Trusts
In addition to being members of the Special Needs Alliance and the Academy of Special Needs Planners, our law firm can also advise you regarding the intricacies of administering a Special Needs Trust.