News & Awards

4 Henderson, Caverly & Pum LLP Lawyers Recognized as Best Lawyers® Award Recipients

Henderson, Caverly & Pum LLP is pleased to announce that 4 lawyers have been included in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence.

“For more than 40 years, the rigorous methodology of Best Lawyers has ensured the integrity and esteem of our legal recognitions,” said Best Lawyers CEO Phillip Greer. “It is with great pleasure that we continue to provide potential clients with the pinnacle measurement of credibility through our Best Lawyers awards as they search for counsel.”

Best Lawyers has earned the respect of the profession, the media and the public as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals. Its first international list was published in 2006 and since then has grown to provide lists in more than 75 countries.

Lawyers on The Best Lawyers in America list are divided by geographic region and practice areas. They are reviewed by their peers based on professional expertise and undergo an authentication process to make sure they are in current practice and in good standing.

Henderson, Caverly & Pum LLP would like to congratulate the following lawyers named to 2025 The Best Lawyers in America list:

  • Kristen E. Caverly – Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Trusts and Estates, and Trusts and Estates
  • Hildy L. Fentin – Collaborative Law: Family Law, Family Law, and Family Law Mediation
  • Nancy G. Henderson – Nonprofit / Charities Law, Tax Law, and Trusts and Estates
  • Maria K. Pum – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Commercial Transactions / UCC Law, and Litigation – Bankruptcy

2024 News

Announcing Our New Partners

Henderson, Caverly & Pum LLP (HCP) is pleased to announce that two of our Senior Associates have been promoted to Partner, effective January 1, 2024. Both Stephen D. Blea and Alexander L. Bruin have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to HCP’s values by delivering exceptional services to clients and providing support and mentorship within the firm. Please join us in welcoming both Stephen and Alexander as the newest Partners of HCP.

Stephen D. Blea is a member of HCP’s Estate & Trust Litigation Group and Civil & Commercial Litigation Group, where he advises clients in estate and trust controversies and business litigation matters. Mr. Blea’s practice broadly encompasses all aspects and stages of litigation for clients at both the trial and appellate court levels, and his practice primarily focuses on trust and estate litigation, as well as business and contract disputes and commercial litigation. 

Mr. Blea received his J.D. in 2013 from Santa Clara University.

Alexander L. Bruin is a member of HCP’s nationally ranked Estate Planning Group and Trust Administration & Probate Group, where he assists clients in all aspects of estate planning, tax planning and post-mortem trust and probate administrations.  Mr. Bruin specializes in advising and implementing customized estate plans, which are expertly tailored to match his clients’ unique circumstances and planning goals. Mr. Bruin’s estate planning practice additionally includes advising clients on sophisticated Federal transfer tax planning techniques (including the use of specialized irrevocable trusts) to enhance his clients’ planning goals in a tax efficient manner.

Mr. Bruin obtained both his J.D. and Tax LL.M. in 2016 from Loyola Law School of Los Angeles, where he graduated first overall in Loyola’s Tax LL.M. Class of 2016.

You can learn more about Mr. Bruin here.

2024 Awards

4 Henderson, Caverly & Pum LLP Lawyers Selected as 2024 Women of Influence in Law by the San Diego Business Journal

Henderson, Caverly & Pum LLP is pleased to announce that 4 lawyers have been selected as 2024 Women of Influence in Law by the San Diego Business Journal. You may view the 2024 awards here.

Henderson, Caverly & Pum LLP would like to congratulate the following lawyers selected as 2024 Women of Influence in Law:

4 Henderson, Caverly & Pum LLP Lawyers Recognized as Best Lawyers® Award Recipients and 1 Ones to Watch® in America Award Recipient

Henderson, Caverly & Pum LLP is pleased to announce that 4 lawyers have been included in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence.

“For more than 40 years, the rigorous methodology of Best Lawyers has ensured the integrity and esteem of our legal recognitions,” said Best Lawyers CEO Phillip Greer. “It is with great pleasure that we continue to provide potential clients with the pinnacle measurement of credibility through our Best Lawyers awards as they search for counsel.”

Best Lawyers has earned the respect of the profession, the media and the public as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals. Its first international list was published in 2006 and since then has grown to provide lists in more than 75 countries.

Lawyers on The Best Lawyers in America list are divided by geographic region and practice areas. They are reviewed by their peers based on professional expertise and undergo an authentication process to make sure they are in current practice and in good standing.

Henderson, Caverly & Pum LLP would like to congratulate the following lawyers named to 2024 The Best Lawyers in America list:

  • Kristen E. Caverly – Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Trusts and Estates, and Trusts and Estates
  • Hildy L. Fentin – Collaborative Law: Family Law, Family Law, and Family Law Mediation
  • Nancy G. Henderson – Nonprofit / Charities Law, Tax Law, and Trusts and Estates
  • Maria K. Pum – Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Commercial Transactions / UCC Law, and Litigation – Bankruptcy
 
The Firm would also like to congratulate Lisa B. Roper for being recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America 2024 for work in Litigation – Trusts and Estates, and Trusts and Estates.

Hildy L. Fentin and Nancy G. Henderson Named 2024 Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” in the San Diego Area.

Henderson, Caverly & Pum LLP attorneys Hildy L. Fentin and Nancy G. Henderson were recently recognized by Best Lawyers as a 2024 “Lawyer of the Year.” Ms. Fentin was recognized for Family Law Mediation and Ms. Henderson for Nonprofit / Charities Law.

Only a single lawyer in each practice area and designated metropolitan area is honored as the “Lawyer of the Year,” making this a significant and coveted accolade. These lawyers are selected based on particularly impressive voting averages received during the peer review assessments.

Receiving this designation reflects the high level of respect a lawyer has earned among other leading lawyers in the same communities and the same practice areas for their abilities, their professionalism and their integrity.

For more than four decades, Best Lawyers has assisted those in need of legal services to identify the lawyers best qualified to represent them in distant jurisdictions or unfamiliar specialties. Lawyers are not required nor allowed to pay a fee to be listed; therefore, recognition by Best Lawyers is considered a singular distinction.

2023 Awards

best lawyers signage plaque identifying award to Henderson Caverly & Pum LLP

4 Henderson, Caverly & Pum LLP Lawyers Recognized as Best Lawyers® Award Recipients and 1 Ones to Watch® in America Award Recipient

Henderson, Caverly & Pum LLP is pleased to announce that four lawyers have been included in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence.

“For more than 40 years, the rigorous methodology of Best Lawyers has ensured the integrity and esteem of our legal recognitions,” said Best Lawyers CEO Phillip Greer. “It is with great pleasure that we continue to provide potential clients with the pinnacle measurement of credibility through our Best Lawyers awards as they search for counsel.”

Best Lawyers has earned the respect of the profession, the media and the public as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals. Its first international list was published in 2006 and since then has grown to provide lists in more than 75 countries.

Lawyers on The Best Lawyers in America list are divided by geographic region and practice areas. They are reviewed by their peers based on professional expertise and undergo an authentication process to make sure they are in current practice and in good standing.

Henderson, Caverly & Pum LLP would like to congratulate the following lawyers named to 2023 The Best Lawyers in America list:

 
The Firm would also like to congratulate Lisa B. Roper for being recognized in Best Lawyers®: Ones to Watch in America 2023 for work in Litigation – Trusts and Estates, and Trusts and Estates.

AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS FOR PRIOR YEARS:

Henderson, Caverly & Pum LLP lawyers recognized by Best Lawyers® :

Nancy G. Henderson – Recognized in Best Lawyers® since 2018

  • First year recognized in Nonprofit / Charities Law: 2021
  • First year recognized in Trusts and Estates: 2019
  • First year recognized in Tax Law: 2018

Kristen E. Caverly – Recognized in Best Lawyers® since 2016

  • First year recognized in Trusts and Estates: 2023
  • First year recognized in Litigation – Trusts and Estates: 2018
  • First year recognized in Commercial Litigation: 2016

Maria K. Pum – Recognized in Best Lawyers® since 2017

  • First year recognized in Commercial Transaction / UCC Law: 2021
  • First year recognized in Litigation – Bankruptcy: 2018
  • First year recognized in Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law: 2017

Lisa B. Roper – Recognized in Best Lawyers® since 2022 

  • First year recognized as Ones to Watch in America in Litigation-Trusts and Estates, and Trusts and Estate

Hildy L. Fentin – Recognized in Best Lawyers® since 2006

  • First year recognized in Collaborative Law: Family Law: 2021
  • First year recognized in Family Law Mediation: 2007
  • First year recognized in Family Law: 2006