About David S.
David S. Hamilton built his professional foundation in Southern California. He earned a B.A. in Organizational Leadership from Chapman University in 2009 and completed his J.D. at the University of La Verne College of Law in 2015. Those years shaped his approach to practice and to teaching, the latter of which would return him to his alma mater.
His entry into the legal field began while still a student. He worked as a law clerk at the Law Offices of Kenny Tan in 2012 and later clerked for Dennis M. Sandoval, a Professional Law Corporation in 2014. After graduating, he continued at Dennis M. Sandoval as an associate lawyer in 2015. In those early roles he handled case preparation, client interviewing and litigation support, experience that carried forward into his subsequent positions.
He took on academic responsibilities soon after beginning private practice. In 2015 he served as a grader at the University of La Verne College of Law and in 2017 returned there as an adjunct professor. The classroom work ran alongside practice, and it kept him engaged with evolving legal doctrine and with training newer lawyers.
Hamilton’s practice path moved through several California firms. He joined Holstrom, Block & Parke, APLC as a lawyer in 2020 and in 2024 became part of Varner & Brandt LLP. Over the years his work has involved estate planning, trust administration and probate litigation. He holds certification as a Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law from the State Bar of California, a credential that signals a narrower professional concentration and additional examination and experience in that field.
He is admitted to practice in California and has also gained admission to federal courts, including the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, and the United States District Court for the Central District of California. That combination allows him to handle matters that move between state and federal forums.
Colleagues describe him as methodical and precise in courtroom preparation and in drafting estate documents. He balances litigation skills with advisory work for families and trustees. He currently practices at Varner & Brandt LLP, handling estate planning, trust and probate matters.
