Charles David Spence

David Spence heads the Estate, Trust, and Wealth Strategies practice for Royse Law Firm. His areas of expertise include taxation, estates, trusts and other private wealth structures used in the efficient management, protection, and transition to succeeding generations. David’s clients are international and domestic individuals, families, businesses, and charitable organizations. Over the last twenty-five years, David has practiced with prominent law firms and “Big 4” international accounting firms, and the oldest and largest west coast trust company.

David has counseled some of the largest and most complex estates in the world. He has worked extensively with philanthropists, private foundations, and many public charities to develop and implement tax-efficient, planned giving programs. David has represented clients before various courts and administrative agencies of the federal and state government, including the United States Tax Court and the Internal Revenue Service.

Currently, David is also an adjunct professor with the Master of Science in Taxation (MST) program in the Lucas Graduate School of Business at San Jose State University, where he teaches Taxation of Estates and Trusts.

David has served in numerous volunteer positions with charitable and professional organizations. He is currently a member of the Planned Giving Advisory Council for Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County, and was a founding board member of the Silicon Valley branch of the London-based Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. David also served for two years as a full-time voluntary representative of his church in Sweden, and has conversational proficiency in the Swedish language.