George A. Foster received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Arizona in 1971.  He attended law school at the University of San Diego, receiving a Juris Doctorate in 1975.  He was admitted to the California Bar in 1975 and has been in practice in San Diego continuously ever since. 

Mr. Foster worked as a Deputy District Attorney between 1976 and 1984 in the San Diego District Attorney's Office.  As a Deputy District Attorney, Mr. Foster tried in excess of 150 jury trials to verdict, including one capital homicide.

In 1984, Mr. Foster began his civil practice when he joined the law firm of Schall, Boudreau & Gore, Inc. in San Diego, where he worked until 1997.  In 1985, Mr. Foster became a shareholder in the firm and, in 1990, became Chairman of the Litigation Department.  Mr. Foster has tried multiple jury and court trials and arbitrations on behalf of federal agencies, institutional clients, and privately-held businesses in Los Angeles and Orange Counties and in Chicago, Phoenix, Dallas, and San Diego.

In 1997, he joined with Joan Walsh and opened Foster Walsh, LLP.  Mr. Foster's current practice focuses primarily on commercial and business transactions and litigation, the sale and acquisition of privately-held businesses, employment law counseling and litigation, real estate litigation, and probate and trust litigation. 

Mr. Foster and his family have lived in La Mesa since 1974.  Mr. Foster serves as a guest lecturer and as a trial practice judge from time to time for California Western Law School.  Mr. Foster is “AV” rated by Martindale-Hubbell and is a member of the American Bar Association and the San Diego County Bar Association.

Joan M. Walsh received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Denver in 1974 and her Juris Doctor in 1981 from the University of San Diego School of Law.  While attending law school, Ms. Walsh worked full time for a California State Legislator managing his district office and working on selected areas of legislation in Sacramento.

Ms. Walsh commenced the practice of law as a sole practitioner in 1983 and continued until 1997 when she and George Foster established Foster Walsh, LLP.

Striving to provide quality legal services to her clients, Ms. Walsh focuses on business succession planning, estate planning, business formations, transactions, sales and acquisitions of businesses and professional practices, and estate planning for individuals.

Committed to community service, Ms. Walsh served as Chair of the East County YMCA Board of Directors and as Chair of the San Diego County YMCA Board of Governors.

Ms. Walsh enjoys golf, theater, and riding her horses which she boards in East County.

John Boyce Jr is a 1973 graduate of Revelle College at the University of California, San Diego, graduating with high honors. Mr. Boyce attended graduate school at Arizona State University in experimental psychology, emphasizing experimental analysis and statistical design.

Mr. Boyce attended the University of San Diego Law School, graduating in 1985. Mr. Boyce’s law practice encompasses several distinct areas of law.

• Business Litigation.  With George Foster, Mr. Boyce provides legal counsel to the firm's clients in all forms of business litigation.
• Trademarks, Copyright & Internet Law. Mr. Boyce advises the firm’s clients regarding their trademarks and service marks, including preparation of federal trademark applications, license agreements, e-commerce agreements, and, web site terms of use and privacy policies, and also the prosecution of litigation for infringement, and domain name disputes.
• Business Transactions & Hospitality Law. Mr. Boyce counsels businesses on transactions, especially in the hospitality industry, including the negotiation of hotel, vendor, or meeting management agreements.

Mr. Boyce is "AV" rated by Martindale-Hubbell and is a member of the San Diego County Bar, California Bar, and American Bar Associations. He is also a member of the Academy of Hospitality Industry Attorneys, and the International Trademark Association.

Mr. Boyce is an avid baseball fan, and this year completed his second marathon.

Paulette S. DePaulo joined Foster Walsh, LLP in 2007. Ms. DePaulo obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1995 from the University of California, Riverside, and her Juris Doctor from Southwestern University School of Law in 2001.

While in law school, Ms. DePaulo was a writer and oralist for the Moot Court Honors Program Board of Governors and member of the Southwestern Journal of Law and Trade in the Americas. In 2001, Ms. DePaulo received the award for, "Excellence In Preparation For Trial Practice Of The Law," from the American Board of Trial Advocates for her success in trial advocacy and moot court throughout law school.

Ms. DePaulo was previously with the law firm of Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith, LLP, practicing in estate planning and business and commercial litigation. She now joins Foster Walsh, LLP focusing her practice in estate planning, trust and estate administration, and trust and probate litigation.

Ms. DePaulo is a member of the State Bar of California, San Diego County Bar Association, and Lawyer's Club of San Diego.

Susan L. Wertz joined Foster Walsh, LLP in 2008. Ms. Wertz received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from San Diego State University in 1973, graduating with honors and distinction. Following successful careers as a Clinical Dietitian and U.S. Army Officer, Ms. Wertz attended California Western School of Law, graduating cum laude in 2007.

In law school, Ms. Wertz was a California Western Trustee Scholar, received American Jurisprudence Awards for Contracts, Legal Writing and Internship Seminar, and was the recipient of the Wiley M. Manuel Pro Bono Services Award and the Hugh P. Chinlund Memorial Award. She served as an Associate Writer and Editor for the California Western Law Review and International Law Journal and as the Executive Notes and Comments Editor for Law Review.

Ms. Wertz was admitted to the State Bar of California in 2007, and is a member of the American Bar Association, the Trusts and Estates Section of the State Bar of California, the Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law Section of the San Diego County Bar Association, and Lawyer's Club. Ms. Wertz's practice focuses in the areas of estate planning and trust and estate administration.

Publication: "Income and Employment Tax Implications of Trustee Fees" California Trusts and Estates Quarterly, Vol. 14, Issue 2 (Summer 2008).