Our Practice Areas
Business Litigation
We strive to help clients make sound decisions and avoid litigation by advising them against risks in both common and uncommon business situations, including, but not limited to reductions of force or signing contracts with shareholders, vendors, partners, etc.
We defend and prosecute cases of fraud or conspiracies to commit fraud, breach of contract, disputes between partners, shareholders, vendors, or clients, and a variety of other issues related to owning and running a business.
Business Law
We advise businesses and business owners on how they engage and interact with other businesses, its customers, and the general public. We evaluate policies to make sure businesses are properly insured and assess policies and practices to reduce risk.
We review contracts between business partners or with shareholders, vendors, contractors, etc., as well as represent clients looking to buy, sell, close, franchise, or incorporate any type of business.
Contracts
We can create, review and negotiate a wide range of personal and business contracts, such as vendor contracts, independent contractor agreements, employment contracts, partnership contracts, shareholder contracts, and work-for-hire contracts. We advise clients of the risks and benefits to potentials clauses and contract terms in an effort to best protect their interests and help them to avoid future litigation.
We also support clients with licensing contracts for copyright materials, intellectual property, proprietary products and information, and goods or services.
Intellectual Property
We help evaluate and put into place the processes and items needed to protect a company’s intellectual property and confidential information. This includes client lists, manufacturing methods, software codes, company logos, and other special designs or business practices.
We can establish guidelines to protect a company’s brand and logo, and help file for a trademark or copyright with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO).
Insurance Coverage
It’s important that our clients truly understand their insurance policies before ever needing to use them. We can review individual and business insurance policies to ensure claims are tendered to the area or department that would be most likely to provide coverage for claims and litigation.
We are NOT Insurance Appointed Defense (IAD); meaning we do not work for insurance companies as panel defense counsel so that we are always looking out for the interests of our client insureds. Consequently, when a Client has the opportunity to hire our firm as counsel it is usually because we’ve managed to have the insurance carrier agree to pay for the client’s choice of defense counsel.
In cases where the insurance carrier is providing a defense by way of its own chosen defense counsel (IAD), then we can act as your personal advisor on insurance coverage issues to make sure you are getting the most appropriate defense and resolution of the case through settlements paid for by the insurance carrier in accordance with your contract of insurance and California law.
Employment Law
We advise clients on how to conduct business and interact with employees and governmental agencies in an ethical and law-abiding manner. This includes the structuring of a company, establishing proper hiring and firing practices, providing a safe work environment, determining when employees can work, what they’ll be paid, and more.
When it comes to litigation, we represent employees who believe they have a claim against their employer for issues such as meal and rest break violations, labor violations, wage violations, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, sexual harassment, etc. We also defend employers when claims such as these are brought against them by employees.
Legal Malpractice
We prosecute and defend cases involving issues of legal malpractice. In the event a lawyer or law firm has fallen below or is accused of having fallen below the acceptable standards of professional competence or ethics, we are experienced and able to prosecute or defend those claims. This can involve claims of overbilling, negligence, or behaviors that caused physical or financial harm.
Litigation & Trials
We assist and advise clients in all these practice areas and at any point in the legal process. This includes discovery, depositions, motion practice, mediation, arbitration, and the actual trial.
When it comes to litigation, about 98% of cases will be settled outside the courtroom. Of the approximate 2% that reach a trial, only a portion of those cases will be heard before a jury. We are experienced jury trial attorneys that always strive to get cases resolved cost-efficiently in a manner that is in the best interests of the client and that is legally feasible under the particular circumstances of each case.