Image

Get Legal Services

Business

If you have an existing business or are starting a new business, I can help you navigate the landscape of financial and legal decisions that go into structuring a successful company. Click here to request a free business plan template!

Entity Choice

Choosing the correct entity saves money, headaches, and sets the business up for future success. This is not the time for DIY. Together you and I will perform an in depth analysis of your business plan, exit strategy and tax and liability considerations to determine the best entity for your business.

Contracts

Contract language can make your life heaven or hell. Poorly drafted or generic contracts can cause costly disputes and draining litigation. Have agreements drafted right the first time and get the results you want.

Dispute Management & Negotiations

The success of a deal rests on research, well planned strategies, and on clearly communication the interests of the parties, not emotionally driven positioning. I have studied and taught negotiations for many years and I pride myself an getting great results for my clients.

Administrative Compliance

CLSB, EDD, IRS, FTB, MBC and the alphabet soup goes on! I can assist with compliance issues with governing agencies.

Estate Planning

This is one of the most sensitive and rewarding areas of my practice. If you own a home, a business, or have children, a well-crafted estate plan is a MUST and will save your loved ones thousands of dollars and months of angst. Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, transfer documents are integral parts of a smooth transition of assets.

I have helped many families create estate plans and I have helped them navigate the process of administering the estate after the death of a loved one.

Will

A will allows you to transfer your estate to named beneficiaries, however if the value of your estate is greater than the California Small Estate Exception amount, your estate will still be subject to costly and time consuming probate without a trust. In this case, the will works hand in hand with the trust. A will also allows you to name a conservator for yourself, to name a guardian for any minor children, and to specifically disinherit people if you wish.

Financial Durable Power of Attorney

In this document, you will name a trusted confidant who will interact with financial institutions on your behalf if you are unable to do so.

Trust

A revocable trust allows you to determine how your estate will be distributed and to whom. You can provide specific gifts of money or property to people and to charities or you can simply provide for a percentage distribution to named beneficiaries. This document also allows you to make certain restrictions on distribution such as age or certain life milestones. This is the most important document for estate distribution and provides tax benefits, especially for married people.

Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care

This document allows you to make end of life decisions now; you determine the how and when of life support, pain medication and organ donation. You also name a trusted person to interact with medical professionals on your behalf in the event that you are unable to do so.

Transfer Documents

These documents, specific to each situation, transfer your assets into your trust and include Quit Claim Deeds, Comprehensive Transfer Documents, and a Transfer of Business Interests.

I have helped many families create estate plans and I have helped them navigate the process of administering the estate after the death of a loved one.

Trademarks/IP

Save thousands in unnecessary legal costs by ensuring that you are not infringing on another brand and by protecting your valuable brand with the correct tools. Trademark law is complex and fraught with misconceptions. Have your brands and IP analyzed for the best strategy for your business.

Federal Trademark

This is a name or logo that is used in interstate commerce to sell a specific product or service (or multiple products or services). A US trademark provides evidence of ownership of the name or mark, and gives greater leverage to prevent infringement.

Foreign Trademarks

There are a variety of choices when registering a mark in other countries. A mark can be registered in one country or a block of nations, depending on where the goods and services are marketed.

California Trademark

If a trademark is used only in California, then a state trademark is the appropriate vehicle for registration. This provides the same evidence of ownership and protection against infringement as the US trademark.

Trademark Disputes

If you have received a “cease and desist” notification claiming that you are infringing on the trademark of another, or if you believe your trademark is being infringed upon, we can provide the expert legal analysis and a refined approach required to get the best possible in these complicated disputes.

Patents

Patents protect inventions. There are several types of patents including design, utility and provisional. Although I do not do patent work (most patent attorneys have an engineering background!), I have excellent referral sources for this work.

State Service Mark

California distinguishes between a mark used for goods and a mark used for services. A service mark is filed for a name or logo is used to represent services. This provides the same evidence of ownership and protection against infringement as the US trademark.

Copyright

A copyright protects created works such as music, art, literature, recipes and formulae. If art is used in your trademark, that art may also be copyrighted. Copyright protection may be used for website content and coding as well. Specific rules apply as to when a copyright should be filed.

Let’s Chat

Not sure if your legal situation falls into any of the services listed above?
Call 619-557-0434 today to speak with me directly and explore if there is a fit.
PhoneIcon