Practice Areas
A COMPELLING ALTERNATIVE
We understand we are a service provider. The concerns of our clients are paramount. This is reflected in our attention to minimizing litigation costs, honest communication with clients and effective resolution of litigation.
We emphasize communication with the client on billing issues and litigation strategies. We reach agreement on unusual or time intensive endeavors prior to undertaking them.
The firm's primary goal is to provide excellent legal services. To attain this goal, operating costs are kept at a minimum without compromising the quality or promptness of legal services. Fee schedules are available upon request, and rates (whether hourly, flat fee, alternate or innovative) can be specifically tailored to meet client needs.
Civil
Civil Rights Litigation
Business Litigation
As with the General Litigation Department, the attorneys in the Business Litigation Department have extensive experience in civil litigation and trial practice. They have handled a variety of business and commercial disputes, involving both private and public entities. These disputes include corporate and partnership dissolution, fraud, embezzlement, unfair competition, Business & Professions Code, Section 17200 and unfair business practices, misappropriation of trade secrets and proprietary information, breach of confidentiality and non-competition clauses, breach of warranty, conversion, construction disputes, errors and omissions, insurance bad faith and coverage, breach of contracts and commercial leases, infliction of emotional distress, trade libel, slander and defamation. Many of these cases involve uninsured claims, including those for punitive damages.
From the outset, the risks and costs of the litigation are evaluated and communicated to the firm's clients, and balanced against their needs, goals and expectations. The Department focuses on prompt, cost-effective problem-solving, including alternative dispute resolution, while at the same time being fully prepared and committed to resolve the matter by trial, if necessary.
Employment Law Litigation
General Litigation Department
The attorneys in the General Litigation Department have extensive experience in civil litigation/trial practice. They have handled all varieties of civil matters, including premises liability, products liability, automobile liability, civil rights violations, sexual molestations, construction site accidents, construction defects, defamation, toxic substance torts, wrongful death, contract and insurance bad faith litigation, for both public and private entities.
Most cases handled by the Department are resolved short of trial. The Department's ability and willingness to take a case to trial, however, is a vital part of a successful litigation practice.
It is the Department's practice that each case be handled from inception to resolution by the assigned attorney, with the assistance of the law and motion attorneys and the paraprofessional staff. The handling attorney conducts most discovery and directly supervises tasks that can be handled through more cost-efficient personnel.
Each case is evaluated upon receipt and throughout its pendency for a cost-effective litigation plan. The paraprofessional staff has superior levels of experience and training, and works on the more routine aspects under the handling attorney's supervision.
including Personal Injury Defense
Labor and Employment Law
The firm's Labor & Employment Law Department represents public and private sector clients on a variety of legal issues. It has a reputation for aggressively and successfully defending clients in lawsuits alleging wrongful termination, wage and hour violations, discrimination/harassment, sexual orientation harassment, whistle blowing, race and national origin discrimination, and disability discrimination. The Department works closely with clients to attempt to resolve these difficult and complex cases in a cost-effective and expeditious manner.
The Department has built an impressive record of having lawsuits dismissed prior to trial. In problematic cases, it has successfully used mediation to resolve them early in the litigation. The ability and willingness to take these kinds of cases to trial, however, remains essential to the successful representation of our clients.
The Department also provides clients with day-to-day advice and counsel on employment law-related matters, including those involving discrimination/harassment investigations, wage and hour disputes, family and medical leave, Americans with Disabilities Act questions, and general personnel/discipline problems. The Department also drafts employee handbooks, personnel guidelines and other policies for our clients. It represents clients on claims before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the Labor Commissioner, the Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board, and the Office for Civil Rights.
Finally, the Department conducts training seminars for employers in all aspects of employment law, including seminars for managers and employees on topics such as sexual harassment, the Americans with Disabilities Act, disciplining employees, performing interviews and performance reviews.
Management
Appellate
The firm's Appellate Department has successfully represented clients before the United States Supreme Court, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the California Supreme Court, and various Districts of the California Court of Appeal. Appellate issues have included constitutional law, labor and employment law, governmental immunities, education law, tort law, jury misconduct and procedural matters, which have resulted in significant rulings in favor of our clients.