Practice Areas
Civil Litigation:
The firm has extensive expertise in civil litigation and trial. The firm has handled cases involving many different areas of the law. The firms' experience includes business litigation, personal injury litigation, real estate disputes, construction law disputes, businesses and other financial institutions, employment torts and civil rights violations.
The trial experience of the attorneys in the firm includes trials in most State Court counties throughout Northern California as well as Federal Courts in the Northern and Eastern Districts. The firm has also handled numerous appeals in the First, Third, Fourth and Sixth District Courts of Appeal and the California and U.S. Supreme Court.
Insurance Defense:
The firm has defended a broad range of matters including premises liability, employment torts, product liability claims, automobile and truck accidents, crop damage claims and claims against various types of professionals. The firm is regularly retained by insurance companies to defend its insureds, by self-insured businesses and by government entities.
Construction Law:
Over the years the firm has specialized in advising businesses engaged in the construction industry. The firm has both drafted and offered advice on both construction contracts on behalf of lenders, owners, developers, general contractors and subcontractors of various trades involving both private and public works. The firm is involved in working with clients on change orders, claims for extra work, mechanic liens and bond actions. The firm represents clients in mediations, arbitrations, and litigation. The advice has included drafting of specialized agreements, formation and operation of business entities, the use of liens and stop notices, compliance with licensing requirements, transfers of ownership interest, and mergers and acquisitions.
Construction Defect (Including Mold Claims):
The firm has extensive experience in dealing with all areas of construction defect litigation. The experience includes the defense of subcontractors, general contractors, developers, and design professionals. Many of the cases the firm handles involves complex multi-party litigation, with special masters and discovery referees.
Business Law:
The firm has experience in various aspects of business transactions including the formation of corporations, LLCs and partnership, drafting, reviewing and formation of various contracts including Buy-Sell Agreements, advice regarding real estate transactions and ventures, including sales agreements and leases and the proper conduct of business and compliance with partnership and corporation laws. The firm engages in on going advice to business clients in all aspects of their activities.
Employment Law:
The firm has extensive expertise in litigating employment torts, including whistle blower cases, discrimination cases, harassment and constructive and wrongful termination cases, in both State and Federal Courts. The firm also provides pre litigation advice, including review or drafting of policy manuals. In addition, the firm has sponsored numerous seminars on defending and preventing Employment Torts.
Real Estate (Transactions and Litigation):
The firm represents buyers, sellers, lessees, lessors, in both transactional and litigation matters. The firm has handled many different types of cases involving real property litigation. Cases range from ownership or sales transaction litigation to constructive or adverse possession of various estates in real property. Attorneys in the firm have handled both trial and appellate aspects of real property cases.
Alternative Dispute Resolution:
The firm is committed to resolving disputes without litigation when possible. Several of the lawyers have extensive experience in serving as mediators, arbitrators and judge pro tems. The firm regularly participates in mediation and arbitration in State Courts and is actively involved in the Federal Court program for early neutral evaluation and resolution of litigation.