Lexis Practice Advisor - California

Terrence R. Allen, a partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Orange County, is a member of the firm's Corporate department. His experience in a broad array of corporate transactions encompasses public and private mergers, stock purchases, asset sales and leveraged recapitalizations.

Terrence’s practice also includes representing issuers and underwriters in initial public offerings, secondary equity offerings, issuers in private placements and venture capital transactions, and investors in purchases of equity and start-up and other private companies.  He has also advised public companies on corporate governance and disclosure issues.

Terrence is the author of Employee Issues Can Loom Large in Sale-of-Business Transactions.  He has been recognized in multiple years as a Southern California “Rising Star” by Los Angeles Magazine.

Vidhya Babu is a partner in Fox, Shjeflo, Hartley & Babu LLP. Her practice emphasis includes estate planning, probate, trust administration, trust and probate litigation, business and real estate matters.

Vidhya graduated from Boston University (B.A., cum laude) and Temple University (J.D.). Prior to joining Fox, Shjeflo, Hartley & Babu, she was a summer associate at the United Nations, Office of Legal Affairs, in New York City. Vidhya is a member of the State Bar of California, Trusts and Estates Section (formerly known as the Estate Planning, Trusts and Probate Section); San Francisco County Bar Association; San Mateo County Bar Association; Silicon Valley Bar Association; and the American Bar Association.

An active member of the community, Vidhya is on the Foster City Lions Board of Directors, a board member of the San Carlos Belmont Mother’s Club, and a regular contributor of articles to various parent club newsletters. In addition to these activities, her pro bono work includes the formation of non-profit corporations and counseling non-profit entities.

In her spare time, Vidhya enjoys participating in book clubs, traveling and spending time with her family.

Jaime Bodiford is an associate at Fox, Shjeflo, Hartley & Babu LLP, with her practice focus on corporate transactions, business law and real estate. In addition, she advises clients on a variety of civil litigation matters and trust and estate law. 

Prior to joining Fox, Shjeflo, Hartley & Babu, Jaime was an associate with the Mitzel Group.  She also worked for four years as a market manager with BNSF Railway Company, where she managed the business strategy and marketing activities for the company's petroleum and building products market groups.

In law school, Jaime was an articles editor for the University of San Francisco Law Review, Volume 44, and she received the Arthur C. Zief Scholarship for Extra-Curricular Contributions to the University of San Francisco School of Law.

In her spare time Jaime volunteers for animal rescue organizations, and competes in equestrian events.

Casey Bradford, an associate at Jones Day in Atlanta, focuses her practice on environmental law, including environmental litigation and due diligence in support of business transactions. She has represented clients in litigation and arbitration proceedings involving Clean Air Act issues, and has counseled clients on managing potential liability under RCRA and CERCLA for solid and hazardous wastes. In addition, she has assisted clients in responding to agency requests for information and notices of violation issued under the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act and equivalent state states.

Casey’s due diligence experience includes large and small-scale business transactions encompassing a range of environmental issues, including the emission of air pollutants, groundwater contamination, and waste disposal practices. She also has experience with regulatory compliance counseling, advising clients on how to comply with storm water management requirements and other provisions of the Clean Water Act and equivalent state laws, as well as community-right-to-know obligations under EPCRA. Additionally, she has assisted clients in voluntarily disclosing areas of potential noncompliance under EPA's Self-Audit Policy and routinely advises clients on changes in environmental laws and regulations at the state and federal levels.

Casey is a member of the State Bar of Georgia Environmental Law Section and is active in Jones Day's Special Education Project.

Christiane Cargill Kinney is a Partner and Chair of the Entertainment Industry team at LeClairRyan, Los Angeles. Her entertainment practice focuses on the representation of talent primarily in music, film and television, and she also specializes in branding and cross-promotional opportunities for corporations and artists.    

Christiane’s personal experience as a musician, recording artist and voting member of The Recording Academy provides a unique perspective to the deal-making process as an entertainment attorney. She often speaks on music and entertainment law panels as well as various radio talk shows.

As a strong supporter of education for independent artists, Kinney also writes a monthly legal column for CD Baby’s DIY Musician. CD Baby, the largest online distributor of independent music, recently recognized Kinney as #1 out of their list of the Top 10 Music Law Resources to follow on Twitter, noting that “her in-the-thick-of-it perspectives carry a lot of weight.”

Natasha Chalmers, senior counsel with Gordon & Rees LLP, is a member of the Real Estate practice group in the firm’s San Francisco office. Natasha has considerable experience with all aspects of commercial real estate leasing, purchase and sale, and real estate financing, including the review of title documents and title insurance and residential purchase and sale. She also provides general property advice in relation to a wide variety of real property related documents, such as settlement and release agreements and easements agreements.

Natasha has represented both landlords and tenants for office buildings, industrial properties and retail outlets, and has reviewed, drafted, negotiated and advised on leases, subleases, consents to sublease, terminations, assignments, amendments, tenant estoppels and SNDAs, as well as analyzed and enforced rights and obligations under existing leases. She has acted for both purchasers and sellers in the purchase and sale of commercial buildings, and has drafted, reviewed and negotiated purchase agreements and related closing documents. In addition, Natasha has represented large institutional lenders in secured and unsecured lending transactions including drafting and reviewing deeds of trust, secured loan agreements, promissory notes, UCC financing statements and guaranties.

Her clients have included Fortune 100 companies, non-profits, local developers, asset managers, furniture outlets, small businesses, internet companies, biotechs and banking institutions, and she negotiated one of the largest distribution center leases in Silicon Valley.

Natasha practiced as a UK solicitor (attorney), working in the real estate department of an international law firm on general property matters and real estate issues in support of the corporate group. Natasha relocated to California in 2000 where she re-qualified and commenced her practice as a U.S. attorney.

George Colindres, of counsel with Perkins Coie LLP, is with the Business and Emerging Companies practices in the firm's San Diego and Los Angeles offices. He acts as outside general counsel for clients in a diverse array of industries, including social networking, e-commerce, online advertising, online gaming, software, hardware, telecommunications, medical devices, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and real estate. His work for these clients includes corporate governance, commercial and licensing agreements; employment and compensation matters; preferred stock and other equity financings; convertible promissory note financings; venture debt financings and other secured transactions; and, mergers and acquisitions transactions and preparation for going public.

George also represents venture capital firms, strategic investors, angel groups and other investors in connection with their participation in preferred stock and convertible promissory note (bridge) financings, as well as with fund formation and governance matters. In addition, George represents real estate funds and related companies in connection with fund formation and governance matters, investments, divestitures, secured transactions and other transactions.

Nicole A. Davidson is a solo practitioner and owner of the Law Office of Nicole A. Davidson. She has a decade of experience in estate planning, trust administration, and estate administration.

Prior to hanging a shingle, Nicole gained litigation experience at two environmental law boutiques: Envision Law Group and The Arnold Law Practice.

Nicole graduated from Eckerd College (B.S., high honors, 1999) and the University of San Diego, School of Law (J.D., 2001). She was a member of the San Diego Law Review, which published her comment, “Internet Gambling: Should Fantasy Sport Leagues Be Prohibited?”, 39 SAN DIEGO L. REV. 281-347 (2002). She externed for the Honorable Thomas Whelan (U.S. District Ct. for the Southern District of California), interned for the San Diego District Attorney’s Office, and represented clients through the University of San Diego Tax Clinic. Additionally, Nicole received the Alec L. Cory Award for Outstanding Pro Bono Service and the American Jurisprudence award in Biotechnology Law.

Nicole is a member of the State Bar of California, Trusts and Estates Section (formerly known as the Estate Planning, Trusts and Probate Section); State Bar of Florida; and the American Bar Association, Real Property, Probate & Trust Section. She is a past president of the Contra Costa County Bar Association, Solo Section (2005-2007). In addition, she served on the board of the Diablo Valley College Foundation and assisted with planned giving (2007-2008).

In her spare time, Nicole enjoys leading an active lifestyle, spending quality time with her family, cooking international cuisine, reading crime thrillers, and playing the piano.

Peter J. Dekom practices law in Los Angeles and represents a wide range of clients—Hollywood notables and corporate entities as well as media investment funds. He is involved with setting up a “next generation” film studio and currently serves as a senior mediator with the Entertainment Mediation Institute in Beverly Hills.

Peter’s extensive experience includes management/marketing consulting; entertainment, Internet and telecommunications entrepreneurialism; creating, writing and implementing legislation to encourage film and television production in New Mexico, and supervising a film loan program; advising the governor on film and television-related matters; and providing off-balance sheet, insurance-backed financing for major motion picture studios.

The many professional accomplishments and recognitions achieved by Peter include a listing in Forbes among the top 100 lawyers in the United States; one of the 50 most powerful people in Hollywood, Premiere Magazine; the  American Bar Association Sports and Entertainment Forum - Ed Rubin Award for leadership and service  (October 2012); Entertainment Lawyer of the Year, 1994, The Beverly Hills Bar Association and the Century City Bar Association; Man of the Year for work with the homeless, 1992, Family Assistance Program; the author of dozens of scholarly articles and the co-author of the book Not on My Watch; Hollywood vs. the Future; adjunct professorship with the UCLA Film School; lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley Haas School of Business; and a featured speaker worldwide at film festivals, corporations, universities and bar associations.

Thomas M. Donnelly is a partner at Jones Day, practicing in the firm’s San Francisco office. Tom heads Jones Day’s California environmental, health and safety practice. He represents clients in environmental litigation, toxic tort, and administrative proceedings; provides environmental compliance counseling and due diligence/transactional support; and assists clients in securing defense and indemnity from their liability insurers.

Tom’s most significant current engagement is on behalf of Chevron in defense of various legal and administrative proceedings arising out of oil seeps that occurred off the coast of Brazil in November 2011 and March 2012. Along with private class-action lawsuits, there are federal and state civil actions seeking billions of dollars for alleged environmental damages, and related criminal charges against Chevron Brazil and several of its employees. Tom’s environmental and insurance coverage clients have included high-tech companies, auto manufacturers, aerospace, energy, oil and gas, and metals and mining companies, utilities, equipment manufacturers, food and consumer product manufacturers, financial institutions, retailers, and real property owners and developers. He has appeared in all federal district courts in California, the Ninth and Eleventh Circuit Courts of Appeals, and California trial and appellate courts.  

Listed in Chambers USA, 2008–2012, as one of the leading environmental attorneys in the state of California, Tom also has been recognized as a leading environmental attorney by several other trade publications.

Anthony (Tony) Ellrod, a founding partner of Manning & Kass, Ellrod, Ramirez, Trester LLP, is based in the Los Angeles office.  His practice focuses on business and commercial transactions, including drafting complex commercial contracts and other agreements, and the creation and maintenance of business entities.  Tony also heads the firm's intellectual property practice, which includes the registration and licensing trademarks and copyrights, and the prosecution of trademarks, copyrights, and other intellectual property.

Tony is a seasoned trial attorney in addition to his experience in commercial transactions. A member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), he has conducted countless successful jury trials in state and federal court on matters ranging from premises liability to complex business disputes.  He is often called upon to argue such matters before the Courts of Appeal and has obtained favorable published opinions. 

Tony’s professional distinctions include an AV rating, the highest rating available under the Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating System, recognition as one of California's most outstanding lawyers and, from 2005–2011, selected as a “Super Lawyer” by Law & Politics as well as included in the Corporate and Business Editions. Tony also heads the firm's intellectual property practice, which includes the registration and licensing of trademarks and copyrights, and the prosecution of trademarks, copyrights, and other intellectual property.

The author would like to thank Daniel Herbert, a partner with Manning & Kass, Ellrod, Ramirez, Trester for his valuable assistance in the preparation of these materials.

Steven Feirman is a partner at Nixon Peabody LLP, Washington, DC. As a member of the firm’s Franchise and Distribution practice group, he focuses his practice on domestic and international franchise and distribution law, as well as antitrust and trade regulation matters.

Steve has extensive experience counseling clients on U.S. and international franchising programs, licensing arrangements, and other distribution systems, including structuring and documenting such arrangements. He negotiates and prepares franchise, license, supply, distribution, asset purchase, and national account agreements, and has developed franchise disclosure documents for numerous jurisdictions.

Many franchisors call on him to address their most difficult issues, and he serves as both their legal advisor and strategic business advisor. In the area of antitrust, he represents clients on pricing, tying, mergers and acquisitions (including Hart-Scott-Rodino), and other competition issues. Steve conducts antitrust and franchise compliance programs, and assists clients in litigation and other dispute resolution matters. In addition, he represents companies before federal and state government agencies on antitrust and franchising matters. He served as antitrust counsel for the Coalition for Fair Consumer Pricing appearing before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Steve is a frequent lecturer and contributor to legal publications on antitrust and franchising law topics. He has served as an editor of some of the leading publications in the field, including Franchise Law Journal and Franchise Legal Digest, and also as a contributor to Global Competition Review and Franchising World.

For the eighth consecutive year, Steve was selected for inclusion in the 2013 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, a national listing based on a rigorous peer-review survey, and was ranked nationally in the 2012 edition of Chambers USA for Franchising. He was also included in the 2011 and 2012 editions of the International Who’s Who of Franchise Lawyers. Additionally, he has been recognized for the past nine years as a “Legal Eagle” by Franchise Times, an honor accorded the top franchise lawyers in the United States based on peer and client nominations. Steve is a past recipient of the Federal Trade Commission’s Meritorious Service Award and the prestigious Burton Award for Legal Achievement.

James E. Gibbons is a partner in Manning & Kass, Ellrod, Ramirez, Trester LLP’s Los Angeles headquarters. As  chair of the firm’s Insurance and Risk Transfer practice, his focus is on disputes involving insurance coverage and contractual risk transfer mechanisms. 

James specializes in analysis and drafting of insurance and contractual risk transfer provisions, authoring opinions on those matters and litigation aimed at resolving disputes over those issues.  With a wide range of trial and appellate experience, he has chaired numerous trials involving insurance coverage issues. Additionally, he was counsel of record in two landmark California Supreme Court cases involving insurance issues, Buss v Superior Court (1997) 16 Cal.4th 35, and PPG v Transamerica Ins. Co. (1999) 20 Cal.4th 310. 

From 2007–2012, James has been selected as a “Super Lawyer” for Insurance Coverage by Law & Politics, an organization that honors the top five percent of the California Bar based on a detailed peer review survey followed by a blue ribbon panel review and, by this same publication, he was named a “Super Lawyer, Corporate Counsel Edition,” for 2009, 2010, and 2012. He is also a volunteer temporary judge for the Los Angeles Superior Court.

Barbara Gregoratos, a partner at Jones Day in San Francisco, has a transactional real estate private equity practice that extends to most aspects of commercial real estate law, and involves both equity and debt investment and real estate finance. She has experience in the formation of partnerships, limited liability companies, and other joint venture platforms, as well as financing experience, which includes permanent and construction financing, participating loans and mezzanine debt. Barbara represents clients in direct real estate transactions, including purchases, sales and financings of all types of commercial properties (including REO sales for national bank clients), and commercial leases, including build-to-suit transactions.

Barbara’s clients include domestic and foreign capital sources (including sovereign wealth funds), financial institutions, property companies and developers. She has represented fund investors and other capital sources in a variety of transactions, including fund investment, and the formation of funds and joint venture arrangements for acquisition or investment in real estate-related assets.

Barbara co-authored  a chapter titled “Considerations in Structuring a Real Estate Fund,” in Inside the Minds: Fund Formation Strategies (2008) and was a speaker at the 2011 ABA Annual Meeting and at the 2012 ABA Real Property Section Spring Symposia, in presentations sponsored by the ABA’s Real Property Section Committee on International Transactions.  Barbara has been listed in Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel Edition and in North California Super Lawyers. 

David M. Hernand is a partner at in Cooley’s Business department. David is a founding partner and partner-in-charge of the Los Angeles office and joined in 2012.

David advises companies, board of directors, special committees, investment banks, private equity and venture capital firms and high net-worth individuals and families in public and private merger and acquisition transactions (including cross-border and distressed merger and acquisition transactions), corporate control contests, strategic partnering arrangements, public and private capital raising transactions and general company representation matters. He works with companies in a broad array of industries ranging from consumer products to energy, and has extensive experience working with technology and new media companies.

Margaret “Peggy” Hosking is a partner in Best Best & Krieger LLP with the Business Planning & Transactions group at the firm’s Riverside office. Her practice focuses on all aspects of business representation from start-up and formation through exit or succession planning with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, and commercial real estate transactions. 

Frequently in the role of outside general counsel, Peggy’s representation encompasses all aspects of business and commercial real estate transactions—sales, distribution, development, manufacture, finance and leasing— for a variety of public and private sector clients. Peggy’s client coverage is wide ranging, including industries such as automotive and motorcycle manufacturing, international film production, sports teams, international engineering and manufacturing firms, and international distributors of nutraceuticals and dietary supplements.

Jeffrey Le Sage is a partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Los Angeles. His practice includes mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, distressed transactions, reorganizations, private transactions, hostile takeovers, venture capital transactions, public offerings, private placements, corporate securities and general business law matters.

Jeff’s wide-ranging experience includes representation of public and private companies, private equity sponsors and investment banks in connection with the acquisition and disposition of various domestic and international companies in a broad array of industries. His experience also comprises representation of boards and special board committees in connection with doing private transactions, corporate governance and hostile takeover defenses.

He is co-editor of the LexisNexis M&A Practice Guide (2011, 2010, 2009 and 2008 editions). Additionally, Jeff lectures on corporate, mergers and acquisitions and private equity matters; has been named as one of the “Top 20 Under 40” lawyers in California by the Daily Journal, January 2012; and ranked as one of the top corporate transactional attorneys in Southern California by Chambers USA America’s Leading Business Lawyers, 2012,  2011 and 2010 editions.

Andrew Loewinger is a partner at Nixon Peabody LLP, Washington, DC, concentrating his practice on domestic and international franchising, as well as corporate, intellectual property, regulatory, and transactional issues. He is a key member of the international franchising practice, which represents world leaders in franchising and retail distribution. He has handled several hundred inbound and outbound franchise transactions and joint ventures in more than 85 countries.

He is the co-author and co-editor of International Franchise Sales Laws, published by the American Bar Association on franchise sales laws around the world. He is a frequent contributor to franchise publications and a frequent speaker at franchise programs held by the American Bar Association’s Forum Committee on Franchising, the International Bar Association International Franchising Committee, and the International Franchise Association.

Andrew is recognized as one of the top franchise lawyers in the United States and internationally in Who’s Who Legal 2010 and the International Who’s Who of Franchise Lawyers 2011 and 2012. He has been recognized for the fifth consecutive year for exceptional standing in the national legal community in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business 2012 for franchise work. For the past seven years, he also has been recognized as a “Legal Eagle” by Franchise Times, an honor accorded the top franchise lawyers in the United States based on peer and client nominations. Additionally, Andrew has been selected for the seventh consecutive year for inclusion in 2013 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, a national listing based on a rigorous peer-review survey.

 Sean P. Riley is a partner in Fox, Shjeflo, Hartley & Babu LLP. His practice emphasis encompasses all types of civil litigation and disputes, including real estate, construction, business, collections, debtor/creditor, bankruptcy and products liability.

Sean graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara ( B.A., with honors), and American University ( J.D., magna cum laude), where he served as a member of the American University Law Review. Sean is a member of the State Bar of California, San Mateo County Bar Association, and the Barrister's Club of San Mateo County.

Julia Scott, partner at Rufus-Isaacs, Acland & Grantham LLP, focuses her practice on entertainment transactions , marketing and advertising, and corporate counsel activities.

With over 20 years of studio and independent film experience, Julia has a combination of business, creative and legal experience that gives her a unique and in-depth understanding of the film industry. Prior to law school, Julia worked as an award-winning documentary filmmaker and production executive, production coordinator and assistant to the director for 12 years. Following graduation from law school, she worked at Business Affairs, Inc., a boutique entertainment law firm, representing producers, financiers and distributors. Julia later joined The Walt Disney Company and worked exclusively on Marvel and DreamWorks matters for Walt Disney Studios Distribution and as counsel to The Baby Einstein Company.

Walter E. Shjeflo is a partner in Fox, Shjeflo, Hartley & Babu LLP. His practice emphasis includes estates, trusts, conservatorships, business, and real estate matters in both transactions and litigation, and he  serves as a Judge Pro Tempore, Arbitrator, and Mediator.

Walt graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (B.S.) and Hastings College of Law, University of California (J.D.) His outside activities include Kiwanis International and the Silicon Valley Bar Association.

Peter N. Townshend is a partner with Perkins Coie LLP, San Diego and Palo Alto offices, in the firm’s Emerging Companies practice. He has extensive experience representing emerging growth technology companies and venture capital investors in structuring a wide variety of transactions. His practice includes venture capital, angel and other private equity financings; convertible note and other debt financings; mergers and acquisitions; public offerings; corporate governance; distribution, development, manufacturing, co-marketing, licensing and other commercial transactions; stock option plans and executive compensation; and venture capital and private equity fund formation.

Peter has worked in a diverse array of industries that includes social networking, e-commerce, online advertising, online gaming, software and hardware, telecommunications, medical devices, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.

As a regular lecturer for the von Liebig Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of California, San Diego, Peter also has lectured at the University of California, Berkeley and San Diego, Santa Clara University, and San Jose State University. In addition, he has been quoted by Reuters and in the San Francisco Chronicle, TheDeal.com and Entrepreneur Magazine.

Julie Treppa advises clients on the qualifications for federal and state tax incentives, including the New Markets Tax Credit. Her practice includes structuring investments, forming venture capital funds, buyout funds and other investment partnerships; international, federal, state and local taxation with respect to mergers and acquisitions; joint ventures; venture capital investments; executive compensation; and sales and use taxation.

Julie is an experienced tax litigator successfully representing clients in federal and state tax controversies in U.S. Tax Court, U.S. District Court, and various California courts. Prior to the practice of law, Ms. Treppa worked as a tax auditor for the Internal Revenue Service in the Exam Division.

Julie earned her J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of San Francisco School of Law, her M.A. in Taxation from Golden Gate University School of Tax and her B.A. in Economics and Political Science from the University of California, Davis.

Julie's representative cases include Ceridian Corp. v. Franchise Tax Board, 85 Cal. App. 4th 875 (2000), and Santa Fe Aggregates, Inc. v. State Board of Equalization, San Francisco County Superior Court No. 993-824.

Kendal Tyre is a partner at Nixon Peabody LLP, Washington DC, where he counsels franchise, manufacturing, retail, and financial services companies on international business transactions. He represents clients in mergers and acquisitions, private equity, venture capital, joint ventures and strategic alliances, licensing and franchise matters as well as corporate law matters.

His client base spans the United States (including Florida, New York, and California) and foreign countries, including South Africa, Kenya and the United Kingdom. He has extensive business law and transactional experience, advising on angel and venture capital financings, entity formation and maintenance, corporate reorganizations, securities law compliance and business divorce.

In his franchise practice, Kendal counsels franchisor clients regarding domestic and foreign franchise laws, drafts franchise disclosure documents, and prepares and files U.S. state franchise registration and exemption applications. He also has experience drafting and negotiating a variety of commercial agreements, including international franchise and development agreements, license agreements, and purchase and sale agreements.

Kendal is co-chair of the firm’s Diversity Action Committee and its Africa Group, and is an author and editor of the book, Franchising in Africa, published by LexNoir Foundation. His additional accomplishments include being awarded the National Bar Association’s Presidential Award for outstanding service to the organization during the 2003–2004 bar year for his service as chief-of-staff to the NBA president, Clyde E. Bailey, Sr., and recognized as a “Legal Eagle” by Franchising Times magazine.

Nicholas Unkovic is co-chair of Squire Sanders' mergers and acquisitions practice, a managing partner of its Northern California offices and a former member of its management committee. He advises domestic and multinational life sciences, technology and financial enterprises on corporate law, and he has experience in strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions, and emerging company representation. A significant portion of his work involves international transactions, especially on behalf of clients based in Asia and Europe.

Nick also has substantial securities law experience, including public and private offerings of equity and debt securities, both in the United States and internationally. He managed numerous public company acquisitions including a tender offer for a NYSE-listed company and a contested bank acquisition. Nick advises on corporate governance and 1934 Act disclosure issues, and he has served as chair of a public company's audit committee.

Nick earned his J.D. from the University of Michigan, graduating with honors. He earned his A.B., magna cum laude, from Harvard University.

Nick has regularly been named in The Best Lawyers in America and as one of Silicon Valley's top corporate lawyers in San Jose Magazine. Law & Politics magazine has included him among its Northern California Super Lawyers each year since 2005.

Ronald P. Wargo is a partner with Friedemann Goldberg LLP where he practices in the areas of business organizations and estate planning.  Ronald works closely with many privately-owned limited liability companies, partnerships and corporations, and is currently on the Executive Committee of the Business Law Section for the State Bar of California.  As an adjunct professor at Empire College School of Law, he has taught business organizations, and also is past chairman of the Partnerships and Limited Liability Company Committee of the State Bar of California and the Sonoma County Bar Association’s Business Law Section.

Ronald has been designated a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law by the State Bar of California. He is experienced in strategic planning for wealth preservation through the use of trusts, wills, and advanced techniques such as family limited partnerships and charitable trusts and entities.

He earned his J.D. degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, and his B.A. degree from the University of California at Berkeley.  In 2007, the North Bay Business Journal named Ronald to its inaugural “Forty Under 40” list of forty influential business leaders under the age of 40 in Sonoma, Marin and Napa counties.  In 2011 and 2012, he was named a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers magazine.

Ronald lives in Santa Rosa with his wife Carol, and two daughters Katrina and Sophia.

Neil J Wertlieb is a partner in Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP in Los Angeles, and a member of the firm’s Corporate Group, with his practice focus on corporate transactions, primarily acquisitions, securities offerings and restructurings.

Neil has represented clients in a wide variety of business matters, including formation and early round financings, mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings, international securities offerings and other international transactions, fund formations, joint ventures, partnerships and limited liability companies, reorganizations and restructurings, independent investigations and general corporate and contractual matters.

He teaches corporate transactions and contract drafting as an adjunct professor of law at UCLA School of Law. In addition, Neil is a member (and for 2012-2013 will be Chair) of the California State Bar’s Ethics Committee (the Committee on Professional Responsibility and Conduct), the former chairman of the Business Law section of the State Bar of California and its Corporations Committee, and a frequent public speaker on topics such as ethics, venture capital financing and acquisitions. In 2000, California Business Law recognized him as one of the top one hundred most influential lawyers in California. Neil has also been recognized by Legal 500 for his M&A work.

Brian Whitley is of counsel with Best Best & Krieger LLP and a member of the firm’s Business Services practice group. His extensive experience in secured and unsecured lending transactions encompasses commercial real estate loans, construction loans, acquisition and development loans, letters of credit and lines of credit, as well as commercial loan modifications and restructurings. 

Brian advises clients on a variety of lending transaction issues, including structuring and negotiating the transactions, and his clients comprise national, state and community banks and borrowers and guarantors.

David J. Wilson is a partner in Manning & Kass, Ellrod, Ramirez, Trester LLP, a Certified Appellate Law Specialist by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization, General Counsel to the firm, and a member of the Supreme Court practice group.  His extensive experience covers a broad array of subject areas in state and federal appellate courts such as insurance coverage, public entity defense, First Amendment rights, civil rights defense, employment, taxation, insurance fraud, trust administration, professional liability defense, loss prevention, arbitration, banking, and real estate.  

David’s clients include public entities, insurance companies, private security companies, and public office holders. Additionally, he advises attorneys on litigation strategy for trials, extraordinary appellate relief, and strategy for seeking review at the Supreme Court level, and also has acted as a settlement officer for the California Court of Appeal.

A focus of David’s practice has been California’s anti-SLAPP statute, which protects defendants from being sued for exercising their First Amendment rights about public issues. He has been successful in defending against abusive civil lawsuits by plaintiffs seeking to silence or harass defendants who exercise their First Amendment right of free speech in both news media and public protests, and the First Amendment right to petition the government for redress of grievances, including commenting on pending litigation.  David also has litigated frequently the scope of governmental immunity from civil lawsuits for public officials and public employees.