LAWYER. Your Bar Association. Member-Only Benefits page 22. Meet Your 2014 Board President & Section Leaders pages 7, 11

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1 Contra Costa LAWYER Volume 27, Number 1 January 2014 Your Bar Association Member-Only Benefits page 22 Meet Your 2014 Board President & Section Leaders pages 7, 11 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION CONTRA COSTA LAWYER 1

2 Perry A. Novak Senior Vice President - Investments UBS Financial Services, Inc N. California Blvd., Suite 400 Walnut Creek, CA (925) perry.novak@ubs.com ubs.com/team/thenovakgroup You know there are more questions you should be asking, but you're not sure what they are. You want to stop procrastinating and make a decision, but you don't feel well enough informed. You know where you want to be, but you don't have a plan that will get you there. That's where we come in. The Novak Group at UBS Financial Services, Inc. Providing wealth planning and asset management services to affluent families, business owners and professionals since Trusted advice, caring support, prudent financial solutions. 2 JANUARY 2014

3 2014 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Stephen Steinberg President Candice Stoddard President-Elect Nicholas Casper Secretary Elva Harding Treasurer Jay Chafetz Ex Officio Philip Andersen Dean Barbieri Amanda Bevins Oliver Bray Denae Hildebrand Budde Mary Carey CCCBA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Lisa Reep CCCBA main office Jennifer Comages Membership Coordinator Emily Day Systems Administrator and Fee Arbitration Coordinator Dawnell Blaylock Communications Coordinator Michelle Ferber Peter Hass Reneé Livingston Katherine Wenger James Wu CONTRA COSTA LAWYER CO-EDITORS EDITORIAL BOARD Harvey Sohnen Nicole Mills BOARD LIAISON Candice Stoddard COURT LIAISON Stephen Nash PRINTING Steven s Printing PHOTOGRAPHER Moya Fotografx Theresa Hurley Associate Executive Director Barbara Arsedo LRIS Coordinator Mark Ericsson Matthew Guichard Elva Harding Patricia Kelly Craig Nevin David Pearson Marlene Weinstein James Wu The Contra Costa Lawyer (ISSN ) is published 12 times a year - 6 times online-only - by the Contra Costa County Bar Association (CCCBA), 2300 Clayton Road, Suite 520, Concord, CA Annual subscription of $25 is included in the membership dues. Periodical postage paid at Concord, CA. POSTMASTER: send address change to the Contra Costa Lawyer, 2300 Clayton Road, Suite 520, Concord, CA The Lawyer welcomes and encourages articles and letters from readers. Please send them to contracostalawyer@cccba.org. The CCCBA reserves the right to edit articles and letters sent in for publication. All editorial material, including editorial comment, appearing herein represents the views of the respective authors and does not necessarily carry the endorsement of the CCCBA or the Board of Directors. Likewise, the publication of any advertisement is not to be construed as an endorsement of the product or service offered unless it is specifically stated in the ad that there is such approval or endorsement. Contra Costa LAWYER Volume 27 Number 1 January 2014 FEATURES DEPARTMENTS The official publication of the MEET YOUR NEW BOARD MEMBERS: Michelle Ferber and Katherine Wenger MEET YOUR NEW BOARD PRESIDENT: Stephen Steinberg MEET YOUR SECTION LEADERS B A R A S S O C I A T I O N 5 11 MEMBER-ONLY BENEFITS 22 YOUR CCCBA MEMBERSHIP 27 GROW YOUR BUSINESS LRIS Membership Makes Good Business Sense JUDICIAL ASSIGNMENTS (UPDATED) 19 SUPERIOR COURT ANNOUNCES NEW CEO 20 CENTER MCLE Spectacular Family Law Section Holiday Party YEAR-END FINANCIAL REPORT SUSTAINING LAW FIRMS 35 CALENDAR 38 CLASSIFIEDS 7 28 Shown on the cover (left to right): Kai Steinberg, Christine Chestnut, Stephen Steinberg and Nyana Steinberg CONTRA COSTA COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION CONTRA COSTA LAWYER 3

4 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION ANNUAL OFFICER INSTALLATION ~ featuring ~ The Honorable Mark Simons Justice of the 1st District Court of Appeal Admitting Uncharged Misconduct in Civil and Criminal Cases: Are you a Lawyer Who Asks for Permission or Only Forgiveness? 0.5 hours Legal Ethics and 0.5 hours General MCLE Credit Friday, January 24, :30 am - 1:30 pm Contra Costa Country Club 801 Golf Club Road, Pleasant Hill OFFICERS TO BE INSTALLED BOARD MEMBERS Stephen Steinberg, President Candice Stoddard, President-Elect Nicholas Casper, Secretary Elva Harding, Treasurer Jay Chafetz, Ex Officio Philip Andersen Dean Barbieri Amanda Bevins Oliver Bray Denae Hildebrand Budde Mary Carey Michelle Ferber Peter Hass Reneé Livingston Katherine Wenger James Wu SECTION LEADERS Peter Mankin, Alternative Dispute Resolution Gary A. Watt, Appellate David Arietta, Bankruptcy Law Marta Vanegas, Barristers/Young Lawyers Kent Parr, Business Law & Corporate Counsel Mary P. Carey, Criminal Law Joseph Morrill, Elder Law Michele Lane, Employment Law Mark Frisbie, Estate Planning & Probate Paul Bonnar, Family Law Stuart West, Intellectual Property Rhonda Wilson-Rice, Juvenile Law Geoffrey Steele and Marissa Nebenzahl Sinha, Litigation Samantha Sepehr and Peggy Bristol-Wright, Pro Bono Mike Durkee, Real Estate Andrew McCall, Solo Practice & Small Firm Rebecca Harris and Jennifer Navalle, Student Christina Ortega, Taxation Doris Mitchell, West County Crystal Van Der Putten, Women REGISTER TODAY! $35 CCCBA Members $45 Non-members 1 hour MCLE Credit Menu choices: Cuban Pork Loin Poached Atlantic Salmon Filet ~ OR ~ Vegetable Wellington Photo Session for the Member Directory 11 am to noon ~ AND ~ 1:30 to 2 pm To register, contact Theresa Hurley at (925) , thurley@cccba.org, or at 4 JANUARY 2014

5 Meet Your New Board Members Michelle Ferber practices in the areas of labor, employment and business law and has successfully tried these cases in state and federal courts. In addition to her litigation practice, Michelle regularly advises clients on employment law issues in the workplace. Michelle provides her clients with the advice and litigation expertise they need to stay current and compliant in the ever-changing landscape of employment laws and regulations, while recognizing the balance of business realities and economics. Michelle s client base is varied, but she most enjoys her personal relationships with local retailers and restaurants. She can often be found doing business over a meal downtown or over at the high school. Her business relationships with varied nonprofit organizations provide personal satisfaction, and she considers it a privilege to be Law Offices of Jay Chafetz 2033 N. Main Street Suite750 Walnut Creek, CA Michelle Ferber involved in the various missions of these groups. Originally from Southern California, Michelle moved to Danville in JAY CHAFETZ Personal Injury Trust & Estate Disputes Medical Malpractice Mediation (PI and Med Mal) Here for you when you need a trial attorney fax JayChafetz@JayChafetzLaw.com Since that time, she has become involved in both the legal and local community. Michelle is a former president of the CCC- BA Employment Section and former member of the Board of Directors of the CCCBA Women s Section. She is a former vice president of Beth Chaim Congregation, and was an integral part of the process of building its first permanent home in Danville. Michelle also serves at Dougherty Valley High School as its founding attorney mock trial coach and a member of its Athletic Boosters Association. Michelle is a 1987 graduate of California State University, Northridge, where she majored in journalism and wrote for the college newspaper. She received her J.D. in 1990 from Southwestern University School of Law, receiving various awards for excellence in academics and writing. In law school, Michelle served as an extern for the Honorable Arthur Alarcon of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Michelle started with her current firm back in 1999 and is proud of the firm s continued commitment to community service. Michelle and her husband, Rick, are the proud parents of Ally, who is in her junior year at Sonoma State University earning her teaching credential, and Andrew, a graduating high school senior who is planning on playing soccer at Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania. CONTRA COSTA COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION CONTRA COSTA LAWYER 5

6 New Board Members, cont. from page 5 Katherine Wenger has been practicing business and real estate litigation since 2002, developing a strong track record of assisting clients to successfully resolve a variety of complex business disputes, both inside and outside the courtroom. Katherine was born and raised in Texas, but after finishing high school, she left to attend Wellesley College in Massachusetts. She graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1999, receiving a bachelor s degree in political science and psychology. In college, Katherine was involved with student government, serving for several years in the student senate. She began law school at the University of Chicago, but ultimately was unable to escape all that California had to offer, and in 2002, graduated from the University of California, Berkeley. While in law Since 1949 Rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell 736 Ferry Street Martinez, CA (fax) braylaw@outlook.com school, Katherine interned for the Juvenile Division of the San Francisco Public Defender s Office. Following law school, she began her legal career with a large firm in Silicon Valley working on corporate governance, securities and shareholder disputes. From 2005 to 2011, she practiced at Morgan Miller Blair in Walnut Creek, with a focus on complex business and real estate litigation. She is currently a partner at Brown Church & Gee LLP, a firm formed in 2011 by former Bar Presidents Audrey Gee and Michael Brown with the goal of bringing a fresh approach in providing legal services and delivering value to their clients. While Katherine has practiced in courts throughout California, she has always particularly enjoyed her work before the Contra Costa County bench and involvement with Bray & Bray Oliver W. Bray* Over 25 years in practice Probate, Trust & Estate litigation and administration Elder Abuse Litigation Conservatorship establishment and litigation Fiduciary court accountings Estate Planning Free case evaluations for referring attorneys *Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization *Selected to Northern California Super Lawyers each year since 2006 Katherine Wenger the Contra Costa County Bar Association. She is a former president of the CCCBA s Women s Section, has served as a scorer for the county s Mock Trial Program and has had significant involvement with many aspects of the Bar throughout her practice in Contra Costa County. Katherine is also a member of East Bay CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women) and the East Bay Professional Women s Association. Katherine lives in Contra Costa County with her husband and daughter, and enjoys her involvement in the local community. s WANTED Conservatorships think Matt Toth as in Pedder, Hesseltine, Walker & Toth, LLP oldest partnership in Contra Costa County (since 1955) p f Golden Gate Way, P.O. Box 479 Lafayette, CA AV Martindale-Hubbell 6 JANUARY 2014

7 Meet Your New Board President We recently caught up with incoming CCC- BA President Steve Steinberg over openfaced meatball sandwiches in Lafayette... Tell us about your family. My wife, Christine Chestnut, is also a lawyer practicing in Contra Costa County. She is Staff Counsel at Save Mount Diablo. We have two children. Our daughter, Nyana, is four years old, and our son, Kai, is one and a half. My parents live in Alamo and take care of our kids two days a week. My mother-in-law lives in San Rafael and takes care of our kids one day a week. We are very lucky to have so much help from our families. Where are you from? I was born in Walnut Creek. When I was in fifth grade, my parents moved to Alamo. I have lived or worked in Contra Costa all my life with the exception of college. Are you the first attorney in your family? No. My paternal grandfather was an attorney and CPA in New York City. He worked for the city for most of his career. Where did you go to school? I went to college at Princeton University in New Jersey, where I majored in religion, with a focus on Chinese religions and particularly Confucianism. When I was applying to law schools, I decided I had to get back to someplace warm. I got into Arizona State right off the bat, and even found an apartment and attended orientation there. Then at the last minute, I heard from UC Hastings that I got in off the waitlist, and had to accept within 30 minutes and be back for orientation three days later. I did it, and thank goodness I did, because I met my future wife at orientation. It looks like you graduated from law school in two years. How did you do that? It was two and a half years. I was able to do that because during the first summer, I participated in a summer internship program and classes through Santa Clara University for credit in Hong Kong. Tell us about externing with a Hong Kong judge. The common law system is used there too, so researching cases is similar, and legal proceedings are conducted in English, though many witnesses and other participants require translation. However, they have no tradition Stephen Steinberg of law clerks working for judges, so when I showed up, the judge didn t know what to do with me at first. It was a learning process for the two of us. I also externed in a barristers chambers, and worked with a barrister on a personal injury trial that had a successful result. Did you wear a wig? You had to be a barrister or judge to get a wig. Does your work now involve Asian countries? My firm, Vasquez Benisek & Lindgren, does a lot of work with Chi- CONTRA COSTA COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION CONTRA COSTA LAWYER 7

8 New Board President, cont. from page 7 nese and Taiwanese technology companies, as well as American companies, helping them with intellectual property disputes, including patent and trademark infringement and misappropriation of trade secrets, and other complex business cases. Where have you worked? I started at Morrison & Foerster in Walnut Creek, when it was above Spiedini s restaurant. I worked there for a little over two years and then joined Morgan Miller Blair. My first connection with Morgan Miller Blair was playing on their softball go to trial, including some in the Eastern District of Texas where many such cases are filed. I ve spent time in trial in Tyler and Marshall, Texas. It s a different world down there. But like most other practice areas, 95 percent of the cases settle. What kinds of things have you done on the Bar Board? I have been on the Bar Board for six years. A big priority of mine since joining the Board has been trying to modernize communications with our members, our website, and the ways we publicize and take signups for events, advertise our lawyer referral service and publish the Contra Costa Lawyer magazine. For me personally, communications continues to be a priority... We can do a better job of helping people find out about our events and programs. I was heavily involved with the redesign of the CCCBA website, which was an enormous amount of work for the Bar staff, me and other Board members. I think it came out really well, and it got good reviews in our membership survey last year. Traffic has grown every year since we launched the new website. People are finding out about and registering for events online. I was also involved in hiring a communications coordinator for the Bar dedicated to handling our digital and print communications, advertising and putting together the magazine. That was a key change. Modernizing our communications has been a major part of connecting with younger lawyers, and I have participated in other efforts to better serve younger lawyers. I have also chaired our delegation to the Conference of California Bar Associations, which has managed to get new laws approved by the conference, passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor in three of the last four years. What s next in terms of the Bar s use of technology? The new frontier is mobile devices people searching our website, reading our broadcasts and CC Lawyer magazine, and signing up for events on smartphones, ipads and other mobile devices. Mobile traffic on our website has grown from under 3 percent in 2011 to nearly 17 percent in 2013, and will probably continue to grow rapidly. It is a trend across society, and lawyers are leading the way, with 90 percent of lawyers using smartphones. One task for this year may be making our website and other communications more mobilefriendly. What works well on a smartphone or ipad is different from what works well on a desktop computer. team because MoFo didn t have one anymore. Then about five and a half years ago, we started Vasquez Benisek & Lindgren. How did you come upon your focus in IP work? By accident. At MoFo, I worked on a wide variety of real estate, energy, intellectual property and antitrust litigation. Then at Morgan Miller Blair, I was initially doing a mix of real estate and IP, and other technology-related cases. Over time, our technology and IP practice grew such that when we opened Vasquez Benisek & Lindgren, the focus was almost exclusively on intellectual property and technology litigation. That s what I have been doing since then. Do those cases ever go to trial? We ve had several big patent cases What are your priorities as president? We recently got input from section leaders about priorities for the coming year, and at our annual Board retreat we will be discussing them further. I am eager to hear what the Board has to say. For me personally, communications continues to be a priority, and particularly working on our mobile communications. We can do a better job of helping people find out about our events and programs. Also, helping integrate younger lawyers into the profession and the Bar Association has always been a priority for me. Give me an example of how young lawyers would be integrated. In 2011, we had a Bar leaders/barristers mixer at Pyramid, with all the 8 JANUARY 2014

9 section leaders and the Bar Board and only barristers invited to attend. The idea was to have barristers learn what the sections and the Bar have to offer, while giving the sections the opportunity to recruit new members and new leaders. In 2013, we had a Meet the Bar event at JFK law school, which was an opportunity for section leaders to introduce their sections to law students. I d like more of those kinds of events. Any other challenges you see in the coming year? Lisa Reep will be stepping down as Executive Director after 20 years at CCCBA. I credit her with much of the success of the Bar Association since I have been involved. Ensuring a proper sendoff for her, and a smooth transition to the next Executive Director, will be important tasks. Should the Bar Association speak out and take some stands on issues of the day? Considering our roles as attorneys, we have an obligation to stand up for the legal system and the rights of the people who interact with that system. At the same time, we are a membership organization with members of different political views. In terms of fighting for court funding, the right to a court reporter, the right to trial, we have played a role, lobbying in Sacramento and assisting our local bench in trying to deal with financial cutbacks. As to taking stands on more general political issues, the feedback from our members is mixed. So I think we should try to focus on issues that are specific to our role as lawyers. We have done some good work on access to justice issues, and I would like it to continue in s GET INVOLVED Learn more about the CCCBA, its sections, committees and upcoming events at David A. Arietta 20 years of experience 700 Ygnacio Valley Road Suite150 Walnut Creek, CA Elder Law is Alzheimer s Planning L A W O F F I C E S O F DAVIDÊA. ARIETTA Certified Specialist, Bankruptcy Law State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization Comprehensive Bankruptcy Assistance for Individuals and Businesses Rated AV Preeminent Martindale-Hubbell (925) David@AriettaLaw.com The average survival rate is eight years after being diagnosed with Alzheimer s some live as few as three years after diagnosis, while others live as long as 20. Most people with Alzheimer s don t die from the disease itself, but from pneumonia, a urinary tract infection or complications from a fall. Until there s a cure, people with the disease will need caregiving and legal advice. According to the Alzheimer s Association, approximately one in ten families has a relative with this disease. Of the four million people living in the U.S. with Alzheimer s disease, the majority live at home often receiving care from family members. If the diagnosis is Alzheimer s, call elder law attorney Michael J. Young Estate Planning, Disability, Medi-Cal, Long-term Care & VA Planning Protect your loved ones, home and independence. n San Miguel Drive, Suite 220 Walnut Creek, California CONTRA COSTA COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION CONTRA COSTA LAWYER 9

10 Morrill Law Firm 1333 N. California Blvd., Ste 620 Walnut Creek, CA Phone Fax Will & Trust Litigation Financial Elder Abuse Conservatorships General Civil Litigation Probate & Civil Appeals Mediation Joseph Morrill Andrew R. Verriere Nicole Morrill Paralegal 10 JANUARY 2014

11 Meet Your Section Leaders Alternative Dispute Resolution I initially joined CCCBA because... In the late 1970s, CCCBA was a closeknit group with lots of camaraderie. It was great to go to monthly Bar Luncheons and know most of the lawyers there. I stay at CCCBA because... Peter Mankin It has evolved into a very professional Bar Association, thanks mostly to Lisa Reep. The sections have become the lifeblood of the CCCBA. The educational opportunities are great and I still enjoy the camaraderie, although it s not quite as personal. I am committed to the continued growth and contribution the ADR Section is making to the legal community. Appellate Gary A. Watt I initially joined CCCBA because... The Bar Association is a great way to network and brainstorm with other members of the profession. I stay at CCCBA because... The Bar Association provides highquality opportunities for continuing legal education, contribution to the community and much more. Section leadership allows me to give something back to the legal community by taking on this responsibility. Bankruptcy Law I initially joined CCCBA because... I was an associate at a small law firm and wanted to meet other attorneys in the area. I also was interested in the Barristers Section and their softball league. I am still playing softball on that team almost 20 years later. I stay at CCCBA because... David Arietta My best and strongest referral sources are fellow attorneys that I have met at the Bar Association. I like the continuing opportunities to meet new people and stay in touch with those that I have known for a while now. I also enjoy having the ability to sign up for the variety of educational programs offered by different sections. I want to be sure that the section is available as a resource both for its members and the general Bar membership. There is great value in having consistent educational programs, as they provide not only a venue for keeping up on the law but also foster a sense of community among the membership. Being a sole practitioner, I usually come to an event with a particular question or war story to share. Barristers/Young Lawyers I initially joined CCCBA because... My law school s career counselor told me to join the county bar where I wanted to work. I knew I wanted to work where I lived, and wanted to network with like-minded professionals. I stay at CCCBA because... Marta Vanegas There is no better resource for finding affordable, high-quality MCLE programs, networking CONTRA COSTA COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION CONTRA COSTA LAWYER 11

12 Section Leaders, cont. from page 11 events and amazing individuals! I find myself becoming more and more engaged with several different sections of CCCBA as I am finding out which areas I would like to specialize in. Some sections also unite attorneys in divergent practices along some other attributes, such as the Women s Section or the Solo Practice & Small Firm Section. I admire the work of the sections, and want to participate in the effort. Being a Section Leader allows me to engage and develop my leadership potential and has led to finding mentors and friends within the Bar Association. Business Law & Corporate Counsel Kent Parr I initially joined CCCBA because... I believed it was expected by my law firm at the time. I stay at CCCBA because... It is a good source for keeping current in recent legal developments, and for meeting other lawyers in a non-adversarial setting. I was asked to do so, and I felt it would be a service to the CCCBA. 12 JANUARY 2014

13 Criminal Law Mary P. Carey I initially joined CCCBA because... I wished to maintain membership in a vibrant legal community after leaving government law for private practice. I stay at CCCBA because... There are opportunities to expand my intellectual, social, professional and philanthropic interests. I enjoy working with my colleagues to put together useful continuing education programs, maintain a pulse on the criminal justice community in Contra Costa and engage in leadership activities. Elder Law Chair: Joseph Morrill I initially joined CCCBA because... I began practicing in Contra Costa County in I had just turned 29 years old and knew very few attorneys located in the county. It was the best way to meet people who could provide me insight into the local practices, collaborate on legal and practical questions, and help introduce me to other professionals both in the legal field and beyond. I stay at CCCBA because... I enjoy the events and MCLE activities, and discovered that the CCCBA is a great way to stay up to date on developments in my field of practice, interact with the bench, and cultivate relationships with other practitioners. I was asked by the former section leader to join the board of the Elder Law Section. After serving as a board member for a few years, I was asked if I was interested in being the Section Leader. I thought it would be a great way to help develop knowledge and interest regarding issues in the field, both for elder law practitioners and others who are faced with elder law issues. Employment Law I initially joined CCCBA... To enjoy the support offered by the Bar Association, meet fellow attorneys and gain a better knowledge of the county legal community and court system. I stay at CCCBA because... Michele Lane Over the past 25 years, I have enjoyed all of the benefits of associating with fellow attorneys, getting to know the judges and others in the legal community and participating in the highquality continuing education programs provided. It gives me an opportunity to work with a variety of seasoned and exceptional attorneys in my area of practice. I gain knowledge and practical practice information as well as enjoying associating with dedicated attorneys willing to serve the section with their time and talent. Estate Planning & Probate Mark Frisbie I initially joined CCCBA... To meet other local practitioners and keep informed about developments in our local courts. I stay at CCCBA... For the reasons I joined and because I save money on the cost of attending programs and events. It is my turn to serve for the benefit of those in my field of practice, as others have for me in the past. Family Law Paul Bonnar I initially joined CCCBA because... I heard everyone joined. At that time, the only section was West Contra Costa; we did not have sections by practice area. I stay at CCCBA because... It allows all of us together to work CONTRA COSTA COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION CONTRA COSTA LAWYER 13

14 Section Leaders, cont. from page 13 to improve our role in the courts to better serve our clients. The Family Law Section provides professional education and development. It helps me become more effective in looking out for my clients interests and provides opportunity for fellowship with colleagues. Intellectual Property Stuart West I initially joined CCCBA because... I wanted the opportunity to network with other CCCBA members practicing in other fields of law. I stay at CCCBA because... CCCBA affords me the opportunity to get out of the office and interact with other members of the legal community. AND MEDIATION CENTER A unique and effective style - a great mediator Candice Stoddard Ron Mullin Willows Office Park p 1355 Willow Way, Suite 110 Concord, California Telephone (925) p Facsimile (925) ronald@mullinlaw.com CCCBA offers many excellent programs that keep me in touch with current legal news and a large population of the legal community. Juvenile Law Rhonda Wilson-Rice I initially joined CCCBA because... Of the membership benefits. Belonging to a section helps so much with professional development that you can t get elsewhere. I stay at CCCBA... For the same reasons; it is a great connection with my colleagues. I enjoy helping members know what s going on with Juvenile Law. Litigation I initially joined CCCBA because... I belong to several bar associations it is a great way to get to know other lawyers in the area Geoffrey Steele and to find people who you can confidently refer cases outside your own discipline. Since my main base is in Contra Costa County, the CCCBA is the one that I always make sure I am a member of. I cannot imagine practicing in Contra Costa County and not being a member of the local bar, as I would think it would put me at a disadvantage in not getting to know the judges and court through the brown bag programs, luncheons, MCLE programs, etc. I stay at CCCBA because... The programs alone are worth the price of admission, but it is also the 14 JANUARY 2014

15 support for the member attorneys that keeps me on as a member of the CCCBA. Being a Litigation Section chairperson has been a nobrainer for me. The Litigation Section is the one section that crosses over most of the other disciplines, covering a wide variety of legal issues, including insights regarding practicing before the Contra Costa courts. The Litigation Section s MCLE programs and mixers are opportunities to meet attorneys that you might not otherwise get to know. In addition, the Litigation Section is involved in several of the pro bono workshops in Contra Costa County. Those workshops afford our members great opportunities to hone their skills and give back to the community. I have met other Litigation Section members from all over the Bay Area, which has allowed me to confidently refer cases to attorneys I have gotten to know and respect, and I have had referrals from other Litigation Section members back to me. Most likely, they may not have gotten to know me other than our participation as a Litigation Section chair. Co-Chair: Marissa Nebenzahl Sinha Pro Bono Samantha Sepehr Peggy Bristol-Wright We initially joined CCCBA because... We were both exposed to and heavily involved with the CCCBA while attending law school. We realized it was an active Bar Association with a variety of MCLE events to attend and learn from. Upon graduating, we both knew this would be the best association to immediately join. We stay at CCCBA because... They provide opportunities for developing relationships and networking amongst our legal community. We are Section Leaders because... We enjoy providing educational opportunities to our colleagues to help promote the need for pro bono services in various areas of the law. I initially joined CCCBA because... I wanted to become involved in the local legal community. I believe that getting to know other attorneys and judges on a more personal level is just as important to the practice of law as substantive knowledge. I stay at CCCBA because... I have had a lot of fun! I love showing up to appearances and local events and seeing faces that I know. I don t think anyone in their right mind could have refused a charming offer from Geoff Steele to co-chair the Litigation Section with him! REAL ESTATE BUSINESS PLANNING ESTATE PLANNING EXIT, SUCCESSION & ESTATE PLANNING FOR BUSINESS AND PROPERTY OWNERS HUBERT LENCZOWSKI, J.D., M.A. * hubert@lenczowskilaw.com C. JOSEPH DOHERTY, J.D. jdoherty@lenczowskilaw.com * Adjunct Professor Taxation Golden Gate University Law School, LL.M. Taxation Program Real Estate Mike Durkee LENCZOWSKI LAW OFFICES ATTORNEYS AT LAW 1615 Bonanza Street, Suite Walnut Creek, CA T (925) I initially joined CCCBA because... It was a way for me to connect to where I live by becoming part of the local business/legal community. I stay at CCCBA because... Participation in the local legal community is very rewarding to me. I want to give back to my practice area. My predecessors did a great job building the Real Estate Section into one of the most active in the CCCBA. Our current Board shares that vision. We meet once a month for breakfast and an hour s presentation on current topics in real estate, land use, environmental and related topics. We attract talented presenters and are well attended. Additionally, attendance will help better acquaint one with other local real estate practitioners. CONTRA COSTA COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION CONTRA COSTA LAWYER 15

16 Section Leaders, cont. from page 15 Student Solo Practice & Small Firm I initially joined CCCBA because... The firm I worked for signed up all new associates as CCCBA members. I stay at CCCBA because... Of the many benefits of membership, including the LRIS, which has provided me with many good clients Andrew McCall over the years. The MCLE programs are good, relevant and reasonably priced. CCCBA events are great for networking. I have enjoyed the Solo/Small Firm Section s events over the years, especially the breakfasts and the MCLE Spectacular presentations, so I want to be more involved in the section to make sure it continues its events, and to give back some of my time and efforts to the cause. Co-Chair: Rebecca Harris I initially joined CCCBA because... I was interested in gaining more footing in the Contra Costa legal community. I knew that as a member, I would get the opportunities to network and hear from others in various arenas of the law. I stay at CCCBA because... It has given me the opportunities that I was seeking and more. I have had the chance to hear amazing speakers and learn about topics in the law that I might not have otherwise. I have been able to meet and work with dedicated attorneys. They have shown me what it will be like once I join them on the other side, and I would be honored to join their ranks. Co-Chair: Jennifer Navalle I initially joined CCCBA because... I knew being a member would give me opportunities to meet attorneys who could share their stories and advice on graduating law school and passing the bar exam, which I look forward to completing and eventually joining them! I stay at CCCBA because... Various areas of law are always evolving and CCCBA is a great resource for keeping up with those areas through various seminars and speakers that are offered throughout the year. I feel it is important for the law students at JFK University to be aware of CCCBA. It s our greatest tool to help gain interest about various areas of the law and join other dedicated attorneys in the Contra Costa legal community. 16 JANUARY 2014

17 Taxation I initially joined CCCBA because... I wanted to be a part of the legal community in Contra Costa County, and get to know other attorneys in the county where I reside. I stay at CCCBA because... It provides many opportunities to Christina Ortega establish professional relationships and network with attorneys and other professionals in my community. The educational programs I have attended have been excellent, and have helped me in my practice. I want to contribute to the CCCBA community, promote the talented tax professionals in Contra Costa County, and have meaningful discussions and presentations on topics in my area of practice. Women Crystal Van Der Putten I initially joined CCCBA... To connect with other attorneys in Contra Costa County and be involved in the local legal community. I stay at CCCBA because... Of the wonderful people I have met. It is a great organization that provides opportunities and support for its members. I saw an opportunity to make a difference. We have a phenomenal Women s Section, which provides many benefits to its members not the least of which is support for one another. I wanted to be a part of that at the leadership level. s West County Doris Mitchell I initially joined CCCBA... To be part of a group of attorneys who appreciate the value that comes from the exchange of ideas and from the support of one another. I stay at CCCBA because... I have learned a lot from the educational events put on by the Bar Association and have met some great people. I hope to advance the idea that we are a community that can support one another in each other s endeavors to ensure our own success and that of our clients. effectiveness Palmer Madden has conducted more than 1,000 mediations since One jurisdiction reported that he has over a 90% settlement rate. experience His 25 years of experience as a trial attorney gives him an understanding about clients that has proven time and again to be critical in tough cases. efficiency He does not carry the overhead of other mediation firms (no administrative fees) - which means the price is always right! palmer brown madden Over 25 years experience as an ADR neutral CONTRA COSTA COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION CONTRA COSTA LAWYER 17

18 Superior Court of Contra Costa County 2014 JUDICIAL ASSIGNMENTS ~ UPDATED NOVEMBER 25, 2013 ~ Barry P. Goode Presiding Judge Steven K. Austin Assistant Presiding Judge Criminal Trials (Martinez) Supervising Judge: John W. Kennedy Judge Diana Becton Judge Charles Ben Burch Judge Theresa J. Canepa Judge Lewis A. Davis Judge John W. Kennedy Judge Clare Maier Judge Mary Ann O Malley Judge Patricia Scanlon Criminal Calendars (Martinez) MARTINEZ Family Law (Martinez) Supervising Judge: Jill Fannin Judge Christopher R. Bowen Judge Jill Fannin Judge Susanne Fenstermacher (60%) Judge Barbara C. Hinton Commissioner Anita Santos (DCSS) Judge Edward G. Weil Juvenile (Martinez) PITTSBURG Supervising Judge: Brian Haynes Judge Brian Haynes Judge Judy Johnson Judge Cheryl Mills Judge Charles Steve Treat Vacant (D18) RICHMOND Supervising Judge: Leslie G. Landau Judge Joni T. Hiramoto Judge Leslie G. Landau Judge Nancy Davis Stark Judge Trevor White Vacant (D22) Judge Barry Baskin (Specialty Courts) Judge Bruce C. Mills (Calendar) Judge Terri Mockler (Calendar) Judge Barbara Zúñiga (Motions Calendar) Civil (Martinez) Supervising Judge: Judith Craddick Judge Steven K. Austin Judge Laurel S. Brady Judge Judith Craddick (Complex Litigation) Judge George V. Spanos Supervising Judge: Lois Haight Judge Lois Haight Judge Rebecca Hardie Judge John Laettner Judge Thomas M. Maddock Vacant (D6) Probate (Martinez) Supervising Judge: John H. Sugiyama Judge Susanne Fenstermacher (40%) Judge John H. Sugiyama Traffic Supervising Judge: Thomas M. Maddock Commissioner Ronald Creighton (Walnut Creek) Commissioner Lowell Richards (Pittsburg/Richmond) Parole Violations Stephen Houghton, Hearing Officer 18 JANUARY 2014

19 Superior Court Announces New CEO T he Contra Costa Superior Court is pleased to announce that Stephen Nash has been hired to serve as its Court Executive Officer effective December 2, Nash was serving as the Court Executive Officer of the San Bernardino Superior Court. There, he supervised nearly 1,000 employees and a budget approaching $100 million. Presiding Judge Barry Goode said, We are delighted that Stephen will be our new CEO. He has been a leader in the judicial branch for many years. His experience, knowledge, integrity and personal qualities are second to none. Our court and the people of our county will be very well served by his leadership. Nash has had a distinguished career in state government. Before moving to San Bernardino County, he was the Director of Finance of the Administrative Office of the Courts. He has also served as a budget analyst for the Stephen Nash Court Executive Officer California Department of Finance and as Deputy Director of Administrative Services for the California Department of Youth Authority. Nash has had significant responsibilities within the judicial branch. His counsel is highly valued. Chief Justices have appointed him to serve in many capacities, including as a member of the Trial Court Executives Advisory Committee, the Trial Court Budget Working Group, the Court Facilities Working Group, the SB 56 Working Group and the Joint Legislation Working Group. s Tax & Estate Attorneys Individual & Business Tax Issues Tax Preparation Tax Planning Tax Controversy Sophisticated Estate Planning Estate Administration Trust & Estate Litigation Probate YOUNGMAN & ERICSSON 1981 N. Broadway, Suite 300 Walnut Creek, CA (925) youngman.com Walter C. Youngman, Jr., Attorney-CPA Mark S. Ericsson Dani Altes, Paralegal Chastity A. Schults, Partner Christina P. Ortega, LL.M in Taxation Mayra Aviles, Paralegal CONTRA COSTA COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION CONTRA COSTA LAWYER 19

20 19th Annual MCLE Spectacular! Friday, November 22, 2013 Walnut Creek Marriott Breakfast Kickoff Speaker JAYNE KIM ef Trial Counsel, State Bar of California Luncheon Speaker SSOR ERWIN CHEMERINSKY Dean, UC Irvine School of Law Afternoon Plenary Session Speaker DAVID MANN Consultant, The Other Bar MCLE Spectacular Event Sponsor JAMS SPONSORS Prof. Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean, UC Irvine School of Law EVENT SPONSOR JAMS PREMIUM SPONSORS The LaMusga Company Scott Valley Bank Thomson Reuters Westlaw SPONSORS The ACE Fiduciary Group ADR Services, Inc. Certified Reporting Services JFK University College of Law LexisNexis Lisa Reep and Theresa Hurley Jayne Kim, Chief Trial Counsel, State Bar of California 20 JANUARY 2014 David Mann, Consultant, The Other Bar

21 Family Law Section Holiday Party Friday, December 6, 2013 Becky Huffaker, Mike Huffaker and Nancy Huffaker Mark Ressa and Paul Bonnar Vincent Dizon, Selam Gezahegn and Mariela Verdin Tammy Gallerani, Meghan Oliveri and Dan Harkins Comm. Anita Santos, Karen Johnson, Marlene Weinstein, Tracy Lindsey and Kim Kirkpatrick CONTRA COSTA COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION CONTRA COSTA LAWYER 21

22 MEMBER-ONLY BENEFITS Airport Parking Park SFO 195 North Access Rd. South San Francisco, CA Contact Nancy at Discount: Free membership to PARK SFO Club (normally $ a year), personalized membership card, free upgrade to valet parking, coupons good for one free day of parking (one per visit) & auto detailing discounts. Computer & IT Consulting Pacific Computer Consultants, Inc. Contact: David Jordan (925) x101 info@pcc-sf.com Discount: 30-day free trial of our Office In The Cloud (hosted and hosted file storage) and free no obligation in-person network health check. Health & Wellness GlassesOnWeb.com Brian Trota 206 Washington St. Jersey City, NJ (877) brian.trota@glassesonweb.com Discount: 10% discount to all CCC- BA Members for all products and services purchased online. Use discount code: CCCBA10. Insurance (Life & Health) Floral Arrangement & Plants Expresso Airport Parking 880 Doolittle Dr. San Leandro, CA Discount: Enter con (all lower case) and print off discounted coupon. Present coupon and photo ID at checkout to receive discount. Jory s Flowers 1330-B Galaxy Way Concord CA (925) Discount: 10% discount for CCCBA members. Businesses featured here offer discounts to CCCBA members that would not otherwise be available. Simply identify yourself as a current CCCBA member to the participating business at the time of your transaction. Colleen Callahan Insurance Services Colleen Callahan, CLU, CASL, LUTCF CA License # (925) association-members.html 140 Gregory Lane, Ste. 170 Pleasant Hill, CA Discount: 10% discount available to CCCBA members on individual disability and business overhead expense policies offered by The Guardian. 22 JANUARY 2014

23 Workers Compensation, Business Office Packages and Accidental Death Insurance plans for members of the State Bar of California is available at calbar. LaMusga Company Insurance, Financial Services, Divorce Planning Gary LaMusga, Financial Advisor; Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (925) Discount: CCCBA members receive a 10% discount when applying for the Standard Disability Insurance Policy. MassMutual Financial Group 2121 N. California Blvd., Ste. 395 Walnut Creek, CA Todd Friedman (925) or tfriedman@financialguide.com Jane Louie, CFBS, CLTC (510) or jlouie@financialguide.com Discount: CCCBA members and their families have a special 10% discount on long-term care insurance as well as access to other discounts. Myers-Stevens-Mello & Co., Inc. Dental, Vision, Life and Disability Insurance Plans (877) rich@insurancemsm.com Discount: For an overview of available plans, please visit org/attorney/build-your-practice/ member-benefit-insurance.php Insurance (Liability) Attorneys & Professionals Insurance Services, Inc. Michele Epstein, AAI, AIS, ACSR,CISR, CPIW, DAE 1255 Treat Blvd., Ste. 346 Walnut Creek, CA (925) Fax: (925) michele@attorneyproinsurance.com Discount: Broker fees waived for professional liability for CCCBA members. Savings of $200+. Mercer Health & Benefits Insurance Services, LLC 345 California St., 13th Floor San Francisco, CA (800) Fax: (415) richard.o regan@marshpm.com Discount: Information regarding Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Polaris Risk Management & Insurance Services Lawyers Malpractice Insurance, Professional Liability Insurance Jeffrey Little, Vice President (925) Fax: (925) jlittle@polaris-ins.com Discount: Discount for specializing in 50% or greater area of practice. Judicial Council Forms Software Martin Dean s Essential Forms 1 (800) Discount: Purchase of Essential Forms entitles CCCBA members to choose two local county modules of their choice from the 51 counties available (a $338 value). Legal Fee Recovery Services DSG Collect Jerry Kane 1824 W. Grand Ave., Ste. 200 Chicago, IL CONTRA COSTA COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION CONTRA COSTA LAWYER 23

24 Member Benefits, cont. from page 23 (888) or (312) Fax: (877) Discount: 28% contingency rate (regularly 33%). Legal & Business Publications The Recorder Circulation 1035 Market St., Ste. 500 San Francisco CA (415) Discount: For new subscribers, $299 annually for CCCBA members with 11 or more attorneys; $199 annually for members with 10 or fewer attorneys (applicable taxes apply). Regular price $389 annually. Subscriptions include exclusive daily legal news and case alert s, weekly newspaper and access to San Francisco Daily Journal Subscription Department 44 Montgomery St., Ste. 500 San Francisco CA (866) Discount: New subscribers: Discounted rate of $324 (plus tax), 58% off the regular annual rate of $765. Subscriptions include daily (Monday-Friday) print delivery plus access to subscriber site and subscriber s. Legal Research Lexis-Nexis Michelle Wyllie Bay Area Territory Manager (415) (925) Discount: 30% Discount, plus other seasonal promotions: All print, CD- ROM, Lexis.com and Lexis Advance online subscriptions qualify. (Desktop code books are excluded.) Marketing & Promotions Advertising Magic/ AdMagix Marketing Rosalind Robe Boukis 2116 N. Main St., Ste. G Walnut Creek CA (925) rosalind@newadmagix.com Discount: Free Screen or set-up charge on all new orders. Merchant Services E-Paynow.com Richard Wood 383 Diablo Rd., Ste. #217 Danville CA (925) Discount: E-paynow.com provides the Authorize.net payment gate- way for card-not-present transactions. Accept credit card and electronic check payments quickly and affordably, without having to pay more, or purchasing a physical terminal, and we will waive the setup fee with proof of CCCBA membership. Turn YOUR iphone or Android phone into a credit card terminal. The Payment Jack application is fully encrypted from the app to the swipe device. Free swiper with proof of CCCBA membership. Office & Virtual Office Solutions Laptop Lounge, Home of Reliable Receptionist Shared workspace, meeting rooms and telephone receptionist services Victor Mataraso 3000 Citrus Cir., Ste. 208 Walnut Creek, CA (925) Info@ReliableReceptionist.com Discount: CCCBA Members receive 50% off initial setup fees, a $25-$75 value depending on options selected. Regus Discount: Regus, the leader in flexible office solutions, is now offering CCCBA members a complimentary Businessworld Preferred membership ($150 value). This membership provides 5 free visits to over 1, JANUARY 2014

25 business lounges, including locations in Walnut Creek, Oakland, & San Francisco. Upon activating, members will also receive: 10% discount on meeting room, day office, and videoconference services Special rates on office and virtual office Two complimentary business lounge guest passes Website: Activate Now! Use Promotion Code: CCCBA Practice Management & Support Rental Cars The Hertz Corporation Members-only toll-free number: (800) , use your Hertz CCCBA CDP# Discount: 10% discount off Hertz Daily Member Benefit Rates; 5% or greater off Hertz Leisure Rates, all car classes (advance reservations required). Discounts in Europe and worldwide; and Hertz #1 Club membership, computerized driving directions, Hertz NeverLost, express return, and 24-Hour emergency roadside assistance. Translation Services Keylingo Translations Expert Document Translation Service 1255 Treat Blvd., Ste. 300 Walnut Creek, CA (925) Discount: 15% off your first translation and 8% off all future translations. Thomson Reuters Westlaw Heather Grabowski (415) thomsonreuters.com Discount: All CCCBA members have the exclusive opportunity to purchase one seat of Firm Central and Time and Billing for $45 ($60 retail). Also, with the purchase of this product we also offer our WestlawNext California Special includes CA Cases & Codes, KeyCite, and entire Rutter Practice Guide Series for a member discount price of $165/ month for solo attorneys (retails at $275/month). With the above plan, CCCBA members are also eligible for five months of free premium WestlawNext practice area content. Choose content from a variety of practice areas, including: family law, business law, employment law, bankruptcy, estate planning, and more. Firm Central offers free customer support and training. Visit for more information. Time Capture Software Chrometa Software that captures your billable time automatically. Brett Owens (888) x1 brett@chrometa.com Discount: Two free months with a new subscription purchase. Free 14-day trial available, 20% discount. Plus free phone, and training support. Wireless Services Verizon Wireless Cynthia Davis, NPP 1100 Olive Way, Ste Seattle, WA (800) Direct: (206) cynthia.davis@mynpp.com Discount: Members with calling plans of $34.99 or higher may qualify for discounts; for details, visit CONTRA COSTA COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION CONTRA COSTA LAWYER 25