§ Represented widow regarding trustee’s failure to fund marital trust with income producing assets following death of her spouse
§ Represented widower in recovering intervivos gifts made by incompetent spouse prior to her death.
§ Developed procedures and knowledge base trainings to expand internal skills and procedures regarding virtual assets, blockchain and intellectual property for a cutting-edge trust company
§ Represented a professional fiduciary as estate administrator in defense of a $10 million civil action on a creditor’s claim involving allegations against the decedent for contract breach, fraud, etc.; successfully demurred on statute of limitations, non-compliance with creditors’ claims procedures and standing
§ Represented a trust beneficiary in recovering sentimental tangible personal property of his deceased parent while successfully avoiding intrafamily litigation
§ Represented an ultra-high-net-worth client to establish conservatorship and modify trust after spouse experienced a debilitating accident
§ Represented a trust beneficiary against conspiracy claims made in federal court, including allegations of breach of fiduciary duty, elder abuse and unfair business practices
§ Represented a claimant in breach of fiduciary duty action in multiyear litigation and a 20-day bench trial
§ Represented a trust beneficiary seeking conveyance of his joint interest in his deceased mother’s copyrights for the purposes of continuing to produce and offer for sale her famous collection of sculptures
§ Represented a co-trustee and beneficiary in collecting his interest in his mother’s estate and resigning as co-trustee, successfully avoiding intrafamily litigation
§ Representing a claimant for oral promise to make a will in multiyear litigation involving multiple appeals to California’s First District Court of Appeal and 10-day bench trial
§ In the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (2013), represented client to favorable resolution, involving appeal of the issue of whether two claims asserted in a California probate action were preempted by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA)
§ Prevailed on emergency writ overturning dispositive order obtained by opposing party in a trust contest action pending a court-ordered stay of all proceedings (2024)
§ Prevailed on multiple writs of mandamus when representing a disinherited child in will and trust contest, first writ contested order for reference to private judge without party consent, second writ contested denial of 170.6 motion as untimely (2024)
§ Represented professional fiduciary defending order dismissing action against decedent, pending (2023)
§ Colvis v. Binswanger, 96 Cal.App.5th 393 (2023), prevailed on appeal that interested corporation in beneficiary trust dispute has standing to respond or object in the trust proceeding
§ Represented step-child refunding of mother’s trust, appealed statement of decision and denial of motion for new trial on basis that opposing party produced 14 boxes of evidence after trial. Settled on appeal (2022)
§ Corrie v. East Bay Regional Park District, No. A152305 (June 8, 2018), prevailed in defense of trial court’s orders
§ In the Court of Appeals of Arizona (2016), prevailed on appeal of a motion for summary judgment limiting the amount of damages that could be recovered from client in the underlying negligence lawsuit
§ Corrie v. Soloway, 216 Cal.App.4th 436 (2013), prevailed in defense of fiduciary action to protect trust property against claims by non-beneficiary creditor asserting a right of first refusal to purchase trust property
§ Estate of Bilafer No. A135675 (Aug 20, 2013), not reported, prevailed in multiyear litigation with two appeals and partial settlement, concerning family trusts created by the decedent, a revocable trust and two irrevocable trusts; prevailed in asserting release contained in settlement agreement against a beneficiary seeking enforcement of a promissory note after settlement
§ Acting as general counsel and intellectual property asset manager for cutting-edge wildfire research company; acting as legal advisor for the company on all aspects of its business operations, including corporate governance, data privacy, licensing agreements, vendor contracts and protection of intellectual property
§ Represented an heir in obtaining and clearing title on his deceased parent’s copyright portfolio
§ Represented an artist to secure copyrights for reproduction and sale of artistic works jointly created with and derived from a deceased famed San Francisco artist
§ Acted as general counsel and lead litigation defense counsel for a multistate underground locating company; defended dozens of tort and contract claims, including pre-dispute resolution and developing a litigation defense strategy by fostering a business reputation in the industry; acted as legal advisor for the company on all aspects of its business operations, including corporate governance, data privacy, labor and employment issues, licensing agreements, vendor contracts, protection of intellectual property, on business combinations, on due diligence and on an asset sale of business assets in three states
§ In the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (2016), in a patent infringement and trade secret theft case, prevailed on appeal client’s right to pursue state law counterclaims; in a second appeal, successfully vacated adverse ruling regarding method patent eligibility and passing muster under Alice
§ In the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California (2013), obtained favorable resolution for co-inventor of therapy related to diabetes treatment
§ In the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California (2010), defended claims of copyright and design patent infringement to business resolution involving asset purchase
§ In Los Angeles Superior Court, represented an administrator of a decedent’s estate in defending civil claims against the decedent for breach of contract, fraud, specific performance and declaratory relief; prevailed on dispositive demurrer finding defendant was a suspended entity at all relevant times
§ Represented a third-party retained professional in multiple technical fact depositions occurring in a series of tort liability and negligence class action lawsuits
§ Represented CA business client to form online privacy policy and procedures re compliance with new law
§ In the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, defended an individual client against many claims, including conspiracy to commit elder abuse, breach of fiduciary duty and unfair business practices
§ Represented a nonprofit mental health support startup to develop and implement privacy policies and procedures to be in compliance with new laws
§ Represented a prevailing party in a Texas-based arbitration trial to collect judgment in California
§ In the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (2018), prevailed on dispositive motion for summary judgement defending SEC and RICO Act claims
§ In the U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota (2017), prevailed on dispositive motion for summary judgment defending counts of trespass, negligence and violation of state laws
§ In the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (2014), prevailed in asserting an arbitration clause in a commercial-investment clause relating to sales and marketing of cannabis edibles
§ Managing Client Emotions in Difficult Legal Situations, Practising Law Institute (PLI), July 17, 2024
§ Planning that Works for Families that Don’t, San Francisco Estate Planning Council Annual Trust and Estate Summer Symposium, June 14, 2024
§ Taking the “Ick” Out of Litigation, Professional Fiduciary Association of California (PFAC), May 17, 2024
§ Ethics of AI: Best Use or No Use, American Bar Association (ABA) Real Property Trust & Estates (RPTE) Annual Conference, May 10, 2024
§ Think it’s Privileged? Think Again, ABA RPTE Annual Conference, May 9, 2024
§ CA Supreme Court Update: Haggerty v. Thornton, Contra Costa County Bar Association (CCCBA) Annual Estate Planning Symposium, May 7, 2024
§ Planning, Drafting and Litigating QTIP Trusts, 46th Annual University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)/Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB) Estate Planning Institute, April 19, 2024
§ 2023 Trust & Estates Case Update, ABA RPTE Litigation Quarterly Meeting, February 14, 2024
§ California Supreme Court Review: Haggerty v. Thornton, CEB Webinar, February 8, 2024
§ Estate Planning with IP, MyCLE Webinar, November 27, 2023
§ Planning For Cryptocurrency Investors: Estate Planning, Asset Protection And Investments, Strafford Webinar, October 19, 2023
§ Digital Assets Killed The Paper Trail: A Primer On Digital Asset Administration for Fiduciaries, PFAC Annual Symposium, June 1, 2023
§ Ethical Issues and Managing Conflicts, East Bay Trusts & Estates Lawyers (EBTEL) Litigation Boot Camp, September 8, 2023
§ Digital Assets Killed The Paper Trail: A Primer On Digital Asset Administration, American Bar Association Section Of Real Property, Trust And Estate Law’s 35th Annual National CLE Conference, May 11, 2023
§ 5 Things To Know About 5 Digital Asset Topics, Whittier Trust, 2023 Trust Training Series, February 14, 2023CLA Trust & Estate Section Legislation Alert: Expansion Of Elder Abuse Restraining Order Statute, January 18, 2023
§ Don’t Forget IP Rights When Planning An Estate, Client Alert January 18, 2023
§ Become An Expert On Experts, Contra Costa Bar Association MCLE Spectacular, Litigation Section, November 17, 2022
§ Video Killed The Radio Star And Digital Assets Are Killing The Paper Trail: A Primer On Administering Digital Assets, 59th Annual Hawaii Tax Institute, November 9, 2022
§ NFTs And Copyrights, American College Of Trust And Estate Council (ACTEC), Digital Property Committee, November 5, 2022
§ Money Is Fungible. NFTs Are Not, Client Alert, October 13, 2022
§ Best Practices for Probate Statements Of Decision, Litigation And Mediation Section, East Bay Trust And Estates Lawyers (EBTEL), October 12, 2022
§ Money Is Fungible. NFTs Are Not, Holland & Knight’s China Practice Newsletter: September-October 2022
§ Best Practices For Probate Statements Of Decision, Litigation And Mediation Section, East Bay Trust And Estates Lawyers (EBTEL), October 12, 2022
§ Money Is Fungible. NFTs Are Not, Holland & Knight’s China Practice Newsletter: September-October 2022
§ Let’s Talk Cryptocurrencies and “Digital Assets”: A Primer for Trust and Estate Lawyers, Client Alert, June 24, 2022
§ Estate Planning with Intellectual Property, American Bar Association Section of Real Property, Trust And Estate Law (RPTE), June 23, 2022
§ Valuing Copyrights and Rights Of Publicity – It’s Not Black Or White! American Bar Association Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law, January 20, 2022
§ Wreslin’ With Breslin: New Probate Mediation Rules, San Francisco Bar Association Trust And Estates Section, December 7, 2021
§ Foreseeable Monetization Of Michael Jackson’s Assets After Death: How To Value Copyrights Of Musical Compositions And Rights Of Publicity, CLA Trusts And Estates Quarterly Magazine, December 2021
§ Death And Taxes: Even Celebrities Can’t Avoid Them – An Analysis Of The Michael J. Jackson Estate Tax Ruling, CLA Webinar, November 2, 2021
§ California Creates New “Anti-Isolation” Restraining Orders For Elders And Dependent Adults, Client Alert, October 12, 2021
§ Social Media Management in Litigation, 2020 MCLE Spectacular: Elect To Learn Online With CCCBA, November 19, 2020
§ Technology and Tips for Remote Depositions, Litigation Section, Contra County Bar Association, June 3, 2020
§ Virtual Town Hall Meetings With Honorable Steve Austin, Litigation Section, Contra County Bar Association, April 22, 2020 And May 14, 2020
§ Tricky Trust Administration: Navigating Cryptocurrency, Trademarks And Marijuana Trust Assets, Estate Planning Council Of Diablo Valley, May 20, 2020
§ Don’t Overlook The Estate’s Interest In Intellectual Property! The Fundamentals Of Identifying And Marshaling Patents And Trademarks, Contra Costa Lawyer Magazine, October 2019
§ Jury Trials For Probate Litigators, Estate Planning And Probate Section, Contra Costa Bar Association, April 2019
§ Anatomy Of A Software License, Intellectual Property Section, Contra Costa Bar Association, March 2014
§ Trips And Pharmaceutical Patents: The Pharmaceutical Industry Vs. The World, Intellectual Property Law Bulletin, Fall 2009
§ Ormsby v. Barrett, Intellectual Property Law Bulletin, Spring 2008
§ Relative Motion Expanding Channel Micro-Pump, U.C. Berkeley Department Of Mechanical Engineering, December 2006
§ On The Derivation Of Polyurethane Kinetics Parameters Using Genetic Algorithms, 30th International Symposium On Combustion, July 2004
Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB), Contributor Attorney, Chapter Editor, 2022-present
§ California Trust and Probate Litigation, Chap. 2: Dispute Avoidance
§ California Trust and Probate Litigation, Chap. 22: Actions By and Against Trustee
California Lawyers Association (CLA) Trust & Estate Section Legislation Alerts, Co-Author, 2023
§ Expansion Of Elder Abuse Restraining Order Statute, AB 1243 (amendment to Welf. & Inst. Code §15657.03), January 2023
CLA Trust & Estate Section Case Alerts, Author, 2020-2023
§ Haggerty v. Thornton, February 9, 2024
§ Estate of Sanchez, September 18, 2023
§ Conservatorship of Tedesco, May 19, 2023
§ United States v. Paulson, May 17, 2023
§ Estate of Franco, February 8, 2023,
§ Wehsener V. Jernigan, January 6, 2023
§ Estate of Douglas, September 21, 2022
§ Meiri v. Shamtoubi, July 25, 2022
§ K.R. v. Superior Court Of Napa County (Public Conservator), July 5, 2022
§ Balisteri v. Balisteri, February 24, 2022
§ Ring v. Harmon, December 15, 2021
§ Haggerty v. Thornton, September 21, 2021
§ Estate of Wall, August 24, 2021
§ Aghaian v. Minassian, June 17, 2021
§ Dunlap v. Mayer, April 23, 2021
§ Keading v. Keading, February 18, 2021
§ Capra v. Capra, December 12, 2020
§ Conservatorship of O.B., December 2, 2020
§ Super Lawyer, Northern California Super Lawyers magazine, 2023-2025
§ Pro Bono Honor Roll, Contra Costa County Bar Association, 2020-2024
§ What Happens To Your Crypto When You Die? Techcrunch, In The Headlines, April 26, 2023
§ What Happens To Your NFTs When You Die? Cointelegraph, In The Headlines, April 14, 2023
§ Pro Bono All-Star, 2020-2022
§ Rising Star, Northern California Super Lawyers magazine, 2016-2020