Areas of Practice

Practice Areas in Detail

Each group below links to the related service pages and, where one exists, to a longer guide on what a California claim requires.

Business Law

Business formation covers choosing an entity, preparing the filings with the California Secretary of State, and drafting operating or shareholder agreements. Business contracts and collections deal with vendor, customer, and payment terms and with recovering unpaid accounts. When owners or companies fall out, business disputes, business litigation, and corporate litigation address claims among partners, shareholders, officers, and outside parties.

Guides: Starting a California Business, California Business Disputes, Elements of Breach of Fiduciary Duty, California Business Debt Collection.

Contract Law

Contract work includes drafting and reviewing agreements, corporate contracts, and contract disputes when the other side does not perform. A California breach of contract claim generally requires a contract, the plaintiff's performance or an excuse for not performing, the defendant's breach, and resulting damages. The deadline to sue is generally four years on a written contract (Code of Civil Procedure section 337) and two years on an oral one (section 339).

Guides: Elements of Breach of Contract in California, Elements of Promissory Estoppel, Elements of Unjust Enrichment, California Corporate Contracts.

Real Estate Law

Real estate matters include purchase and sale agreements, boundary and easement disputes, foreclosures, construction defects, zoning and land use, and real estate litigation. Defect claims against the builder of a home first sold in 2003 or later generally must first go through the prelitigation process in California's Right to Repair Act (Civil Code section 895 and following).

Guides: Elements of Adverse Possession in California, California Construction Defects, California Foreclosure Defense, California Real Estate Contracts.

Intellectual Property

Intellectual property counsel covers trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and patents, plus the IP contracts and licensing and distribution agreements that transfer those rights. Trademarks, copyrights, and patents are governed mainly by federal law. Trade secrets are protected in California by the Uniform Trade Secrets Act (Civil Code section 3426 and following).

Guides: Elements of Trade Secret Misappropriation, California IP Contracts, Licensing and Distribution Agreements.

Entertainment Law

Entertainment work involves drafting and negotiating entertainment contracts and talent agreements, securing rights in creative work, and recovering money owed under a deal through profit participation or royalty claims. When negotiation fails, entertainment litigation covers disputes over credit, payment, ownership, and performance.

Guides: California Entertainment Contracts, California Talent Agreements, Entertainment IP Rights, Profit Participation Disputes, California Royalty Disputes.

Civil Litigation

Litigation covers civil cases from the pre-suit demand through discovery, motions, trial, and enforcement of a judgment. Related pages explain recovering damages, settlement negotiation, and injunctions and temporary restraining orders when a court order is needed quickly. Employment, personal injury, fraud, probate, family, and defamation matters are described on the additional practice areas page.

Guides: California Business Litigation, Recovering Damages in California, California Settlement Negotiations.

Choosing a Practice Area

Many problems fit more than one category. A falling-out between business partners can involve a contract, a fiduciary duty, and real estate at once. You do not need to classify your issue before calling. Describe what happened and what documents you have.

What to Bring to a First Consultation

• The agreement, lease, deed, insurance policy, or other document at the center of the matter
• Emails, letters, and text messages with the other side, in date order if you can
• Any court papers, demand letters, or notices you received, and the date each one arrived
• A short timeline of events and the names of the people and companies involved
• A note of the outcome you want

If you have been served with a lawsuit, say so at the start. A defendant in a California civil case generally has 30 days after service to respond, and eviction cases move faster.

This page provides general information about California law. It is not legal advice for your situation.