January 30, 2020 Marwa Elzankaly 6 Key Things to Consider When Leasing Commercial Property Leasing commercial space differs from renting a home. Whether you need office, retail, or industrial buildings for your business, commercial properties have their own unique issues, which must be addressed early on. A proper lease ensures you are able to run and grow your business effectively without unreasonable restrictions or interruptions from... More +
January 28, 2020 Hilary Weddell [VIDEO] The Blunt Truth About Testing Employees For Marijuana in California Despite the legalization of recreational and medicinal marijuana in California, employers maintain the right to enforce a drug-free work environment. In many respects, cannabis is now treated like alcohol; although consumption of alcohol is legal for those over the age of 21, employers may prohibit drinking during work hours and discipline any... More +
January 23, 2020 Sarah Waymire Essential Tips for Improving Time Management in 2020 “Time is really the only capital that any human being has, and the only thing he can't afford to lose.” - Thomas Edison Certainly a bright notion from Edison, but how can you untangle intersecting work demands and use your time wisely? The demanding practice of litigation often leaves attorneys, paralegals, and administrators... More +
December 19, 2019 Michael Warren, Hilary Weddell California Employment Law Update for 2020 The California Legislature enacted a number of new laws for 2020 that will affect California businesses. Below we discuss a few of the most notable employment laws that go into effect in the New Year. Companies with a workforce in California should be sure to review and update their policies and procedures to ensure they comply with the... More +
October 31, 2019 Amy Sines, Nicole Zendejas Looking for a Lawyer? What to Expect - The Introductory Call Finding the right lawyer may be an overwhelming task; Silicon Valley is saturated with attorneys and law firms, varying in both expertise and size. Your initial form of contact with prospective firms will likely be over the telephone and, depending on the size of the firm, you may be directed to speak with a member of the intake team who will... More +
October 24, 2019 Abimael “AJ” Bastida [VIDEO] 2019 Cannabis & Co: Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) in the Post Prop. 64 Era (Part 4) Proposition 64 changed marijuana laws. What many do not realize is that it did not change employment laws. Employers recognize societal norms are changing with the passing of Prop 64. A new era has commenced and the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will play a large role in how cannabis is handled in the... More +
August 29, 2019 McManis Faulkner Is California’s McGill Rule Still Good Law? “California’s McGill Rule Not Preempted by the Federal Arbitration Act, says Ninth Circuit.” On June 28, 2019, the Ninth Circuit held in three separate cases that the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) does not preempt the California Supreme Court’s holding in McGill v. Citibank, N.A., 2 Cal.5th 945 (2017)... More +
August 22, 2019 Nicole Zendejas E-Discovery: The Lifecycle of Data E-discovery is an important aspect of litigation. Well-established data gathering protocols and workflow procedures pertaining to electronic data are important. Meticulous record-keeping, workflow procedures, and processes help ensure that data is gathered lawfully, loaded and stored in an organized manner, and archived or deleted... More +
August 19, 2019 Abimael “AJ” Bastida [VIDEO] 2019 Cannabis & Co: Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) in the Post Prop. 64 Era (Part 3) 2019 Cannabis & Co: Addressing Cannabis in the Workplace (Part 3) will take a closer look at how California Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is affected with Post Prop. 64. Do employers have a duty to accommodate recreational or medical use of marijuana in the workplace? May FMLA be used for treatment of substance abuse? How... More +
August 15, 2019 Maya Younes Can Family Court Order You Not To Post On Facebook? Are you among the 68% of U.S. adults who, according to the Pew Research Center, use Facebook? Social media can do more harm than good, especially if you are involved in a legal dispute, family-related or otherwise. Posts on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, and text messages, may affect child custody claims, property division, and other... More +
July 18, 2019 Michael Warren [VIDEO] 2019 Cannabis & Co: Addressing Cannabis in the Workplace (Part 2) - Proposition 64 2019 Cannabis & Co: Addressing Cannabis in the Workplace (Part 2) What is Proposition 64 - Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA)? What are the Proposition 64 exceptions? To view more vlogs from this series, please click the links below: 2019 Cannabis & Co: Addressing Cannabis in the Workplace (Part 1) 2019... More +
July 18, 2019 Michael Warren [VIDEO] 2019 Cannabis & Co: Addressing Cannabis in the Workplace (Part 1) What are the factors of Cannabis in the Workplace? The evolution of Marijuana and California Employment Law - Controlled Substances Act, California Compassionate Use Act, and Proposition 64. To view more vlogs from this series, please click the links below: 2019 Cannabis & Co: Addressing Cannabis in the Workplace... More +
June 27, 2019 Hilary Weddell The Blunt Truth About Testing Employees For Marijuana in California Despite the legalization of recreational and medicinal marijuana in California, employers maintain the right to enforce a drug-free work environment. In many respects, cannabis is now treated like alcohol; although consumption of alcohol is legal for those over the age of 21, employers may prohibit drinking during work hours and discipline... More +
June 14, 2019 Vanessa Hill Lessons Learned From My Dad Father’s Day is this weekend. I got to thinking about my Dad’s life lessons for me growing up, and how they have affected the way I behave in the business world today. I am a grown-up now, with a daughter of my own, and I try to teach her lessons that Dad and Mom taught me – basic lessons such as, say please and thank you, be... More +
June 06, 2019 Abimael “AJ” Bastida Working Through The Weeds Of Cannabis Laws: Prop 64, FMLA, And ADA Proposition 64 changed marijuana laws. What many do not realize is that it did not change employment laws. Employers recognize societal norms are changing with the passing of Prop 64. A new era has commenced and the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) will play a large role in how cannabis is... More +
May 16, 2019 Hilary Weddell Department of Labor Proposes Joint Employer Rule Employers have been seeking clarity on joint employer laws for years. On April 1, the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) entered the fray, announcing a proposed rule that would update and amend the joint employment regulations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which has not been revised in more than 60 years. The rules impact... More +
March 21, 2019 Michael Reedy Why Ratcheting Up Emotions Serves No One In A Divorce Most divorces are difficult and emotionally draining. The legal term for divorce is “dissolution;” your marital relationship is dissolved. Divorce marks the end of a relationship, the death of something that began with love and commitment. Most people expect, or hope, their marriage will last a lifetime. If the... More +
March 14, 2019 Marwa Elzankaly The Appellate Oral Argument The Appellate Court: An exciting forum of oral advocacy; a check on the process and the decisions of our trial courts; a second chance for parties to make their case; and a place where novel and important legal principles are decided to ensure a balance of fairness and equality in the law. If you are a trial lawyer and have both tried... More +
January 31, 2019 Michael Warren 2019 California Employment Law Update: The Year Of #MeToo As predicted at our 2018 employment law seminar, “Don’t Let #MeToo Become #YouToo: Effectively Handling Workplace Sexual Harassment Complaints,” the movement had a significant impact on California’s new employment laws passed for 2019. A number of the new laws address the issue of workplace sexual harassment and more... More +
January 24, 2019 Vanessa Hill ‘Tis’ the Season’ is Over…Now What? Stay Involved With That Non-Profit! It is wonderful to see people and organizations come together during the holiday season to encourage the gift of giving. Now it’s January and the non-profit organizations have delivered their gifts to children with care. Families in need have been served with warm holiday meals. Non-profit organizations always see an... More +
December 13, 2018 Amanda Peth Countdown to New Year’s: A LinkedIn Checklist It has been quite a year! Before you start planning for 2019, give yourself some time to look back on all that you have done this year and make sure it is reflected on your LinkedIn profile. After all, when someone googles your name, your LinkedIn profile often appears in the top 3 search results. Here are some things to keep in... More +
December 06, 2018 Tyler Atkinson Class Actions: A Brief Comparison of Federal and California Practice Introduction Attorneys who appear in both state and federal courts must be familiar with the differences between the two systems. While some rules have harmonized over time,[1] other procedures are entirely distinct. As a matter of competence, lawyers who practice in state and federal courts should stay familiar with these... More +
December 06, 2018 Tyler Atkinson Evidentiary Privileges in California And Federal Courts: A Brief Comparison Introduction Attorneys who appear in both state and federal courts must be familiar with the differences between the two systems. While some rules have harmonized over time,[1] other procedures are entirely distinct. As a matter of competence, lawyers who practice in state and federal courts should stay familiar with these... More +
November 29, 2018 Tyler Atkinson Punitive Damages: A Brief Comparison of Federal and California Practice Introduction Attorneys who appear in both state and federal courts must be familiar with the differences between the two systems. While some rules have harmonized over time,[1] other procedures are entirely distinct. As a matter of competence, lawyers who practice in state and federal courts should stay familiar with these... More +
November 29, 2018 Tyler Atkinson The Jury System: A Brief Comparison Between Federal and California Practices Introduction Attorneys who appear in both state and federal courts must be familiar with the differences between the two systems. While some rules have harmonized over time,[1] other procedures are entirely distinct. As a matter of competence, lawyers who practice in state and federal courts should stay familiar with these... More +