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This is not your average law practice. We don't want to be.
My time is divided between a ranch and a corner office looking out at the Capitol dome. As unusual as that sounds, the two lives provide a great foundation for each other.
We are the result of our life experiences. My experiences have taught innovation, perseverance, independent thinking and loyalty. I went off to law school in 1968 to study environmental law. For decades thereafter I worked in large government agencies and then large law firms. The training was indispensible. My years of practice in the Attorney General's Office taught very efficient delivery of legal services. There was an endless line of work. The goal was to win, to win quickly, and with finality – before your case load overtook you. We were paid by the month – not the case – not the hour. There was no advantage to spending lots of time on cases. That experience still guides my approach to client matters.
I prefer to help clients avoid problems, but accept that problems often arise without warning or the opportunity to plan. My goal in confronting legal issues is to assess the situation with you, the client, formulate a plan of action and get the job done. I recognize that I am just one more cost to your business.
Much of our time is spent as California Counsel for out of state entities dealing with the government in California. We believe our years of experience with federal, state and local governments in California add a unique insight. Dealing with government is unique. Individuals and companies may do
anything not proscribed by law. Government agencies may only do what is prescribed by law. A myriad of state and federal laws control the adoption of other laws and the implementation of those laws by the executive branches. Understanding the rules by which government must operate is essential to operating with the government.
Law firms, like other businesses, must keep their people busy, and avoid sharing customers with businesses that may 'pirate' the customer. We are not a full service multi-departmental law firm. We do what we do very well. But our focus is limited. If a team is needed for a project, we will join your team, or help you create one.
I believe that a team should be created for a need, and that a need should not be created for a team. We do not have a team waiting to start their meters. Whether an issue is best resolved through low profile negotiation, litigation, community involvement, lobbying the legislature, or revisiting a business approach, we can help you deal with it. Success, in my experience, is most likely with a small team of skilled and experienced people.
My clientele range from large multinational corporations, to individuals, to government agencies. The forums range from the street corner to the courts. The issues have ranged from regulation of insurance and financial institutions to horse breeding, from environmental cleanup to nursing home law; from the regulation of food and drugs to the subdivision of land. Each gets our personal attention. |
