Law Practice Management

Balancing Values: A Conversation About Reduced Billable Hours

By Christine Pangan

You may have heard of the “reduced hours” programs that many firms have, but how does it actually work? According to Michael Attanasio, at Cooley LLP, for example, anyone with good reason can request an arrangement and still be considered for partner at the appropriate time. We asked attorneys Christina Morgan and Susan Nahama about their experiences in similar programs at different firms. Read More

Current Topics

No BK for You! Cannabis Enterprise Kicked Out of Ch. 11 Line

By Tyler McQuillan

‘Those familiar with the blossoming cannabis industry are readily familiar with certain limitations imposed upon the “legal” cannabis business. From tax inefficiencies spurred by Internal Revenue Code 280E to limitations on change in ownership (i.e., M&A), navigating the capital markets can be an exercise of corporate and securities gymnastics. And through In re Healing Nature, LLC,1 the United States Bankruptcy Court has confirmed that ancillary companies may also lose their place in the Chapter 11 line. Read More

Legal Ethics

The New Rule 4.1 “Truthfulness in Statements to Others”

By Richard D. Hendlin 

When the new and revised Rules of Professional Conduct become effective on November 1, 2018, California will finally join the other 49 states which have already adopted some version of American Bar Association (ABA) Model Rule 4.1 “Truthfulness in Statements to Others.”  California’s Rule 4.1 provides: Read More

Wisdom

The Why, What and How of Working with a Fractional CFO

By James Wheeler

According to California’s Employment Development Department, San Diego is home to more than thirty thousand small businesses of between five and fifty employees.[1] As a trusted advisor to these growing businesses, you may have observed that one of your clients would benefit from a level of financial expertise beyond the capabilities or capacity of their existing leadership.  Most of these small to medium-sized companies are not large enough to justify a senior financial leader on a full-time basis and may not have considered retaining with a fractional CFO (“fCFO”).  As an attorney and advisor, you may want to learn about what a fractional CFO can do to help their business. Read More

Law Practice Management

Eleven Points for Representing Clients in Trust and Estate Disputes (From the experience of a three-year associate)

By Michael McDonald

Representing a client in a trust and estate dispute has a lot of similarities to client representation in a more traditional civil dispute. It also has a lot of differences. When taking on a trust dispute, it is important to recognize both the similarities and differences to achieve ultimate success. Although not an exhaustive list, here are some points for consideration when representing clients in trust and estate disputes. Read More