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Browse below for news, legal insights, information on presentations and events, and other resources from the Weintraub Tobin legal team.

Gary Bradus in Sacramento Business Journal: Jennifer Stolo of Make-A-Wish Honored with Nonprofit Executive of the Year Award

Published: October 12, 2020

Jennifer Stolo was recently named honoree of the Executive of the Year Award by the Corporate Citizenship Awards. Stolo is head of one of the largest Make-A-Wish chapters. Weintraub Managing Shareholder and Make-A-Wish board member Gary Bradus was quoted in the article:

Pulling off an endeavor of that magnitude takes much more than wishful thinking. It takes a leader like Stolo, who is laser focused and believes 100% in the mission. She is a rare nonprofit executive whose passion for her organization’s mission is matched by the business acumen to run a large operation smoothly and efficiently.”

You can read the full article in the Sacramento Business Journal.

Weintraub Tobin is dedicated to our local communities. Make-A-Wish is just one of the many ways we are involved. To learn more about our community involvement click here.

Mark E. Ellinghouse Named 40 Under 40 by the Sacramento Business Journal

Published: October 2, 2020

Weintraub Tobin, a leading California full-service law firm, is pleased to announce that Mark E. Ellinghouse has been named a 2020 40 Under 40 honoree by the Sacramento Business Journal. Each year the publication recognizes young Sacramento professionals with a high level of career achievement and contributions to the community.

Mark is a shareholder in the Firm’s Real Estate and Corporate practice groups. He has experience in a broad spectrum of real estate matters, including retail, industrial, office, multifamily, land, and mixed-use projects, and been a part of many of the major deals on the Capitol Corridor over the last several years. He represents individuals and entities large and small, regularly advising clients regarding corporate transactional matters including formation, mergers and acquisitions, strategic partnering, and joint ventures. Mark received his J.D. and M.B.A. from the University of California, Davis, and his B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Mark’s community involvement in Sacramento includes serving five years on the Partnership Council of the American Cancer Society Capital Invitational golf tournament, part of that time as chair. He just finished his term as chair for the Urban Land Institute Young Leaders Group board, fundraising for and taking part in that group’s philanthropic initiatives, and worked with his Leadership Sacramento class to fundraise and complete the class community project at WellSpring Women’s Center.

Additionally, Mark has taken on leadership roles within Weintraub Tobin, serving on the professional development/marketing committee and the attorney education committee. Before becoming a shareholder, Mark was Associate Liaison for the Firm, serving as the communication channel between young lawyers and management.

Mark has been recognized as a Northern California Super Lawyers Rising Star, Sacramento Magazine Top Lawyer, Sacramento Business Journal Best of the Bar, and Best Lawyers in America® “Ones to Watch.”

In his Sacramento Business Journal 40 Under 40 profile, Mark said:

Every recession is different. 2008 affected the home market; 2020 has affected entertainment and retail offerings. Home sales rebounded in a big way, and so will retail. The smart ones will ride the wave back up while things look bleak.

To read the full article please click here.

WT Deals: Melissa Moore is Executive Producer on Serial Killer TV Show ‘Happy Face’ Adapted from Podcast

Published: September 18, 2020

CBS All Access is adapting the serial killer podcast Happy Face, about Dr. Oz contributor Melissa Moore, for television with writer Jennifer Cacicio, and creators Robert and Michelle King. The Podcast was created by Moore and co-produced with iHeart Media.

Moore found out at the age of 15 that she was the daughter of the serial killer known as the Happy Face Killer. She has authored a book, Shattered Silence, and was a crime correspondent for The Dr. Oz Show. She is represented by Weintraub Tobin attorney Shaun Gordon.

To read the full article on Deadline, click here.

Louis Gonzalez, Jr. Named Best Lawyers© 2021 ‘Lawyer of the Year’ for Litigation-Real Estate in Sacramento

Published: September 15, 2020

Sacramento, CA – Weintraub Tobin, a leading California full-service law firm, is pleased to announce that Louis Gonzalez, Jr. was named Best Lawyers® 2021 Litigation- Real Estate “Lawyer of the Year” in Sacramento. Only one lawyer is recognized as the “Lawyer of the Year” for each specialty and location each year. The honor is awarded to the individual lawyer with the highest overall peer-feedback for a specific practice area and geographic region.

Louis is a shareholder at Weintraub Tobin and a senior trial attorney in the Firm’s Litigation group. His practice spans all areas of real estate litigation including purchase and sale contracts, due diligence, disclosure, options, partnership, commercial landlord/tenant, and master-planned community disputes. He has tried over thirty jury trials to verdict and numerous court trials and binding arbitrations to judgment. Louis is active in the community, where he serves on many nonprofit boards, and in the Firm, where he currently serves on the Managing Board and has previously served as the Litigation Group Chair.

Best Lawyers lists are compiled based on peer-review evaluation. The highly-respected guide for the legal industry is published in over 70 countries and is regarded as a reliable and unbiased source for legal referrals.  Lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed.

17 Weintraub Tobin Attorneys Named to The Best Lawyers in America© and Ones to Watch 2021

Published: August 20, 2020

Sacramento, CA (August 20, 2020) – Weintraub Tobin, a leading California full-service law firm, is pleased to announce that 17 attorneys were recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© 2021. This year Best Lawyers launched “Ones to Watch,” a recognition for attorneys earlier in their careers, and 4 Weintraub attorneys were included in the inaugural edition. In addition, Louis Gonzalez Jr. received the prestigious 2021 “Lawyer of the Year” recognition for Litigation (Real Estate) in the Sacramento region.

Weintraub Tobin’s recognized Best Lawyers in America 2021 are:

Sacramento

Newport Beach

  • Gary Waldron – Litigation – Banking and Finance, Litigation – Real Estate

San Diego

San Francisco

Weintraub Tobin’s recognized Best Lawyers “Ones to Watch” 2021 are:

Best Lawyers recognizes outstanding attorneys by using a sophisticated survey process based entirely on peer review on a national level. “Ones to Watch” are recognitions given to attorneys who are earlier in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States; recipients typically have been in practice for 5-9 years. The “Lawyer of the Year Award” is only awarded to one individual for each specialty and location and is rated with the highest overall peer-feedback.

Scott Hervey in CNN: Making TV Shows During Coronavirus is Taking More Time — and Money

Published: August 10, 2020

Scott Hervey is quoted in Brian Lowry’s CNN article, Making TV Shows During Coronavirus is Taking More Time — and Money.  Scott moderated a August 5 panel for the Hollywood Radio and Television Society (HRTS), where he is a board member.  The panel, titled “Unscripted,” discussed the logistics of production during a pandemic.

Production is coming back. It’s just going to take a little bit longer and cost a little bit more,

Read the full CNN article on their website, here.

Brendan Begley Discusses the Office of the Future with the Sacramento Business Journal

Published: July 22, 2020

Employment attorney Brendan Begley spoke with Sam Boykin of Sacramento Business Journal about the recent SBJ cover article on “ The Office of the Future.”  The in-depth article includes a wide spectrum of voices discussing different aspects of the changing workplace. Brendan addressed some legal concerns that employers may face in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Legal protections
Another concern for business owners is legal exposure, as most lawyers anticipate a spike in lawsuits as businesses reopen.

Brendan Begley, a shareholder and employment lawyer in the Sacramento office of Weintraub Tobin, said he foresees lawsuits arising from what happened in the health care industry during the outbreak. Begley said that some doctors and nurses were fired because they refused to treat patients unless they were provided with personal protective equipment.

“As a lawyer, I can see how something like that will result in lawsuits,” he said.

Similar scenarios could play out in other industries, as workers refuse to serve customers unless they have personal protective equipment. Or some employees may accuse a company of not providing adequate protections in the office.

“If a worker gets punished for saying that, or they get fired for not coming back to work, I think we’re going to see classic wrongful termination in violation of public policy claims,” Begley said. “Those claims are likely going to mushroom as people return to work.”

The best way to deal with such scenarios, Begley said, is to be tolerant, flexible and open-minded of new demands employees might have. “That doesn’t mean you have to give in to all of them, but you can’t just fire someone if they don’t want to come back to work. You have to stop and think why they don’t want to come back to work, and if there’s something you can do to massage and accommodate the situation so everyone can get along.”

Another challenge facing employers as they reopen is that many will likely have to downsize and lay off workers, Begley said. This could open the employer up to charges of age, race or sex discrimination.

“Even though you’re not intending to single out a group, it could still result in some kind of discrimination lawsuit,” he said. “If you’re laying people off, no matter what, some people are going to get hurt feelings.”

Despite the many challenges business will face, Begley said there is a silver lining. “A crisis can spur people to improve. Employers are going to be forced to find new and innovate ways to do things, which often will make them more productive and efficient.”

The full article is available on the Sacramento Business Journal website,  click here to read.

33 Weintraub Tobin Attorneys Named to 2020 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists; Retain Highest Percentage of Sacramento Top 25 List

Published: July 8, 2020

Weintraub Tobin is pleased to announce that 33 Weintraub Tobin attorneys have been included on the 2020 Super Lawyers and Rising Star lists for outstanding attorneys in Northern California.  In addition, 5 Weintraub Tobin attorneys received special recognition on Northern California and Sacramento “Top” lists. Weintraub attorneys represent 20 percent of the Sacramento Top 25 2020 Super Lawyers, achieving the region’s highest percentage again this year.

WT Clients: Darrin Menezes Resolves 6-Figure Dispute Between Multi-National Companies

Published: June 30, 2020

Weintraub Attorney Darrin Menezes recently represented a multi-national Israeli corporation against a San Francisco-based subsidiary of a multi-national Czech conglomerate and obtained a substantial six-figure settlement immediately after filing the complaint despite the existence of a limitation of liability provision.

Darrin is an experienced trial attorney and a member of the Firm’s Litigation and Real Estate practice groups.