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

Weintraub Tobin’s San Francisco Office Joins Meritas, the Premier Global Network of Independent Law Firms 

Published: March 30, 2026

Weintraub Tobin is pleased to announce that its San Francisco office has joined Meritas, a global alliance of independent business law firms. Having served as the Meritas member firm in Sacramento since 1994, Weintraub is excited to expand its Meritas involvement through its San Francisco location. The Meritas affiliation offers Weintraub access to more than 8,400 lawyers in 90 countries and 245 markets worldwide. 

Tropes Aren’t Theft: What Freeman v. Wolff Teaches About Substantial Similarity in YA Fantasy Fiction

Published: March 30, 2026

by Scott M. Hervey
The IP Law Blog

A recent decision from the Southern District of New York offers one of the most detailed modern analyses of substantial similarity in the increasingly popular young adult fantasy/“romantasy” space.

The case arose from a dispute between an unpublished author and the creator of a commercially successful paranormal romance series. The plaintiff alleged that her manuscripts—shared years earlier with a literary agent—were copied in the defendants’ novels. The court, however, granted summary judgment for the defendants, concluding that no reasonable jury could find substantial similarity of protectable expression.

The opinion is notable not just for its outcome, but for its methodical breakdown of what copyright law does not protect.

The Preventive Playbook: Wage & Hour Compliance Strategies

  • When: Apr 22, 2026 09:30 am PDT - 11:30 am PDT
  • Where: 400 Capitol Mall, 11th Floor Sacramento, CA 95814

In spite of recent PAGA reforms, wage-and-hour lawsuits continue to plague California employers. Even highly conscientious organizations find themselves targeted for technical violations they never intended to commit. With California’s rapidly evolving wage‑and‑hour landscape—and steadily rising minimum wage, expanded enforcement authority, heightened premium‑pay obligations, and complex exemption rules—unintentional non‑compliance remains one of the most-costly risks employers face. Proactive compliance measures are now not only a best practice but a strategic defense tool for mitigating that risk.

Bunnie Poullard to Present “Planning for the Unexpected with Limited Liability Companies”

  • When: Mar 25, 2026 12:00 pm PDT - 01:00 pm PDT
  • Where: Virtual

On Wednesday, March 25th, Weintraub senior attorney Bunnie Poullard will present the webinar, “Planning for the Unexpected with Limited Liability Companies: Death, Money Troubles, and Disagreements,” for the California Lawyers Association’s Corporate Committee. This virtual event will focus on operating agreement provisions and other guidance for addressing unexpected issues that may arise after a limited liability company is formed. 

California Trust Litigation: How To Lose a Trust In Seven Ways

Published: March 20, 2026

by Uri Grant
Trusts & Estates Legal Updates

Trust litigation frequently leads to prolonged conflict and substantial expense, eroding the value of California trusts and estates over time. These losses diminish funds that would otherwise pass to beneficiaries. Trust disputes in California range widely in size, from hundreds of thousands to hundreds of millions of dollars. Regardless of the amount involved, many conflicts escalate into costly courtroom battles because trustees lack a clear understanding of their fiduciary duties or beneficiaries are unaware of their legal rights.

Weintraub Tobin Announces Founding Partnership with the Newly Launched Southern California Builders Exchange

Published: March 18, 2026

Weintraub Tobin is proud to announce its role as a founding partner of the newly launched Southern California Builders Exchange (SoCal BX), an expansion of the Golden State Builders Exchange Network. The Network represents more than 18,300 commercial construction–related companies across California and now extends its reach through SoCal BRX to serve members in Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties.

California Employment News: Navigating AI Compliance: Employer Best Practices Pt.2

Published: March 17, 2026

Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used in hiring, performance management, and workplace decision making. In this episode of California Employment News, Weintraub Tobin Shareholder Meagan D. Bainbridge and Senior Attorney Jackie Simonovich discuss practical steps employers should take when implementing AI and how to conduct meaningful bias audits.

In this episode they cover:

The Briefing: No Paper, No Standing: Kanye West, Copyright Transfers, and the Writing Requirement

Published: March 13, 2026

What happens when artists agree to transfer rights to a musical composition but never put that transfer in writing? In this episode of The Briefing, Weintraub Tobin partners Scott Hervey and Jessica R. Corpuz break down a federal court decision arising from a copyright dispute tied to Ye’s Donda album. The case turned on a simple but unforgiving rule of copyright law: without a written assignment, you do not own the copyright and you cannot enforce it. 

In this episode, they cover: