Hillsborough Business Lawyers

I am an estate planning and business law lawyer practicing in East Contra Costa County California. I take pride in providing value minded legal services to area families and businesses.

I am also a Certified Public Accountant and have been doing tax work in the Bay Area for 30 years. I specialize in helping people and businesses pay as few taxes as possible without getting audited. In the estate planning area I help people preserve their property for their families and pay as few estate taxes as possible. I also am the Probate Doctor who can help fix impossible situations when estates are stuck in the quagmire of California Probate.

Bernie Vogel is a shareholder and the CEO and President of Silicon Valley Law Group. His practice emphasizes complex corporate transactions, investment financings, mergers and acquisitions, as well as the formation and maintenance of partnerships and limited liability companies. He provides ongoing business counseling to a variety of entities, ranging from venture capital firms and start up high tech and biotech companies. Advices on directors & officers liability, corporate governance, stock option plans, licensing, and contracts, as well as advice on complex tax issues with respect to transaction structuring, entity formation, reorganizations, and business succession planning. Before practicing law, Bernie...

Stephen Wu is a shareholder with Silicon Valley Law Group. He advises business clients on information governance matters, focusing on information security, privacy, mobile computing, ediscovery preparedness, records management, and computer-related investigations. He reviews and writes sophisticated information security policies for large enterprises, and assists in data security regulatory compliance, incident response, breach notifications, and establishing secure electronic commerce systems. He drafts privacy policies for clients, including ones for U.S. companies with European and Asian operations. He assists clients with European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliance. Steve assists clients in managing enterprise mobile device programs, including writing bring...

Mr. Tormey has over 20 years of experience in product development, marketing and intellectual property protection. As a company startup veteran, Mr. Tormey brings a unique perspective on the value of intellectual property to a small and growing business. As such, he also speaks to entrepreneurs and business executives on how to protect and leverage IP assets. Mr. Tormey is the author of the "Startup Guide to Intellectual Property." As a patent attorney, Mr. Tormey has drafted over 100 patent applications covering software, electronics, wireless, radio, mobile applications, encryption and automation controls. Besides intellectual property law, ...

I’ve been an attorney for going on 20 years in the greater bay area of California. When you call me, you will talk to me directly. You won’t get assigned to a paralegal or another attorney. I have a passion for practicing law and helping my clients to the best of my ability. I like talking to people and getting to the heart of the matter through direct and clear talk.

Mr. Binder was admitted to the California Bar in December 2012 after graduating from the Santa Clara School of Law in June 2012. Mr. Binder’s practice includes debtor and creditor representation, bankruptcy and financial analysis of individuals and entities. Mr. Binder received his Bachelor of Science in Commerce from Santa Clara University in Finance in 2009. Mr. Binder earned his law degree from the Santa Clara University School of Law in 2012. During law school, Mr. Binder was the recipient of a number of awards, including being awarded Witkin Awards in California Civil Procedure, California Evictions and Unlawful Detainer, Commercial Finance,...

Mr. Binder has over 35 years of experience representing businesses and individuals as debtors or creditors in all types of bankruptcy matters and corporate restructuring. In addition to his considerable bankruptcy experience, Mr. Binder frequently represents businesses and individuals in real estate and business matters, collection and collection defense, and commercial law disputes. Mr. Binder’s practice also includes asset protection planning, creditor negotiations and workouts, debtor-creditor rights, tax disputes, bankruptcy appeals, and representing under-insured defendants in settlement negotiations and mediations.

Mr. Binder is active in the local Silicon Valley community, frequently lecturing on bankruptcy and related topics such as asset protection...

Mr. Harris’ practice focuses on representing businesses and individuals in Chapter 11, both as debtors and creditors, as well as in bankruptcy litigation, state court assignments for the benefit of creditors (ABCs), receiverships, execution sales and various other bankruptcy and collection matters. Mr. Harris has substantial experience in a number of bankruptcy areas, including real estate restructurings, sales and reorganizations of high tech and general manufacturing companies, dealing with intellectual property rights in bankruptcy, and handling alleged securities laws and Federal Trade Act violations.

Mr. Harris frequently lectures and writes on bankruptcy topics and has authored numerous articles, case analyses, and...

Sam graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting in 2008 and his Juris Doctor from UNLV in 2011. He went on to receive a Masters of Law (LL.M.) in Taxation from Georgetown University in 2012. Sam’s practice includes estate planning, asset protection, trust administration, probate, guardianship, and business organization. Sam has established a strong reputation within the Las Vegas legal community for his expertise and provides continuing legal education courses in his areas of practice. Sam is fluent in Spanish and is licensed in both Nevada and Utah and is a member of the Southern...

I represent individuals and small to medium sized businesses in bankruptcy, foreclosure defense and debt consolidation matters. For individuals, I represent clients in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy proceedings, including adversary proceedings, including 2nd home mortgage lien stripping, redemption of vehicles and student loan reductions. For businesses, I provide services related to the winding down of a business, board and management consultations and bankruptcy debt consolidation in Chapter 11. In conjunction with my bankruptcy practice, I also provide estate planning, probate and trust administration representation. The best way to avoid probate is to plan properly by drafting...

Attorney Ranvir is a dynamic, focused and hard-working lawyer who values transparency and integrity.

Estate Planning:

Ranvir helps create professional estate plans that will satisfy individual and family members’ personal, financial, and tax goals. This includes the preparation of customized wills, trusts, powers of attorney, deed transfers and advanced health care directives.

Corporate Law:

Ranvir advises individuals, joint partnerships, startups and emerging companies in tech and non-tech, including cannabis on corporate formation, M&A, financing, SAFEs and IPOs, general corporate counseling, as well as on non-corporate matters such as employment, licensing, securities compliance and general corporate counseling.

Prior Experience:

Prior to founding Insight Legal, P.C.,...

Bruce Napell has specialized in representing franchisees for over 18 years, delivering dedicated legal services and results to franchisees and business throughout California and nationwide. Mr. Napell is a certified specialist in franchise and distribution law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. He is a member of the State Bar’s Franchise and Distribution Law Committee, and served as the Committee’s Chairman in 2011-2012. He is also currently Vice-Chairman of the State Bar’s Franchise and Distribution Law Advisory Committee, which writes and grades the certified specialist exam, and will become the chairman in October 2016.

I am an accomplished Business, Employment, Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice, Arbitration & Mediation attorney. I represent plaintiffs and defendants throughout the East Bay, in a vast array of civil litigation matters.

With 40 years of experience I have an excellent track record both in mediation and in the courtroom. I am dedicated to obtaining the best possible outcomes for your legal disputes. Contact me today for a free consultation.

Notice to Prospective Clients: Please don't cold call me without an appointment to inquire about your legal matter. Please first visit my website, http://www.kohnlawoffices.com and if you're interested in my services as described there for a California or Iowa legal matter, please schedule a prospective client phone consult.

I'm a California and Iowa licensed attorney with a very diverse, yet practical, skill set and range of expertise, which allows me to take a cross-functional and interdisciplinary approach to all services I render. From Data Science, Game Theory, and Statistical Risk Management Guided Decision Sciences, to Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)-enhanced communication and...

Joshua D. Brysk advises clients on Business & Commercial Law, Civil Litigation, Estate Planning, Real Estate, Construction, Tax Law, and Wills, Trusts & Probate matters. He provides knowledgeable and skilled representation to clients in the San Francisco Bay Area and throughout California. With over 25 years of experience, Joshua is committed to providing unmatched personal attention and high quality legal advocacy. Helping clients avoid and solve their legal problems, Joshua's focus is always on achieving the best possible outcomes. Outside of work, Joshua is a seasoned traveler. He has also enjoyed living and working in Australia and Israel.

Adam Stoddard is a partner in the firm and has represented developers, general contractors and their insurance companies specializing in the representation of businesses and individuals in complex construction defect litigation, contract, and fraud-based disputes. This included representation ranging from Fortune 500 companies, to national builders and to individual board members of non-profit corporations through the initial investigation, pre-litigation process, and trial. Adam also worked for a prominent plaintiff's law firm representing homeowner's associations in complex construction defect cases. This provided Adam with a practical approach to critically evaluate construction defect claims and implement effective resolution strategies through mediation and settlement...

Zachary Rayo brings experience, efficiency and empathy to estate planning. Mr. Rayo’s approach is people-centered. He recognizes that the legal needs and special issues differ from client to client, that each person is unique, with unique needs that must be met with efficiency, active listening and care. Mr. Rayo knows the importance of social responsibility which manifests not only in ethical decisions and practices but also in involvement in socially important causes.

Private Practice in real estate and business law for 40 years. Court and private mediator for 25 years. AV Rated and Northern California Super Lawyer.

Fred W. Schwinn is a licensed attorney admitted to practice in the States of California and Kansas. Fred is the shareholder and owner of the Consumer Law Center, Inc. His practice is dedicated exclusively to representing consumer debtors in bankruptcy, stopping predatory and abusive consumer lending practices, and protecting consumers from illegal debt collection activity.

In 1997, Fred graduated from Washburn University School of Law in Topeka, Kansas where he organized and volunteered at the law school's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance site. While other law students were training in the law school's legal clinic, Fred began his legal career in...

Candace opened her own law practice in 1996. Candace’s law practice focuses on helping clients with their bankruptcy and business needs. For the past 27 years, Candace has devoted her law practice to assisting individuals and businesses through the difficult process of bankruptcy and reorganization after carefully examining all options with her clients. Candace helps her clients navigate through the difficult and stressful process of filing for protection under the federal bankruptcy law. Candace has fought for the rights of numerous individuals and businesses facing economic uncertainty which has required representation in the federal Bankruptcy Courts, and advising...

Our office provides legal services in matters involving business law, real estate, construction, employment law, contracts, and litigation. With over 20 years of experience we are highly skilled and experienced in the various legal issues that involve our clients. We represent business owners, brokers, landowners, developers, contractors, subcontractors, sellers, and purchasers. Our clients include both businesses and individuals. We represent clients throughout the State of California. In addition, Mr. Jacobs provides top-notch mediation and arbitration services.

In the last seventeen years, Law Offices of Joseph Salama has helped companies and individuals navigate successfully through the legal system. For some, this meant going before a jury, whether in federal or state court, or before an administrative law judge. For some, it meant getting out of the case as quickly and painlessly as possible. For some, it meant putting the right knowledge, documents, and systems in place to minimize the risk of litigation. But for all of them, it meant listening, understanding, and then making the commitment to meet their needs such that they could begin to outsource...

Craig Hansen has been a trusted advocate in the San Francisco Bay Area since his admission to the California State Bar in 2000. A seasoned trial and appellate attorney, he has successfully represented individuals and businesses of all sizes—from ambitious startups to Fortune 500 companies—across a wide spectrum of legal disputes. Craig began his legal career at a prominent San Jose firm, where he represented businesses, individuals, and investors in complex commercial, financial, and intellectual property litigation. He later joined a national law firm, honing his trial skills while defending major corporations such as General Motors, Ford, and Honda alongside some...

Ed Kraus is a shareholder with Silicon Valley Law Group. For over 20 years he has represented individuals, small and large companies in a variety of civil and criminal litigation matters. Ed has successfully handled litigation involving employment issues, real estate, construction, commercial disputes, contract issues, unfair competition and Americans with Disabilities Act claims on behalf of businesses. Ed also handles a wide variety of criminal litigation including representing individuals and corporations accused of grand theft, embezzlement, real estate fraud, insurance fraud, environmental, trade secret violations, driving under the influence, other driving related charges and other general criminal matters.

Ed believes...

Marc van Niekerk is Special Counsel with Silicon Valley Law Group’s Business Litigation and Intellectual Property & Employment Group. Over the course of his career, Marc has tried more than 50 cases to verdict and also has extensive mediation experience. His practice focuses on business litigation, with special emphasis in the areas of intellectual property disputes, business torts and commercial contract disputes. During his more than 25 years in practice, Marc has counselled and represented clients in a wide array of commercial disputes including, inter alia, employee solicitation and trade secret misappropriation, business disputes, including breach of contract,...

Since 1989, Lori has been practicing civil litigation throughout Northern California. She is experienced in civil litigation, professional malpractice, employment discrimination, labor and employment, personal injury, wrongful termination, and general business and contract disputes. Lori is licensed to practice law in both state and federal courts in California. With more than 25 years of experience, Lori Costanzo has engaged in a broad range of complex civil actions; she has handled jury and bench trials in both state and federal courts, and has served as a fierce advocate for her clients in mediation and arbitration. Her experience extends to the judicial level...

As a lawyer for over 30 years, on a daily basis, John Teter has assisted thousands of clients in achieving their business and personal goals. He draws on this wealth of real-world experience, coupled with interaction with colleagues and a lifetime commitment to continuing education, to provide his clients the best legal representation possible. It is a great source of personal pleasure to apply these tools to assist others. Mr. Teter considers each case to be a personal challenge to achieve what is best for each of his clients.

As an experienced taxation law attorney, he has the knowledge and resources...

Mr. Williams is the founder of The Williams Firm and has over 21 years of extensive experience in the areas of real estate, construction, business and corporate law. Mr. Williams' practice areas include all aspects of civil litigation and dispute resolution in all courts, government hearings, arbitrations and mediations in the areas of real estate, construction and business law. Mr. Williams also represents and advises clients in business transactions, corporate law, real property transactions, and trademark law. In real estate matters he has represented owners and developers of residential and commercial properties, including multi-million dollar properties, negotiated sales...

I am a startup business lawyer and litigator practicing in Silicon Valley as head of a 4-lawyer boutique firm, George Grellas & Associates. We are business lawyers with a specialty in early-stage tech startups. Since 1984, we have helped small to medium-sized businesses, startups, entrepreneurs, and executives - several thousand in all. We help form companies - fund them - sell or merge or acquire them - sell their assets - do their corporate work, employment work, contracts, leases, and standard terms - licensing, trademark, and IP work - founder and equity incentive structures - commercial deals of all types. We...

Help small to medium size companies navigate through a wide variety of legal challenges: formation, funding, governmental impediments, operational legal planning, merger and acquisition, employee relations, and labor compliance. All with the goal of litigation avoidance. Litigation in all California state courts and the Northern and Eastern U.S. District Courts of California.

I am responsible for all matters handled by my office. Paralegals, law clerks and associates may be utilized in appropriate situations, but the buck stops with me. Intentionally remaining small has enabled me to continue to provide unparalleled personal attention and confidentiality. My clients are the reason I am here, and I work hard for the best results possible. I am honored by the trust placed in me, and strive to maintain it at the highest level. You are entitled to understand the law applicable to your matter and the options available, as well as my best advice. I have...

Quynh (“Quinn”) Chen is a bilingual attorney that has been admitted to practice in the Ninth Circuit of the United States Appellate Court. Her practice areas primarily focus on family law, entity formations, and intellectual property. Her interest is in software patents and helping underrepresented clients in her community.

As part of her interest in software patents, Ms. Chen is proficient in programming in Ruby on Rails, MEAN stack Javascript, and working with various databases. While at Golden Gate University, School of Law, she served as Vice President of Asian Pacific American Law Student Association.

Kent P. Tierney has been practicing law for over 20 years. He specializes in the areas of Family Law, Real Estate, Civil Litigation, and Business Law. Mr. Tierney formed what is now Tierney Law Group in 2012 following more than 15 years of practice with several Bay Area law firms specializing in Civil Litigation. Mr. Tierney brings his unique personal experiences to the representation of his clients and is known for his no nonsense approach to cases. Mr. Tierney’s clients often compliment him for his straightforward demeanor and candid review of cases. His strengths are his knowledge of the law,...

Ms. Johns is a civil trial lawyer who has tried more than one hundred cases to verdict. She is the managing partner for Hillary Johns, Trial Lawyer which maintains offices in Beverly Hills, the Bay Area and New York City. She graduated from Occidental College in 1990 and Golden Gate University School of Law in 1993 where she graduated with Dean’s List and class honors. She is licensed to practice law in California, the California Southern, Central and Northern U.S. Federal District Courts, the District of Columbia, Montana, New York, and the New York Eastern and Southern U.S....

Jean Claude (JJ) B. Mallein Jr. is an experienced business, tax and trusts and estates attorney. Dedicated to wealth preservation, he has focused his education and practice on helping California residents secure their estates and prepare for the future. As a partner at boutique tax and estate planning firm in the Silicon Valley, Mr. Mallein gained valuable experience in wealth management, estate planning, tax planning, business succession planning, trust and estate administrations, tax controversy, real estate transactions and like-kind exchange cases. He is fully prepared to tackle complex business and estate planning cases. Mr. Mallein is a Dual Certified...

Robert L. (Bob) Taylor was born near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and attended high school in Berkeley, California. Bob graduated Phi Beta Kappa and with high honors from the University of California at Berkeley in 1982 with an A.B. degree in Economics. Bob graduated from the Boalt Hall School of Law (UC Berkeley) in 1985, where he was a member of the California Law Review. In 1985, he was admitted to practice in the State of California and before the Federal District Court, Northern District of California, and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. He has since also been admitted...

I have a passion and love for what I do. At Castaneda & Company, we represent individuals and small businesses in the areas of business law, contracts, employment, fraud, and real estate. After I filed a lawsuit in October 2007 against Apple™ and AT&T over the iPhone™, I was featured on websites around the world including Businessweek.com, Forbes.com, MSNBC.com, and the USAToday.com.

We have gone up against Stanford University, Google, Adobe, and Bank of America. Despite these big names, the majority of our clients are ordinary people and small business owners. We like representing the underdog and we like beating the...