By: Tara R. Burd

It is easy to avoid planning when illness and tragedy are on someone else’s doorstep.  Today’s COVID-19 pandemic is a reminder that every person is vulnerable to disease, instability, and loss. Its worldwide reach has created circumstances that most people never before considered, but which have always been possibilities. It is an opportunity to break from routine and to consider how to best protect your family and future if you become unavailable for any reason. 

As we navigate the many impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic we are curating and delivering a multitude of updates on the legal obligations, risks, and potential solutions to arising challenges. Estate planning remains one of those critically important matters, too often set on the back burner. We are here to offer guidance and planning solutions to help you to make sure that your family and affairs are taken care of the way you want.

Self-Care for You and Your Estate During COVID-19

Self-care means taking action today to improve your health or circumstances tomorrow. Self-care is not limited to your physical well-being and should include ensuring that your financial, social, and emotional needs are met when the unexpected strikes.

Estate planning is not just about naming your heirs. It also includes identifying the people in your life that you trust the most to care for your loves ones, your own health, and your financial stability when you’re sick, injured, or quarantined.

Here are ways that setting up an estate plan with a Klinedinst attorney can help you to be prepared.

Guardianship Designation for Your Children 

It is important to carefully consider who you trust to take quick and immediate care of your children in the event of an emergency.  The emergency guardian should be someone who has a flexible schedule and can be relied upon to remain proximately located to your child’s school or daycare. The emergency guardian is the childcare first responder who can rush to the home or school when there’s a fire, a lockdown, or another threatening event. 

This person is often different than the person you trust to raise your children if you are no longer able to.  A long term guardian may not live nearby, but they have the financial and emotional stability to bring your child or children into their own family and raise them with the same care and values you would have provided.

Power of Attorney to Pay Bills or Handle Business

Durable powers of attorney are incredibly flexible documents that can impart authority to another person or agent.  The level of authority can be as broad or as narrowly-defined as you wish, and is designed to designate your “backup” should you become incapacitated. If you are quarantined or hospitalized and require someone trustworthy enough to access your bank accounts, write checks on your behalf, or handle pending business, a power of attorney can be used to grant another person the authority to act on your behalf.  That power can be revoked at any time, and only has an effect during your lifetime.

Self-Care Planning Through Advanced Health Care Directives

An advanced health care directive is an opportunity for you to tell your doctors, nurses, and loved ones what is most important to you about your physical, mental and emotional health.  If you value maximizing the time you have here on Earth, you can indicate your preference to receive any and all life-saving measures.  If you prefer quality of life and minimizing pain, there is a wide spectrum of options that can be completely customized to your individual preferences.

One of the scariest aspects of not being well is not being able to express to the people around you what you need.  With advanced care planning, we put an emphasis on identifying the people and circumstances that best contribute to your mental and emotional health. For some individuals, this means ample human interaction and engaging in high-stimuli activities. It might mean listening to classical music, and the attendance of a priest, rabbi, or another religious leader. For others, it means withholding food even when they cannot feed themselves. By setting forth in writing the people and circumstances that bring you the greatest peace and joy, you can help to ensure you’re cared for in the manner you wish, at all stages of life.

Wills and Trusts Ease the Burden of Your Loss

By preparing a will and a trust, you can alleviate the weight of the burden that death often leaves behind.  Unfortunately, for older Americans, there are many traps that cause heartache and homelessness for the ones that live the longest.  Elderly lovers and companions often remain unmarried, but share a home and other assets.  If the person on title dies first, the surviving partner often has no right to continue to live in the home and can be evicted by the heirs.  This can easily be avoided by planning for your companion to receive the right to occupy your family home for the remainder of their life, while your children retain the right to inherit it eventually.

For those who have a loved one who is currently receiving needs-based benefits, special needs trusts can sometimes be established for purposes of receiving your assets without jeopardizing their receipt of benefits.  

And, for parents who own a home in California, a trust can help to provide for your children for many years after you’re gone.  This is especially helpful when distributing assets to a minor, as a trust can be structured to make distributions over time. The planning you do now can help put your child through college, vocational training, or other predetermined goals.  

The COVID-19 pandemic is a perfect opportunity to enact some self-care for both you and your estate. Take action today so that you have the peace of mind to know that you will be cared for in the manner of your choice when you are injured, unavailable or infirm and that your loved ones will be safe and cared for when you’re gone.

Start Today with Remote Estate Planning

Klinedinst is proud to offer a 5-step remote estate planning solution:

  1. Contact us by phone or email to let us know you’re interested. One of our attorneys will connect with you to make sure that our office is the best fit for your legal needs.
  2. For no commitment or charge, we will provide you with our estate planning intake packet, so that you can tell us about the important people in your life and the assets that need protecting.  This gives us a starting point so that we are better prepared to ask you the tough questions during the interview process.
  3. When you’re ready to retain us, send us your packet and tender payment through our secure online portal.
  4. Once we receive your packet and payment, we will schedule a consultation with one of our estate planning attorneys by call or video chat – your choice.
  5. We do the rest!  After our planning consultation, we will prepare your estate plan and follow up with you by email or phone if we have any further questions. When your estate plan is complete, we will contact you to discuss the best means of delivering and executing your plan. 


About the Author

Photo of Tara R. Burd

Tara R. Burd is an experienced probate and trust litigator, with specific emphasis on trust administration, probate avoidance, and probate litigation. Much of her career has been focused on helping clients navigate their way through breach of contracts, business disputes, partition actions, employment, and personal injury lawsuits. Ms. Burd has represented companies, partnerships, and sole practitioners in a variety of matters, and can be reached directly at tburd@klinedinstlaw.com.


About Klinedinst

Klinedinst is the go-to firm for clients looking for litigation, trial experience, transactional representation, and legal counsel.  The firm’s offices in Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, Irvine, and Seattle service the entire West Coast. What sets Klinedinst apart is the relationship our attorneys foster with each and every client. Klinedinst lawyers are indispensable strategic partners to business leaders, helping to achieve business objectives and create proactive solutions to resolve the many legal challenges that businesses are confronted with every day.  Whether vigorously advocating for business clients in court, or guiding business transactions and negotiations, Klinedinst is the trusted legal advisor to have by your side.

This article is intended to be for informational purposes only. This information does not constitute legal advice. The law is constantly changing and the information may not be complete or correct depending on the date of the article and your particular legal problem. The use of information from this article does not create any type of attorney-client relationship.

During the unprecedented threat brought on by the recent coronavirus pandemic, Klinedinst stands ready to support you. The safety, health, and security of our clients, our employees, and our business partners is of paramount importance. Like you, we are monitoring the latest COVID-19 updates from a variety of governmental and health agencies, including the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). As such, we have in place contingency operation plans for all five of our Western U.S. offices. 

As technology has evolved, so has the way we do business together. With enhanced technology and a robust infrastructure, all of our attorneys have the ability to work remotely with continued access to our secure systems and data. Our offices remain open, but should conditions warrant, Klinedinst will begin activation of processes and safeguards for remote deployment. One of our goals is to ensure the continued seamless provision of legal services.

Each Klinedinst office has measures and protocols in place to foster a safe, clean work environment. Within each practice group, client teams are organizing coverage to ensure availability of lawyers to handle time sensitive matters as needed. And while we love having clients meet us face-to-face, we are offering telephonic and video conferencing for client meetings and training. We are likewise working on systems to fully utilize CourtCall for court appearances and videoconferencing for depositions.

Klinedinst means business, and should the need to close one or more offices arise, we are committed to minimizing disruption in the counseling and legal services we provide.

The COVID-19 situation is incredibly fluid, with new guidance coming from authorities hourly. We ask everyone to stay ahead of the latest developments, to ensure the health and safety of themselves and their loved ones. However, businesses need reliable, trustworthy legal counsel during good times and uncertain times, and our resources are available.

The entire team at Klinedinst stands ready for you.

About Klinedinst

Klinedinst is the go-to firm for clients looking for litigation, trial experience, transactional representation, and legal counsel.  The firm’s offices in Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, Irvine, and Seattle service the entire West Coast. What sets Klinedinst apart is the relationship our attorneys foster with each and every client. Klinedinst lawyers are indispensable strategic partners to business leaders, helping to achieve business objectives and create proactive solutions to resolve the many legal challenges that businesses are confronted with every day.  Whether vigorously advocating for business clients in court, or guiding business transactions and negotiations, Klinedinst is the trusted legal advisor to have by your side.

Klinedinst PC is proud to announce that Steven K. Berenson, Senior Counsel, has joined the firm’s Professional Liability defense team.

SAN DIEGO, CA – Klinedinst’s newest member of the Professional Liability group is Steven K. Berenson, an esteemed litigator, academic writer, professor, and arbitrator. He has represented individuals and government entities in state and federal courts in a wide range of matters such as legal ethics, civil litigation, and family law.

Steven K. Berenson

In addition to his work in private practice, Mr. Berenson spent two decades as a full-time law professor, where he focused on family law, legal ethics, and veterans’ legal issues. He founded the Thomas Jefferson Veterans Legal Assistance Clinic, which today provides pro bono legal representation to homeless veterans struggling with substance abuse issues. A prolific writer, Mr. Berenson has published a textbook on judicial ethics, as well as two textbooks on family law. He has also written over 25 law review articles on a wide range of subjects. He regularly speaks on a variety of cutting-edge legal topics within the legal and business communities.

Mr. Berenson previously worked as an Assistant Attorney General in the office of the Massachusetts Attorney General. There, he focused on civil governmental litigation and consumer protection enforcement. He argued cases at every level of both the state and federal court systems and was a counsel of record in numerous reported decisions including those from the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, and the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.

Mr. Berenson serves as a Pro Tem Judge in the Small Claims and Traffic Divisions of the San Diego Superior Court. He also serves as a volunteer fee dispute arbitrator for both the San Diego County and California Bar Associations’ voluntary fee dispute arbitration programs.  He is a member of the San Diego County Bar Association’s Legal Ethics Committee.

Klinedinst PC is pleased to welcome Mr. Berenson to the firm. To learn more please visit: klinedinstlaw.com/profiles/attorney/steven-berenson

About Klinedinst

Klinedinst is the go-to firm for clients looking for litigation, trial experience, transactional representation, and legal counsel.  The firm’s offices in Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, Irvine, and Seattle service the entire West Coast. What sets Klinedinst apart is the relationship our attorneys foster with each and every client. Klinedinst lawyers are indispensable strategic partners to business leaders, helping to achieve business objectives and create proactive solutions to resolve the many legal challenges that businesses are confronted with every day.  Whether vigorously advocating for business clients in court, or guiding business transactions and negotiations, Klinedinst is the trusted legal advisor to have by your side.

By James D. Snyder

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) officially went into effect on January 1, 2020.  The CCPA is a broad law enacted in the State of California that applies to businesses inside and outside of the state, as well as internationally. In discussing the CCPA with many business owners in and out of California, I consistently get the sense that many feel the law is quite onerous, expensive and not many know where to begin.  In this article, I will address some practical tips on how to think through complying with the CCPA.

James D. Snyder

What is CCPA?

CCPA creates new data privacy rights for California consumers, requiring businesses to tell them what personal information has been collected and how the business (or any third party) is using the information. Consumers can force businesses to delete their data or prohibit the business from sharing personal information with third parties.

Does CCPA apply to my business?

Much has been written about the CCPA and how to determine if it applies to your business so we will not spend too time on it here.  That said, it is important to understand the basics.  The CCPA essentially applies to any for-profit entity doing business in California that collects, shares, or sells California consumers’ personal data, and:

  • Has annual gross revenues in excess of $25 million; or
  • Possesses the personal information of 50,000 or more consumers, households, or devices; or
  • Earns more than half of its annual revenue from selling consumers’ personal information.

If a business, therefore, leverages personal data from California residents and meets any of the three criteria above CCPA likely applies to it. CCPA also applies to any entity that owns, is owned by, or shares common branding with a covered business — so it is even broader reaching.

The doing business in California criteria is also likely an easy threshold to meet and does not require a business to have a physical location or employees within the State of California. 

While the CCPA has various exemptions (i.e. other data privacy laws like the HIPAA or the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA)), these exceptions do not enable a business to avoid complying with the CCPA entirely—i.e. some data may be covered by HIPAA as an example and other data collected by the same business may still be subject to the CCPA.

The point being that the CCPA is broad-reaching and that, even if there is an exemption available to your business, it is not a safe harbor and businesses should have a plan to become compliant.

Practical Steps To Take Towards CCPA Compliance

Compliance Week estimates CCPA compliance costs will reach $55 billion, with small companies with fewer than 20 employees incurring initial costs around $50,000, midsize companies of 20-100 employees incurring initial costs of $100,000 and for those with 100-500 employees, the business will incur an estimated initial cost of $450,000.  Given the potential expense and time involved in compliance, it is important to focus when creating an effective and practical approach to data privacy and CCPA compliance.

1.  Do not try to boil the ocean—focus as a team!

It is important to establish a committee or working group with your business across major company functions from legal and finance to IT and R&D.  In an initial set of meetings, it is vital that all functions understand each other’s roles in safeguarding data and ensuring CCPA compliance. 

A base-level awareness of (i) what data is collected, (ii) who the data was collected from, (iii) by whom (i.e. third party vendors?), and (iv) where is the data located, etc, can be critical in the early stages of designing an effective and compliant data privacy program.  In many instances, it may be necessary to involve a third party to assist with data mapping exercises to answer many of these questions.  This initial meeting (or meetings) does not have to solve every issue but should serve as a good road map toward compliance.

Once the type of data, location of the data and purpose of the data retention are understood, then the group can turn its attention toward developing a policy to ensure compliance with the CCPA.  Note here that the business may have other legal jurisdictions that are important to consider (i.e. GDPR for Europe) and the business should consult legal counsel, to assist in this part of the analysis.

2. Look at your business’s third party contracts.

Businesses need to know how third parties are collecting and sharing consumer personal data as a result of their relationship with the third party.  To do this a business needs to know what is in its agreements.  This is not an easy task.  By simply reviewing contracts or a third party’s policies, a business will not necessarily have the answers it is looking for. 

A practical approach here is to identify all third parties that the business works with or that has access to data in some way through your business (this could be as simple as access to the businesses website and therefore cookies).   Once a list is assembled, it is helpful to have a technical team identify what it believes the third party may have access to and ultimately to ask the third party exactly what data they have and what they are doing with it. 

If it is determined that the third party has access to data and is using it in a way that the business is not comfortable with, it may be necessary to renegotiate the third party contracts and prohibit the objectionable use.  If nothing else, by understanding what third parties are applicable and what they are doing with the data, your business can respond to consumer’s requests as they come up now that CCPA is in effect.

3. Revise the business’s privacy policies and notices.

By now we are starting to see more and more websites with updated privacy policies and CCPA related wrappers.  The CCPA requires companies to update their privacy policies annually.

In order to effectively update a business’s website to comply with the CCPA, the following must be incorporated into the updated policy (updated annually).

a.   Identify the new rights available to California consumers by the CCPA. The CCPA creates the following new consumer-rights, all of which must be addressed in the updated policies.  Businesses, therefore, need to inform consumers of their rights to the following:

(1) The business’ data collection and sales practices in connection with the requesting consumer.  This needs to drill down to the categories of personal information collected, the source of the information,  use of the information and, if third parties are involved, the categories of personal information disclosed or sold to third parties and the actual categories of third parties that the information was disclosed or sold to;

(2)  The specific personal information collected about the requesting consumer, 12 months before their request;

(3) To have such the information identified in #2 deleted (see exceptions in the CCPA);

(4) To prohibit the sale of such personal information to third parties; and

(5)  To not be discriminated against due to any of the new rights.

As a practical note, the policy should make it clear that consumers may make such requests up to two times per 12-month period and clarify the business will need to collect information from the consumer to verify their identity.  Finally, clearly articulate the time frame to respond to such requests—45 days from receipt of a request, upon the aforementioned verification.

b.   Identify at least 2 ways that a consumer can submit a request to the business.  Personal requests must be able to be made via a web page and a toll-free telephone number. We recommend including a link to the web page here to make such requests.  It is best to clearly describe the process to make the request, the process that the business will undertake it verify the request and the timeline for responding.

c.   Provide a mechanism to opt-out from data collection on the website. Provide a link entitled Do Not Sell My Personal Information that should enable the consumer to opt-out of having her information sold. This link must appear in the footer of the website home page (and many feel it should appear on all pages on the website).

d.   Identify all of the categories of personal information that have been collected by the business or its third-party providers for any consumer in the past 12 months (this can be updated annually—so if the business reduces the categories of data collected as an example, a year from the policy update the categories can be adjusted).

e.   For each category identified in #4, identify the sources of such information. Also, include a list of the categories of personal information sold in the past 12 months.

f.    Identify the purpose for the use of each category of collected information. 

g.   A list of the categories of personal information disclosed for a business purpose in the past 12 months. 

4.  Reconvene as a group regularly to ensure accountability and review the Regs where there is any confusion with the CCPA.

Have the working group meet with regularity and document the meetings (this can be a secretary for the meeting taking basic notes and filing the results as an example).  The group should continue to make updates to the policies and procedures for the company as the law and regulations evolve and work toward compliance with the CCPA and other data privacy and security laws.  The California Attorney General publishes regulations interpreting the CCPA and to provide businesses with guidance on how to comply with the CCPA.  It is a good idea to monitor these regulations and any updates to the regulations or consult with legal counsel to understand the regulations.

On February 10, 2020, the California Attorney General’s office published a draft set of regulations that may help resolve some issues. The AG’s office will not begin enforcement of CCPA until July 1, 2020, and is legally required to publish the final regulations by such time. 

James D. Snyder represents clients in business transactions, M&A, and data privacy issues. He provides legal and compliance counsel to emerging startups and established companies in areas involving licensing, finance and investments, data privacy and security, corporate structuring, contracts, patent, trademark, copyright, and domain portfolios. He is an accomplished speaker in the fast-evolving data security landscape, and has built a national reputation as a go-to for outside General Counsel advice.

About Klinedinst

Klinedinst is the go-to firm for clients looking for litigation, trial experience, transactional representation, and legal counsel.  The firm’s offices in Irvine, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, and Seattle service the entire West Coast. What sets Klinedinst apart is the relationship our attorneys foster with each and every client. Klinedinst lawyers are indispensable strategic partners to business leaders, helping to achieve business objectives and create proactive solutions to resolve the many legal challenges that businesses are confronted with every day.  Whether vigorously advocating for business clients in court, or guiding business transactions and negotiations, Klinedinst is the trusted legal advisor to have by your side.

The San Diego Business Journal has featured Klinedinst Founder and Chief Executive Officer John D. Klinedinst in the 2020 San Diego 500. The San Diego 500 is an annual list of influential business and civic leaders making lasting changes in the regional economy.

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – The San Diego Business Journal has featured Klinedinst Founder and CEO John D. Klinedinst in the 2020 edition of San Diego 500: The Book of Influential Business Leaders. The distinction is reserved for chief executives and business leaders who are key players in the San Diego business industries.

This annual San Diego 500 features legends in the San Diego business community from a wide range of industries, including defense, manufacturing, service providers, financial and technology firms, life sciences, and real estate companies. Mr. Klinedinst is one of the few law firm leaders singled out for inclusion.

John D. Klinedinst
John D. Klinedinst

Mr. Klinedinst launched Klinedinst in 1983. He built a practice focused on representing clients in professional liability, business litigation, and intellectual property disputes. Today, the firm has nearly 140 employees in five offices spanning the West Coast, and features an interconnected network of litigators, trial attorneys, transactional lawyers, and probate professionals.

Klinedinst has been recognized by the San Diego Business Journal in previous years for his contributions to the business community, as well as the regional economy. In 2019, he was named winner of the Most Admired CEO Award, which he previously won in 2017 and 2011. The recipient of Martindale-Hubbell’s highest AV®-Preeminent™ rating, Klinedinst was named Best of the Bar (2014) for his litigation and trial work. He has also been featured in Super Lawyers® since the publication began reviewing attorneys in San Diego back in 2007.

San Diego Business Journal is one of the preeminent sources of business news and information on San Diego County’s companies, industries, and business people. The publication’s regular lists provide comprehensive data and statistics on top-ranked San Diego businesses and their decision-makers. They focus on changes and innovations in companies and individuals across all industries.

To learn more about Mr. Klinedinst, please visit:
www.johnklinedinst.com

About Klinedinst

Klinedinst has become the go-to firm for clients across California, across the West, and across the globe. Our litigators, trial attorneys, and transactional lawyers guide clients through every problem, finding solutions at every turn. The firm serves clients from offices in Irvine, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, and Seattle. Whether representing businesses in court, helping negotiate transactions, or handling matters in state, federal, or appellate courts, Klinedinst attorneys help to get the job done.

Klinedinst Senior Counsel James D. Snyder was a featured speaker for Privacy OC, a first-of-its-kind forum focused on evolving data privacy issues. Snyder’s in-depth knowledge on emerging trends in data privacy and legal compliance, as well as his experience in California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) took center stage at this inaugural event.

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – On January 28, 2020, James Snyder presented at the inaugural event Privacy OC along with other accomplished data technology authorities. The conference is an educational collaboration between data privacy professionals, academia, and government communities.

Privacy OC was created in response to the keen interest California-based businesses have to better understand and comply with the new California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) as well as increasing awareness of the global movement to protect consumers with their personal information. The event, which spun-off from a LinkedIn group by the same name, featured workshops, interactive presentations, product demonstrations and more.

James D. Snyder, Esq.
James D. Snyder

Mr. Snyder explored California’s newly enacted CCPA and addressed the risks associated with a business’s failure to comply with the law. He also shared his insight on privacy law in the modern digital age. Other speakers included plaintiff and defense counsel who provided a view on the CCPA from both sides of the aisle.

In his practice, Mr. Snyder represents clients in business transactions, M&A, and data privacy issues. He provides legal and compliance counsel to emerging startups and established companies in areas involving licensing, finance and investments, data privacy and security, corporate structuring, contracts, patent, trademark, copyright, and domain portfolios. He has built a reputation as an outside General Counsel, providing legal guidance on a wide range of issues.

Klinedinst congratulates Privacy OC on the success of their first conference, and Mr. Snyder for helping educate attendees on the ins-and-outs of data privacy. To learn more about James Snyder please visit: klinedinstlaw.com/profiles/attorney/james-snyder

About Klinedinst

Klinedinst has become the go-to firm for clients across California, across the West, and across the globe. Our litigators, trial attorneys, and transactional lawyers guide clients through every problem, finding solutions at every turn. The firm serves clients from offices in Irvine, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, and Seattle. Whether representing businesses in court, helping negotiate transactions, or handling matters in state, federal, or appellate courts, Klinedinst attorneys help to get the job done.

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – For the 2019 holiday season, Klinedinst was proud to serve as a National Corporate Donor for Toys for Tots. This marks the tenth consecutive year that the firm has stepped up to serve as a major donor for the organization.

Toys for Tots
Klinedinst served as a National Corporate Donor for the 2019 Toys for Tots program.

“We are very pleased to welcome Klinedinst Attorneys back for their 10th year as a National Corporate Donor of the Marine Toys for Tots Campaign,” said retired Marine Colonel Ted Silvester, vice president of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. “With their generous support, we will be able to fulfill the Christmas holiday dreams of thousands of less fortunate children, who otherwise might have been forgotten.”

Toys for Tots can trace its history back to 1947, when Marine Corps Reserve Major Bill Hendricks and his wife were looking for a way to help kids in need for the holidays. Upon learning that no organization was setup to help distribute toys to children, Hendricks, who worked at Warner Bros. enlisted the help of friends in Hollywood, as well as local area Marines, to collect and distribute 5,000 toys that first year.

The initial program had such an impact that the Commandant directed all Marine Reserve units to begin their own Toys for Tots campaigns. Walt Disney also joined the effort, designing a poster featuring Toys for Tots’ iconic train logo that is still in use today.

Toys for Tots is active in over 800 communities, helping to bring holiday cheer to disadvantaged children across all fifty states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Toys for Tots distributed over 19 million toys to 7 million children across the U.S..

“Just like our firm, Toys for Tots has its roots here in Southern California,” said Arthur S. Moreau, Klinedinst’s Chief Operating Officer of Klinedinst. “We are so proud of the impact the organization has in our communities, and to be marking ten years of partnership with Toys for Tots.”

To learn more about Toys for Tots, please visit:

www.ToysforTots.org

About Klinedinst

Klinedinst has become the go-to firm for clients across California, across the West, and across the globe. Our litigators, trial attorneys, and transactional lawyers guide clients through every problem, finding solutions at every turn. The firm serves clients from offices in Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, Irvine, and Seattle. Whether representing businesses in court, helping negotiate transactions, or handling matters in state, federal, or appellate courts, Klinedinst attorneys help to get the job done.

Chris Milas has joined the Klinedinst San Diego office as an associate. Mr. Milas focuses his practice on professional liability defense, particularly in the area of legal malpractice.

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – Klinedinst is pleased to announce Chris M. Milas has joined the San Diego office as an Associate Attorney. Mr. Milas focuses his practice on professional liability defense.

Mr. Milas brings to Klinedinst experience in case strategy for medical malpractice, personal injury, premises liability, product liability, construction defect, general tort liability, and flood and fire injury.

Chris M. Milas

Mr. Milas earned his Juris Doctor degree from the California Western School of Law. While attending law school, Mr. Milas was the Executive Editor of the California Western International Law Journal and represented California Western School of Law in Legal Skills Appellate Advocacy Competition. Mr. Milas also externed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California for the Honorable Karen S. Crawford.

Klinedinst PC is pleased to welcome Mr. Milas to the firm. To learn more about Mr. Milas, please visit: klinedinstlaw.com/profiles/attorney/chris-milas

About Klinedinst

Klinedinst is the go-to firm for clients looking for litigation, trial experience, transactional representation, and legal counsel.  The firm’s offices in Irvine, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, and Seattle service the entire West Coast. What sets Klinedinst apart is the relationship our attorneys foster with each and every client. Klinedinst lawyers are indispensable strategic partners to business leaders, helping to achieve business objectives and create proactive solutions to resolve the many legal challenges that businesses are confronted with every day.  Whether vigorously advocating for business clients in court, or guiding business transactions and negotiations, Klinedinst is the trusted legal advisor to have by your side.

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – Klinedinst is pleased to announce that James D. Snyder has joined the firm as Senior Counsel.

Mr. Snyder represents clients in business transactions, M&A, and data privacy issues. He provides legal and compliance counsel to emerging startups and established companies in areas involving licensing, finance and investments, data privacy and security, corporate structuring, contracts, patent, trademark, copyright, and domain portfolios. He has built a reputation as an outside General Counsel, providing legal guidance on a wide range of issues.

On the mergers and acquisitions side, Mr. Snyder is no stranger to the complexities of M&A work. He previously served in a leadership role throughout integration efforts with the largest privately-held technology company in the world. Mr. Snyder has also led successful acquisitions and integration efforts for US-based clients of businesses in India and Europe.

Mr. Snyder’s experience in compliance is not restricted to data protection. He has directly managed all facets of international regulatory compliance in the highly-regulated financial services arena. He has also provided guidance on export and open source software compliance initiatives.

“James has the complex transactional experience our clients are looking for,” said Klinedinst CEO, John Klinedinst. “His deep breadth of knowledge in emerging technology, legal representation, and data security will have an incredibly positive impact across our national and international clientele, and we are excited to welcome him to the firm.”

Over the course of his career, Mr. Snyder has counseled clients on contracts involving commercial SaaS, financial services and professional services. He often helps champion his clients’ move into the data analytics marketplace through development and oversight of data privacy, data security, and SLA policy overhauls.

To learn more about Mr. Snyder, please visit: klinedinstlaw.com/profiles/attorney/james-snyder

About Klinedinst

Klinedinst is the go-to firm for clients looking for litigation, trial experience, transactional representation, and legal counsel.  The firm’s offices in Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, Irvine, and Seattle service the entire West Coast. What sets Klinedinst apart is the relationship our attorneys foster with each and every client. Klinedinst lawyers are indispensable strategic partners to business leaders, helping to achieve business objectives and create proactive solutions to resolve the many legal challenges that businesses are confronted with every day.  Whether vigorously advocating for business clients in court, or guiding business transactions and negotiations, Klinedinst is the trusted legal advisor to have by your side.

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – Klinedinst Founder and CEO John D. Klinedinst has been elected to serve on the George Washington School of Business (GWSB) Board of Advisors. 

In electing members of the Board of Advisors, GWSB looks to alumni who have a strong affinity for collaboration, innovation, and leadership in business to aid in the development and success of the institution.

Mr. Klinedinst, who is the only lawyer serving on the Board of Advisors, received his MBA from the institution in 1975. Mr. Klinedinst went on to found a corporate law firm with five offices across the West. The firm maintains a national and international clientele and has long been active in trans-border issues.

As part of his practice, Mr. Klinedinst provides unique and valuable insights to his clients, particularly in the areas of business and securities litigation.

“John will serve as an incredible asset to the Board of Advisors, and the university as a whole,” said Arthur Moreau, III, who serves as Chief Operating Officer for Klinedinst PC. “John is a visionary business leader who believes in mentoring and learning by doing. He truly leads by example, and puts his business background to work every day for the benefit of his community, partners, and peers.”

John D. Klinedinst
John D. Klinedinst

Mr. Klinedinst is involved with many professional and community organizations, including the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (FDCC), the Defense Research Institute, the Council on Litigation Management and has served on the Board of Trustees for Washington & Lee University and on the Phi Kappa Psi Foundation. Within the broader community, he has served on the board of the San Diego Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Klinedinst has gained recognition by the business community, having been named Most Admired CEO by the San Diego Business Journal for the years 2011, 2017, and 2019. The same publication has named him to the San Diego 500, a list updated annually featuring the movers and shakers in the San Diego business region.

Klinedinst congratulates John on this recognition. To learn more about Mr. Klinedinst and his achievements, please visit:

www.johnklinedinst.com

About Klinedinst

Klinedinst is the go-to firm for clients looking for litigation, trial experience, transactional representation, and legal counsel.  The firm’s offices in Irvine, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, and Seattle service the entire West Coast. What sets Klinedinst apart is the relationship our attorneys foster with each and every client. Klinedinst lawyers are indispensable strategic partners to business leaders, helping to achieve business objectives and create proactive solutions to resolve the many legal challenges that businesses are confronted with every day.  Whether vigorously advocating for business clients in court, or guiding business transactions and negotiations, Klinedinst is the trusted legal advisor to have by your side.