LITIGATION

1. Labor and Employment Law

We represent both workers and employers in the prosecution and defense of wage and hour claims, wrongful discharge, retaliation, harassment, discrimination, and hostile environment claims.

2. General Civil Litigation

We are active trial lawyers and regularly litigate a wide variety of business, contract, property, and insurance coverage disputes from pre-filing negotiations through jury verdicts and beyond.

3. International Law

With our language abilities and close working relationships with prominent law firms in Japan, we have special expertise in handling cases for and against foreign nationals and businesses, cross-border family law matters, and international judgment enforcement.

4. Appellate Law

A large portion of our practice is centered upon appellate law matters and we handle all manner of civil writs and appeals throughout the state and federal court systems. Apart from handling appeals on behalf of our own clients, we are often called upon to assist other lawyers in perfecting, briefing, and arguing post-trial motions and appeals. Robert Cohen is certified as a specialist in appellate law by the State Bar of California, Board of Specialization.

5. Family Law

We have long experience in family and marriage law matters, and we frequently counsel clients both domestically and internationally in marriage planning and asset protection (“prenuptial agreements”), and, where necessary, in the negotiation and litigation of separations and dissolutions, property and debt distributions, support and alimony, and child custody and visitation issues.

6. Serious Personal Injury

We have a long history of success vindicating negligence and product defect claims on behalf of clients with serious or debilitating injuries and obtaining meaningful compensation by settlement or verdict. We try to avoid the “personal injury mill” or “paper shuffling” style of case processing practiced by so many other law firms pursuing only a quick settlement. We are interested instead in taking on projects we really care about and that deserve our full dedication.

7. Bad Faith and Insurance Coverage

We regularly represent individuals and companies who are disputing with their insurance carrier about the scope of coverage. We also provide opinions for insurance companies regarding whether coverage should be provided for its insureds.

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TRANSACTION

1. Corporate Counsel

We provide a wide variety of corporate counseling services and business maintenance assistance, from initial business formation onward, including the negotiation and drafting of shareholder and employment contracts, lease review and assistance, and business sale agreements. We also counsel employers in lawsuit avoidance and human resource management, including advising clients on how to handle claims of harassment or discrimination, how and when to terminate employees, responding to unemployment claims, and sexual harassment training.

2. Formation/Start-up

For our corporate clients, we handle establishing corporations and partnerships, and prepare the necessary documentation and filings associated with starting a new business.

3. Employee Handbook

We regularly draft and review Employee Handbooks for our clients, ensuring that the language addressed industry specific needs and reflects the most up to date federal, state and local ordinances. When preparing Employee Handbooks, we make a point to review the company policies with our clients in Japanese, so that our clients understand and can properly implement the applicable policies and be in compliance with applicable laws.

4. Contract Drafting/Review

Using our background in litigation, we review, draft and negotiate contracts with the aim of providing the maximum protection for our clients and advising them on where potential disputes can arise. We regularly review and negotiate commercial lease agreements on behalf of tenants, partnership agreements, shareholder agreements, license agreements, consulting agreements, and non-disclosure agreements.

5. Licenses and Permits

We assist our clients in researching what types of licenses or permits maybe required by the nature of the company’s business, and then prepare the paperwork necessary in securing such licenses and permits. We handle everything from secondhand dealer licenses, employment agency licenses, to business licenses and other local permits.

6. Trademark Registration

A company’s trademark can be an invaluable asset that defines the business and we assist in registering our client’s tradename and trademarks. We can also advise clients at the onset of the business by performing preliminary searches on existing trademarks and providing suggestions regarding what types of names are more likely to be registered.

7. Franchise Registration

We regularly assist our clients in reviewing and preparing Franchise Agreements and Franchise Disclosure Documents, as well as registering the franchise in states that require registration.

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INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

1. Due Diligence (M&A)

We regularly assist Japanese law firms with corporate clients involved in mergers or acquisitions with California or Hawaii corporations by handling the legal due diligence and assisting in reviewing Stock Purchase and Sale Agreements.

2. Estate Transactions

With the growing number of Japanese individuals and corporations investing in real property, financial instruments and purchasing life insurance policies in the U.S., we regularly assist our Japanese clients make claims for death benefits, transfer assets to survivors and navigate through associated legal documents.

3. Foreign Judgment Enforcement

We regularly handle domestication of Japanese judgments in California and Hawaii for enforcement, as well as assist our U.S. clients domesticate and enforce U.S. judgments in Japan through connecting them with effective Japanese counsel and advising Japanese counsel with applicable California and Hawaii laws.

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