The grieving Harry Berkowitz could hardly have imagined what would follow when he had three hats to wear under the law after his wife died in 2011. Her death triggered the creation of a marital trust that contained a General…
Trustee May Self-Represent to Determine Settlor Intent
It takes a particular type of family dysfunction for brothers and sisters to take their fight to courtroom after courtroom after courtroom for 12 years. Meet the Donkin clan. Back before everybody squared off before their first judge, parents Rodney…
Home in on this commonly botched expression
Shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court denied injunctive relief to the opponents of Texas’ anti-abortion law, a post appeared on a popular legal news website describing the forcefulness of the four dissents. The article states, “Justice Breyer’s [] hones…
September 2021 Members in the News
BASF Members Named 2022 “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers in San Francisco The following BASF members were recognized as the 2022 Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers: Amy Briggs, Farella Braun + Martel; Donald C. Arbitblit, Lieff…
Remembrance of Things Past: Can a Newly Enacted Statute Provide for a Retroactive Award of Attorney Fees?
When a bill becomes law in California, it generally operates prospectively, unless the Legislature specifically provides otherwise. A generally—but not universally—recognized exception exists, however, for new statutes authorizing an award of attorney fees. Some California appellate courts have approved the…
Don’t say bold-faced when you mean bald-faced
When addressing the court, be sure not to bungle common expressions When U.S. Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga) told the American people that the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol could not accurately be called an “insurrection,” he not only…
August 2021 Members in the News
Leaders Circle Firms Certified as a Gold Standard Law Firm by Women in Law Empowerment Forum LLC Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld Cooley DLA Piper Foley & Lardner Littler Mendelson Morgan, Lewis & Bockius Morrison & Foerster Ogletree, Deakins,…
Mental Health & Wellness Recap
As increases in police brutality and hate crimes are alarmingly prevalent even here in San Francisco, the Barristers Diversity and Inclusion Committee of the Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF) hosted a timely discussion about Mental Health and Well-Being for…
Voice of Change – Racial Equity Discussion Recap
The Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF) hosted Voice of Change on July 20, where viewers were presented with an honest and empathetic conversation about shifting perspectives on achieving racial equity. As part of BASF Board President Marvin Anderson’s racial…
Legal Billing Language to Help Reduce Payment Delays
This article originally appeared on the LawPay blog. Clearly defining all expectations related to fees, billing, and payments during client intake can go a long way toward preventing payment delays and chargebacks. Here are a few valuable examples of sample…
US Privacy Law Update Outside of California
State lawmakers are considering, and in some cases, have enacted comprehensive privacy laws. Similar to the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (CCPA), these laws and proposals include now familiar elements, including emphasis on transparency, consumer rights, disclosure and processing…
It’s Time for Lawyers to Commit to a “Duty of Professionalism” Toward Court Reporters
Every day, in countless rooms and Zooms, court reporters encounter situations like these true stories: As she walked into the conference room, the noticing attorney looked her over and remarked in front of everyone present, “Guess I got the short…