Author Archives: Faith Pincus

Legalizing Recreational Marijuana in New York

Posted on by Faith Pincus
marijuana
16 Jul

Last Friday, the New York State Department of Health recommended the state legalize the use of recreational marijuana.

This would mean a new area of law for attorneys in New York who have not yet practiced in this emerging industry.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo commissioned the report this month that found, “the positive effects of a regulated marijuana market in NYS outweigh the potential negative impacts.” Among the positive effects? Lowered marijuana-related arrests in low-income neighborhoods. In 2017, 86% of those arrested for marijuana possession in New York were people of color, according to the state Division of Criminal Justice Services.

New York state expects the sales tax revenue to range between $248.1 million to $677.7 million each year, creating an opportunity for residents to start their own marijuana businesses. However, it’s not as easy as one might think, at least from a legal standpoint, said Daniel Shortt, a cannabis attorney with Harris Bricken. Attorneys will need to seek some sort of ethics guidance on working with marijuana clients.

Harris Bricken has plenty of experience dealing with the legal marijuana industry. Partner at the Seattle firm is Hilary Bricken, who has earned a reputation as a fearless advocate for local businesses. Hilary will be speaking at our Recreational and Medical Marijuana Law and Business in California conference on November 1 and 2, 2018. Over the course of two days we’ll go in-depth into a variety of issues in this burgeoning industry for attorneys, investors and business operators.

For those who serve clients in the cannabis industry and those attorneys who want to move into this space, our program will help you navigate the rules, regulations, and legal ramifications of legalized marijuana in California (and federal issues affecting the state’s cannabis industry as well). For investors and business people in the market – or thinking about entering the market – what do you need to know? What are the difficulties businesses face – from retail to growing and distribution?

By the end of our conference you will be well-versed in most of the critical legal, business, and investment-related aspects of this rapidly expanding industry.

George Pincus is our Latest Featured Speaker!

Posted on by Faith Pincus
george
12 Jul

Our latest featured speaker is George Pincus from Stearns Weaver Miller Weissler Alhadeff & Sitterson, P.A.!

George will be speaking at our upcoming seminar, An Introduction to Commercial Real Estate Transactions: The Big Four in Fort Lauderdale on September 28th! We are excited to have him join us, and we know our attendees will appreciate the information he’ll provide during the seminar. (George is not related to our CEO, Faith Pincus, in case anyone was wondering!)

George A. Pincus is a Shareholder in the Real Estate Department and serves as a member of the Firm’s Board of Directors. As a transactional real estate lawyer, his practice focuses on office, industrial, retail and build-to-suit leasing representing both landlords and tenants, purchase and sale transactions for both buyers and sellers of office, industrial, retail, multifamily and vacant/developable land projects, real estate finance transactions with an emphasis on representing borrowers and developers in construction loans, term loans and refinancings with banks and life lenders, CMBS loans from securitized lenders, and multifamily loans from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, real estate private equity transactions, real estate development matters, and distressed debt transactions involving the purchase of defaulted mortgage loans from lenders and special servicers.

George has been actively involved in NAIOP, Commercial Real Estate Development Association for many years and has served in a variety of leadership positions in NAIOP’s local, state and national organizations. He has published articles on commercial leasing topics and teaches continuing education classes and webinars sponsored by the Florida Bar, NAIOP, and other real estate professional organizations on commercial leasing, real estate transactions, finance and development.

With depth of experience in representing landlords, tenants, buyers, sellers, developers, borrowers, funds and investors in real estate and real estate related private equity transactions, George is a solution-driven attorney who recognizes the importance of closing deals for his clients.

LA Animal Services Urges Pet Owners Not to Leave Furry Friends in Hot Cars

Posted on by Faith Pincus
cars
11 Jul

A message from the Los Angeles Department of Animal Services:

When the temperature increases outside, the danger of leaving your pet in a vehicle increases. LA Animal Services urges people not to leave their beloved pet behind in the car, informs residents about the law and gives steps that can be taken if you find a pet in danger in a parked vehicle.

What you expect to be a quick stop at the store could mean your pets are suffering or being injured by excessive heat, even if a window is cracked open. An animal in a hot car could suffer brain damage or death.

“Many people just don’t know about this risk,” said Brenda Barnette, LA Animal Services (LAAS) General Manager, “We’re trying to get the word out and prevent needless tragedy so pet guardians do not thoughtlessly or unknowingly leave their companion animal behind in a hot parked car.”

If you are not going to be able to take your furry friend in with you every time you get out of the car, make the safe choice and leave him at home. A quick stop may feel like no time at all to you, but it’s too long to leave your pet in a vehicle unattended on a warm summer day and endangers the life of your pet.

Not only is the well-being and safety of your pet at risk, leaving your four-legged family member in the car can also be a legal issue for you. In fact, someone accused of leaving an animal in a hot car could face heavy fines, be charged for animal cruelty, and face jail time.

In December 2017, the West Valley Animal Services Center received a report from a citizen that there was a dog inside a vehicle in heat distress. An LAAS Animal Control Officer responded and found the temperatures inside the vehicle ranged from 119-123 degrees. The Officer rescued the dog, named Cali, from the vehicle and transported her to the West Valley center. Once there, an LAAS veterinarian diagnosed the dog as hyperthermic and was able to successfully cool her down. The dog owner has been charged with animal cruelty and their case is currently pending prosecution.

What can you do if you see a pet suffering in a parked car? Good Samaritan bystanders are legally allowed to break into cars if they feel there is imminent danger to the animal inside. Anyone in that situation should first call 911 or any of the six LA City animal shelters at 888-452-7381 and ask to speak to the Officer in Charge.

If the animal is in immediate danger, the car is locked, and law enforcement is not arriving quickly enough to save the animal’s life, the law provides immunity from civil and criminal liability to a person causing vehicle damage for the purpose of rescuing the animal.

If you see a pet in a hot car:

  1. Immediately take down the vehicle’s model, make, color, and license plate number. These can be used to report the owner for neglect or irresponsible behavior, and also to identify who the owner is.
  2. Go into the local businesses or buildings nearby and notify a manager or security guard. Insist that they make an announcement over the intercom with the license plate number to inform the owner of the dire situation.
  3. If you can’t find the owner, call the authorities. Call the police or the closest animal shelter in the area to come and assess the situation.
  4. Do not leave the scene. Signs of heatstroke include restlessness, excessive thirst, heavy panting, dark tongue, rapid heartbeat, fever, vomiting, and lack of coordination. Keep a close eye on the pet for these symptoms, as it could mean that the situation needs to be acted upon very quickly.
  5. If the authorities take too long, take action. If you very honestly believe that the pet is in bad condition and showing symptoms of heatstroke, assess the situation and remove the pet from the heat immediately and wait for the authorities to arrive. Check to ensure the car is locked and cannot be opened, break a window if needed but do not use more force than necessary during the rescue.
  6. Take proper steps to care for the animal. When the pet is removed from the hot car, the situation isn’t necessarily over yet. Get the animal into air conditioning as soon as possible and give him cool water to drink. Continue to stay with the pet until law enforcement arrives.

William McGuinn is our Latest Featured Speaker!

Posted on by Faith Pincus
william
10 Jul

Our latest featured speaker is William McGuinn from Sugar Felsenthal Grais & Helsinger LLP!

Bill will be speaking at our upcoming seminar, An Introduction to Commercial Real Estate Transactions: The Big Four in Chicago on September 14th! We are excited to have him join us, and we know our attendees will benefit from the knowledge he’ll share during his presentation.

Bill concentrates his practice in commercial real estate, subsidized residential housing and strategic planning for entrepreneurs. He represents real estate developers, commercial landlords, tenants and various closely-held businesses in complex transactions, locally and throughout the country.

Bill’s real estate practice extends to the acquisition, development, sale, leasing and financing of commercial, office, residential and retail properties.

In his affordable housing practice, Bill has represented owners and developers of thousands of housing units in numerous states with multi-layered financing including taxable and tax exempt bonds, low income housing tax credits, HOPE VI, Community Development Block Grants, Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds, Tax Credit Assistance Program and Tax Credit Exchange Program.

Bill has also represented developers of conventionally financed projects, both residential and commercial.  He also guides buyers and sellers, landlords and tenants through all aspects of their respective transactions.

Aside from real estate matters, Bill has worked with numerous closely held businesses on a variety of matters including representing business in obtaining credit facilities, structuring start-up organizations and the purchase and sale of a number of business entities.

Bill is an avid sailor and participates annually in the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac.  Bill has also competed in the Transpac, racing from Long Beach, California to Honolulu, Hawaii.

Sidney Tribe is our Latest Featured Speaker!

Posted on by Faith Pincus
Sidney
05 Jul

Our latest featured speaker is Sidney Tribe from Talmadge/Fitzpatrick/Tribe! Sidney will be returning to speak at our upcoming 3rd Annual Advanced Appellate conference in Seattle on September 14th. Sidney has previously spoken for us at our 1st Advanced Appellate conference in Seattle as well as our Legal Editing seminar. She received excellent evaluations from attendees at both seminars, and we are thrilled to have her back!

Sidney is currently a partner at Talmadge/Fitzpatrick/Tribe. She grew up in Spokane and Seattle, and graduated magna cum laude from Willamette University in 1994 with a B.A. in English Literature. At Willamette she was a G. Herbert Smith Scholar and two-time recipient of the Dona Adams Rothwell Award. She received her J.D. from the University of Washington in 2002, where she was Executive Articles Editor of the Washington Law Review and President of the Moot Court Honor Board. She is also a member of the Order of the Barristers.

Sidney was fortunate to serve as a law clerk for the Honorable William Baker at the Washington State Court of Appeals Division I from 2005 to 2007. From 2007 to 2014, she was an associate at Talmadge/Fitzpatrick focusing primarily on appellate practice. In January2015, she became a partner. Some notable published opinions include Frisino v. Seattle School Dist. No. 1, — Wn. App. —-, 2011 WL 989416 (2011), Hernandez v. Tanninen, 604 F.3d 1095 (9th Cir. 2010), South Tacoma Way, LLC v. State, 169 Wn.2d 118, 233 P.3d 871 (2010), Little Mountain Estates Tenants Ass’n v. Little Mountain Estates MHC LLC, 169 Wn.2d 265, 236 P.3d 193 (2010), Shafer v. Dep’t of Labor & Indus., 166 Wn.2d 710, 213 P.3d 591 (2009), and Seymour v. Wash. State Dept. of Health, 152 Wn. App. 156, 216 P.3d 1039 (2009).

Sidney is a member of the Washington State Bar Association, the King County Bar Association, the Washington Employment Lawyers Association, and Washington Women Lawyers. She has done pro bono work for the Unemployment Law Project, the King County Bar Association Newcomer’s Project, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Pro Bono Program. She has also been a Director at Facing the Future, a nonprofit that helps teachers integrate global issues into their core curriculum. Sidney’s incredible husband Mick is a geographer/GIS business analyst, and they have two adorable dogs, Tazzy and Jake.

Anna-Rose Mathieson Featured on the SCOTUSBlog!

Posted on by Faith Pincus
Anna-Rose
03 Jul

In a recent post on the SCOTUSBlog, one of the terrific attorneys who has spoken at our seminars, Anna-Rose Mathieson, was highlighted as being a leading U.S. Supreme Court amicus brief filer during the 2017-2018 term! Ms. Mathieson had previously spoken for us at our 2017 and 2018 Advanced Appellate conferences in San Francisco, and our attendees loved her presentations and advice both times. Congratulations Anna-Rose!

You can find Anna-Rose’s biography here.

Belma Demirovic Chinchoy is our Latest Featured Speaker!

Posted on by Faith Pincus
Belma
28 Jun

Our latest featured speaker is Belma Demirovic Chinchoy from EB5 Plus Immigration Law, P.C.!

We are pleased to have Belma speak for us for the first time at our EB-5 Investor Based Immigration Conference in Los Angeles on October 4-5, 2018! Belma has extensive experience guiding foreign entrepreneurs in setting up immigration-compliant businesses and pursuing EB-5, E-2, EB-1 and L-1 visas and advising US-based businesses on ways in which immigration programs can benefit their operations. We are excited to have her speak and we know our attendees will benefit from the knowledge she’ll share!

Belma Demirovic Chinchoy’s practice focuses on representing businesses and investors/entrepreneurs in immigration matters. Within the EB-5 field, Ms. Demirovic Chinchoy has developed a sub-specialty in direct EB-5 investments and in responding to complex RFEs. Ms. Demirovic Chinchoy has worked on over 200 EB-5 cases ranging from small-scale projects with one or a few direct investors to 0M regional center sponsored projects. Regardless of the size of the client’s undertaking, Ms. Demirovic Chinchoy takes pride in getting to know each of her clients on a personal level and in learning a valuable lesson about law from each of her clients.

Ms. Demirovic Chinchoy also works closely with start-up and small companies and assists them with employment-based petitions. Start-up and small companies require enterprising and nimble counsel that can accompany clients through their growth phases, and Ms. Demirovic Chinchoy thrives in devising legal strategies and solutions customized to each business’ specific needs.

Ms. Demirovic Chinchoy is a member of the State Bar of California and is admitted to practice law before the Supreme Court of California and California Central District Federal Court. She obtained her Juris Doctor degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota and also attended Pepperdine University Law School in Malibu, California. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in International Politics, summa cum laude, from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Prior to her legal career, Ms. Demirovic Chinchoy worked in the international human rights field as an advocate and fundraiser.

Ms. Demirovic Chinchoy is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers’ Association (AILA), Los Angeles County Bar Association, Beverly Hills Bar Association and EB5Investors.com.

Kenneth Masters is our Latest Featured Speaker!

Posted on by Faith Pincus
Kenneth
21 Jun

Our latest featured speaker is Kenneth Masters from Masters Law Group PLLC!

One of our favorite speakers, Kenneth will be returning to speak at our upcoming 3rd Annual Advanced Appellate Conference on September 14, 2018 in Seattle! This will be the third year in a row that Kenneth has spoken at our Annual Advanced Appellate Conferences in Seattle. He has also spoken at every other appellate seminar we have held in Washington over the past ten years. Yes, Ken is that fabulous! Past seminar attendees have said he offers a wealth of information, and that his presentations are at a “masterful guru” level with well-prepared content. We appreciate how engaging he is with our attendees and can’t wait to have him back!

Ken Masters celebrates 26 years of litigating civil appeals in 2018. Ken currently is a Trustee of the Washington State Bar Foundation, and recently substantially revised the Brief Writing chapter in the Appellate Practice Deskbook (WSBA 2017). He previously served as Treasurer and Governor for the Washington State Bar, and has chaired and served on numerous committees for various bar associations, as well as dozens of CLEs on appellate practice, writing, and other areas. Ken is honored to have been listed as a “Top 10” Super Lawyer® Honoree in 2017, and to have received a “Lifetime Achievement Award” from America’s Top 100 Attorneys®. He is a Fellow both of the American Bar Foundation and of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers.

Foster a Pet for the 4th of July and Save a Life!

Posted on by Faith Pincus
Pet
20 Jun

An important 4th of July message from LA Animal Services:

Every year around the 4th of July, LA Animal Services Centers fill beyond capacity with terrified lost pets. This means that available shelter space can be the difference between life and death for our shelter guests who have been with us past the required hold period. YOU can make that life-saving difference by fostering for four days or more or adopting. 

In Los Angeles, daily dog and cat admissions at the six LA Animal Services Centers increased by 5.1% from July 2 to July 6 in comparison to the average daily intake in 2017. The loud sounds of July 4th fireworks frighten dogs and cats. If they get out of the house or yard, they run in fear. Then these frightened dogs and cats can’t find their way home and end up at our city shelters. These pets are counting on us to help reunite them with their families. 

We need YOUR help right now to create life-saving space in our crowded city shelters.

“While many people are out celebrating, the shelters will be flooded with scared pets,” said Brenda Barnette, LA Animal Services General Manager. “Our hope is that animal lovers in Los Angeles will open their home and hearts to help orphaned pets. If you aren’t ready to adopt, fostering is a great way to see what it’s like to have a four-legged addition to your family.”

We have hundreds of wonderful dogs and cats of all ages, breeds and sizes waiting to be your temporary companion or best friend forever. Adopt or foster a shelter pet today. By giving an abandoned pet a new home or letting them stay with you for a short time, you are saving two lives, the one you are caring for and the one who now has room at the shelter. 

Every pet is spayed or neutered, vaccinated, microchipped and ready to be placed in a good home. Additionally, to help maximize space during this critical time, the Pet Care Foundation is helping us reduce $50 on our adoption fees this weekend, June 23rd and 24th, during their biannual CHI-PITTY-KITTY adoption event. Cat and kitten adoption fees are $26.00 and pit bull terriers and chihuahua adoption fees are $72.00 (includes $20 city license). Click here to view our adoptable pets.

To volunteer to foster, print your application at LAASFostering or go to your nearest animal services center and ask for a Foster Volunteer Application. Please drop off your completed form to your nearest center as soon as possible so we know we have you as a resource during our busiest time. You can pick up a pet to foster right away or we can reach out when we need the most help.

The shelters are open Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. We are closed on Mondays and the 4th of July. To find the shelter nearest you, visit LAASlocator or call (888) 452-7381.

Together, we can save more lives in the City of Angels! Our heartfelt thanks will be nothing compared to the lifetime of memories and unconditional love you will get from your furry friend.

Donate to help animals in the city of Los Angeles!

Sean Matsler is our Latest Featured Speaker!

Posted on by Faith Pincus
Sean
19 Jun

Our latest featured speaker is Sean Matsler from Cox Castle Nicholson!

We are excited to have Sean on the faculty panel for our upcoming Recreational and Medical Marijuana Law in California conference on November 1-2 in Los Angeles! Sean is a land use partner who focuses on securing entitlements for controversial and complex real estate development projects, and we know our attendees will benefit from the knowledge he has to share!

Sean advises clients on compliance with the myriad local, state and federal laws and regulations that govern the development of real property, including local planning and zoning regulations, the California Coastal Act and the California Environmental Quality Act. Sean guides his clients through the entitlement process, from site selection to project approval, and regularly appears before both state and local administrative bodies to secure approvals on behalf of clients.