March 2014

Veterans Summit Brings Together Legal Advocates for Strategy Session [INFOGRAPHIC]

In late February, The Bar Association of San Francisco organized a half-day Veterans Summit which brought together for the first time nonprofits who provide legal services for San Francisco veterans. They were joined by representatives from local law schools, law…

Volunteer on Law Day to Teach Students Why Every Vote Matters

The Business Judgment Rule in the Central District of California

A pair of recent decisions by the United States District Court for the Central District of California challenge the strength of the business judgment rule. To summarize, the cases hold that the business judgment rule does not protect corporate officers…

Northern District Judges Honor Volunteers at Federal Pro Bono Project Reception

The Northern District Court of California and Justice & Diversity Center (JDC) held a reception on January 21 to celebrate their joint venture, the Federal Pro Bono Project. The project provides free legal services to pro se litigants in federal…

Judge Veers Over Two and a Half Times Under Guideline Calculations in Child Support Order

Jon Cryer, who earns $700,000 per month as star of CBS’s “Two and a Half Men” according to his most recently filed Income and Expense Declaration, defeated his ex-wife’s request to raise her monthly child support payment. Sarah Trigger, the…

Interesting News from the World of Estate Planning

Swami’s Will a Testament to His Spiritual Values As a monk and the founder of the Ananda Church of Self-Realization, Swami Kriyananda had renounced most of his material goods long before his death in April 2013. His will focused on…

Judge Harbin-Forte Honored with Spirit of Excellence Award

Judge Brenda Harbin-Forte of the Alameda County Superior Court was recently honored with the ABA’s Spirit of Excellence Award at its Annual Meeting in Chicago in early February. BASF nominated Judge Harbin-Forte for the award because of her efforts in…

Legal Marketing: Using Client Feedback for Competitive Advantage and Content Marketing

The Legal Marketing Association – Bay Area Chapter, at its January educational program, saw some “Big Ideas Brought to Life.” In a “TED-format” of four 15–20 minute presentations, speakers explored motivating reluctant lawyers, leveraging client feedback for competitive intelligence, content…

Our Members Make a Difference… BASF Makes It Easier!

BASF’s 2014 membership theme is “You Make a Difference. We Make It Easier.” Kirsten Mickelson, a BASF member and barrister, is a young in-house attorney making a difference in the lives of those in our community. Leonard Lun, BASF’s Director…

Bulletin Board: Our Members and Leaders Circle Firms Making Headlines

International Arbitration Forum Appoints Maria Chedid Its New President The Northern California International Arbitration Club has appointed BASF member Maria Chedid of Arnold & Porter’s San Francisco office its new president. Established in 2003, the club is dedicated to promoting,…

Food from the Bar: Help End Hunger in San Francisco and Marin

Registration is open for the 23rd Annual Food from the Bar campaign. Food from the Bar is an annual competitive fundraiser among legal professionals where participating firms earn points by raising funds, food, and volunteering time to benefit the SF-Marin…

The Benefit of Expert Witness Testimony

Given the technical and complex nature of modern litigation, expert witness testimony is becoming increasingly important. Experts apply their experience and subject matter expertise to help the trier-of-fact understand industry-specific terms and processes. Experts can be an extremely valuable asset…

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