June 2017

Section Builds Community through Educational and Leadership Opportunities

Sebastian Kaplan of Fenwick & West accepted the position of 2017 Chair of The Bar Association of San Francisco’s Intellectual Property (IP) Section Melody Drummond Hansen, of O’Melveny & Myers, is serving as the section vicechair. The IP Section has…

Risk Management Tip: Waivers of Attorney-Client Privilege Cannot be Undone

Last month, this column examined Sanford Walder’s trial victory over his former employer, Bio-Rad. The district court allowed Wadler to offensively employ material Bio-Rad claimed was protected by attorney-client privilege. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 502, premised on Model Rule…

Former BASF President, a Business Trial Lawyer and a Psychology Expert Join BASF Mediation Services

Elizabeth Bader, Bader Conflict Resolution Services Elizabeth Bader’s mediation practice has included the successful resolution of a wide variety of cases, including complex, multi-party, tort-related litigation. Her unique approach to mediation is based on her view that psychological issues, particularly…

Judges Reception: Honoring Judge William Orrick

The Barristers Club of The Bar Association of San Francisco presents the Thirty-Third Annual Judges Reception Wednesday, July 19 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Judicial Council of California 455 Golden Gate Ave,, San Francisco Honoring District Judge William H. Orrick United…

Is Your Estate Plan Unconstitutional?

Michael Bensal, through his investment LLC, obtained a bank loan guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration to open a fast food business. Bensal personally guaranteed repayment. The business failed and Bensal’s LLC defaulted on the loan. The bank sued…

Read That (Privileged) Email – and Weep!

Have you ever hit “send” on a sensitive email before realizing that your handy, autofill tool inserted the address of the wrong recipient? Or been the unintended recipient of such misdirected emails? What to do? Thankfully, the misguided email usually…

Legal Writing Tip: Never Insult Your Opponents or Their Arguments

If you wish to be taken seriously by the court, whether in oral or written argument, never malign or belittle your opponents or their position. Treat opposing counsel with respect, regardless of whether you feel they deserve it. This is…

How to Prevent the Leading Cause of Malpractice Claims

Are you still using Outlook, spreadsheets or hand-written “cheat sheets” to track crucial calendar deadlines? It’s time to seriously evaluate your processes. On March 22, 2017, Joseph C. Scott, J.D. spoke at a BASF CLE titled Calendaring as a Risk…

Show Me… Divorce-Related Lawsuits: Steve Harvey’s Family Feud

Steve Harvey is no stranger to bad press. Harvey famously named the wrong winner when hosting the Miss Universe pageant, got into hot water for comments about the attractiveness of Asian men, and had a very public, contentious divorce from…

Solo and Small Firm Section: Networking, Referrals and Beyond

BASF’s Solo and Small Firm Section boasts extremely active involvement from its members. Monthly happy hours, brown bag lunch meetings as well as an active solo and small firm listserv are just a few of the perks of belonging to…

Pro Bono Volunteer Alleviates Debt-Related Stress for Low-Income Clients

The Justice & Diversity Center (JDC) recognizes Jessica McKinlay as Volunteer of the Month for her dedication to low-income consumers facing debt collection. McKinlay, of counsel with Dorsey & Whitney, who practices bankruptcy and corporate law, brings valuable legal expertise…

JDC Gala Sponsor Spotlight: Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman

Thank you, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, for your support! The Justice & Diversity Center invites your firm to become a sponsor of the JDC Gala too. The 2017 gala takes place on September 28 – it is the San Francisco legal community’s biggest annual…

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