Phelan Business Lawyers

James is a husband of 20+ years and a father to a son who is now a lawyer after passing the October 2020 bar. James happens to be an in-demand lecturer on estate, retirement and business protection. James is licensed as an attorney and practices estate planning, asset protection, tax, real estate and corporate transactions. He has completed several M&A transactions in the $2 to $20 million range. He is author of several books including the widely acclaimed financial book, The 3 Secret Pillars of Wealth. He is Principal of The Burns Firm. James served honorably in the United States...

Rudolph & Chonoles, LLP is a business law and business litigation boutique. We counsel and represent clients in business entity formation and dissolution, raising venture capital, purchase and sale of businesses, business operation and transactions, contract negotiation and drafting, asset protection, business disputes and lawsuits, wage and hour claims, and employment matters. Stephen J. Chonoles is one of the firm's two founding partners. He counsels and represents clients in all of the firm's practice areas. He is licensed in California, and has appeared by permission of court in Nevada. Mr. Chonoles is a member of...

Mr. August has been practicing corporate and transactional law for over 30 years. He began his legal career in Washington, D.C., at the firm of Lane & Edson, where he was part of the team representing Wesray Capital on leveraged buyout transactions, and subsequently associated with the Washington, D.C. office of Dow, Lohnes & Albertson, where he serviced its telecommunications and other clients with corporate fundraising and strategic transactions. In 1990, he moved to California to serve in the Los Angeles office of Graham & James, handling securities, mergers & acquisitions and other transactions for its primarily international...

Michael Oberbeck is a senior counsel focusing on business litigation issues. At BKCG, Mr. Oberbeck has extensively litigated employment disputes, commercial and real property disputes, international manufacturing and distribution litigation, and trademark and franchise issues. Mr. Oberbeck has litigated cases throughout California in both state and federal courts, and he has obtained many client-favorable results at trial, arbitration, and mediation. Mr. Oberbeck also has authored and successfully argued several matters before the California Courts of Appeals for BKCG clients. Born in Evansville, Indiana, Mr. Oberbeck graduated, cum laude, from Purdue University in 1993 with a double major in Psychology...

Saul Acherman is an attorney licensed in California. He focuses on intellectual property matters, including patent and trademark prosecution and litigation. Saul is a registered patent attorney licensed to practice in patent matters before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (registration number 72,898). He is also involved with other business and civil litigation matters including business formation, contracts, and employment matters, and is admitted to practice in all courts of the State of California as well as the United States District Court for the Central District of California. After receiving a BA in Philosophy from the...

David T. Bartels is an experienced business attorney, representing businesses, and their officers and directors, in government enforcement actions, class actions and complex commercial litigation, as well as transactional and regulatory issues.

His experience includes securities and government enforcement litigation, complex commercial litigation, and intellectual property litigation. Mr. Bartels advises corporate directors and defended individuals, companies, underwriters, financial institutions and accounting firms in shareholder class action and derivative lawsuits, merger and acquisition disputes and in proceedings before the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) and the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”). Mr. Bartels...

Gail V. Phillips holds a J.D. from Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco, as well as a B.A. in Psychology and M.B.A. from California State University Los Angeles. Ms. Phillips has over 25 years of experience in Business Law, Real Estate Law and Business Litigation. Ms. Phillips has drafted and negotiated hundreds of commercial leases for both landlords and tenants. She has counseled companies in all aspects of Business Law, from formation of entities, to contracts and dissolutions. She represents high wealth individuals as their private counsel, small companies and large, multi-national corporations. Ms. Phillips...

Mr. Burkhalter is the founding partner of BKCG. He is an AV Preeminent rated lawyer, the top ranking in ability and ethics by Martindale- Hubbell. He has been selected as a Southern California Super Lawyer for Business Litigation every year since 2007. Mr. Burkhalter is a seasoned business trial lawyer who has successfully prosecuted and defended a wide array of cases. He has received multiple “8 figure” jury trial awards, including a Nashville jury verdict of $30.4 million. In addition to his litigation practice, Mr. Burkhalter advises and represents clients in a wide variety of business settings, such as...

Daniel Kessler is the head of the firm’s litigation department and one of the firm’s founding partners. Mr. Kessler has litigated and tried a wide variety of business cases ranging from employment terminations to real estate development disputes to fraud and conspiracy to water rights. Mr. Kessler has secured multiple million-dollar jury verdicts for his clients, including significant punitive damage awards. Mr. Kessler has successfully defended clients before, during and at trial, including prevailing on several motions to dismiss the opposition’s case in its entirety, saving the expense of further trial. Mr. Kessler is a strong advocate for alternative dispute...

Joshua Waldman is a senior counsel whose practice focuses primarily on business disputes. Mr. Waldman began his legal career as an extern for the Honorable Napoleon Jones, Jr. from the U.S. District Court, Southern District of California. He was an associate for Walsworth, Franklin Bevins and McCall and Collins & Bellenghi, focusing on civil litigation, with an emphasis on business and employment disputes before joining BKCG. Since joining BKCG, Mr. Waldman has secured many positive outcomes for BKCG clients by winning dipositive motions, achieving extremely favorable settlements, and prevailing in multiple trials and arbitrations. Born in Phoenix, Mr....

Yisrael is an appellate lawyer and litigator. He is a member of the State Bar of California, the 9th Circuit, the CAAF, and CDC. Yisrael is a talented legal writer, author, and contributor.

Attorney Joseph Cohen is a UCLA Law and MBA alumnus. Before opening Cohen Counsel, he worked for Paul Hastings LLP. Cohen Counsel is a true family law firm dedicated to serving you and those you care for. In addition to the usual Divorce, Spousal Support, Child Support Modification, Child Custody, Prenuptial Agreements, Restraining Orders and other more drastic family law services, we offer estate planning and corporate law counsel in order to be your full service family attorney.

Mr. Saba’s practice consists of prosecuting and defending individual, class action and mass action claims. He has considerable experience in a wide range of federal and state civil litigation and trial actions, including consumer litigation, employment litigation, women’s rights, complex business and entertainment disputes, catastrophic injury claims, professional responsibility, copyright/trademark, civil rights, maritime, and municipal, landowner and product liability.

Mick Longo is an attorney licensed to practice law in the States of California, Florida, North Carolina and Oregon. Motivated by an entrepreneurial desire to change the way law firms operate, Mr. Longo founded Longo & Alach LLP with partner Patrick Alach in 2009. In 2013, Mr. Longo orchestrated and oversaw Longo & Alach LLP’s expansion to Miami, Florida and then in 2015 he expanded the firm again to Charlotte, North Carolina. His practice areas include Entertainment Law, Sports Law, Business Law, Cannabis Law, Hospitality Law, Real Estate Law, Privacy Law and Legislative Advocacy.

Mr. Longo represents a myriad...

Entertainment lawyer Joshua R. Lastine protects the artistry and livelihood of actors, production companies, writers, producers, directors, animators, social media influencers, and podcasters. A strategic negotiator, a fierce advocate for talent, and a practical problem solver, Lastine strengthens his counsel with an indelible passion for show business, its players, and creators. Lastine understands how to structure and close the deals shaping the future of the entertainment industry. Recent examples include critically acclaimed streaming series, musicians’ NFTs, and mixed-reality productions in the Metaverse. Lastine’s experience in Studio business and legal affairs includes positions with ViacomCBS, Lions Gate, Marvel Studios, Starz, Discovery...

More than twenty years of diverse experience as a trial attorney representing and counseling domestic and international clients in a vast array of matters. More than ten years of experience providing arbitration, mediation and other ADR services involving many domestic and international issues. Representation and ADR services have included: REAL ESTATE (purchase/sale, title, easements, financing, mortgage lending:underwriting - securitization, leases, fraud, environmental, receivership, foreclosure, appraisal/valuation); BUSINESS & CORPORATE (purchase and sale, formation: corporation - partnership - joint venture - LLC - LLP, capitalization, equity adjustment, fiduciary duties, D&O liability, executive compensation, internal investigations, fraud, business torts, unfair...

Daniel Reisman is a passionate and dedicated employment law attorney in the Los Angeles area. He received his JD from USC Law School and shortly after began representing clients from all walks of life. Daniel is devoted to handling cases involving employment law, including matters of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and other complex issues. He understands how challenging and overwhelming it can be for individuals to try to resolve these matters, which is why he founded his firm to provide relief and support. Daniel is driven to obtain a favorable and just outcome for each and every client he represents. His...

The Law Offices of Brian Pedigo is passionate about helping people who are victims of others' wrongdoing. Whether the wrongdoer is an individual or a large corporate entity, The Law Offices of Brian Pedigo is willing to fight on behalf of the average Joe. We accept a wide range of civil cases. Call us at (877) BRIAN-1-2 for a free case consultation.

Eliel Chemerinski was born in Buenos-Aires, Argentina. He graduated from University of Florida in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Economics and Latin American Studies. He received his Juris Doctorate degree in 1988 from Tulane Law School. Mr. Chemerinski is admitted to practice before all the courts in the State of California including United States Central District Court as well as the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Chemerinski has handles an extensive range of legal services across numerous industries. He has been providing exceptional personal client service and dedication for more than twenty years for individuals,...

S J Harris Law is devoted to representing individuals and businesses in Professional Licensing and Civil Litigation Matters, as well as Small Business Transactions, Formation, Dissolution, and Contracts. Scott J. Harris is a former Deputy Attorney General with the California Department of Justice, where he represented many of the licensing agencies of the California Department of Consumer Affairs, and the People of the State of California. Scott J. Harris served as the Liaison Deputy for the Licensing Section of the Office of the Attorney General to the California Board of Accountancy, and the Court Reporters Board of California, and prosecuted hundreds...

After 20 years as an attorney at large law firms and in house with a general contractor, Mr. Julander has the depth and breadth of experience to solve the most complex legal problems, with particular expertise in construction law, appellate practice, insurance coverage and business litigation. From 2008-2021, Mr. Julander served as General Counsel for Advent Companies in San Juan Capistrano, California, a general contractor specializing in the construction of affordable housing. As General Counsel, he was responsible for negotiating and drafting construction and intellectual property contracts, handling the company’s litigation and appeals, and counseling officers on employment issues. Prior...

Kristine Takvoryan has over thirteen years of legal experience representing business entities and individuals in all phases of insolvency and restructuring in varying industries. Kristine has represented individual debtors in Chapter 7, Chapter 11, and Chapter 13 cases, as well as creditors, and Chapter 7 trustees in bankruptcy proceedings. Kristine also has extensive legal experience counseling clients on availability, protection and proper use of trademarks both domestically and internationally, preparing U.S. trademark applications, as well as directing and coordinating the execution of international trademark applications, utilizing a network of foreign associates. Kristine has represented borrowers in lawsuits against...

Jonathan Michaels first became licensed in 1995, and since that time has created an exemplary litigation practice. Michaels has challenged some of the largest companies in the world, litigating cases in state and federal courts throughout the U.S. In these endeavors, he has received astounding verdicts and settlements for his clients – achievements that yielded him the “Attorney of the Year” award by his law school alma mater in 2012.

Michaels has also developed a particularly specialized practice in the automotive industry, having become well-known in the U.S. for litigating some of the most important cases in the industry. He is...

Manbir S. Chowdhary represents employees in all areas of labor and employment law, including wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, employee misclassification, and unpaid wages claims. Mr. Chowdhary's experience also includes contractual disputes, and the enforcement of partner/shareholder rights. Mr. Chowdhary's business litigation clients include real estate developers, national sportswear manufacturers, Fortune 500 executives, medical organizations, small businesses, and 501(c)(3) corporations. Mr. Chowdhary is a graduate of USC Law School, and a former legislative aide to the Lt. Governor of California. He is licensed to practice law in California, New York, and the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Ethan D. Kirschner is an experienced litigator with clients in California, throughout the United States, and overseas. Originally from Wisconsin, Mr. Kirschner was a champion high school and college debater. He has a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Michigan, graduated cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School, and received an LL.M. in intellectual property law from the University of California, Berkeley.


Mr. Kirschner has been practicing law since 2005. He is licensed to practice law in California.