- Divorce
- Child SupportAdditionally, when a special needs person who is disabled (as defined by Social Security) has received an inheritance, gift, bequest, lawsuit award or settlement, child support, alimony or divorce property settlement, the person’s receipt of these assets may result in the disqualification of need based government benefits such as SSI, Medicaid, and Section 8 housing. In order to preserve these government benefits, the person’s disqualifying assets should be converted into exempt assets or be transferred to either an irrevocable “Medicaid Payback Trust” or a “Community Pooled Account Trust”. We can advise you on what options are available to the special needs person in this situation and help you implement the appropriate strategies.
- Child Custody and VisitationFamily law is an area of the law that deals with family-related matters and domestic relations. Our experienced family law attorneys regularly handle divorce, annulment, property settlements, alimony, child custody and visitation, child and spousal support, paternity testing, paternity fraud, and pre & post nuptial agreements.
- Adoption
- Paternity
- GuardianshipGuardianship is another type of protective court proceeding in which the court appoints a guardian to protect the interests of a minor. Like with conservatorships, guardianships can be of the person or the estate. In both types of guardianships, the court-appointed guardian will typically be a family member, such as a grandparent or other responsible adult relative.
- Spousal SupportThe bankruptcy process cannot eliminate certain debts. Secured creditors or debts singled out by bankruptcy law for special treatment such as child support, alimony, court restitution orders, criminal fines, and some taxes and student loans my not be dischargeable.
- Legal Separation
- Annulment
- Child Abuse
- Criminal DefenseOur firm represents clients in a variety of criminal matters. Because we are a full service firm that encompasses a wide-range of legal expertise, our criminal law attorneys have this extra advantage to thoroughly and competently advise you, regardless of the type of criminal matter.
- DUI/DWIFrom tax evasion to DUI defense, whether you are a suspect or have already been charged, your rights need to be protected. Each criminal case requires a unique approach. Whether a minor offense or serious felony indictment, when you are facing an investigation or are being prosecuted, having experienced and aggressive representation is important.
- Wrongful Death
- Sex Crimes
- FraudLegal disputes come in all forms and varieties, from DUI defense, and contract and landlord-tenant disputes to more complex disputes such as business and consumer fraud, shareholder and partnership disputes, breach of fiduciary duty, employment actions, property disputes, and personal injury actions, to name a few.
- Theft
- MisdemeanorsOur San Diego criminal lawyers specialize in “white collar” and business crimes, but are more than capable of handling any type of criminal matter, ranging from simple misdemeanors to serious and violent felonies. Our “white collar” criminal defense attorneys are specifically assisted by our firm’s well-established corporate and business, tax, immigration, international and business litigation departments. However, all of our departments are readily available to assist our criminal defense attorneys whether the case is a misdemeanor DUI or multi-jurisdictional co-defendant smuggling conspiracy.
- Embezzlement
- Drug Crimes
- Assault
- Murder
- Juvenile Crimes
- Probation Violation
- Arson
- Restraining Order
- Money Laundering
- Kidnapping
- Manslaughter
- Internet Crimes
- Corporate LawOlin Lewin manages the firm’s Corporate and Business Department. He has extensive experience in corporate law, particularly in the areas of general business, real estate, contracts, corporate transactions, mergers, acquisitions, and tax issues.
- Mergers and AcquisitionsOlin Lewin manages the firm’s Corporate and Business Department. Mr. Lewin has extensive experience in representing businesses, business owners, professionals and individuals regarding their corporate, compliance, employment, tax, real estate and other contractual matters. Mr. Lewin also represents businesses owners in succession and transition planning, including mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Lewin earned his B.A. in History from Wesleyan University and his J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law.
- Business DisputesAs an asset protection lawyer, Mr. Preovolos has extensive experience in the legal specialties of estate planning, business law, tax law (return preparation and tax audit issues), pension and ERISA law compliance and administration, offshore planning, family law, insurance coverage, and bankruptcy.
- Business TransactionsCorporate and business law concerns all commercial transactions including entity formation, compliance, taxation, contracts, sale of goods, internet business, franchising, financing and venture capital, purchase and sale of companies, intellectual property protection, estate planning, real estate, and bankruptcy.
- Limited Liability CompaniesPlanning, structuring and preparing formation and operative documents for corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies, including equity and debt financing structure.
- Trade Secrets
- Intellectual Property
- Unfair Competition
- Wrongful Termination
- Employment Discrimination
- Employment ContractThe goal of employment and labor law is to equalize the bargaining power between employers and employees. Our employment attorneys are knowledgeable and experienced in navigating the maze of regulations and statutes, and can resolve any labor issue that may arise.
- Severance AgreementBusinesses deal with contracts on a nearly daily basis. Our corporate attorneys have experience with all types of contracts, including employment agreements, severance agreements, shareholder agreements, buy-sell agreements, leases, settlements, releases, joint ventures, business alliances, licensing, and the like. We are also able to assist when there has been a breach of contract by the other party or if you have been sued for a breach of contract.
- Sexual Harassment
- Real Estate LitigationAdvising clients on various real estate matters including sales and acquisitions of real property, development and construction, and commercial leasing
- Premises LiabilityPersonal injury is a legal term for an injury to the body, mind, or emotions, as opposed to an injury to property. Our experienced personal injury attorneys help individuals recover losses and damages resulting from, among other causes, vehicle and boating accidents, malpractice, negligence, unsafe products, work accidents, premises liability and workers’ compensation claims.
- Real Estate TransactionsAdvising clients regarding the local, state, federal and international tax consequences of corporate, business and real estate transactions
- Landlord-Tenant DisputesWhether advising clients about the law, negotiating a contract, or preparing documents, our transactional attorneys are exceedingly knowledgeable and possess extensive experience to help you. The transactional attorneys are available to assist with a wide variety of projects and issues. Our primary practice areas include: Asset Protection, Corporate or Business Entity Formation, Corporate Compliance, Business Contracts, Tax, ERISA, Labor and Employment, Estate Planning, Elder Law, Medi-Cal, Pre & Post Nuptial Agreements, Securities, Investments, Real Property, Landlord and Tenant, Copyrights, Trademarks, and Insurance Coverage, to name just a few.
- Work VisasOur experienced immigration attorneys can assist clients in obtaining temporary work visas and permanent resident status for foreign nationals, as well as becoming naturalized U.S. citizens, filing for political asylum, and solving problems with the USCIS or State Department that may have developed prior to our firm’s involvement.
- Personal InjuryDealing with the pain and worrying about the medical expenses, the lost income, and the uncertainty, victims and their families can struggle to rebuild their lives – lives which may have been forever changed. Our personal injury attorneys have seen this time and time again.
- Auto Accidents
- Dog BitesWe handle cases such as vehicle accidents, including cars, trucks and motorcycles, boating accidents, wrongful death, premises liability, dog bites, and work injuries, just to name a few.
- Estate PlanningConservatorship is a type of estate administration. In California, the term conservatorship is used exclusively to refer to protective court proceedings relating to adult persons. A conservatorship may be established for a person or the person’s estate.
- WillsMr. Preovolos has been mediating cases for the past thirteen years. He carefully developed an Alternative Dispute Resolution Department. Through the Firm’s ADR Department, he has successfully resolved will and trust contests, marital dissolutions, and business litigation matters as an effective mediator and arbitrator. Most recently, Mr. Preovolos serves as a Judge Pro Tem for the San Diego County Superior Court Divisions of the Probate, Small Claims and Traffic Courts.
- TrustsSpecial Needs Planning is a complex area of law. Our trust and estates attorneys understand the challenges and rewards of parenting a special needs child. As such, our attorneys can assist parents with comprehensive planning, mindful of the special needs child’s future needs and resources. Our attorneys are invested not only in the success of the planning strategies but more importantly we are invested in the success of the special needs beneficiary. With this in mind, we can develop plans that allow the trustee maximum flexibility to meet the beneficiary’s needs while maintaining the beneficiary’s standard of living and eligibility for public government benefits. Those benefits may include SSI, Medicaid, Section 8 Housing, and other federal or state sponsored assistance programs based on financial need. Our trusts and estates attorneys have extensive experience assisting parents with proactive planning to benefit their special needs child.
- Power of AttorneyThe planning needs of our elderly clients range from basic estate planning, including, Powers of Attorney and Advanced Health Care Directives, to more advanced strategies, including, qualification for public benefits, such as Medi-Cal. In addition to the planning aspect of elder law, litigation may arise where there is physical, emotional and/or financial abuse. Often times the abuse comes from those closest to the elderly person, such as a child or sibling. There are other times when a stranger may befriend an elderly person to take financial advantage of them. Our experienced attorneys are able to assist you in all of these situations.
- Probate
- BankruptcyOur bankruptcy attorneys are knowledgeable and experienced in navigating the labyrinth of regulations pertaining to all types of bankruptcy. In addition, our attorneys have substantial experience in the prosecution and defense of bankruptcy litigation in all manner of contested matters and adversary proceedings, including but not limited to fraudulent conveyances, preferences, director and officer claims, relief-from-stay motions, and other motions and requests for relief that arise in some bankruptcy cases.
- Tax LawTax planning is an essential element in developing any comprehensive and tax-efficient financial plan. An all-encompassing tax plan includes both the timing of income and expenditures, selection of tax-favorable investments and retirement plans, and properly taking all available deductions and tax credits.