- Criminal DefenseShareholder Ed Kraus leads our criminal law practice. He served as a Deputy Public Defender from 1995 to 1998 in the Santa Clara County Public Defender's Office. As a public defender and in his career afterwards, he has tried cases in front of juries and judges.
- FraudSilicon Valley Law Group has represented individuals and companies in a variety of criminal matters from investigation through trial. We have the resources and experience to provide an aggressive criminal defense to any crimes alleged against you. Silicon Valley Law Group has handled a variety of criminal litigation matters including everything from complex white collar criminal matters and environmental criminal matters, such as mishandling hazardous waste, to driving under the influence and assault. The matters we have handled have involved crimes such as theft, real estate fraud, environmental compliance, insurance fraud, embezzlement, and trade secret violations. Silicon Valley Law Group also conducts investigations for clients, and will handle for you any accompanying administrative and licensing issues that may arise. We represent clients in both State and Federal courts in California.
- White Collar CrimesOur firm has represented individuals and companies that are faced with criminal charges. Often, we defend clients against charges involving white collar crimes. White collar crimes are non-violent crimes that are motivated by financial gain, and we can provide a strong defense against these charges. In addition to representing you in state and federal courts in California, we can conduct investigations on your behalf and handle issues as they arise. Our criminal law practice is led by Ed Kraus. He previously served as Deputy Public Defender from 1995-1998 in the Santa Clara County Public Defender’s Office, and he has tried many jury and bench trials. Employment Law
- Theft
- EmbezzlementInvestigated and prosecuted ex-corporate controller and related family members for fraud and embezzlement on behalf of civil engineering firm. Achieved consent judgment for high-six figures and prison term for ex-employee.
- Assault
- Identity TheftNonetheless, data breaches aren’t always about hackers stealing information for identity theft purposes. Sometimes the goal of an attack is stealing trade secrets and confidential information. Perhaps the most frequent scenario we see in our practice is one or more employees stealing company data right before departing an employer and either starting their own competing business or taking the stolen data to an existing competitor.
- Corporate LawSilicon Valley Law Group seeks accomplished mid to senior-level attorneys who have a significant existing client base to complement and help expand the following practice areas: Corporate & Securities, Intellectual Property, Information Technology, Information Governance, Financial Services, Employment, Real Estate and Business Litigation. Shareholder and Special Counsel-level candidates who have excellent credentials and portable business of at least $350,000 per year are invited to contact us.
- Mergers and AcquisitionsOur firm has represented buyers, sellers, private equity groups, and other investors in transactions ranging in value from $2 million to $200 million. We have been involved in many middle market mergers and acquisitions. These transactions have been both domestic and cross-border, and they have involved many industries, including semiconductors, software, capital equipment, networking, natural resources, agriculture, manufacturing, distribution, and services. Acquisitions can be structured in four ways: mergers, asset purchases, stock purchases, and joint ventures. In addition to making sure that your deal is structured appropriately, the business attorneys at our Silicon Valley firm can explain the legal consequences of the financing method that you choose. Criminal and White Collar Defense
- Business FormationSVLG business attorneys help from the very beginning of a business to help it start up, through its various business deals, to what are hopefully successful exits by merger or acquisition. Sometimes, we dissolve businesses as well when they are no longer needed. With business formation, we can help business owners facing choices such as...
- Business DisputesKathryn is also an experienced, U.C. Berkeley-certified mediator of business disputes. She serves as a mediator and arbitrator for the Santa Clara County Bar Association Fee Arbitration Panel and as a mediator for the Northern District of California Bankruptcy Dispute Resolution Program.
- Business TransactionsCommercial Transactions – We represent clients in a wide variety of contract matters, including agreements with distributors, sales representatives, OEMs, VARs and other resellers. We represent clients in negotiations with banks and financial institutions, equipment lessors and other lenders in transactions involve promissory notes, security agreements, guarantees, inter-creditor agreements and subordination agreements.
- Limited Liability CompaniesReal Estate Finance & Syndication – including the formation of limited partnerships and limited liability companies, federal and state securities law compliance, commercial loans, deeds of trust and joint ventures.
- Construction ContractsMichael Stebbins is a shareholder with Silicon Valley Law Group and the Chair of its Business and IP Litigation and Employment Groups. His practice focuses primarily on employment, intellectual property and commercial disputes. He has extensive litigation and trial experience in matters involving trade secret theft, employee solicitation, technology licensing, IP infringement, false advertising, earn-out issues, unfair competition, shareholder disputes, breach of fiduciary duty, trade libel, harassment, discrimination, wage and hour issues, and wrongful termination. He has also litigated complex matters involving real estate leases, construction contracts and insurance coverage.
- Trade SecretsWe help clients prevent intellectual property theft, but if it does occur, we can take prompt action to put a stop to it. With trade secret protection, we help clients establish effective programs for protecting vital company secrets. We go beyond the usual advice from more traditional lawyers, who limit their advice to using confidentiality agreements, password protection, and locks on filing cabinets. Our attorneys can help you with sophisticated information security programs with the help of data security firms we work with. Yes, we can help with traditional confidentiality agreements and procedures for protecting intellectual property. But our services include technical and detailed policies, procedures, practices, and technology in coordination with data security consulting firms.
- Intellectual PropertyMarc van Niekerk is Special Counsel with Silicon Valley Law Group’s Business Litigation and Intellectual Property & Employment Group. Over the course of his career, Marc has tried more than 50 cases to verdict and also has extensive mediation experience. His practice focuses on business litigation, with special emphasis in the areas of intellectual property disputes, business torts and commercial contract disputes. During his more than 25 years in practice, Marc has counselled and represented clients in a wide array of commercial disputes including...
- Unfair CompetitionShould your case require an appeal, we have represented clients before federal and state appellate courts in a wide variety of matters, including insurance, banking, environmental statutes, administrative law, preemption of state law, trade secret, trademark, copyright, employment, trade libel, defamation, unfair competition, transportation statutes, product liability, telecommunications law and government contract issues.
- Wrongful TerminationRepresented client in shareholder dispute over corporate control of company, obtaining injunction that removed director and put control of corporate affairs in hands of client. Obtained summary judgment for retail franchise client in defense of racial discrimination wrongful termination case.
- Employment DiscriminationRepresented plaintiff in race discrimination jury trial against large aerospace company. Case resulted in six figure verdict for plaintiff.
- Employment ContractRenegotiated numerous employment agreements and equity-laden severance packages for executives of public and private companies, sometimes including negotiations resulting in the reclassification of termination from "for cause" to "without cause."
- Employment LitigationEd Kraus is a shareholder with Silicon Valley Law Group. For over 20 years he has represented individuals, small and large companies in a variety of civil and criminal litigation matters. Ed has successfully handled litigation involving employment issues, real estate, construction, commercial disputes, contract issues, unfair competition and Americans with Disabilities Act claims on behalf of businesses. Ed also handles a wide variety of criminal litigation including representing individuals and corporations accused of grand theft, embezzlement, real estate fraud, insurance fraud, environmental, trade secret violations, driving under the influence, other driving related charges and other general criminal matters.
- Severance Agreement
- Sexual HarassmentEmployment – Advising on employment practices such as hiring, discipline and termination; wage and hour compliance; executive compensation; sexual harassment prevention; compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act; and resolution of employer-employee litigation and other disputes.
- Real Estate LitigationCriminal Defense – Defend individuals and businesses in criminal cases and investigations including fraud, environmental and real estate matters.
- Construction LitigationReal Estate Investors (institutional and non-institutional) – We assist in preparing construction contracts and advising on contractors' license law, loan transactions, bankruptcy proceedings and myriad day-to-day operational issues.
- Real Estate TransactionsMedical Waste - We defend medical facilities accused of air and waste violations. We assist in real estate transactions involving medical facilities.
- Land Use and Zoning
- Landlord-Tenant Disputes
- Bankruptcy
- ForeclosureCreditor Remedies & Workouts – We advise creditors in enforcing their remedies, both in court and with non-judicial actions. We have successfully restructured a wide variety of commercial, high technology and real estate loans, including loan workouts, deeds in lieu of foreclosure, forbearance agreements and other negotiated solutions. We are especially familiar with California's one-action and anti-deficiency laws, having secured creditors and lessors concerning public and private sales of personal property collateral, collection of borrowers' accounts receivable, and the exercise of other rights under the Uniform Commercial Code.
- Tax LawPurchases & Sales – including negotiating and documenting purchases and sales of land, office buildings, apartment buildings and shopping centers; transfer and other tax issues; disclosure requirements and due diligence.