Member Documents

MCLE Seminar Documents & Bulletins

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SLOCBA/Estate & Trust CLE: “Recent Developments in Trust, Estate, and Conservatorship”

Wednesday, March 20, 2024, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. – Virtual Event

Ciarán O’Sullivan and Matt Owens, two trust-and-estate litigators, will discuss recent developments in trust, estate, and conservatorship law, including key new cases, statutory changes, and a preview of what’s to come this legislative cycle.

Materials are available here.

The San Luis Obispo County Bar Association is a State Bar-approved MCLE provider. This program qualifies for one (1) hour of MCLE credit; the speaker’s presentation will be one hour in length.

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SLOCBA 8th Annual Minor’s Counsel Training – TWO DAY EVENT

Saturday, March 16, 2024, from 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. – Hybrid Event & Sunday, March 17, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

The San Luis Obispo County Bar Association is pleased to announce it will be hosting the 8th Annual San Luis Obispo County Minor’s Counsel Training Hybrid Symposium on March 16th and 17th (8 hours of training on Saturday and 4 hours on Sunday).

The program will provide a total of 12 hours MCLE credit, including elimination of bias. The symposium will satisfy the annual 8-hour training requirement of Rule 5.242 of the California Rules of Court.

Materials are available here.

The San Luis Obispo County Bar Association is a State Bar-approved MCLE provider. The program will provide a total of twelve (12) hours MCLE credit, including one (1) hour of ethics and one (1) hour of elimination of bias and four (4) hours of specialization (pending approval). The symposium will satisfy the annual 8-hour training requirement of Rule 5.242 of the California Rules of Court.

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SLOCBA/FL CLE: “Our Family Wizard: Improving Outcomes for Families with Structured Co-Parenting Communication”

Thursday, February 22, 2024, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. – Virtual Event

Since 2001, the OurFamilyWizard website and mobile apps (OFW) have frequently been included in parenting agreements and court orders as a way to reduce litigation and improve family outcomes.

This presentation will advise family law professionals of communication technology designed specifically for divorced and separated families to reduce conflict and improve co-parenting. Attendees will learn how parents and practitioners utilize OFW’s platform to manage and document communication. Each attendee will receive examples of agreements and court orders currently used to specify parent and professional use of OFW, as well as a full demonstration of the available features.

Materials are, as follows:

SLO Bar Presentation

OFW Model Order Language

OFW Fee Waiver

The San Luis Obispo County Bar Association is a State Bar-approved MCLE provider. This program qualifies for one (1) hour of MCLE credit; the speaker’s presentation will be one hour in length.

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SLOCBA CLE: Family Law Bench/Bar/Public Meeting: Continued Discussion Regarding Court Efficiency and Access to Justice

Friday, February 16, 2024, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. – Hybrid Event

All attorneys, their staff and the public are invited to attend. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss Family Law court operations now and in the near future in San Luis Obispo County. The bench would like to discuss ideas to streamline general operations in order to increase efficiency as well as access to justice to all.

We anticipate discussing the following:

1. Demonstration of new courtroom technology in D7.

2. Remote court appearance updates.

3. Calendar and trial management.

4. Answers to submitted questions.

Materials are available here.

The San Luis Obispo County Bar Association is a State Bar-approved MCLE provider. This program qualifies for one (1) hour of MCLE credit; the speaker’s presentation will be one hour in length.

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SLOCBA January MCLE – “State of The Courts Annual Address”

Thursday, January 18, 2024, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. – Hybrid Event

Presiding Judge Rita Federman began her career with the Judicial Branch in 1991, serving for 13 years as a staff attorney for the United States District Court in Los Angeles and the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court. In 2004, she was appointed as a United States Magistrate Judge, presiding over criminal matters for San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties. She was appointed as a Superior Court Judge in 2012. Judge Federman’s assignments include the Criminal, Family Law, Civil, and Appellate Divisions of the Superior Court. For a period of eight months in 2021 and 2022, she sat as an Associate Justice Pro Tempore for the California Court of Appeal, Second District, Division One, where she authored three published and forty-three unpublished opinions. Judge Federman currently serves as the Chair of the Judicial Mentor Program for the Superior Court.

Mr. Michael Powell received his B.A. in Psychology from U.C. Davis in 1987 and his MSW in Social Work/Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy from Smith College in 1997. Mr. Michael Powell has worked at the Superior Court since 1999 and was appointed to the CEO role in February 2016.

Presented by: The Honorable Rita Federman & Michael Powell

Materials are available here.

The San Luis Obispo County Bar Association is a State Bar-approved MCLE provider. This program qualifies for one (1) hour of MCLE credit; the speaker’s presentation will be one hour in length.

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SLOCBA December MCLE – “Continued Discussion Regarding Court Efficiency and Access to Justice”

Thursday, December 15, 2023, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. – Virtual Event

I’m pleased to announce a meeting that we have scheduled on Friday, December 15, 2023, at 12:15 p.m. until 1:15 p.m. in the Jury Services Room at the San Luis Obispo County Main Courthouse. This will be an in-person event with recorded Zoom access to those who wish to attend remotely. All attorneys, their staff and the public are invited to attend. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss Family Law court operations now and in the near future in San Luis Obispo County. The bench would like to discuss ideas to streamline general operations in order to increase efficiency as well as access to justice to all.

Presented by: Judge Childs, Judge Guerrero, and Commissioner McDaniel

Materials are available here.

The San Luis Obispo County Bar Association is a State Bar-approved MCLE provider. This program qualifies for one (1) hour of MCLE credit; the speaker’s presentation will be one hour in length.

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SLOCBA DECEMBER CLE – “An Amazing Term in the Supreme Court.”

Thursday, December 7, 2023, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. – Virtual Event

Renowned constitutional law expert Erwin Chemerinsky will provide his thoughts about recent Supreme Court decisions and what we can expect during this time of transition.

Presented by: Professor Erwin Chemerinsky

Materials are available here.

The San Luis Obispo County Bar Association is a State Bar-approved MCLE provider. This program qualifies for one (1) hour of MCLE credit; the speaker’s presentation will be one hour in length.

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SLOCBA/LRIS CLE: 2023 CASE LAW REVIEW

Thursday, November 30, 2023, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. – Virtual Event

Presented by: Judge Kelley, Judge Swysen, and Commissioner McDaniel

Materials are available here.

The San Luis Obispo County Bar Association is a State Bar-approved MCLE provider. This program qualifies for one (1) hour of MCLE credit; the speaker’s presentation will be one hour in length.

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SLOCBA Nov CLE: “Unpacking the 2023 Legal Trends Report”

Thursday, November 16, 2023, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. – Virtual Event

From state and practice area specific billable hour trends to insights and perspectives on AI—learn what’s the latest in the legal industry today. Making decisions that will benefit your firm in the years to come can seem complicated. But data and insights on the latest trends in the legal industry will surely make it easier. Join Clio’s deep-dive into the 2023 Legal Trends Report to discuss what the data in this year’s report means, and how to use it to set your law firm and staff up for success.

In this CLE-eligible* webinar, learn the biggest takeaways from Clio’s research, including:

– How legal professionals are optimizing financial performance, improving cash flow and ensuring timely payments.

– What legal technology solutions firms are using to have an enormous impact with minimal effort, saving time, and enhancing productivity.

– How legal professionals are perceiving and embracing AI and other technological advancements.

Presented by: Miquela Ansulovich

Materials are available here.

The San Luis Obispo County Bar Association is a State Bar-approved MCLE provider. This program qualifies for one (1) hour of MCLE credit; the speaker’s presentation will be one hour in length._

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SLOCBA/Estate & Trust November CLE: “New Developments in Partition Law”

Wednesday, November 15, 2023, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. – Virtual Event

This presentation will discuss the recent amendments to California’s real property partition laws, the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act (UPHPA) and the Partition of Real Property Act (PRPA). It will cover when these laws apply, the steps and procedures used by courts to revolve partition lawsuits under these amendments, and the likely outcomes in partition actions litigated under these new rules. The goal is to provide a concise overview of these legal changes and their implications.

Presented by: Skye Langs and David (Duff) Beach

Materials are available here:

Partition law – supplemental resources-c

Partition Presentation-c

The San Luis Obispo County Bar Association is a State Bar-approved MCLE provider. This program qualifies for one (1) hour of MCLE credit; the speaker’s presentation will be one hour in length.

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SLOCBA/FL Nov CLE: “Is It True What They Say? Myths and Misunderstandings About the Hearsay Rule”

Thursday, November 9, 2023, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. – HYBRID EVENT

The hearsay rule has been called “one of the law’s most celebrated nightmares.” And for good reason: the rule and its exceptions are notoriously convoluted and often counterintuitive. We will spend an hour exploring what every judge and lawyer in California needs to know about the hearsay rule and the most common mistakes made in applying it. Along the way, we’ll discuss the surprising roots of the hearsay rule in American slavery, the overlap and differences between the hearsay rule and the Confrontation Clause, the differences between federal and California versions of the hearsay rule, and the new hearsay issues that are now being raised, or soon will be raised, raised by machine-generated evidence.

Presented by: David Sklansky

Materials are available here.

The San Luis Obispo County Bar Association is a State Bar-approved MCLE provider. This program qualifies for one (1) hour of MCLE credit; the speaker’s presentation will be one hour in length.

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SLOCBA/FL October CLE – “Divorce Mortgage Planning – Journey of a Divorcing Homeowner”

Thursday, October 26, 2023, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. – HYBRID EVENT

This program is designed to provide the candidate with an understanding of the implications and challenges of how a divorce settlement agreement involving real estate, spousal support, child support, etc. are affected by the financial challenges and requirements as related to mortgage financing and tax law. The candidate will, in a one- hour segment, learn how to avoid common issues post-decree when real estate is present; settle divorce cases with real estate & mortgage financing faster and reduce common hurdles for clients needing mortgage financing post-decree.

Whether mediating a collaborative divorce settlement; restructuring a real estate portfolio, there are real concerns and financing strategies involving your client’s current real estate, ability to buy one spouse out or structuring maintenance in order for the receiving spouse to qualify for a new mortgage. The key to making sure your clients are well positioned for their new lives after divorce comes from knowing how to set them up for success. This class covers various financing strategies and hurdles facing qualified income sources, marital debt and the disposition of the marital home. This is a great class and covers a lot of information not typically taken into consideration.

Presented by: Leslie Kight

Materials are available below:

CDLP Divorce Mortgage Planning and Real Property Report COMPLETED SAMPLE (1)

Divorce_Mortgage_Planning_Journey_of_A_Divorcing_Homeowner_November_2022_B

The San Luis Obispo County Bar Association is a State Bar-approved MCLE provider. This program qualifies for one (1) hour of MCLE credit; the speaker’s presentation will be one hour in length.

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SLOCBA/E&T OCTOBER MCLE – “Exit Strategies for Retiring Lawyers”

Wednesday, October 25, 2023, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. – VIRTUAL EVENT

Your successful career is almost over. Do you have a succession plan in place to help you get there? You can now sell your practice to enhance your retirement portfolio. To do that, you must know what your practice is worth, your optimal buyers, how to find them, and how to structure a fair and balanced deal. You only have one opportunity to exit the legal profession. Maximize the proceeds you can obtain from your practice and ensure your valued clients are in good hands. Don’t simply plan to retire. Plan your retirement.

Presented by: Roy Ginsburg

Materials are available here.

The San Luis Obispo County Bar Association is a State Bar-approved MCLE provider. This program qualifies for one (1) hour of MCLE credit; the speaker’s presentation will be one hour in length.

SLOCBA – “Statements of Decision and Objections: Good Things to Know.”

Friday, September 29, 2023, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. – HYBRID EVENT

Materials are available here:

slo family law seminar 9.23 part 1 (1)

slo 2 family law seminar 9.23 part 2_Redacted

The San Luis Obispo County Bar Association is a State Bar-approved MCLE provider. This program qualifies for one (1) hour of MCLE credit; the speaker’s presentation will be one hour in length.

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SLOCBA/E.&T – “Staying Out of Court: Recognizing And Managing Potential Sources of Claims For Trust and Estate Practitioners“

Wednesday, September 27, 2023, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. – VIRTUAL EVENT

The presentation will discuss frequent areas where legal malpractice claims arise against trust and estate practitioners, and steps practitioners can take to try to eliminate and manage the risk of potential claims.

Presented by: David D. Samani

Materials are available here.

The San Luis Obispo County Bar Association is a State Bar-approved MCLE provider. This program qualifies for one (1) hour of MCLE credit; the speaker’s presentation will be one hour in length.

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SLOCBA – Appellate Court Justices Reception: “The Mechanics of Justice: a perspective on the process and perception of the appellate court.”

Tuesday, September 19, 2023, from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. – IN PERSON EVENT

Materials available:

California Judicial Mentor Program (Appellate)

How Appellate and Supreme Court Justices are Selected

CJEO-Expedited-Opinion-2022-045

The San Luis Obispo County Bar Association is a State Bar-approved MCLE provider. This program qualifies for one (1) hour of MCLE credit; the speaker’s presentation will be one hour in length.

SLOCBA – “Income Tax Returns as a Tool in Family Law Litigation”

Thursday, August 18, 2023, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. – IN PERSON EVENT

Presented by: Melissa Kasarjian

Materials are available here:

INCOME TAXES The Complexities and how they impact divorce

FLSAMPB-Partnerhsip 123 (Gov)

FLSAMPLE-Doe, John & Jane (Gov)

SAMPLE W-2

The San Luis Obispo County Bar Association is a State Bar-approved MCLE provider. This program qualifies for one (1) hour of MCLE credit; the speaker’s presentation will be one hour in length.

SLOCBA – “Continued Discussion Regarding Court Efficiency and Access to Justice”

Friday, August 18, 2023, from 12:15 – 1:15 p.m. – HYBRID EVENT

Presented by: Judge Childs, Judge Guerrero, and Commissioner McDaniel

Materials are available here:

8.18.23 PPT in full page color

Cal Gov Code 68086 Court Reporters in Civil Courtrooms

CRC r 2.956 Court Reporters in Civil Courtrooms

Family Law Initial Standing Order FINAL 8.11.23

Jameson-v-Desta-Court-requirement-to-provide-court-reporters

July 3, 2023 Announcement FINAL

SLO Court Reporter Notice and Request

The San Luis Obispo County Bar Association is a State Bar-approved MCLE provider. This program qualifies for one (1) hour of MCLE credit; the speaker’s presentation will be one hour in length.

SLOCBA – ” Employment Discharge: Employment Market Changes since Covid-19″

Thursday, August 17, 2023, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. – VIRTUAL EVENT

Professor Dan Scheitrum will explain the elements of establishing economic damages in employment discharge matters. The employment landscape has changed dramatically over the past few years with substantial shifts in unemployment, duration of job searches, and wage growth. Dr. Scheitrum will explore the natures of these shifts and their consequences in determining lost earnings and lost earning capacity as well as mitigating income. Lastly, he will cover discount rates and where rates are headed in the future.

Presented by: Dan Scheitrum

Materials are available here

The San Luis Obispo County Bar Association is a State Bar-approved MCLE provider. This program qualifies for one (1) hour of MCLE credit; the speaker’s presentation will be one hour in length.

Real Property – “Status of Groundwater Management in SLO County”

Tuesday, August 15, 2023, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. – VIRTUAL EVENT

Blaine Reely currently serves as the Director of Groundwater Sustainability for the County of San Luis Obispo. The Groundwater Sustainability Department is relatively new and was created by the Board of Supervisors in 2021. Blaine was hired as the first Director and started work in November 2021. He comes from the private sector and previously worked as a consulting civil engineer and hydrologist for the past 40+ years. He received his education at the University of Arizona and Oklahoma State University and has a PhD in civil engineering and hydrology. In his current position, he serves as the County’s representative in the six “managed” groundwater basins in the County.

Presented by: Blaine Reely, Director of Groundwater Sustainability, County of SLO

Materials are available here

The San Luis Obispo County Bar Association is a State Bar-approved MCLE provider. This program qualifies for one (1) hour of MCLE credit; the speaker’s presentation will be one hour in length.

E&T – “Subtrust Allocation for Litigation Attorneys”

Wednesday, July 26, 2023, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. – VIRTUAL EVENT

Judge Glen Reiser (Ret.) will discuss various critical aspects of subtrust funding as part of the trust administration process. Often, upon a first death of a spouse and, at times, upon the death of the second spouse to die or a single person, the subject trust includes requirements and guidance for administering the trust regarding the allocation of assets to various subtrusts for the benefit of one or more beneficiaries. As we are seeing it more and more in the courts and mediation, subtrust allocation decisions by a trustee can turn into having to defend a claim against such trustee for failure to, among other things, collect assets and obtain date of death values, property manage assets, and fairly allocate assets among subtrusts in accordance with the terms of the trust. The presentation will cover important concepts such as a trustee’s administrative duties, marital deductions, pro-rata allocation of assets, community property and separate property characterizations, gift and estate taxes, and portability, all in light of trust litigation.

Presented by: Judge Glen Reiser (Ret.)

Materials are available here

The San Luis Obispo County Bar Association is a State Bar-approved MCLE provider. This program qualifies for one (1) hour of MCLE credit; the speaker’s presentation will be one hour in length.

“Update on Diablo Canyon and SB 846 Presented by: by Jon Ansolabehere and Kara Woodruff”

Thursday, July 20, 2023, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. – VIRTUAL EVENT

This program will update last year’s presentation on the status of decommissioning the Diablo Canyon Power Plant in light of Senate Bill 846, which enabled the five-year extension of operations as well as the economic development and conservation of the 12,000-acre Diablo Canyon Lands surrounding the plant.

Kara Woodruff is a thirty-year+ resident of San Luis Obispo and graduated magna cum laude in Business Administration from Cal Poly SLO. Kara is a lawyer and former licensed financial planner, principal, and received a joint JD/MA degree in law and public policy from Duke University. As a former project director for The Nature Conservancy and American Land Conservancy, Kara negotiated and raised funds for the conservation of over 100,000 acres in SLO County, including Hearst Ranch, Cambria Coast Ranch, and in the Irish Hills and Carrizo Plain. She is a founding member of the Friends of Oso Flaco Lake and the Friends of Wild Cherry Canyon, as well as member of the Diablo Canyon Decommissioning Engagement Panel and an author of the panel’s Strategic Vision. Kara now serves as the District Director for State Senator John Laird (Senate District 17, including San Luis Obispo, Monterey, and Santa Cruz counties).

Jon Ansolabehere is the Assistant County Counsel for the County of San Luis Obispo. The County Counsel’s Office has 15 attorneys and provides legal services to the Board of Supervisors and other County departments, commissions and entities, as well as the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments and Regional Transportation Authority. Before working for the County, Jon was the Assistant City Attorney for the City of San Luis Obispo and before that was in private practice. Jon received his law degree from Golden Gate University and received both his Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

Presented by: Kara Woodruff & Jon Ansolabehere

Materials are available here:

PGE_SLO BAR_2023

Diablo Canyon Lands SLOC Bar Assn

DCPP presentation

The San Luis Obispo County Bar Association is a State Bar-approved MCLE provider. This program qualifies for one (1) hour of MCLE credit; the speaker’s presentation will be one hour in length.

“Baubles, Beads and Beneficiaries: Managing Estate Jewelry”

Thursday, June 28, 2023, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. – VIRTUAL EVENT

Is that emerald real?
Who wants the pearl earrings?
How much is the necklace actually worth?

Gemologists Angela Cisneros and Diane Caldwell-Chesler will join us for an informative program on managing estate jewelry. From valuing individual pieces to managing entire collections, Angela and Diane will provide expert advice on what clients should do with the contents of a deceased relative’s jewelry box. They will discuss creating an inventory, determining value, appraisal options, preservation and storage….and what a client can do now to avoid family disputes following death.

Presented by: Angela Cisneros and Diane Caldwell-Chesler

Materials are available here

The San Luis Obispo County Bar Association is a State Bar-approved MCLE provider. This program qualifies for one (1) hour of MCLE credit; the speaker’s presentation will be one hour in length.

“AN IN-DEPTH UNDERSTANDING OF APPRAISALS AND HOW TO SUPPORT OR OPPOSE THEM”

Thursday, June 22, 2023, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. – IN PERSON

Appraiser Curtis Oeser will provide an in-depth review of real estate appraisals and the appraisal process, including the three approaches to valuation, the steps in the appraisal process and how appraisers make adjustments. Mr. Oeser will point out common errors and ways to manipulate appraisal results, and why all appraisers are not created equal. Mr. Oeser will also provide input on the current real estate market and its challenges.

Presented by: Curtis Oeser

“I have been a real estate appraiser since 1982, which was 8 years prior to the state requiring appraisal licensing. I have had my Certified General License in the State of California since 1992. I was an associate appraiser from 1982 thru 1999 with Dennis E Greene MAI before starting my own company the Appraisal Office Inc. in 2000. In my forty years within the appraisal industry, I have completed over 10,000 appraisals and have testified as an expert witness in the courts of San Luis Obispo County, Santa Barbara County and Monterey County over 250 times.
I specialize in the production of real estate appraisals exceeding the requirements of the Uniform Standards of Professional Practice. I have a very diverse appraisal background, encompassing numerous property types and varied markets, real estate assessments, residential, commercial, multifamily, ranches, farms, and vacant land properties. My client list includes attorneys, city and county municipalities, accountants, national and state charted banks, as well as the secondary market. I have an extensive litigation practice, working with attorneys throughout the state. I am an experienced General Certified Real Estate Appraiser who uses my extensive knowledge of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Monterey Counties, state, and federal real estate guidelines to develop accurate, supported, and timely appraisals. I consider myself exceptional at working in the field communicating with clients and organizing data.
“I’ve spent four decades excelling in the competitive landscape of San Luis Obispo County, Santa Barbara County and Monterey County Real Estate, establishing a reputation as a well-respected professional real estate appraiser. I pride myself in providing strong knowledge and experience as well as an unbiased and objective approach to real property appraisal and analysis. My business is built on honesty, integrity, communication, dedication, and transparency.”
I am a graduate of Pepperdine University Malibu class of 1980 with a degree in communications and minor in business administration.
I live in Atascadero with my wife, two dogs, and three cats. I swam and played water polo at Pepperdine University and still swim four to five days a week today. When I am not swimming, I love to travel in my motor home with my wife of 27 years and our two dogs and visiting my adult kids when given the chance.”

– Curtis Oeser

Materials are available here

The San Luis Obispo County Bar Association is a State Bar-approved MCLE provider. This program qualifies for one (1) hour of MCLE credit; the speaker’s presentation will be one hour in length.

“Recent Developments in Trust, Estate, and Conservatorship Law”

Wednesday, May 31, 2023, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. – Virtual via Zoom

Ciarán O’Sullivan and Matt Owens, two trust-and-estate litigators, will discuss recent developments in trust, estate, and conservatorship law, including key new cases, statutory changes, and a preview of what’s to come this legislative cycle.

Presented by: Ciarán O’Sullivan and Matt Owens

Ciarán O’Sullivan has litigated the entire range of trusts, estates, and property disputes since he began his career in 1998 in the Bay Area office of the firm now known as Reed Smith. He has been a solo practitioner since 2010. He is a frequent presenter on many topics of interest to Trusts and Estates practitioners, and has published articles on litigation, trial, and appellate procedure in the Trusts and Estates context. He is a former chair of the Bar Association of San Francisco’s Trusts and Estates Litigation section. In 2017 he was appointed by the State Bar Trustees to serve a six-year term on the executive committee of the Trusts and Estates section (now CLA Trusts and Estates section, aka TEXCOM). He has served as the chair of TEXCOM’s Litigation, Incapacity, and Membership and Marketing sub-committees, and is a former author and editor of the section’s New Case Alerts.

He received his undergraduate degree in Economics from University College Dublin, Ireland, and his law degree from U.C. Hastings College of the Law.

Matt Ownes is a partner in the trust and estate litigation team at the international law firm, Withersworldwide. Matt focuses his practice on trust, estate, and inheritance disputes. He has prosecuted and defended a wide range of matters in probate court, including trust contests, elder abuse actions, accountings, contested conservatorships and claims involving breach of fiduciary duty. His clients include high net worth individuals and families, corporate trustees, and private professional fiduciaries.

Matt has successfully handled numerous trials and arbitrations of trust and estate disputes. He has also handled many appeals, including the following cases that resulted in published opinions: Funsten v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (2016) 2 Cal.App.5th 959 and Dunlap v. Mayer (2021) 63 Cal.App.5th 419.

Matt is a certified specialist in estate planning, trust, and probate law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. He frequently speaks and writes on trust and estate litigation topics, is a member of the Executive Committee of the Trusts and Estates Section of the California Lawyers Association (TEXCOM), and served as Chair of the Executive Committee of the San Diego County Bar Association’s Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Law Section. He was recognized as a Best Lawyers “Ones to Watch” each year since 2021, has been a Super Lawyers Rising Star each year since 2013, and has been on Legal Week’s Private Client “Ones to Watch” list each year since 2017.

Materials are available here

The San Luis Obispo County Bar Association is a State Bar-approved MCLE provider. This program qualifies for one (1) hour of MCLE credit; the speaker’s presentation will be one hour in length.

“California’s Legal Deserts”

Thursday, May 18, 2023, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. – Virtual via Zoom

California’s rural lawyer shortage and what stakeholders can do about it.

Presented by: Lisa Pruitt

Professor Pruitt is a Martin Luther King Jr. Professor of Law at the University of California, Davis, where she has taught since 1999. Professor Pruitt has spent much of her scholarly career exploring issue of rural-urban difference in relation to how people engage law and the state. She has brought a critical rural lens to an array of legal issues, including topics such as abortion access, environmental litigation, termination of parental rights, and substance abuse. Professor Pruitt’s work is also intersectional, considering the impact of rurality on issues involving gender, race, and ethnicity. A significant body of her recent work is about the rural lawyer shortage and what stakeholders can do to alleviate it. Most recently, she is serving on the Rural Justice Task Force of the Legal Services Corporation. She previously co-chaired the Rural Access Committee of the California Commission on Access to Justice. Pruitt served on the Commission from 2015 to 2019.

Pruitt has been blogging at Legal Ruralism: A little legal realism about the rural, since 2008. Her Law and Rural Livelihoods students also blog with her there during the semesters when she teaches that course. Pruitt was awarded the Rural Sociological Society’s Excellence in Research Award in 2021. Professor Pruitt won the Bill and Sally Rutter Distinguished Teaching Award in 2020.

Before she joined UC Davis in 1999, Professor Pruitt worked internationally as a lawyer, serving as a consultant on the International Criminal Tribunal in Rwanda and a legal assistant for the Iran-United States Claims Tribunal in The Netherlands. Pruitt holds B.A. and J.D. degrees from the University of Arkansas and a PhD (Laws) from University College London, where she studied as a British Marshall Scholar.

The San Luis Obispo County Bar Association is a State Bar-approved MCLE provider. This program qualifies for one (1) hour of MCLE credit; the speaker’s presentation will be one hour in length.

“Continued Discussion Regarding Court Efficiency and Access to Justice”

Friday, May 5, 2023, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. – In Person at SLO Court/Jury Services/Hybrid via Zoom

In addition to your suggestions, we anticipate discussing the following proposed changes and would like your feedback:

1. Continued discussion on courtroom efficiency;
2. Implementation of the finalized standing family law rule;
3. Discussion and feedback from the bar regarding the current trial setting conference structure and its effectiveness in streamlining trial caseload;
4. More extensive Q&A with all three bench officers. Attorneys and staff are encouraged to attend and participate.

There will be a PowerPoint presentation as well as a question-and-answer session (time permitting) at the end of the presentation. MCLE will be offered.

Presented by: Judge Childs, Judge Guerrero, and Commissioner McDaniel

Exhibit List Template

Exhibit Template

Family Law Initial Standing Order

Notes in Color

The San Luis Obispo County Bar Association is a State Bar-approved MCLE provider. This program qualifies for one (1) hour of MCLE credit; the speaker’s presentation will be one hour in length.

“ Understanding Federal Civil Rights Enforcement”

Thursday, May 4, 2023, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. – In Person at Madonna Inn

An overview of the enforcement of key federal civil rights statutes by the U.S. Department of Justice from civil and criminal enforcement perspectives.

Presented by: Matt Nickell & Julius Nam

Materials are available here:

Power Point

Additional materials

The San Luis Obispo County Bar Association is a State Bar-approved MCLE provider. This program qualifies for one (1) hour of MCLE credit; the speaker’s presentation will be one hour in length.

“Discussing Pensions with Pension Values, LLC“

Thursday, April 27, 2023, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. – Zoom Only

Ms. Reddall will cover several issues that arise when determining how to dispose of the community-interest in defined-benefit plans, including service credit purchases, methods of division, survivor’s benefits, and cash balance plans.

Presented by: Trina Reddall

Materials are available here.

This ONLINE/ZOOM event will qualify for one hour (1.0) of participatory MCLE.

*Application for specialization credit pending

“Probate Conservatorship Reform and Supported Decision-Making Act. AB 1663”

Tuesday, April 25, 2023, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. – Zoom Only

Assembly Bill No. 1663 introduces less-restrictive alternatives to conservatorship, including Supported Decision-Making (SDM), for adults with disabilities. The law, effective January 1, 2023, amends the Probate and Welfare and Institutions Codes and generally aligns with the 2017 Uniform Guardianship, Conservatorship, and Other Protective Arrangements Act. However, critical analysis reveals some potential issues, such as the revocability of SDM agreements, fiduciary relationships, compensation, and third-party compliance. This program addresses these concerns and other topics, including funding for the Conservatorship Alternatives Program and effective data collection.

Presented by: Klaus Gottlieb

Materials are available here.

This ONLINE/ZOOM event will qualify for one hour (1.0) of participatory MCLE.

“Impaired Colleague? Addressing Attorney Competency, the Warning Signs, and Getting Help”

Thursday, April 20, 2023, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. – Zoom Only

This program will provide information on:

• Identifying and detecting substance use and mental health issues among attorneys;
• An attorney’s duties regarding an impaired colleague;
• How to discuss possible impairment issues with a colleague;
• Developing a self-care plan and wellness strategies; and
• Knowing where to find help, including the Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP) and other resources.

The presentation will be interactive, and the attendees will need their smart phones.

Presented by: Lita Abella, Sr. Program Analyst, Office of Professional Competence, Lawyer Assistance Program

Materials are available here.

The San Luis Obispo County Bar Association is a State Bar-approved MCLE provider. This program qualifies for one (1) hour of MCLE credit; including one (1) hour of Competence Credit; the speaker’s presentation will be one hour in length.

The 7th Annual Minor’s Counsel Training

Saturday, March 18, 2023, from 8:15 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. – HYBRID EVENT at The Ciffs Hotel and Spa in Pismo Beach/Zoom

Presented by: Commissioner Kenneth McDaniel, Valerie Hosford CFLS, Gregory Francisco Gillett, Renee Fairbanks, CFLS, Vanessa Kirker Wright, Hon. Charles Crandall (ret), Dr. Maryam D Far, DPA, MA, MHA, LMFT; Robert Walmsley; Dr. Michael Kerner, PhD; Hon. Matthew Guerrero; Judge Erin Childs; Hon. Matthew Guerrero.

The San Luis Obispo County Bar Association is pleased to announce it will be hosting the Seventh Annual San Luis Obispo County Minor’s Counsel Training Hybrid Symposium on March 18th and 19th (8 hours of training on Saturday and 4 hours on Sunday). The program will provide a total of 12 hours MCLE credit, including ethics and elimination of bias. The symposium will satisfy the annual 8-hour training requirement of Rule 5.242 of the California Rules of Court.

Materials available here.

This HYBRID event will provide a total of twelve (12) hours MCLE credit, including one (1) hour of ethics, one (1) hour of elimination of bias and four (4) hours of specialization (pending approval). The symposium will satisfy the annual 8-hour training requirement of Rule 5.242 of the California Rules of Court.

“FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDER: WHAT JUDGES AND LAWYERS SHOULD KNOW”

Thursday, February 16, 2023, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. – HYBRID EVENT at SLO Superior Court/Zoom

Presented by: JUDGE CHARLES STEVENS (“STEVE”) CRANDALL and DR. NISHA ABDULCADER

Materials available here.

This HYBRID event will qualify for one hour (1.0) of participatory MCLE.

Family Law Bench/Bar/Public Meeting: “Discussion Regarding Court Efficiency and Access to Justice”

Friday, February 3, 2023, from 12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. – HYBRID EVENT at SLO Superior Court/Zoom

Presented by: Judge Erin M. Childs, Judge Guerrero, Commissioner Kenneth McDaniel

Materials available here.

This HYBRID event will qualify for one hour (1.0) of participatory MCLE.

State of the Courts presented by San Luis Obispo Superior Court Presiding Judge Craig Van Rooyen and Michael Powell

Thursday, January 19, 2023, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – HYBRID EVENT at Madonna Inn/Zoom

Presented by: Presiding Judge Craig B. Van Rooyen

Materials available here.

This HYBRID event will qualify for one hour (1.0) of participatory MCLE.

The Supreme Court in Transition presented by Erwin Chemerinsky

Monday, December 5, 2022, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – via Zoom

Renowned constitutional law expert Erwin Chemerinsky will provide his thoughts about recent Supreme Court decisions and what we can expect during this time of transition.

Presented by: Erwin Chemerinsky

Materials available here.

This virtual event will qualify for one hour (1.0) of participatory MCLE.

“Affordable, Secure, and Easy Real World Technology Solutions for Lawyers”

Thursday, November 17, 2022, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – via Zoom

What technology does a modern law firm need to practice successfully, and securely, amidst these changing times and the challenges they may bring? Learn what tools you may want to add to your tech toolbox that can help with communications and practice management.

Presented by: Adriana Linares

Materials available here.

This virtual event will qualify for one hour (1.0) of participatory MCLE.

“Immigration Consequences of Criminal Offenses”

Wednesday, November 2, 2022, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. -Petra Mediterranean Pizza & Grill, 1210 Higuera Street, SLO CA 93401

Immigration attorney Nicole Mullikin will discuss the impact that criminal offenses can have on immigration status, including what duties you have to your clients and when you should reach out to an immigration attorney.

Presented by: Nicole Mullikin

Materials available here.

This in person event will qualify for one hour (1.0) of participatory MCLE.

“STRESS-PROOF LEADERSHIP & LIFE“

Thursday, October 27, 2022, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – via Zoom

Develop stress-management skills to thrive under pressure

We all know that stress is an inevitable part of life, and it can have a significant impact on us. But does it need to beat us up and burn us out? With all of the usual stresses of life and work, with deadlines and demands, we can get worn out, and at the very least we often show up less than our best. Add to that the weight of the pandemic and all of the subsequent changes to our world, and it can be overwhelming. In this engaging presentation, Chris Failla pulls from his years of leadership and human performance research, along with his own journey of burnout and recovery, to share insights and easy-to-apply tools to change your relationship to stress and work.

1. 3 powerful stress-management tools that build resilience.

2. Ways to generate energy to continue leading with integrity under pressure, over the long-haul.

3. Leadership tools to keep yourself and your team healthy in the midst of increasing demands.

4. Find a personal rhythm that works with major deadlines.

5. 3 mindsets to not just buffer stress but to turn it into growth.

Presented by: Chris Failla

Worksheet 1

Worksheet 2

This Zoom-presented event will qualify for one hour (1.0) of participatory MCLE; including (1.0) hour of Competency credit.

“The Good, the Bad & the Ugly: Reflections on advocacy and justice after 21 years on the Bench”

Thursday, September 15, 2022, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – via Zoom

Justice Tangeman will share insights gleaned from his judicial career, including 15 years on the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court (2001-2016) and 6 years on the Court of Appeal (2016-2022). His presentation will include his opinions of effective (and ineffective) advocacy as well as an insider’s perspective on both the promise and the shortcomings inherent in the justice system as administered by fallible human beings.

Presented by: Justice Tangeman

Materials available here.

This Zoom-presented event will qualify for one hour (1.0) of participatory MCLE.

Critical Race Theory: Fact and Fiction

Thursday, August 18, 2022, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – via Zoom

When asked to describe the contents of this presentation, Dean Johnson said he would review the current controversy over Critical Race Theory (CRT), an approach to legal analysis developed primarily by law professors in law schools, including Professors Derrick Bell, Richard Delgado, and Kimberle Crenshaw. Dean Johnson will proceed to discuss how CRT operated in relative obscurity until President Trump targeted it for attack. The attack has led to challenges to CRT, teaching of ethnic history, and other topics not approved by conservatives by political leaders and parents in school districts across the country. In offering this background, Dean Johnson will review some of the basic tenets of CRT.

Presented by:UC Davis School of Law Dean Kevin Johnson

Materials available:

CRT Presentation-PowerPoint

Critical Race Theory Fact and Fiction REMARKS

This Zoom-presented event will qualify for one hour (1.0) of participatory MCLE; including (1.0) hour of Implicit of Bias credit.

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Training

Thursday, July 21, 2022, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – via Zoom

Dr. Mick Malotte will discuss how to incorporate mindfulness-based cognitive skills into your legal practice. These skills help us experience whatever is happening, as it unfolds moment to moment, from a wider and more stable perspective. Then we don’t get as caught up in our thoughts and emotions and react mindlessly. Which allows more resourceful and creative responses, improving our performance and enjoyment, even in difficult situations.

Presented by: Dr. Mick Malotte

Materials available here.

This Zoom-presented event will qualify for one hour (1.0) of participatory MCLE.

What to Do When an Attorney Dies or Becomes Incapacitated

Wednesday, June 22, 2022, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – via Zoom

The MCLE will provide information to participant attorneys and legal professionals about planning for the unexpected loss of an attorney in practice, whether it is through sudden voluntary retirement, extended vacation, disappearance, and/or accident.

Presented by: Ritzel Starleigh Ngo

Ritzel Starleigh Ngo is a family law attorney/Partner at Ngo Family Law . Ms. Ngo is experienced in contentious dissolutions; parentage matters; child custody and visitation, spousal and child support; property division; temporary and permanent restraining orders; including domestic violence, elder abuse, and civil harassment. She initially received family law training from the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s (“LACBA”) Domestic Violence Project. She has practiced before family courts in Los Angeles, Santa Clara, San Francisco, Alameda, Orange, Ventura, San Diego, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties. Before practicing family law, Ms. Ngo worked for the Federal Reserve Bank where she handled compliance and regulatory matters. Ms. Ngo earned her law degree from Gonzaga University School of Law. She is a graduate of California State University, Northridge with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Women’s Studies. Ms. Ngo enjoys family court and Gonzaga basketball.

Materials available here.

This Zoom-presented event will qualify for one hour (1.0) of participatory MCLE.

Judicial Election/Appointments Program with Judicial Candidates

Thursday, May 19, 2022, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – at The Kinney and via Zoom

This event will explain the judicial elections and appointments process. The event will be co-hosted by SLO County Bar Association President, Kara Stein-Conaway and SLO Superior Court Judge, Matthew Guerrero. Judge Guerrero will educate us about the judicial elections and appointments process. The candidates running for judge will make an opening statement and then will answer questions from the audience.

Introducing: Commissioner Childs, Michael Frye, & Paul Philips

Paul Philips began his legal career here in 1982 with Hank Mott, he began clerking for him in 1975 while at Cal Poly. Mr. Philips has vast experience in our courtrooms with Civil, Criminal, Family Law, Juvenile, Mental Health, Probate cases and others. At the Court’s request, Mr. Philips has served as a judge pro tem.

Education and Qualifications: Mr. Philips was born, raised, and educated here; he has multi-generational San Luis Obispo County roots. He graduated from Cal Poly and Pepperdine University School of Law. Mr. Philips contributes to our community in part, by teaching at Cal Poly (1982-2010), serving on non-profit boards, his law practice, and raising his family on their working ranch.

For more information visit:
www.phillipsforjudge2022.com

Materials available here.

This Zoom-presented event will qualify for one hour (1.0) of participatory MCLE.

Use of Independent Professional Trustees in Estate Planning

Wednesday, April 27, 2022, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – via Zoom

Program will cover (1) law relating to licensing of professional fiduciaries, (2) client counseling on use of independent trustees, and (3) use of trust and will provisions facilitating the use of professional trustees.

Presented by: J. Christopher Toews

Chris Toews is the senior partner and manager of Toews Law Group, a specialty firm located in San Luis Obispo, California. His practice is focused on estate planning, business and tax matters for business owners, professionals and retirees. Chris is a member of the Tax, Business, Probate and Trust and Solo and Small Firm sections of the California Lawyers Association. He is a certified specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate law and in Taxation law. Chris received his law degree in 1967 from the University of Southern California, where he was a member of the legal honor society, Order of the Coif, and a member of the law review. He is a member of the California and New York Bars.

Materials available here.

This Zoom-presented event will qualify for one hour (1.0) of participatory MCLE.

Discovering Powerful Case Stories to Connect with People (Jurors and People We Represent) and How the Pandemic and the Common Experience We All Shared Relates to Our Cases

Thursday, April 21, 2022, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – via Zoom

The pandemic shut down and common suffering of all has influenced all of us in many ways. Following verdicts, consulting on cases, doing focus groups has shown an opportunity to tap into this common global phenom to help achieve justice. The program will share years of experience and recent work since the pandemic in how to discover common themes in our cases.

Presented by: Jude Basile

Jude Basile has been a lawyer since 1982, first as a prosecutor and criminal defense lawyer trying over 50 jury trials in his first 5 years of practice. Mr. Basile then transitioning to civil trial practice and has tried over 50 civil cases before juries. Mr. Basile has been the recipient of numerous awards, including being named Trial Lawyer of the Year 7 times. He was also invited to join the Inner Circle of Advocates, an invitation only group limited to 100 of the best civil jury trial lawyers in America.

Material is not yet available.

This Zoom-presented event will qualify for one hour (1.0) of participatory MCLE

The 6th Annual San Luis Obispo Minor’s Counsel Training – Two Day Event

Saturday, March 26, 2022, from 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. -In person and via Zoom

Sunday, March 27, 2022, from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – In person and via Zoom

The Family Law Section of the San Luis Obispo County Bar Association is pleased to announce it will be hosting the Sixth Annual San Luis Obispo County Minor’s Counsel Training Hybrid Symposium on March 26th and 27th (8 hours of training on Saturday and 4 hours on Sunday). The program will provide a total of 12 hours MCLE credit, including ethics and elimination of bias. The symposium will satisfy the annual 8-hour training requirement of Rule 5.242 of the California Rules of Court.

Presented by:

Elizabeth “Lizzy” Dembosz is a Child Welfare Services Social Worker for the County of San Luis Obispo, Department of Social Services. She currently works in the Voluntary Family Maintenance (VFM) unit which is a prevention and early intervention-based program. In her role as VFM Social Worker, Lizzy assists family systems in stabilizing their needs and coaching the family, including their support network, in how to adequately address safety and risk factors prior to them becoming a threat to a child’s safety, in order to prevent the removal of a child(ren) from their caretaker’s care. Prior to her current assignment, she worked in the Emergency Response Unit where she was responsible for investigating allegations of child abuse and neglect as a means to determine whether threat of safety to a child occurred and thus, making recommendations to establish immediate and long-term safety of a child(ren).

Materials are available here.

The San Luis Obispo County Bar Association is a State Bar-approved MCLE provider. The program will provide a total of twelve (12) hours MCLE credit, including one (1) hour of ethics, one (1) hour of elimination of bias and four (4) hours of specialization (pending approval). The symposium will satisfy the annual 8-hour training requirement of Rule 5.242 of the California Rules of Court.

How to Get Rid of a Dead Body

Wednesday, March 23, 2022, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – via Zoom

Following an individual’s death, family members and friends are faced with a multitude of issues relating to handling of the remains. For some, the challenges in dealing with these responsibilities are overburdensome and the least of their concerns. For others, it is a welcome distraction. This presentation provides an overview of the following topics and more: who has control of a decedent’s remains, what governs the control of remains, anatomical gifts, coroner’s inquests, autopsies and other procedures, deaths while abroad, death certificates, transportation and shipment of remains, interment and funeral arrangements, disposition of cremains, water cremation, criminal consequences for unlawful disposition of remains, and disinterment and removal.

Presented by: Daniel C. Kim.

Daniel C. Kim is a Shareholder in Weintraub Tobin’s Trusts and Estates Litigation practice group. His practice focuses on all aspects of Trust and Estate litigation including fiduciary abuse, elder financial abuse, contested trust administrations, probate, and contested conservatorships. With experience as a complex civil litigator, Daniel applies his litigation expertise in highly contentious and complicated trust and estate disputes to help direct the matters towards resolution, where possible, or successful trials and appeals. Daniel is based out of the firm’s Sacramento office and serves clients throughout the state of California.

Material available here.

This Zoom-presented event will qualify for one hour (1.0) of participatory MCLE

The Law of the Unhoused: The Law and Policy Debated

Thursday, March 17, 2022, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – via Zoom

California is in the midst of a crisis, with the unhoused population growing at an alarming rate. San Luis Obispo County is no different. Attorney Gregory Gillett and former State Senator, Sam Blakeslee will discuss their recent analysis of the current system governing homeless services in San Luis Obispo County and their proposal for dramatic reform. Chief Deputy County Counsel Jon Ansolabehere will join them to discuss the legal framework in which local government operates and the difficulty in balancing competing interests.

Presented by: Greg Gillett, Jon Ansolabehere, and Sam Blakeslee

Sam Blakeslee is the president of Blakeslee & Blakeslee, a financial services firm with offices in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara. He is also the founding Director of the Institute for Advanced Technology & Public Policy at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Blakeslee is a former California State Senator representing California’s 15th State Senate district and previously served as a California State Assemblymember for California’s 33rd district. He grew up on the Central Coast, graduating from SLO high and Cuesta. Blakeslee earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in geophysics from University of California, Berkeley and obtained a Ph.D. from University of California, Santa Barbara.

Gregory Francisco Gillett is the primary shareholder of Gillett Law, APC, a law firm with offices in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara. Gillett is a lieutenant colonel in the California State Guard where he serves as the commander of the Operations Group who support civil response and disaster relief throughout the state. He also currently serves as a commissioner for the San Luis Obispo Housing Authority, a commissioner on the Juvenile Justice Commission and a state board member of California Rural Legal Assistance. He grew up in the Central Valley and moved to San Luis Obispo with his family in 2015 where he has been an active member of the San Luis Obispo County community. Gillett earned his undergraduate degree from the University of California, San Diego, his law degree from the University of California Davis, and his Doctor of Education from the University of Southern California.

Jon Ansolabehere is the Assistant County Counsel for the County of San Luis Obispo. Before working for the County, Jon was the Assistant City Attorney for the City of San Luis Obispo. Jon received his law degree from Golden Gate University and received both his master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Jon lives in Creston with his wife Catherine and two boys.

Materials available here and here.

This Zoom-presented event will qualify for one hour (1.0) of participatory MCLE

Annual Review of the Probate and Trust Appellate Decisions

Wednesday, February 23, 2022, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – via Zoom

Review of 2021 case law, including:

• Keading v. Keading, holding that Probate Code §859 authorizes an award of “double damages” for financial abuse without a separate finding of bad faith
• Breslin v. Breslin, holding that the Court has the power under Probate Code §17206 to order parties to mediation
• Dunlap v. Mayer, holding that a court may not dismiss a petition under Probate Code §17206 where contested issues of fact exist

Presented by: Steve Braccini

Steven P. Braccini is a partner in the Business Trial Practice Group in the firm’s Silicon Valley office. Areas of Practice Steve’s practice focuses on trust, probate and conservatorship litigation including, but not limited to:
■ Will contests
■ Trust contests
■ Removal and surcharge actions
■ Contested conservatorships
■ Accounting disputes
■ Financial elder abuse actions
■ Reformation or modification actions
■ Tax controversy
■ Related “civil” claims Steve also has an appellate practice and has presented numerous seminars and workshops on issues related to trust and estate litigation.
Honors Northern California Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers, 2019-2021

Materials available here.

This Zoom-presented event will qualify for one hour (1.0) of participatory MCLE

HIRING AND PRICING FOR PROFIT

Thursday, February 17, 2022, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – via Zoom

The questions most asked around hiring are these: “Who do I hire”, “When do I hire”, “How much do I pay them” and “Can I afford them”? As a result, many firms hire when they are overwhelmed with work, take anybody who “can fog a mirror”, and pay based on perceived market rate, personal opinion about what the person should be making, or even simply acquiesce to the demands of the candidate. The results can be disastrous. Paying people based on market value as opposed to the cost structure of your firm means profitability will probably drop. Setting salaries at low rates results in employees feeling undervalued and high turnover. And when you simply give the candidate what they want out of desperation, it shifts the balance of power. Paying people based on the cost structure of your firm boosts profit. Tying staff needs to projected cases or revenue levels means you can hire in advance. And understanding how much pressure a case puts on your firm informs what position should be added next. In this hands-on session, Brooke gives participants a worksheet then walks them through not only how to fill it out, but also how to use the results in a strategic forward-looking manner to improve the operations of their firm.

Presented by: Brooke Lively

Brooke Lively is the CEO and Founder of Cathedral Capital, a team of CFO’s and Profitability Strategists who help entrepreneurs turn their companies into profitable businesses. After earning her MBA in Investments and Corporate Finance, Brooke built a 7 – figure company in under 2 years. As a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), she and her team, work with Hall of Famers, INC 5000 businesses, CEO’s, and Small Business Owners. With expertise in growth management, creative problem solving and profitability strategy, Brooke has been the named ‘Top 25 Women to Watch,’ and ‘Fort Worth’s 2016 CFO’s of the Year.’ She is a highly regarded international speaker who has spoken at incubators, legal organizations such as PILMMA, bar associations across the country, Texas Christian University, and The University of Texas. In addition to being the author of several books, Brooke has been featured in international media including Forbes, Tina Brown’s Women In The World, Fort Worth Business Press, Diversity Journal, Attorney at Work and on podcasts such as The Unbillable Hour on the Legal Talk Network, Playmakers, and Find Your Tribe. When speaking, Brooke distills down her MBA, everything she learned building a 7 -figure law firm, and lessons from working with hundreds of law firms into actionable items that make a significant, immediate and lasting impact on attendees’ businesses.

Materials available here.

This Zoom-presented event will qualify for one hour (1.0) of participatory MCLE

Tax Strategies and Implications When Settling a Trust or Estate Dispute

Wednesday, January 26, 2022, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – via Zoom

This program highlights tax laws most relevant to trust and estate disputes, and strategies for resolving disputes to maximize (or minimize, if you are the respondent or defendant) the true after-tax value of the claim. Mr. Szczepanik will cover income, property, and transfer tax issues, and factors the IRS and federal courts will apply to determine whether to respect a settlement agreement.

Presented by: Ryan J. Szczepanik

Ryan Szczepanik is a Senior Wealth Strategist with BNY Mellon Wealth Management. In this role, he works closely with wealthy families, key corporate executives, business owners, and their advisors to provide comprehensive wealth planning services. He supports the thought leadership and initiatives of the organization with respect to the delivery of services in the fields of trusts, estates, and financial planning.

Prior to joining BNY Mellon in 2021, Ryan was a Shareholder at the Bay Area trusts and estates law firm, Hartog, Baer & Hand, A.P.C., and an attorney at King & Spalding LLP in its San Francisco and Atlanta offices. He is a California Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law. He is a Member of the Executive Committee of the Trusts and Estates Section of the California Lawyers Association (TEXCOM). In 2021, he served as the President of the East Bay Trusts & Estates Lawyers (EBTEL).

Ryan focuses on complex issues surrounding all areas of trusts, estates, and financial planning impacting wealthy families, key corporate executives and business owners.

He received a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Amherst College, and a JD from Emory Law School, where he received the Dean’s Award for Trusts and Estates.

Materials can be found here.

This Zoom-presented event will qualify for one hour (1.0) of participatory MCLE

State of the Courts presented by San Luis Obispo Superior Court Presiding Judge Craig Van Rooyen and Michael Powell

January 20, 2022, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – via Zoom

Presiding Judge Craig B. Van Rooyen is judge for the Superior Court of California, San Luis Obispo County. He was appointed to the bench by former Governor Jerry Brown in 2016, filling a vacancy created by the conversion of a court commissioner position. Judge Van Rooyen earned a B.A. in journalism from Andrews University in 1990, as well as a J.D. from the UCLA law school in 1996. He began his legal career as a deputy district attorney with the Office of the District Attorney of Riverside County in 1996. Four years later, he left the public sector and joined Bingham McCutchen as an associate. He practiced there as a civil litigator, eventually rising to partner in 2005. Then in 2007, he returned to his career as a deputy district attorney, this time with the Office of San Luis Obispo County.

Mr. Michael Powell received his B.A. in Psychology from U.C. Davis in 1987 and his MSW in Social Work/Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy from Smith College in 1997. Mr. Michael Powell has worked at the Superior Court since 1999 and was appointed to the CEO role in February 2016.

This Zoom-presented event will qualify for one hour (1.0) of participatory MCLE

Civility Matters

December 2, 2021, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – via Zoom

This program highlights important issues and decisions that lawyers and judges face daily where civility is a deserving consideration. The panel will discuss how civility or its absence impacts lawyers and their clients, the bench and the public at large. The discussion will include an important update on the State Bar’s current efforts to achieve real civility among its members.

Presented by: Honorable Judge Hernaldo J. Baltodano, Roy Ogden, and Chase Martin

The Honorable Hernaldo J. Baltodano was appointed to the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court by Governor Edmund Gerald Brown Jr. on November 2, 2017. He was later elected by San Luis Obispo County voters in a contested judicial election on June 5, 2018. Judge Baltodano currently serves in the Civil Department in Paso Robles, presiding over unlimited and limited civil cases, and previously served in the Criminal Department for almost four years, including serving as the Supervising Criminal Judge, responsible for county-wide administrative and criminal operations for the San Luis Obispo County
Superior Court. In addition to previously serving as the Presiding Judge for several collaborative courts (Behavioral Health Treatment Court, Adult Treatment Court Collaborative, and Mental Health Diversion Court), Judge Baltodano is a founding justice partner for the Court’s AB 1810 Mental Health Diversion Court and the Court’s Misdemeanor Diversion Court pursuant to Penal Code Section 1001.95. Judge
Baltodano currently serves on the Executive Board of the California Judges Association (“CJA”), which represents over 2,200 active and retired judges, and Governor Gavin Newsom’s Judicial Selection Advisory Committee for the Central Coast Region. As a member of CJA, Judge Baltodano currently serves on JetPAC, which assists judges across the state who face election challenges, and the California Latino Judges Association. He previously served as the Vice Chair of the CJA Judicial Elections Committee. Judge Baltodano enjoys judging mock trial competitions for county middle school and high
school students, and mentoring lawyers and law students across the state. He is a graduate of UC Davis and UC Berkeley School of Law.

Roy Ogden is a business lawyer and partner in Ogden & Fricks LLP. Mr. Ogden’s practice is largely devoted to real estate, construction and business litigation. He also handles probate and trust litigation matters. Mr. Ogden has had over sixty state and federal trials including over thirty jury trials, handled dozens of successful appeals before the State Court of Appeals, the State Supreme Court, the United States Supreme Court and several binding arbitrations. Mr. Ogden also counsels clients on land use and planning issues and regularly appears before local governmental agencies. Mr. Ogden also drafts and negotiates contracts and other documents in connection with real estate matters, construction projects and business transactions.

Mr. Ogden received his bachelor of science degree in Aeronautics from San Jose State University and received his law degree from UCLA School of Law. He has been practicing law since 1986, when he worked at an L.A. based firm formerly known as Wyman, Bautzer, Kuchel & Silbert. In 1989, Mr. Ogden moved to San Luis Obispo and joined the law firm of Sinsheimer, Schiebelhut & Baggett, where he became a partner. In 1997, he left to start his own firm.

Mr. Ogden is a member of the San Luis Obispo and Los Angeles County Bar Associations and has served on the Board of Directors for the San Luis Obispo Bar Association. Mr. Ogden is admitted to practice before all state and federal courts in California and the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Ogden has served as President of the California Coast Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, an organization where membership is available only by invitation to experienced trial counsel.

Chase Martin joined Adamski Moroski Madden Cumberland & Green in 2018. His broad legal experience is concentrated in the areas of public entity defense, business and commercial litigation, personal injury, real property disputes, landlord-tenant issues, and selective white-collar criminal litigation.

Materials can be found here and here.

This Zoom-presented event will qualify for one hour (1.0) of participatory MCLE

Lessons Learned from CA’s Wage and Hour Litigation: What Everyone (including Lawyers) Should Know

November 18, 2021, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – via Zoom

Most of the litigation filed in California is employment litigation. And most of the employment litigation stems from allegations of a business’s failure to comply with wage and hour laws. Listen to the perspective of two experienced lawyers, one who represents employees and the other employers, who handle many of the employment law cases filed on the Central Coast. Learn why even lawyers who do not practice in this area should be aware of these laws in order to better protect themselves and their clients.

Presented by: Allen Hutkin and Kathy Eppright

Allen Hutkin is the founder of the Hutkin Law Firm, APC where for nearly 30 years he has primarily focused on representing employees in discrimination, sexual harassment, wrongful termination, failure to accommodate, severance negotiations, and unpaid wage and overtime matters. He represents employees in individual and class actions who seek to recover damages and make lasting changes in the workplace. He successfully tried the first disability discrimination case and the first wage and hour class action in San Luis Obispo County. Many of his cases are referrals from other attorneys on the Central Coast and throughout California.

Kathy Eppright is an attorney and partner with the Central Coast law firm, Andre, Morris & Buttery, and has been specializing in employment law for almost 30 years. She has handled cases ranging from employment discrimination and sexual harassment to wage and hour class actions and PAGA cases. She has counseled all types of Central Coast businesses from small mom-and-pop businesses with a handful of employees to very large corporations with hundreds of employees. Kathy is also frequently retained by other attorneys as an external investigator. She is a certificate holder with the Association of Workplace Investigations (AWI) and part-time faculty member at the AWI investigations training Institute.

Materials available here.

This Zoom-presented event will qualify for one hour (1.0) of participatory MCLE

Judging Confusion & Delirium… A Myriad of Causes

November 17, 2021, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – via Zoom

Things are not always as they appear. Neemah Yamin-Esfandiary, Pharm.D. will lead a discussion on the many causes of delirium and confusion and his experiences with these conditions in criminal cases.

Presented by: Neemah Yamin-Estfandary, Pharm.D., Forensic Pharmaceutical Consultant

Dr. Yamin-Esfandiary graduated from University of the Pacific, School of Pharmacy
in 2008. He began working as a hospital pharmacist at an acute care hospital in Los
Angeles. He then moved to the central coast and started working at Dignity Health in
mid 2009 until the present. At the same time he began working as a Forensic
Pharmaceutical Consultant. He has written reports and testified in state and federal
court on numerous cases regarding the apparent influence of medications on
cognitive and motor function. He actively seeks to bring a fair and balanced
perspective to medications as they relate to the forensic judicial system. During his
personal time he enjoys the great outdoors and spending time with his family.

Materials available here.

This Zoom-presented event will qualify for one hour (1.0) of participatory MCLE

How much is too much to pay a trustee or… How to Avoid Being a Knucklehead

November 16, 2021, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – via Zoom

Few trustees have a good answer to the question “How much Should I be paid”. Their professional advisors often disagree. Some say an hourly rate, some say a percent of the trust assets, and others say a flat retainer. Due to this general lack of agreement few can provide a thoughtful or comprehensive explanation of why they are getting paid what they are. Not surprisingly, many beneficiaries and their professional advisors frequently object to whatever the answer may be. Disagreements about the trustee’s compensation are exacerbated during periods of heightened financial uncertainty. This presentation seeks to provide a road map for both trustees and beneficiaries, of how to answer the ubiquitous question, “How much should a trustee be paid?” This presentation answers the following questions:

• Should I charge an hourly rate and if so in what amount?
• Should I charge a percent of the trust portfolio like the corporate trustees do?
• If I delegate investment duties to a third party, should my fee go down?
• Can I charge more if I serve a particularly “high demand” beneficiary?
• How do I determine what the “custom in the community” is?
• Is there any statutory guidance on what my fee should be?

Presented by: Josh Yager

Josh Yager is a recognized expert on the management and oversight of trust assets. He lectures and writes extensively on the policies, procedures, and practices for the prudent administration of trusts. He has been invited to speak to various Bar associations, CPA chapters, estate planning councils, Professional Fiduciary Association forums and AICPA national events. Josh has testified on prudent governance practices before the Texas Pension Review Board, the Alaska Retirement Management Board and has provided expert testimony within the California courts. Josh has led governance consulting engagements for the boards of public pension funds responsible for assets in excess of $30b, foundation and endowment boards with assets in excess of $250m and for individual trustees with modestly funded trusts.

Materials available here and here.

This Zoom-presented event will qualify for one hour (1.0) of participatory MCLE

The Supreme Court in Transition presented by Erwin Chemerinsky

October 21, 2021, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – via Zoom

Erwin Chemerinsky became the 13th Dean of Berkeley Law on July 1, 2017, when he joined the faculty as the Jesse H. Choper Distinguished Professor of Law.

Prior to assuming this position, from 2008-2017, he was the founding Dean and Distinguished Professor of Law, and Raymond Pryke Professor of First Amendment Law, at the University of California, Irvine School of Law. Before that, he was the Alston and Bird Professor of Law and Political Science at Duke University from 2004-2008, and from 1983-2004 was a professor at the University of Southern California Law School, including as the Sydney M. Irmas Professor of Public Interest Law, Legal Ethics, and Political Science. From 1980-1983, he was an assistant professor at DePaul College of Law.

He is the author of fourteen books, including leading casebooks and treatises about constitutional law, criminal procedure, and federal jurisdiction. His most recent books are Presumed Guilty: How the Supreme Court Empowered the Police and Subverted Civil Rights (Norton 2021), and The Religion Clauses: The Case for Separating Church and State (with Howard Gillman) (Oxford University Press 2020).

He also is the author of more than 200 law review articles. He is a contributing writer for the Opinion section of the Los Angeles Times, and writes regular columns for the Sacramento Bee, the ABA Journal, and the Daily Journal, and frequent op-eds in newspapers across the country. He frequently argues appellate cases, including in the United States Supreme Court.

In 2016, he was named a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2017, National Jurist magazine again named Dean Chemerinsky as the most influential person in legal education in the United States. In January 2021, he was named President-elect of the Association of American Law Schools.

Education

B.S., Northwestern University (1975)
J.D., Harvard Law School (1978)

Materials available here.

This Zoom-presented event will qualify for one hour (1.0) of participatory MCLE

Understanding California’s Tiered Sex Offender Registration (SB 384)

October 20, 2021, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. –

Jeff Stein has been an attorney for more than 45 years, serving in a variety of capacities, including President of both the SLO County Bar and California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, a statewide network of private and public criminal defense lawyers. He has worked over many years in CACJ’s legislative committee, serving as chair of the committee for 3 separate years. He has practiced solely in the criminal defense field, first for 5 years as a public defender in Southern California, and for the last 41 years in SLO County. His most in-depth single area of practice has been regarding sex offenses, and in particular, seeking to terminate sex offender registration, both thru creative motions and now by advocating for and implementing the new Tiered Registration legislation (SB384). The goal of the discussion will be to elevate awareness of the opportunity and to do some Q&A on what is developing in SLO County practice in this area.

Tiered Registration Summary

PC 290 Effective 1-1-2021

Sex Offender Registration Termination History and Update

Tier Designation Letter

Petition Forms – Draft – April 2020

2019-2020 SB145_Assembly Appropriations_Final Analysis

Saratso Summarized Explanation

Prop 83 Unconstitutional In re Taylor

Termination of Mandated Registration Period

Final SB384_Senate Floor Analyses

registrant-faqs updated 1-1-2020

Tiering Background Paper 4-2-14

Sex Registration Termination Article JR and JRS

Sex Registration Termination Article 2019 (Historic Focus) Bar Bulletin (1)

This Zoom-presented event will qualify for one hour (1.0) of participatory MCLE

Estate & Trust Section Meeting : Five Lessons Learned in Providing Legal Services to Older and Disabled Adults

October 27, 2021, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

Attorneys from Bet Tzedek Legal Services in Los Angeles will talk about their programs for older and disabled adults and best practices in communicating with these communities.

Dominique Sanz-David is an elder justice attorney with Bet Tzedek Legal Service. She assists low-income, elderly and disabled clients and their caregivers with estate planning, conservatorships, elder abuse litigation, and real estate fraud. She is a member of the Los Angeles County Elder Abuse Forensic Center and co-created Bet Tzedek’s elder abuse restraining order clinic in partnership with the Los Angeles Superior Court. Dominique earned her degrees from Pomona College and UC Hastings College of the Law.

Bertha S. Hayden serves as the Directing Attorney for Bet Tzedek’s Caregiver Unit. In 2009, she launched an innovative pilot program, Family Matters, in Los Angeles County to educate and provide direct legal services to families with special education students on limited conservatorships and supported decision-making options. Bertha has received the Award of Merit from Legal Aid Association of California and the Jack H. Skirball award for the Family Matters Project. Prior to joining Bet Tzedek, Ms.Hayden clerked with Legal Aid of Los Angeles, The Federal Public Defender’s Office of San Jose, and the City Attorney’s Office of Santa Monica.

Materials are available here.

This Zoom-presented event will qualify for one hour (1.0) of participatory MCLE

Decommissioning Diablo Canyon Power Plant: the Future for the Lands and Facilities

September 23, 2021, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. –

This program will go over a summary of the closure and decommissioning of the Diablo Canyon Power Plant (the last nuclear power plant in the State of California) as well as discuss the future of the 12,000 acre Diablo Canyon Lands surrounding the plant and touch on the opportunities and issues associated with the future of the plant site, facilities, and structures.

Presenters – Kara Woodruff and Jon Ansolabehere

Kara Woodruff is a thirty-year plus resident of San Luis Obispo and a business graduate of Cal Poly SLO. She is an attorney, financial planner, and mom, and received a joint JD/MA degree in law and public policy from Duke University.

As a former project director for national conservation organizations, Kara negotiated and raised funds for the conservation of over 100,000 acres in SLO County, including at Hearst Ranch, Cambria Pines, Irish Hills, and the Carrizo Plain. She is a member of the Diablo Canyon Decommissioning Engagement Panel and an author of the Panel’s Strategic Vision.

Kara holds two jobs, as a VP and registered representative at Blakeslee & Blakeslee, and Senior Policy Advisor for Senator John Laird, 17^th Senatorial District of California.

Jon Ansolabehere is the Chief Deputy County Counsel for the County of San Luis Obispo which is an in-house law office for the County. County Counsel’s Office has 15 attorneys and support staff and provides legal services to the Board of Supervisors and approximately 70 other Boards, County Departments, Commissions and entities, including the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments and Regional Transportation Authority. At the County, Jon’s primary duties involve advising the Planning and Building Department on land use and development related matters, including energy and mining projects. Before the County, Jon was the Assistant City Attorney for the City of San Luis Obispo and was in private practice before that with the law firm Carmel & Naccasha, LLP. In private practice, Jon represented various cities, special districts, business owners, developers and interest groups mostly in regards to land use and real estate matters. Jon received his law degree from Golden Gate University and received both his Master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Jon lives in Creston with his wife Catherine and two boys.

Materials available here

This Zoom-presented event will qualify for one hour (1.0) of participatory MCLE

Conservatorships in California – 30,000 Foot View

September 22, 2021, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

This program will provide basic information on probate, limited, and LPS conservatorships. Our speaker will discuss practical concerns faced by the practitioner in establishing probate conservatorships, as well as current legislative efforts to revise California’s conservatorship laws.

Presenter – Natalie R. Nuttall

Natalie R. Nuttall is a native of the Central Valley and joined the McCormick Barstow firm in 2021. Her experience includes estate planning and probate practice as a sole practitioner in North San Diego County and with private firms in Fresno. She handles the simple to complex estate matters, as well as probate, conservatorship, and guardianship matters. Ms. Nuttall’s legal career began in San Francisco where she defended complex toxic tort and products liability matters for international and national companies. Ms. Nuttall is admitted to practice before all California state and federal courts. Ms. Nuttall advises individuals and families on trusts, wills and succession planning, as well as the administration of trusts. She also advises and handles conservatorship and guardianship matters. Ms. Nuttall is a member of the State Bar of California as well as the Fresno County Bar Association. She is also an active member of the Fresno Women Lawyers, Fresno Women’s Chamber of Commerce, East Fresno Rotary Club and serves as the Board of Directors for the Down Syndrome Association of Central California.

Materials available here

This Zoom-presented event will qualify for one hour (1.0) of participatory MCLE

Cannabis Impaired Driving

September 21, 2021, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

The Criminal Defense Section of the San Luis Obispo County Bar Association is pleased to host Trey Tull for a presentation on Cannabis Impaired Driving. From the first contact by patrol officers to the investigation of the Drug Recognition Expert (DRE), Trey will address what law enforcement officers are looking for throughout their contacts with the operators of motor vehicles. His presentation will also cover the duration of effects for cannabis, metabolites in the blood and urine and how this can be utilized in building a defense, a NHTSA update on cannabis impairment, and a crash risk assessment of cannabis impaired driving.

Presenter – Trey Tull

Trey Tull is the owner and operator of DWI Drug Driving Consulting LLC. After nearly a decade in the United States Marine Corps, Trey transitioned to a career in law enforcement. With experience working at both a parish and city level in Louisiana, Trey ran a DWI/DUI task force, oversaw a departmental K9 program, and was a team leader within departmental SWAT teams (two different departments). With each of these programs, Trey helped to write and define policy within the department and the program. Trey is a certified Drug Recognition Expert (DRE), a Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Instructor, Close Quarter Combat Instructor, a Department of Homeland Security Active Shooter Instructor, a less lethal munitions (impact and chemical) instructor and has held numerous other certifications throughout his law enforcement career.

Materials available here

This Zoom-presented event will qualify for one hour (1.0) of participatory MCLE

Depositions in the Zoom Era with Judge Coates, Michael Pick, Devin Mikulka & Jeri Cain

August 26, 2021, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Presented by: Judge Coates, Michael Pick, Devin Mikulka & Jeri Cain

The Hon. Tana L. Coates is a judge for the Superior Court of San Luis Obispo County in California. She was appointed to the bench by former Governor Jerry Brown on May 22, 2017, filling a vacancy created by the elevation of the Hon. Martin J. Tangeman to the Second District Court of Appeal.

Coates earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin. She then completed a J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center.

Prior to her appointment to the bench, Coates was a partner at Coates and Coates from 2009 to 2017. She practiced alongside her husband, specializing in business litigation, personal injury, elder abuse, and construction defect cases. Before that, she was an associate at James R. Murphy, Jr. since 1991. During her fourteen-year tenure with the firm, she rose through the ranks, eventually becoming a named partner in 2005.

Michael has obtained six and seven figure verdicts on behalf of his plaintiff clients, and has also successfully defended multiple defendants through trial. In addition to trial work, he has extensive experience in mediating and negotiating matters to resolution.

After having substantial experience in litigating issues involving estates, trusts and wills, Michael determined that he could assist clients in avoiding many of the problems that develop in estate plans. He provides clients with estate planning services including the drafting of comprehensive estate plans that include wills and trusts.

Michael is an “AV” rated preeminent lawyer by Martindale Hubbell. Michal was selected as one of the Top Young Attorneys in Southern California by Super Lawyers Magazine.

Michael served with distinction in the United States Marine Corps. Michael was honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps as a corporal (E-4). Michael served in Operations Restore Hope and Continue Hope in Somalia along with Operation Distant Runner in Burundi.

Michael is a devoted family man. He has been blessed with a beautiful wife and 3 incredible sons.

Devin Mikulka joined Carmel & Naccasha after working as an associate in the Los Angeles office of Lewis Brisbois as a member of the Labor & Employment Practice. Prior to her work in Los Angeles, Devin worked at a boutique employment law firm specializing in single plaintiff discrimination, wrongful termination, and wage and hour matters. She also worked as a law clerk for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California in San Diego. Prior to law school, Devin worked for the U.S. Department of Justice on the international extradition of criminal fugitives.

Her practice focuses on defending employers against a variety of employment litigation matters, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and wage and hour and PAGA actions. Devin represents clients in both state and federal court, as well as in arbitration.

Devin earned her bachelor’s degree in foreign affairs and Spanish from the University of Virginia and later attended law school at UC Davis where she graduated in 2015. Devin recently moved to the Central Coast and is one of the newest members of the Carmel & Naccasha team.

Jeri Cain is the energetic founder and president of MeritCourtReporting & Videoconference, a court reporter entrepreneur who established her business in 1974 with offices located in San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria. Since 2020 Jeri’s company has literally helped schedule and report hundreds of depositions with remote participants and is with us today to help field questions our members may have from her unique perspective.

Materials available here

This Hybrid presented event will qualify for one hour (1.0) of participatory MCLE

Estate & Trust Section MCLE – A Crossover in Family Law and Estates/Trusts

July 28, 2021, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. via Zoom

Presented by: Robbi Rizzo

Robbi Rizzo will cover a variety of Family Law concepts that Trusts and Estates Attorneys should be aware of, including: Standard Family Law Restraining Orders (“ATROs”), Incapacity or Death during Divorce, Transmutations, Premarital Agreements, and Separate Property Asset issues.

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Robbi’s practice focuses on assisting clients with family law matters in San Luis Obispo County. Robbi graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of La Verne and received her law degree from the University of California at Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law, on a merit scholarship. While in law school, Robbi was a member of the summer associate program in the Silicon Valley office of Heller Ehrman LLP, worked in the Dependency Division of the Alameda County Public Defender’s Office, and volunteered at the Alameda County Bar Association Divorce Clinic. Prior to attending law school, Robbi was the Western Region Manager for the Scientific and Industrial Business Unit of Kimberly-Clark, a Fortune 500 corporation. Robbi’s prior career in business also included management experience in domestic and foreign operations, marketing, and training. Robbi has lived in San Luis Obispo County since 1990 and enjoys the opportunities for outdoor activities the Central Coast offers. Robbi is a graduate of Leadership San Luis Obispo Class XVII.

1141 Pacific Street, Suite F
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
805-593-0593
robbi@robbirizzo.com

Materials are available to download:

FL & E-T Crossover Slides

Hand-Outs

This Zoom-presented event will qualify for one hour (1.0) of participatory MCLE

How to write an effective brief – tips and insights presented by The San Luis Obispo Superior Court Research Attorneys

June 17, 2021, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. – In Person at Hotel SLO and via Zoom

An inside perspective from the San Luis Obispo Superior Court research attorney team on what makes a good briefing, mistakes to avoid, and how to ensure your written arguments are conveyed in a manner the Court can appreciate.

Presenters – Julie Casey, Ellen Drews, & Erin DeNatale

Bios:

Julie Casey joined the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court as a research attorney in February 2016. She began her legal career as an associate with Andre, Morris & Buttery in 2004, before becoming a research attorney for the Santa Maria courthouse in 2009. While working in Santa Maria, she taught courses in Legal Research, Legal Writing, and Ethics from 2012 to 2014 for the paralegal program at Allan Hancock College. She currently teaches Legal Research at the Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law. Julie earned her J.D. from the University of Notre Dame and an LL.M. from New York University.

Ellen Drews joined the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court as a research attorney in October 2017. Prior to joining the court, Ellen worked as an associate practicing civil litigation at Sinsheimer Juhnke McIvor & Stroh in San Luis Obispo from 2013 to 2017, and McDermott Will & Emery in Los Angeles from 2008 to 2013. Ellen previously served on the boards for WLA and the San Luis Obispo Children’s Museum. Ellen earned her J.D. from U.C.L.A.

Erin DeNatale joined the San Luis Obispo Superior Court as a research attorney in January 2018. Prior to joining the court, Erin worked at Lagasse · Branch · Bell & Kinkead llp for six years, focusing on employment defense. Erin also completed a federal clerkship in Monroe, Louisiana, after graduating from Whittier Law School. Erin is the 2021 President of Women Lawyers Association of San Luis Obispo County.

Materials available to download:

Statutes, Rules, Cases and Helpful Resources

This Hybrid presented event will qualify for one hour (1.0) of participatory MCLE

Ethics Update for the T&E Lawyer: What You Need to Know About the New Rules

June 23, 2021, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. via Zoom

A comprehensive set of new Rules of Professional Conduct became effective in late 2018. When these 69 new Rules went into effect, they replaced the 46 Rules of Professional Conduct that previously governed the conduct of attorneys in California. This program focuses on those new Rules of general application to most T&E lawyers.

Presented by Neil J Wertlieb, Expert Witness (attorney ethics and standard of care, as well as corporate transactions, fiduciary duties and corporate governance); Retired Partner @ Milbank LLP; Adjunct Professor @ both UCLA and UC Berkeley Law Schools; current Co-Chair and Founding Member of the Ethics Committee of the California Lawyers Association; former Chair of the Ethics Committees of both the California State Bar and the Los Angeles County Bar Association; General Editor of Ballantine & Sterling: California Corporation Laws; and Editor of Guide to the California Rules of Professional Conduct for Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Counsel (Fourth Edition published by the California Lawyers Association, Fall 2020).

Materials are available to download below.

New Rules of Professional Conduct (1)

New Rules of Professional Conduct

This Zoom-presented event will qualify for one hour (1.0) of participatory MCLE Credit; including one (1) hour in Legal Ethics; the speakers presentation will be one hour in length.

Winning Women’s Suffrage: Celebrating Victories, Learning from Mistakes

Presented by Dr. Nancy Unger, Professor of History, Santa Clara University

May 20, 2021, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Download Materials here.

Nancy C. Unger is Professor of History at Santa Clara University, where her courses include US Women’s History, and LGBTQ History. A scholar of American history at the turn of the last century, she is the author of the prize-winning biographies Fighting Bob La Follette: The Righteous Reformer and Belle La Follette: Progressive Era Reformer. She co-edited A Companion to the Gilded Age and Progressive Era and is also the author of Beyond Nature’s Housekeepers: American Women in Environmental History (a California Book Award finalist).

Nancy’s op-eds applying the lessons of the past to the present have appeared in dozens of publications and websites, including The Washington Post, Chicago Sun-Times, Miami Herald, San Francisco Chronicle, CNN, TIME, and RealClearPolitics. Her radio and podcast appearances include National Public Radio, Talking History, History Personified, and Voice of America. She has worked as a consultant for PBS, and has been featured on four hour-long programs on C-SPAN.

This Zoom-presented event will qualify for one hour (1.0) of participatory MCLE, including one hour (1.0) of Elimination of Bias credit

Join the San Luis Obispo Trust & Estate Section for the

MEDI-CAL ELIGIBILITY PLANNING INCLUDING MEDI-CAL TRUSTS:

May 26, 2021, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.

Download Materials here:

Medi Cal Resource Limits Handout

Medi Cal Eligibility Planning – Powerpoint

Kristen Howe Bio

Presented by Kirsten Howe, Founder and Managing Partner Absolute Trust Counsel:

Kirsten Howe is the founder and managing attorney of Absolute Trust Counsel, a trusted law firm in Walnut Creek, California. Her practice focuses on estate planning, trust administration, probate, Medi-Cal planning and special needs planning. Although Kirsten began her career as a business planning attorney, she soon realized that estate planning and elder law are her passion. She is dedicated to designing and implementing customized plans, making everything simple and easy for her clients and establishing close, long-lasting relationships.

Kirsten earned her J.D. cum laude at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, where she was a member of the Thurston Society and Managing Editor of The Hastings Law Journal. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Michigan.

This Zoom-presented event will qualify for one hour (1.0) of participatory MCLE

TRUST, PROBATE AND CONSERVATORSHIP ANNUAL LITIGATION UPDATE

April 28, 2021, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Download Materials here.

Presented by Nick Van Brunt and Scott Rahn

Nick Van Brunt is a partner with the Los Angeles office of Sheppard Mullin and is the Team Leader of the firm’s Private Wealth Services Team. Nick focuses his practice on resolving disputes over trusts, estates, conservatorships, and other fiduciary matters. His typical client matters include will and trust contests, breach of fiduciary duty cases, trustee accounting matters, conservatorship proceedings, and cases involving the intersection between probate law and other legal issues.

Scott Rahn is the founding and Managing Partner of RMO LLP, a litigation law firm with offices in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Ventura, Miami and Kansas City focused on representing beneficiaries, professional and corporate fiduciaries in contested trust, estate and probate litigation matters and contested conservatorships.

This Zoom-presented event will qualify for one hour (1.0) of participatory MCLE

Cannabis: Licensing, Regulation, and CEQA

April 15, 2021, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Download Materials here: CalCannabis License Regulation and Legislation, County cannabis history and current numbers, Cannabis Land Use Permit Process

Presented by:

• Crystal D’Souza, Staff Counsel, CA Department of Food and Agriculture
• Brian Stack, Deputy County Counsel, County of SLO
• Courtney Taylor, Law Office of Courtney E. Taylor
• Jamie Jones, Kirk Consulting
• Brent Burchett, Farm Bureau Executive Director (Moderator)

Event Description:

A panel discussion with personnel from the California Department of Food and Agriculture, the County of San Luis Obispo, and the Farm Bureau discussing legislative amendments passed, proposed, or still being considered impacting cannabis, challenges with obtaining a permit, and the process from permit approval to planting. The panel will also provide a status update on County permitting, including the number of land use permit applications in process, the number of land use permit applications approved, the number of business licenses issued, and CalCannabis Cultivation licensing numbers. This educational event is ideal for anyone wanting to learn more about cannabis regulations in California and San Luis Obispo County. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to learn from and ask questions of experts at the State and County level.

This Zoom-presented event will qualify for one hour (1.0) of participatory MCLE

This Zoom-presented event will qualify for one hour (1.0) of participatory MCLE

Bar Bulletin

The San Luis Obispo Bar Bulletin is published bi-monthly and provided at no charge to the members of the San Luis Obispo County Bar Association. To submit an article for publication, please send an e-mail with attached submission to slosafire@icloud.com.com. For information on advertising opportunities and rates, please e-mail Kerrin Adams at slobar@slobar.org

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