Practice Area Information

Our established areas of expertise include:

•   Business and Corporate Law & Transactional Matters •   Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Matters •   Real Estate •   State and Federal Income, Gift, and Estate Taxation •   Litigation in Business, Tax and Real Estate and Probate Matters •   Immigration and Naturalization Matters •   Trust Administration & Probate Matters •   Family Law •   Governmental Advocacy

We are experienced in many areas of business including:

•   Printing/Graphic Arts •   Physicians and other health care professionals •   Automobile dealers •   Manufacturing •   Sales and Distribution •   Real Estate •   Accounting and Financial •   Corporate Fiduciaries •   Contractors

 
Business and Corporate Law and Transactional Matters

BAKER, OLSON, LeCROY & DANIELIAN has been fortunate to serve a distinguished and diverse clientele. We represent all forms of business enterprises, including corporations, general and limited partnerships, joint ventures and sole proprietorships in industries that include manufacturing, distribution, real estate development, financial services, and various service industries. Business matters range from complicated financial or commercial transactions to relatively simple contract drafting or interpretation. We take a problem-solving, pragmatic approach to legal issues. Representation in business matters often includes the development and application of financial and estate planning programs so that the overall tax impact of transactions can be analyzed and recommendations can be made to enable our clients to more effectively achieve their long-range business and personal goals.

We have developed a particular expertise in the purchase and sale of businesses, reorganizations, mergers, acquisitions and the commercial aspects of daily business operations.

We work closely with our client's other business advisers, such as accountants, bankers, and insurance brokers, to facilitate the comprehensive business planning that is essential to any successful enterprise.

We also conduct scheduled periodic reviews and legal audits of everyday corporate and business transactions. We prepare and give advice on pertinent legal documentation, such as buy-sell agreements, employee benefit programs, and other contracts that govern business relationships.

Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Matters

One of our major areas of emphasis involves the creative use of a variety of tax planning and wealth transfer vehicles designed to accomplish family and personal financial objectives in estate planning. The focus is on maximizing and preserving clients’ assets and wealth and also on minimizing and deferring taxes. Because of our extensive business, corporate and transactional expertise, we have a particular ability to tie personal estate planning to the overall business planning and in particular to closely-held businesses, the preservation of value and the transfer of wealth from one generation to the next.

Estate planning includes preparation of all types of wills and trusts, "living wills," and powers of attorney, and advice concerning avoidance of probate where appropriate, intra-family business relationships and post-mortem tax planning. Our lawyers have authored articles and have lectured extensively on estate and financial planning, and have served in positions of responsibility in various professional organizations devoted to this area of practice.

We also have particular expertise in advising trustees on matters concerning the administration of trusts. This emphasis includes advice on the sometimes complex tax and legal matters surrounding post-mortem planning for estate planning trusts. We pride ourselves in working closely with the trustee's other advisers, such as CPAs and investment counsel, in accomplishing smoothly the goals of the particular estate plan.
As an adjunct to our estate planning practice, another of our major areas of emphasis is representation of our clients in the California probate courts. Our practice includes acting as counsel for executors, administrators, conservators, conservatees, trustees and beneficiaries in uncontested and contested matters.

Real Estate

BAKER, OLSON, LeCROY & DANIELIAN advises clients in all phases of real estate matters, including the purchase, sale, exchange, financing, operation and development of commercial, industrial and residential real estate. We have considerable experience and expertise in applying advantageous tax planning techniques in the negotiation of real estate transactions and the preparation of supporting legal documentation.
We also counsel both landlords and tenants on the negotiation, preparation and enforcement of complex commercial and other leases.

 

State and Federal Income, Gift, and Estate Taxation

BAKER, OLSON, LeCROY & DANIELIAN offers a complete range of counseling, representation, and tax preparation and compliance assistance in all matters involving federal, state, or local taxes, including income, estate, gift, sales and use, property, business and license taxes. We also have considerable experience representing and advising clients with regard to tax audits and disputes before federal and state courts, as well as federal and state taxing authorities, including the Internal Revenue Service, the Franchise Tax Board and the State Board of Equalization. Since the tax consequences of corporate, real estate and business transactions, and estate planning are often significant, our expertise in taxation matters enhances our representation in each of the areas described above.

 

Litigation in Business, Tax and Real Estate and Probate Matters

BAKER, OLSON, LeCROY & DANIELIAN's litigation attorneys represent clients in the California and federal courts, including all appellate courts. Our practice emphasizes most areas of civil business litigation, including commercial and contract litigation, landlord-tenant disputes, shareholder and partnership disputes, employer-employee relations, real estate litigation, trade secrets, unfair competition disputes, writs of attachment, temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions.

 

Immigration and Naturalization Matters

BAKER, OLSON, LeCROY & DANIELIAN represents clients such as intracompany transferees, professionals, treaty traders and investors in filing their applications for temporary work visas, as well as in procedures for permanent residency through immigrant visas, adjustment of status based on petitions for relatives and labor certifications. The firm also represents clients before the Immigration and Naturalization Service in naturalization and citizenship matters, as well as other immigration related matters such as change of non-immigrant status, extension of stay, political asylum, re-entry permits and refugee travel documents. This international expertise is enhanced by the business/transactional and tax planning strengths of our firm.

 

Trust Administration and Probate Matters

We have particular expertise in advising trustees on matters concerning the administration of trusts.  This emphasis includes advice on the sometimes complex tax and legal matters surrounding post-mortem planning for estate planning trusts.  We pride ourselves in working closely with the trustee's other advisors, such s CPAs and investment counsel, in accomplishing smoothly the goals of the particular estate plan.
As an adjunct to our estate planning practice, another of our major areas of emphasis is representation of our clients in the California probate courts.  Our practice includes acting as counsel for executors, administrators, conservators, conservatees, trustees and beneficiaries in contested and uncontested matters.

 

Family Law

We are experienced in the various aspects of family law, including marital dissolution, legal separations, pre-marital and post-marital agreements, adoptions, and paternity.

 

Governmental Advocacy

Our backgrounds as public officeholders and governmental counsel as well as private counsel uniquely qualify us in matters related to land use planning, conditional use permits, and variances before local government agencies, as well as any required litigation in state and federal courts; developmental and entitlement issues; matters related to local government disciplinary proceedings, including terminations and demotions, representing employees, appointing authorities or decision making bodies.