Practice Areas
Each Knox Lemmon partner possesses decades of experience on a broad range of business, real estate and trust administration issues involving both transactions and litigation. Moreover, every case is actively managed by one of the three partners, assuring every client professional, responsive and cost-effective legal service.
Administrative Law
For many professionals, a state-issued license is their livelihood. If a complaint or disciplinary matter threatens a client’s license, Knox Lemmon puts together a defense and helps tell the client’s side of the story before the appropriate licensing agency. Our energetic representation includes evaluation and advice, appearing with clients at investigatory interviews and, where necessary, representing licensed professionals in administrative trials.
Business Litigation
When business disputes occur, Knox Lemmon helps clients understand all the available options, carefully weighing the pros and cons of each action. How will it affect your existing business relationships? Your standing in the community? Your peace of mind? Your long-term versus your short-term interests? Many lawyers can march into a courtroom—but we’ll help you decide if that’s the most strategic solution. If you do choose to litigate, we have extensive state and federal litigation practice. We represent clients at the trial and appellate level. We represent clients in insurance matters as defense counsel, and “Cumis” counsel.
Business issues Knox Lemmon most typically resolve include:
- Corporate and partnership
disputes - Contractual disputes
- Employment issues
- Construction defects
- Intellectual property disputes
- Lender liability
- Real estate disputes
- Product liability
- Insurance bad faith
- Trade secret matters
- Unfair competition disputes.
Whatever the dispute, Knox Lemmon will help you reach the solution that’s best for your business.
Corporations, Securities and Partnerships
When creating, modifying or ending the legal structure of a business, each option raises many considerations such as personal liability, type of management, capitalization and funding, independence, tax ramifications, and succession plans. Knox Lemmon helps you build and execute a plan that’s right for your business.
We advise clients forming new corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies. We handle the private placement of debt and equity. We also assist clients in the negotiation of business acquisitions and the preparation of purchase agreements (involving both stock and asset sales), mergers and debt restructuring.
Employment
Being an employer isn’t easy and California’s employment laws are complex. When it comes to hiring, firing, wages and work hours, there are obligations and pitfalls that come with the territory. If you suspect you’ve got an employment problem brewing, resist the temptation to “wait and see.” Manage the situation by reaching for the phone and calling on the experience of Knox Lemmon. We help employers navigate potential legal issues and work with them to produce and implement policies that safeguard against future liability.
We counsel business clients on issues such as:
- Pre-employment screening
- Employment contracts
- Employee privacy
- Labor relations
- Wage and hour issues
- Policy and procedure manuals
- Termination procedures
- Trade secrets
- Unfair competition
- Sexual harassment
- Employment discrimination
- Drug testing
We represent and counsel individuals and entities in litigation before government agencies such as the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the Employment Development Department and the State Labor Commissioner.
Finance
Squaring financial transactions among large institutions and their constituents requires considering many interests. Knox Lemmon can minimize exposure to risk and help deals go smoothly. We represent financial institutions, retirement investment funds, commercial lessors and lenders in every variety of financial transactions, including securitizations. We represent lenders as well as borrowers in litigation arising out of financing transactions.
Governmental Affairs
Government regulations are constantly changing. Insofar as those regulations affect a particular industry, the trade associations representing that the industry need to ensure those regulations are fair, sensible and equitably applied to avoid creating new problems. Knox Lemmon counsels individuals, companies, trade associations and public officials in connection with regulatory matters, disciplinary proceedings and investigations, and litigation affecting public policy including state ballot initiatives and agricultural commodity pricing policies enforced by the state and federal governments.
Intellectual Property
Intellectual property protection is the cornerstone of modern innovation. Knox Lemmon provides advice and assistance in the protection of patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets and in litigating disputes. Our experience includes advising high tech and bio-med companies in the preparation and negotiation of intellectual property assignment agreements, non-disclosure agreements and licensing agreements.
Probate, Wills and Trusts
At Knox Lemmon, we see to it that probate, trust and conservatorship matters proceed as efficiently as possible. We represent personal representatives in large and small estates, prepare petitions for probate and we handle conservatorships, guardianships, will contests, reports and accountings. Of course, nothing ensures a efficiency like a good plan. As part of our estate planning services, we counsel clients about potential estate tax consequences and prepare living trusts, testamentary trusts, wills, advance healthcare directives and durable powers of attorney.
Real Estate
The capable attorneys at Knox Lemmon recognize that every real estate deal is unique and often quite complex. We make sure our clients understand all the associated risks and possibilities and help keep the process moving.
Our real estate services include:
- Negotiation and preparation of sales and purchase agreements
for developed and undeveloped properties - Examination and preparation of residential and commercial
building leases, as well as
ground leases - Documentation of and assistance with financing issues
- Examination and resolution of
title problems - The handling of real property foreclosures (by trustee sale or judicial foreclosure)
- Examination and documentation
of licenses and easements
- Supervision of hazardous material audits
- Negotiation and the preparation of environmental contamination remediation plans
- Preparation of environmental indemnity agreements for use by real property owners, lessors or tenants
We also represent clients in litigation arising out of real estate transactions, including actions for damages, foreclosure, injunctive relief and appointment of receivers. We handle construction defect claims, mechanics' liens and foreclosure suits on private jobs.
Additionally, we represent clients on public jobs in connection with
- Competitive bidding
requirements - Listing of subcontractors
- Rejection or withdrawal of bids, delays, stop notices
- Claims of subcontractors and suppliers
Whatever your real estate issue may be, Knox Lemmon has the expertise to deliver successful outcomes.
