Myers, Widders, Gibson, Jones & Feingold, L.L.P. Selected as a Top Ranked Law Firm in the United States for 2013

Myers, Widders, Gibson, Jones & Feingold, L.L.P. was recently named as one of the “Top Ranked Law Firms” in the United States by Fortune Magazine and LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell.  More than 254,000 law firms were considered in the selection process, but less than one-half of one percent of firms across the nation made the grade.

To be eligible as a 2013 U.S. Top Ranked Law Firm, a firm must have a minimum of 10 attorneys and at least 33% of their attorneys must have achieved an AV Preeminent® rating.  An AV Preeminent® indicates that the individual attorney is an established practicing lawyer whose local peers have observed him or her to be “Very High to Preeminent” in legal ability and to have “Very High” ethical standards. 

In addition to its publication in Fortune magazine, the Top Ranked Law Firms list also appeared in the January 2013 editions of Corporate Counsel and The American Lawyer, and also appears on martindale.com and CNNMoney.com. 

Myers, Widders, Gibson, Jones & Feingold Announces Name Change

We are pleased to announce an official name change to Myers, Widders, Gibson, Jones & Feingold, L.L.P.  The name change, effective January 1, 2013, recognizes the marked contributions and leadership of Erik B. Feingold who has been a partner with the firm since 2007.

Mr. Feingold, a litigator with twenty years of experience at both the trial and appellate levels, represents parties in all aspects of litigation involving catastrophic personal injuries, business, and real estate disputes.  In January of 2011, Mr. Feingold obtained the largest personal injury verdict in Ventura County history in the amount of $39 million on behalf of a catastrophically injured CHP officer.  Mr. Feingold graduated at the top of his class from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in 1993.

Founded in 1971, Myers, Widders, Gibson, Jones & Feingold, L.L.P., is a multi-service law firm with 16 attorneys making it Ventura County's third oldest and third largest law firm.  The firm will continue to focus its practice in the areas of civil litigation, business and corporate, non-profit, employment law, class actions, estate planning, probate and trust administration, personal injury, insurance coverage, community association, construction and construction law, and municipal and governmental matters.  In addition to its original Ventura location, the firm has offices in Valencia, San Luis Obispo, Mammoth Lakes and Westlake Village, California and Reno and Las Vegas, Nevada. 

2013 Employment Law Update Seminar

Employment Law Partner, Steven P. Lee, will be presenting the 2013 Employment Law Update Seminar on Thursday, January 17, 2013 from 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM at Ventura City Hall - Community Room, 501 Poli Street, 2nd Floor, Ventura, CA 93001.

The Ventura Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Myers, Widders, Gibson & Jones, LLP, to bring the latest employment law updates to business owners and managers. 

Mr. Lee will offer practical strategies for minimizing your company's exposure to claims from new issues affecting employer's. 

Topics Include:

• The Latest on Meal and Rest Break (Life after Brinker)
• At-Will Language in Employee Handbooks
• Pregnancy Disability
• Commission Agreement Requirements
• Social Media and the NLRB
• New Posting Requirements
• Religion and Reasonable Accomodation
• Sex Discrimination and Breastfeeding
• Sexual Harassment
• Personnel Records
• Rounding
• And Much, Much More...

Admission is free for Ventura Chamber members and $25 for non-members; however, guests of ours will receive free admission.  If you would like to attend, please RSVP by contacting Samantha E. Balchum at (805) 644-7188 or by e-mail at sbalchum@mwgjlaw.com.  


 

Attorney Gregory J. Ramirez Elected President of California Coast Chapter of ABOTA

Attorney Gregory J. Ramirez has been elected to serve as the 2013 President of the California Coast Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA).  ABOTA is an invitation-only organization that fosters improvement in the ethical and technical standards of practice in the field of advocacy. 

Mr. Ramirez is to be sworn in as President of the California Coast Chapter during its Annual Holiday Dinner on Friday, December 7, 2012 at the Four Seasons Biltmore Resort in Santa Barbara, California. 

Gregory J. Ramirez is a civil litigation attorney, with substantial trial experience.  His practice focuses on business and complex litigation, class action matters, personal injury and wrongful death.  

In addition to his professional experience, Mr. Ramirez is very involved in the local community, having served on a number of boards and committees and has held many leadership positions. Mr. Ramirez is an active member of the Oxnard Ambassadors, which strives to build relationships between the local military bases and local Ventura County businesses. He was elected to the position of, and served as, Consul General of the Ambassadors in 2010. Because of his local support of our men and women in service, Mr. Ramirez was selected this year to attend the Air Force Military War College in Montgomery, Alabama in May 2012.

Mr. Ramirez earned a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance from the University of Southern California in 1981.  After attending an honors program at Cambridge University in Cambridge, England where he studied International Economics, Mr. Ramirez returned to the Los Angeles area and obtained his Juris Doctorate from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1990.  Mr. Ramirez was born and raised in Ventura, California where he still resides. 

MWGJ Announces Association with Mammoth Lakes-Based Law Firm

Myers, Widders, Gibson & Jones, L.L.P. (“MWGJ”), is pleased to announce that David S. Baumwohl, a Professional Corporation has become of counsel to the firm with an established practice in Mammoth Lakes, California.  “The joining of these firms will provide the residents of Mammoth Lakes and the surrounding Eastern Sierra Nevada communities with a broad range of legal services normally only found in larger cities,” said Kelton Lee Gibson, Managing Partner with MWGJ.

David S. Baumwohl has been in practice in the Mammoth Lakes area since 1980.  He has more than 30 years of experience in real estate, general business representation and employment law.  Gibson predicts that “Mr. Baumwohl will be a valuable addition to MWGJ and its clients.”  Baumwohl maintains a presence with a second home in Ventura County and plans to continue to work part-time in Ventura.

Founded in 1971, MWGJ is a multi-service law firm with 16 attorneys.  The combined firms will focus in the areas of civil litigation, business and corporate, non-profit, employment law and class actions, estate planning, probate and trust administration, major personal injury, insurance coverage, community association, real estate, construction and construction defect matters, municipal law with an emphasis in school districts, cities and other public entities.  Partners in MWGJ have been long-time Mammoth Lakes property owners.  MWGJ has additional offices in Ventura, Santa Clarita and San Luis Obispo, California and Reno and LasVegas, Nevada.

Nonprofit Seminar - "What Nonprofit Directors Need to Know: Legal Responsibilities & Best Practices!"

Attorneys Roy Schneider and Julie Saltoun will be presenting a seminar entitled “What Nonprofit Directors Need to Know: Legal Responsibilities & Best Practices” for The Ventura Chamber in their Chamber Workshop Series on Thursday, July 19 from 8am-10:00am, at Ventura City Hall – Community Room, 501 Poli Street, 2nd Floor, Ventura, CA  93001.

Mr. Schneider & Ms. Saltoun will address the duties, policies and essential traits of nonprofit organizations and board members, including the fiduciary duties of board members, established and new corporate governance laws, election do’s and don’ts, how to avoid an IRS audit, understanding the concept of “development”, the board’s role in successful fundraising, retention of independent contractors and other employment concerns.

The goal of the workshop is to educate nonprofit organizations regarding the tools necessary for good corporate governance, so they do not become overburdened with compliance issues and can instead focus on the missions of their organizations.

“Our firm has received increasing requests for services from nonprofits” Saltoun said.  “More people are starting nonprofits, and we’ve been getting questions about IRS corporate governance regulations, as well as questions about shutting down and merging due to economic woes, executive terminations and use of donations,” she added.

Admission is free for Ventura Chamber members and $10 for non-members; however; guests of ours will receive free admission.  If you would like to attend, please RSVP by contacting Samantha E. Balchum at (805) 644-7188 or by email at sbalchum@mwgjs.com.  Breakfast and handouts will be provided.

Attorney Gregory J. Ramirez Selected to Attend the National Security Forum

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, ALABAMA – Attorney Gregory J. Ramirez received and accepted a personal invitation from the Secretary of the Air Force to attend the 59th Annual National Security Forum (NSF) at the Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.  The purpose of NSF is to expose influential citizens to senior U.S. and international officers and civilian equivalents in order to engage each others ideas and perspectives on Air Force, national and international security issues.

During the week of May 7-11, approximately 120 civilian leaders in business, education and government from all over the U.S. met with senior military leaders to explore current and future national security issues facing our nation.  The NSF provided a great opportunity for an open and candid exchange of ideas among these guests, senior military and civilian leaders, and Air War College students.  Ramirez attended lectures, met in seminars for in-depth discussions and participated in several social events.

The Air War College is the senior professional development school in the Air Force officer education system as a part of Air University.  It educates selected senior officers to lead at the strategic level in the employment of air and space forces.  The curriculum focuses on coalition warfighting and national security issues, with emphasis on the effective employment of aerospace forces in joint and combined combat operations.

Air University is a major component of Air Education and Training Command and the intellectual and leadership center of the Air Force.  Air University’s eight colleges and schools provide the full spectrum of Air Force education, from pre-commissioning to the highest levels of professional military education, including degree granting and professional continuing education for officers, enlisted and civilian personnel throughout their careers.

For more information on Air University, visit www.au.af.mil.