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.

MWGJS announces new of counsel and associates of the firm

Myers, Widders, Gibson, Jones & Schneider, L.L.P., is pleased to announce that Gregory J. Ramirez, James E. Perero and Jacquelyn D. Ruffin have joined the firm as of counsel and associates of the firm, respectively.

Ramirez joins the firm with significant trial experience.  His practice will focus on major litigation cases and class actions involving wage and hour disputes.

Ramirez is an extremely active and well-known member of the community having held a number of leadership positions with various social, civic and professional organizations.  Most notable, Ramirez is a past President of the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce and has been voted into the highly prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), an organization of veteran trial lawyers who promote the jury system and civility in the legal profession.  He is currently the Vice-President of the California Coast Chapter of ABOTA, which is comprised of attorneys and judges from three counties - Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo.  Ramirez will become the Chapter President in January 2013.  Ramirez has served on the City of San Buenaventura Planning Commission since 2006, and is currently the Chairman of the Planning Commission.

Perero received his law degree from Southwestern Law School in 2008, and joins the firm as an associate where his practice will focus on litigation matters.  Perero has counseled and represented clients at all phases of the litigation process, from pre-lawsuit advice and strategy through trial and final judgment, as well as appeals.  Perero’s main practice areas include general business litigation, employment, personal injury, and landlord/tenant disputes.  Perero also has experience litigating matters including inverse condemnation, personal injury, fraud, and bankruptcy adversary proceedings. Perero is an active member of the community, where he currently serves as the Chairman of the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce’s Host Committee and is a member of the Ventura Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors.

Ruffin, who also joins the firm as an associate, is a 2011 UCLA Law School graduate.  While in law school, Ruffin spent a summer clerking at the Ventura County Public Defender’s Office, a semester clerking with the Hualapai Tribal Court of Appeals/UCLA Tribal Appellate Court Clinic, and did a spring externship with the Honorable Harry Pregerson, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, earning significant research and writing experience in all jobs.  Ruffin will be assisting the firm with litigation support and business transaction matters.  Ruffin will also provide valuable research and writing skills to the firm and its clients. 

Founded in 1971, Myers, Widders, Gibson, Jones & Schneider, L.L.P. is a multi-service law firm with 18 attorneys making it Ventura County’s third oldest and third largest law firm.  The firm will continue to focus its practice in 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, construction and construction defect matters.  The firm also represents the City of Fillmore as City Attorney as well as several special school districts and other public entities. The firm has offices in Ventura, Santa Clarita and San Luis Obispo, California and Reno and Las Vegas Nevada.

Attorney Jill L. Friedman named a Top Women in Business by PCBT

MWGJS congratulates attorney Jill L. Friedman for being named one of the 2012 Top Women in Business by the Pacific Coast Business Times!

 

Now in her 25th year as an attorney, Friedman has been very successful in trying civil cases on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants. Early in her career, Friedman served as a visiting Deputy District Attorney.  She has worked as an insurance defense attorney, as well as a sole practitioner representing injured plaintiffs.  In 2004, she co-chaired a trial that led to the California Supreme Court decision in Ramirez v. Nelson regarding homeowners' liability for the wrongful death of an unlicensed, uninsured tree trimmer.  In 2010, she joined the Ventura-based law firm, Myers, Widders, Gibson, Jones & Schneider, L.L.P. 

Friedman was recently named to the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). Attorneys must have tried a minimum of ten civil jury trials to be considered for membership.  She is the fifth female attorney to join the Tri-Counties Chapter of ABOTA.  In March, 2012, she obtained a defense verdict in Mendez v. Kelly Cleaning & Supplies, Inc. after a 13 day jury trial in an alleged employment misclassification case.

Currently, Friedman is President of Women Lawyers of Ventura County and board member of the Ventura County Bar Association. She is Past President of SB Women Lawyers and Ventura County Barristers. She is a former board member of the SB County Bar Association and Ventura County Trial Lawyers Association. She has served as a judge pro tem in both the Santa Barbara and Ventura County courts.

MWGJS Attorneys Elected as Officers of Women Lawyers of Ventura County

MWGJS is pleased to announce that attorneys Jill L. Friedman and Charmaine Hilton Buehner have been elected as President and President-Elect, respectively, of Women Lawyers of Ventura County for the 2012 year!

Partner Dennis Neil Jones Named a Southern California "Super Lawyer"

Dennis Neil Jones has been named a Southern California “Super Lawyer” for 2012 in the field of insurance law.  This is the fifth time in six years that Jones has received this honor. Only 5% of all attorneys in Southern California in various legal specialties are named as Super Lawyers, based upon peer voting.  In other words, Mr. Jones received votes from lawyers he has opposed in insurance litigation. Mr. Jones exclusively represents policy holders in disputes involving general liability, homeowners, professional liability employer’s liability and director’s and officers liability policies. His practice has been focused in insurance coverage since 1985. During the past year, he settled wildfire claims on behalf of more than 60 homeowners, obtained coverage for a Tennis Academy in a class action lawsuit and on behalf of an officer and director in high stakes civil litigation.

Non-Profits in Ventura County Lose Tax-Exempt Status - Is Your Non-profit at Risk?

Nearly 600 non-profit organizations in Ventura County received notices this past summer from the IRS stating that their tax-exempt status had been revoked due to non-filing of tax returns for the last three consecutive years. Although these organizations do not have to pay taxes, they are still obligated to submit abbreviated informational returns. This action is part of the IRS' efforts to weed out defunct non-profit organizations, but unfortunately has affected legitimately active non-profits, who are now not allowed to receive tax-deductible donations, and whose income will be taxable until their exempt status is reinstated.

 

If you are an officer or director of a local non-profit and have received such a notice from the IRS, do not wait to respond, as penalties may increase the longer the non-profit is non-exempt, and the non-profit will be required to pay such penalties prior to being reinstated. Should you require assistance in having your exempt status reinstated, or have other questions relating to your non-profit, you should attend the next complimentary seminar for Non-Profits on December 6 at Cypress Place Senior Living, or call Roy Schneider or Julie Saltoun, at 644-7188. Roy and Julie provide advice to numerous local non-profits throughout the tri-counties. Special non-profit rates are offered as a part of our belief in giving back to our Communities.