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Bruce Emerson Methven
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Bruce Emerson Methven
Methven & Associates
2232 6th St.
Berkeley, CA 94710
Phone: (510) 649-4019 | Fax: (510) 663-0920
http://www.methvenlaw.com
Effective Business Law
Legal Topic
Business Law
Preferred New Clients
We advise clients on myriad business matters. In part, this includes selecting the best entity, then forming corporations, limited liability companies and partnerships. In addition, we handle sales/purchases of businesses, stock-option and related plans, shareholder agreements, and franchise law. (See our intellectual property services on this page too.)
Further, we handle private placements for companies bringing in investors, ensuring that the securities laws are met. Also, we provide contract and lease drafting and review, consult on employment and independent contractor matters, and draft employee handbooks. Finally, we represent the business community vigorously in commercial litigation and arbitration.
Sub-Categories
Business Law
- Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
- Mergers, Acquisitions, & Divestitures
- Unfair Competition
- Commercial Banks & Loans
- Commercial Leasing
- Mortgages & Foreclosures
- Venture Capital
- Business Successions
- Buying & Selling
- Closely Held Businesses
- Corporations
- Directors' & Officers' Liability
- Franchising
- Joint Ventures
- Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)
- Mergers, Acquisitions & Divestitures
- Nonprofits & Tax-Exempt Corporations
- Partnerships
- Professional Corporations
- Shareholders' Rights
- Trade Associations
- Breach of Contract
- Contract Disputes
- Contract Drafting & Review
- Employment Contracts
- Franchises
- International Transactions
- Non-Compete Contracts
- Secured Transactions
- Uniform Commercial Code
- Warranties
- Commercial Construction Contracts
- Mechanics' Liens
- Art
- Communication & Media
- Internet
- Computer Law
- Digital Signatures
- Domain Names
- Electronic Commerce
- Business & Trade
- Customs
- Foreign Investment
- Imports & Exports
- International Arbitration
- International Transactions
Legal Topic
Wills, Trusts & Estates
Preferred New Clients
In the estate planning area, we prepare trusts, wills, powers of attorney for financial matters and advance health-care directives. Where someone has passed on without a trust, we handle probates, especially if real estate is involved. We also provide services in other situations where a court order may be needed but a full probate is not required: spousal petitions, Hegstaad petitions (for where there is a trust but property was not put into it), etc.
In the securities & investments area, we handle private placements for corporations and limited liability companies that are bringing in investors. Our work here includes reviewing private placement memorandums, preparing investor certificates, filing securities exemption forms, etc.
Sub-Categories
Wills, Trusts & Estates
- Nolo Document Review
- Private Placements
- State Blue Sky Laws
- Warrants
- Drafting Trusts
- Drafting Wills
- Estate Planning
- Living Trusts
- Living Wills
- Probate
Legal Topic
Real Estate
Preferred New Clients
Among others, we represent deal-makers, developers, individual investors and commercial tenants. Our work includes (but is not limited to) forming entities for real-estate ventures, handling private-placement stock offerings to investors, generating opinion letters relating for loans on large apartment buildings, drafting and reviewing various contracts relating to real estate (including leases among others), and conducting probates involving real estate.
Sub-Categories
Commercial Real Estate
- Broker & Transaction Litigation
- Buying & Selling
- Conveyancing
- Land Contracts
- Mechanics' Liens
- Mortgages
- Property Taxes
- Real Estate Loans
- Renting & Leasing
- Architectural & Engineering
- Broker & Transaction Litigation
- Buying & Selling
- Conveyancing
- Land Contracts
- Mechanics' Liens
- Mortgages
- Property Taxes
- Real Estate Loans
- Renting & Leasing
Legal Topic
Intellectual Property
Preferred New Clients
Among other things, we help clients with trademark registrations; copyright registrations; creation, license and publishing agreements (software, merchandising, music and books); non-disclosure (confidentiality) agreements; and non-competition issues. We also handle e-commerce issues and prepare or revise online agreements, privacy policies, etc.
Sub-Categories
Intellectual Property
- Copyrights
- International Intellectual Property
- Technology Licensing
- Trade Dress
- Trademarks
- Trade Secrets
- Publishing
- Internet
Bar Admissions
CA, Dec 1980
Bar Number: 95486
Other Court Admissions
California, all federal districts in California, 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Association Memberships
California State Bar Association, Alameda County Bar Association.
Continuing Education
I have attended many hours of continuing legal education over the past 25 years in business law, real estate and intellectual property.
Papers and Publications
Many articles; those written in the past several years are posted on our web site www.methvenlaw.com.
Example Cases
We have handled a number of multi-million dollar investment offerings and multi-million dollar purchase/sale of business agreements.
Education
Degree:
Juris Doctor
School:
Boalt Hall (U.C. Berkeley)
City:
Berkeley
State:
CA
Year:
1980
Focus and Accomplishments:
Associate Editor, Law Review.
Degree:
A.B.
School:
U.C. Berkeley
City:
Berkeley
State:
CA
Year:
1974
Honors:
Phi Beta Kappa
Focus and Accomplishments:
Philosophy.
Number of Attorneys
3
State Licensed In
California
Firm Focus and History
Methven & Associates was founded in 1994 (although I have been practicing law since 1980). We focus on business law (entity formation, private placements, contracts, employee issues), intellectual property (trademarks, trade secrets, copyrights and licensing) and real estate (documents for deal-makers, investor protection, purchase and option agreements, preforeclosure agreements, leases).
Previous Employment Summary
Neal & Methven 1986 to 1994; Gutierrez & Neal 1982 to 1986; Hanson, Bridgett, Marcus, Vlahos & Stromberg 1980 to 1982.
Activities and Awards
For the last 20 years, I've worked as an arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.
What is your opinion regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?
We love it: We feel that we can be more efficient and clients can make better choices on a day-to-day basis when they are at least somewhat familiar with the law that affects them and their businesses. On the other hand, everyone has to start somewhere with legal knowledge and we certainly help clients understand it.
Are you willing to review documents prepared by clients?
This is absolutely fine. We like to work with clients in ways that minimize their legal fees.
I am willing to review documents generated by Nolo products.
Are you willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?
We are happy to coach clients for negotiations in small claims court, contracts, etc. Unfortunately, outside of small claims court, we do not believe our legal system allows clients to effectively represent themselves in litigation.
Why did you decide to be a lawyer?
I took a constitutional law class at Wellesley College and was fascinated. The field seemed to fit well with my analytical and writing abilities.
What work experience and education helps you be a better lawyer?
I majored in Philosophy as an undergraduate to focus on writing and argumentation; that certainly helped. Most of my work experience over the past 25 years has helped me be a better lawyer.
Why did you decide on your primary area of practice?
I feel that business law, intellectual property and real estate law are often preventative in nature. In other words, our practice helps keep people out of trouble (although we handle arbitration and litigation as well).
What do you like best about your career?
I enjoy explaining the law to clients and giving them advice.
Tell us about your law firm:
We have two other attorneys here, Reece (who is a transactional attorney) and Louise (who is a litigator). Both are good with people, work hard and write well.
What are your strengths and style?
I write and research very well, but perhaps my strongest suit is explaining the law and options to clients.
I like to explain the alternatives to clients -- and will certainly give my recommendations -- but I like the client to make his/her own decisions.
Personal Interests:
I enjoy downhill skiing, movies, current events.
Office Manager/Assistant
Steve Han.
Fax
(510) 663-0920
Office Hours
Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Emergency After Hours
Yes
Fixed-Price Services and Fees
These are too numerous to list here.
For review of Nolo product documents I charge my usual hourly fee. We bill in tenths of an hour, so that if a project takes only 24 minutes that's all that gets billed.
Hourly Rates
$245 per hour for me, $225 per hour for the other attorneys here.
Free Initial Consultation?
No. Our consultation fees are the same as our regular hourly rates.
Typical Retainer
This varies completely depending on the size of the project.
Nolo's Licensing Check
Attorneys have passed a licensing check. Nolo has confirmed that every member attorney has a valid license and is in good standing with the applicable bar associations upon joining the directory.
Directory lawyers are required to notify Nolo immediately if they become the subject of any disciplinary action by any bar association.
