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Brian L. Coggins
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Brian L. Coggins
Coggins Johnston & Meyer, LLP
9001 Foothills Blvd
Suite 110
Roseville, CA 95747
Phone: (916) 780-4253 | Fax: (916) 780-5262
http://www.cjmllp.com/
Business Formations, special rate for Nolo Referrals.
Legal Topic
Business Law
Preferred New Clients
Individuals, families and business owners who require attentive and thorough counsel in business, tax, and estate planning. I enjoy meeting new clients, for the truth is often times I can learn from their experiences as we work together to solve their legal matter.
Sub-Categories
Business Law
- Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
- Commercial Banks & Loans
- Commercial Leasing
- Credit Unions
- Mortgages & Foreclosures
- Savings & Thrifts
- Venture Capital
- Reorganizations & Restructuring
- Workouts
- Liquor Licenses
- 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
- Public Offerings
- Shareholders' Rights
- Trade Associations
- Audit Defense
- Corporate Income Taxes
- Excise Taxes
- International Taxes
- IRS Disputes
- Negotiating Payments & Settlements
- Payroll Taxes
- Property Taxes (Ad Valorem Taxes)
- Sales Taxes
- Tax Evasion Defense
- Tax Filing & Compliance
- Breach of Contract
- Contract Disputes
- Contract Drafting & Review
- Employment Contracts
- Franchises
- International Transactions
- Lemon Law
- Non-Compete Contracts
- Secured Transactions
- Uniform Commercial Code
- Warranties
- Commercial Construction Contracts
- Construction Defects
- Construction Disputes
- Dangerous Property
- Government Construction Contracts
- Mechanics' Liens
- Government Construction Contracts
- Creditor's Rights
- Garnishees
- Judgments
- Locating Funds
- Consumer Class Actions
- Credit Report Problems
- Debt Collection/Relief/Harassment
- Foreclosures
- Frauds, Scams, Hoaxes
- Identity Theft
- Repossessions
- Student Loans
- Truth in Lending
Legal Topic
Wills, Trusts & Estates
Preferred New Clients
Individuals, families and business owners who require attentive and thorough counsel in business, tax, and estate planning. I enjoy meeting new clients, for the truth is often times I can learn from their experiences as we work together to solve their legal matter.
Sub-Categories
Taxes
- Audit Defense
- Estate Taxes & Gift Taxes
- Income Taxes
- IRS Disputes
- IRS Filing & Compliance
- Negotiating IRS Payments & Settlements
- Payroll Taxes
- Power of Attorney
- Property Taxes
- Sales Taxes & Use Taxes
- Tax Evasion Defense
- Tax Planning
- Charitable Giving
- Charitable Trusts
- Drafting Trusts
- Drafting Wills
- Estate Administration
- Estate Planning
- Living Trusts
- Living Wills
- Probate
- Asset Protection
- Guardianship
- Power of Attorney
- Business Succession Planning
- Special Needs Trust
- Supplemental Needs Trust
- Revocable Trust & Irrevocable Trust
Bar Admissions
CA, Dec 2005
Bar Number: 239481
Specialty Certifications
None.
Other Court Admissions
State Bar of California; U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.
Association Memberships
California State Bar Association; American Bar Association.
Continuing Education
I regularly attend seminars related to business law, tax and estate planning. In addition, I am a section member of the California State Bar's Business and Tax sections and a member of the probate, wills & trusts section for the American Bar Association. As a member of these sections, I receive many monthly and quarterly publications which I read.
Papers and Publications
"Business Ethics," Brian L. Coggins, McGeorge Law Review, 2003.
Example Cases
In a recent case, I was asked to create a business structure for a wholesale medical supply company whose owners were highly compensated and needed to reduce their taxes. I was able to accomplish all their goals and objectives through a somewhat simplistic structure consisting of a management LLC and Parent Corporation.
In a recent estate planning matter, I was asked to craft an estate plan for a moderately wealthy family with several children, including one with special needs. We created an A/B living trust, special needs trust, durable powers of attorney for both spouses, advance health care directives for both spouses, pour over wills, and several transfer documents. In the end, the family's interests were protected and all of their children and grandchildren were taken care of.
Education
Degree:
Juris Doctor
School:
University of Pacific, McGeorge School of Law
City:
Sacramento
State:
CA
Year:
2005
Honors:
Order of the Coif (Top 5% of the class). Traynor Honor Society, McGeorge Law Review. Recipient of the Witkin Award for Academic Excellence in Business Associations, Contracts, Criminal Law and Civil Procedure.
Focus and Accomplishments:
Tax Concentration Certificate.
Degree:
B.S.B.A.
School:
California State University, Sacramento
City:
Sacramento
State:
CA
Year:
2002
Honors:
Dean's List.
Focus and Accomplishments:
Major: Accounting.
Number of Attorneys
2
State Licensed In
California
Firm Focus and History
Our law firm was founded in 2005 with all three named partners coming together on the basis of high academic and professional standards and a commitment to helping our clients succeed. In addition to the law, we have tax and accounting experience. We were founded on the principle that the best way for us to help you is first to hear in your own words what you want to achieve in your legal transactions. Every client is unique, so every legal solution needs to be uniquely tailored specifically for the client. By listening carefully, knowing the law well and acting quickly to meet your needs we are able to provide excellent service that is also cost effective. By being efficient and focused, we keep your legal bills reasonable.
Our law firm brings together long-term experience from a law professor and the high energy and legal knowledge of lawyers known for high academic standards. We focus on business, probate, estate planning and bankruptcy, the law firm understands the complexities often present in the law. We utilize state-of-the art technology and cost effective methods to provide legal services in a timely, friendly, client-oriented manner. That means we return phone calls promptly, speak plainly, report regularly to you, and are up front and ethical.
Previous Employment Summary
Prior to joining Brandon Johnston and Kent Meyer in 2005, I worked as a research assistant for Dean Elizabeth Parker at McGeorge School of Law. In addition, I worked in McGeorge's Business Law Clinic providing legal advice to business owners throughout Sacramento. Before I attended law school, I worked for ten years as an accountant with various firms. My emphasis as an accountant was business and corporate taxation.
Activities and Awards
I provide Pro Bono work through the practice for low-income families in need of a will or other estate planning advice.
What is your opinion regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?
I encourage clients to educate themselves on legal matters. In fact, when I am retained I explain to the client that it is my goal that they understand the legal issues at the end of the engagement to the degree that they could explain them to another person.
Are you willing to review documents prepared by clients?
I am willing to review client prepared documents.
Are you willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?
I am willing to coach and provide legal advice to clients who wish to represent themselves. Often times, this is the most economic, and sometimes only way, a client can resolve their legal issue.
Why did you decide to be a lawyer?
I was an accountant for many years when I realized that if I really wanted to provide my clients with the highest level of service I needed to attend law school. As a lawyer, I can now provide my clients with a better service, applying my accounting, tax and legal education to their legal and business needs.
What work experience and education helps you be a better lawyer?
I have been working with business owners for 15 years as an accountant and lawyer. In addition, I own my own business so I can understand some of the unique issues and pressures that come with owning your own business. In regards to estate planning, I was fortunate enough to be mentored by our senior partner Kent Meyer. He has spent the last 25 years practicing and teaching the subject—and his guidance and advice has proven to be very valuable for me, and ultimately for my clients.
Why did you decide on your primary area of practice?
My father is an accountant so I grew up helping out in his firm. I really enjoyed dealing with tax and business issues with my father so it was only natural that I pursued that area in my education. In law school, I combined my love for business law with estate planning, realizing that both were very tax concentrated and often times intertwined. As a result, in practice I concentrated on business, tax and estate planning.
What do you like best about your career?
Meeting clients and becoming a part of their lives is the best part of being a business and estate planning lawyer. Unlike other areas of law, my clients tend to become my friends due to the nature of the law I practice and the fact that I remain a counselor to their business and/or family matters.
Tell us about your law firm:
Our law firm has two active full time attorneys. We also have an of-counsel attorney, Kent Meyer. We have a very friendly and helpful support staff, Judy, Jenny and Tonia.
What are your strengths and style?
My best strength is my ability to listen to my clients and apply my expertise and experience to their legal and business needs. I am an pro-education advisor, which means that I believe that my clients should be informed and educated about their choices. With an educated client we are then able to work together to form the best possible solution to their legal needs.
Personal Interests:
As a husband and father of a 3-year old and eighteen-month old, most of my free time is spent cleaning up toys and playing with my kids, whom seem to have endless energy. As for my hobbies, I enjoy playing golf, boating and hiking.
Office Manager/Assistant
Judy
Fax
(916) 780-5262
Office Hours
Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Later appointments upon request.
Emergency After Hours
No
Foreign Languages
No.
Fixed-Price Services and Fees
It is our goal to provide you an option of a fixed fee in most engagements. In estate planning, we have fixed fee estate plans starting at $600 up to $2000. Most business formations (LLC and Corporations) are a fixed fee of $1,500.
SPECIAL OFFER FOR NOLO CLIENTS: Let me know you learned about our firm from Nolo, and we provide a discount of 25% for your legal services.
Hourly Rates
$225
Free Initial Consultation?
Yes.
Typical Retainer
In hourly cases, our typical retainer ranges from $500 to $2500.
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.
