Richard is a graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles and Trinity Law School. He obtained his masters of laws (LL.M.), an advanced post-graduate degree in estate planning and elder law, from Western New England School of Law, the only LL.M. program combining estate planning and elder law in the country.
While at UCLA, Richard majored in History and minored in Philosophy, was a member of the American Parliamentary Debate Team, and was also a decorated member of Model United Nations, an international student-run organization in which students from the most prestigious schools around the world meet at multi-day conferences to assume the role of delegates from various countries and compete in mock United Nations committees. Richard earned multiple awards based on his performance in Debate and M.U.N. programs.
Catching the "teaching bug" while at UCLA, Richard began his professional career as a primary school educator, but quickly discovered that law was his true calling. Richard attended Trinity Law School, a small religious private law school in Santa Ana, California where he was a top academic performer. He passed the California Bar (while it was still the most difficult exam in the nation) without taking a bar preparation course - a feat attempted (and accomplished) by less than 5% of bar takers.
Richard's law practice consists of two large categories of legal services: transactions and litigation.
Transactions. Richard uses his business law knowledge to form corporations, limited liability companies (LLC's), and other entities for his clients, as well as draft and review important contracts such as buy-sell agreements, purchase and sale agreements, and other agreements transferring company property.
On the estate planning side of his practice, Richard advises his clients on how to create specially-tailored estate plans which transfer property in the most efficient way to their heirs. Efficiency means avoiding taxes, reducing in-fighting and tension among heirs, and providing clear instructions for the distribution of the client's legacy. Richard's specialty is combining both his business and estate planning expertise in order to create streamlined and highly efficient business succession plans which correspond with estate plans to give the client a complete understanding of what will happen with his or her property during life and after death.
Litigation. Richard is a trial lawyer with robust litigation experience in California state and federal court in a broad range of areas including civil rights, breach of contract, fraud, real estate, landlord-tenant, employment, consumer rights, and intellectual property. Richard has successfully represented high-profile clients in complex multi-jurisdictional proceedings. He is also certified according to the Dispute Resolution Programs Act, California as a Mediator.
As an advocate, Richard brings his broad subject matter expertise, creativity, and intelligence to achieve client goals. He cares for his clients and is a courteous colleague who is enjoyed and appreciated by both friends and adversaries.
