THE MARIN LAWYER An Official Publication of the Marin County Bar Association
THE MARIN LAWYER June 2021 Editor Robert Rosborough Guest Editors Habib Bentaleb, Ahtossa Fullerton, Mary Sackett Creative Director Kiersten Ross
2021 Officers President J. Timothy Nardell President Elect Robert Rosborough Secretary Scott Buell Treasurer Ahtossa Fullerton Past President Susan Feder 5 Year Past President Joel Gumbiner Board of Directors 2021 Directors Habib Bentaleb Michael Chaput Sarah Léger G. Kelley Reid 2022 Directors Emily Charley Kristine Cirby Christopher Locke Ann Munene Karthik Raju 2023 Directors Chelsea Heaney Valerie Kushel Thomas McCallister Thomas (Tom) McInerney Mary Sackett Executive Director Mee Mee Wong Communications Director Kiersten Ross Membership & Events Administrator Denise Belli The Marin Lawyer is published by The Marin County Bar Association 101 Lucas Valley Road, Suite 326 San Rafael, CA 94903 415-499-1314 info@marinbar.org www.MarinBar.org © 2021. All Rights Reserved.
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CONTENTS 4 | Editor’s Introduction: The Broad Scope of Consumer Protection ROBERT ROSBOROUGH 6 | President’s Message: A Few Things to Be Proud of this June (and a Few Not to Be) J. TIMOTHY NARDELL 11 | Scamming Elders Is an Industry ELLA KRAINSKY 15 | Prioritizing Data Privacy and Security CELINE GUILLOU 19 | Jose Varela: A Transformational Leader Retires KARTHIK RAJU 22 | Marin County’s Division of Weights and Measures: Keeping Fingers Off the Scales MARY SACKETT
25 | Judges' Town Hall: News from the Court ANDY PEREZ 30 | Michelle Christovich and the Barristers Section THE MARIN LAWYER 35 | Upcoming Events 37 | New Members Credit: Front cover image geralt from Pixabay Credit: Back cover image: jessica45 from Pixabay
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EDITOR’S INTRODUCTION The Broad Scope of Consumer Protection ROBERT ROSBOROUGH
The term “consumer protection” often conjures images of a recalled product or a warning label but it encompasses a wide array of laws and regulations. Especially with our pandemic-driven, increasingly
online lives, consumer protection encompasses data privacy and security as they become ever more important for our clients, our firms and ourselves. Celine Guillou gives us a handy primer on the regulation of personal information and
Credit: Kameleon007 Getty Images Signature Canva Pro
how organizations should approach protecting it. (For an excellent primer on protecting
combatting price gouging in the county. MCBA board member Mary Sackett sheds
your own personal information, see George
some light on how this little-known agency
Usi’s article from our March issue.)
protects consumers by regulating prices and
Consumer protection also extends to the
packaging whether we’re in a pandemic or not.
challenging and often heartbreaking arena of elder scams. Cheating elders out of their sav-
I think it is fair to say that the pandemic is not
ings is an enormous industry, estimated at well over $30 billion annually. By far the most
related to the retirement of our beloved Public Defender Jose Varela. MCBA board mem-
effective way to reduce the damage is by raising awareness. Ella Krainsky, from the Marin
ber Karthik Raju profiles Jose, concentrating on the innovative approach Jose has taken
District Attorney’s Consumer Protection
throughout his career, and giving us an in-
Unit, educates us on some of the “popular” current elder scams and where to turn when
sightful glimpse of a remarkable lawyer, person and poet. And I promise that Karthik
someone has been victimized by one.
wrote the article after Jose stopped being Karthik’s boss!
The pandemic reminded us of another way the unscrupulous take advantage of consum-
If you missed (or even if you didn’t) MCBA’s
ers: price gouging. I bet that most of you are not aware that Marin’s own Division of
May Town Hall with Judges Sweet, Adams, and Freccero regarding how Marin’s courts
Weights and Measures is responsible for
are faring under pandemic restrictions and
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what may be coming next, Deputy D.A. Andy
Perez recaps the event, including questions and answers, so that you can be up to speed
THANK YOU TO THE MCBA PROGRAM SPONSORS
on how our courts are operating. Finally, we profile Michelle Christovich, business attor-
GOLD
ney and chair of MCBA’s Barristers Section. Get to know Michelle and see what’s in store for the Barristers. I hope to see many of you in person sometime
this summer, which I am very much looking forward to, even if I’m not entirely ready to give up the convenience of Zoom. If you have thoughts about how we hold in-person events but still utilize platforms like Zoom to enable some members to participate remotely, we’d
SILVER
love to hear from you with your ideas. With summer nearly upon us and pandemic restrictions easing, we've kept this issue short
so that you can reacquaint yourself with the wider world. I wish everyone an enjoyable summer, whatever that may look like⎯we’ll be back in September with our next quarterly issue of the Marin Lawyer. View this article at Marinbar.org
Rob Rosborough is Of Counsel to Monty
White LLP. He mediates disputes where an ongoing relationship is at stake, particularly adult-family conflict such as disagreement over caring for an aging parent, and HOA disputes. He also maintains an estate planning and HOA practice. Rob teaches at USF’s Fromm Institute (conflict resolution and history of science) and helps lawyers cope with the practice of law by teaching them meditation skills as a certified iRest® meditation teacher. EMAIL | WEBSITE
Interested in sponsorship? Contact Mee Mee Wong at mwong@marinbar.org
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE A Few Things to Be Proud of this June (and a Few Not to Be) J. TIMOTHY NARDELL
Clerk’s Office Delays and the Reopening
ord of the full meeting, which is available
Process
here.
The mission of MCBA is “to involve, encour-
In addition to the Town Hall, I participated in
age and support Bar Association members, to
a meeting with Judge Sweet and other com-
serve as a liaison to the Marin County courts,
munity leaders to discuss the reopening pro-
and to educate the community and enhance
cess; and Mee Mee Wong and I met with
access to legal services.” Throughout the pan-
James Kim (CEO of the Court) and Jodi
demic and over the last few months as we
Leveque (the Court’s new COO, as of Novem-
emerge into a reopening Bay Area, MCBA
ber 2020) to discuss plans for reopening the
leadership has been working to keep the lines
clerk’s office and member concerns about the
of communications open between our mem-
current drop box/limited appointment sys-
bers and the Marin County Superior Court.
tem.
We’ve been supportive and respectful of the
extraordinarily difficult burdens that the judges and court staff have had to bear to keep essential court services available and the Court open throughout the pandemic. At the same time, we’ve done our best to communicate to the court leadership our members’ concerns about court processes and difficulties that our members have experienced with the clerk’s office.
It is important for all of us working outside of the Court to bear in mind that the judges and court staff have been working incredibly hard to keep the Court open to the public throughout the pandemic and to keep working conditions at the courthouse safe for all employees and members of the public. For example, James Kim noted that Marin was one of the first courts in the Bay Area to deploy video
Last month, I was proud to represent MCBA
remote hearings in all case types to promote court and public safety. In addition, court ad-
in a town hall-style discussion with Judges Sweet, Adams and Freccero to discuss the
ministrators have had to do an enormous amount of work behind the scenes to make
current status of the various departments of
workspaces COVID-safe, in compliance with
the Court and the reopening process. We had a full house for the Zoom meeting. If you
changing CDC, state, local and OSHA guidelines. Since our Court has not yet moved to an
missed it, a report on the highlights is available in this month’s Marin Lawyer here. I’m al-
e-filing system, changes had to be made internally to protect court staff from possible in-
so happy to report that we made a video rec-
fection from court papers. (Recall that in the
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early months of the pandemic, the CDC and
four-to-six-week delay in court filings put in
other authorities indicated that the virus could survive for up to a week on paper sur-
the drop box, but all filings that are accepted at the drop box are file endorsed as of the
faces.) The Court had to build plexiglass shields and invest in electrostatic cleaning de-
date that they are deposited (not the date that they are actually filed). Court staff is
vices, of the sort used by the airlines, in constant dialogue with employees and union
working overtime, including on Saturdays, to try to catch up with the filing backlog.
leadership in order to ensure the safety of both the staff and the public. Our court lead-
We have communicated that there are vari-
ership is proud that, unlike in some other courts in California, there was never a COVID outbreak at our courthouse, and all of the court departments were able to stay open continuously throughout the pandemic.
ous kinds of filings that are not considered
“appointment worthy” urgent matters under the current administrative rules but which need to be filed without any delay to avoid prejudice to litigants. We have also communicated the frustration that some lawyers have
We should also recognize that the Court has
experienced when filings placed in the drop
unfortunately lost a lot of staff over the past
box have been rejected, causing many weeks
year, including administrative managers,
of delay and potential prejudice. While I un-
courtroom deputies, and clerks. James Kim
fortunately do not have any immediate
estimates that the Court has had an attrition rate of 20% directly or indirectly related to
changes in the public access to Room 113 “window service” to report, I can report that
COVID. Court leadership is in the process of
the court leadership has heard our concerns
hiring new staff, but the hiring and training
and that the judges and administrators are
process will unfortunately take time.
doing what they can to open “new normal”
Now that the CDC, OSHA, and state rules are changing yet again as vaccination rates rise
same-day access to the court system as soon they can do so safely.
and COVID case counts fall, court staff are
The June Marin Lawyer – Consumer Protec-
working hard to come up with plans to reopen the clerk’s office window visits in a manner
tion Issue
that keeps court staff safe and complies with regulations and public employee union requirements. The Court has also been working behind the scenes to implement e-filing and a new case management system and to launch a refreshed court website. James Kim reports that there is currently a
This month, we are proud to release a new issue of the Marin Lawyer for your reading pleasure. Every quarter, President-Elect Rob Rosborough and his team of guest editors work hard to put together original material for a complete digital magazine on a new theme. The June 2021 theme is consumer protection. (With Rob taking up the gavel of
THE MARIN LAWYER An Official Publication of the Marin County Bar Association
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the presidency next year, we are actively
or perhaps because of the many pandemic-
looking for someone, or a team of someones, to fill his shoes next year. If you have any in-
related changes that we’ve seen, fraudulent schemes have continued to proliferate and
terest in taking on an editor or co-editor role or just getting more involved with the Marin
have become increasingly sophisticated. Even if you are oblivious to the headlines about
Lawyer, please contact me, Rob or Mee Mee.)
ransomware attacks shutting down critical infrastructure and holding businesses and
Having formerly worked as prosecutor in the Marin County DA’s Consumer and Environmental Protection Unit, the theme of consum-
er protection is near and dear to me personal-
municipal governments hostage, it’s hard to ignore the phishing attempts that have become almost a regular part of the work week.
ly. I’ve seen up close the burdens that con-
Lawyers Can Be Bitten in Fraud Schemes
sumer scams impose on our society and how
Too
devastating they can be to vulnerable citizens. Beyond the kinds of false and misleading advertising that target consumers, we have seen how vulnerable even sophisticated businesses can be to internet fraud. Despite
We lawyers are definitely not beyond the reach of fraud schemes ourselves. I have had personal experience with two schemes myself over the past year. Call them “close encounters” with the fraudsters. Both were pretty
Credit: burst from Pexels
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well thought out, convincing schemes. Both
process. Another little clue: he shared the ad-
started with a decision, in a moment of weakness, to reply to an email from a stranger (i.e.,
dress of the home where the incident occurred, and it was in Salinas, not Bolinas. At
a potential client) looking for a lawyer in Marin. In both cases, the fraud was only revealed
that point, I realized that the play was a variant on that fairly well-known scheme: get the
when it became obvious that the case was too easy or too good to be true.
victim to deposit a fake cashier’s check— which appears real and can take weeks for
The first scheme involved a dog bite case. As a
the bank to detect—then pay out real funds from the victim’s account (here my client-
general practice litigator, I have to sheepishly
admit that I like dog bite cases. The law provides for strict liability, so if you can prove
trust account) to a third party (here the purported dog bite victim).
that a dog bite occurred and who owned the
I found the second scheme even more subtle.
dog, the only real issue is the amount of dam-
It started with an email from another out-of-
ages owed to your client. So when I got an
country potential client looking for a lawyer
email from someone early in the pandemic
in Marin. This time, the potential client said
saying that he was bitten by a dog while he
that he had lent $500,000 to a friend who was
was a guest at an Airbnb in Bolinas, and ask-
the owner of a San Rafael business, but the
ing if I took dog bite cases, my immediate re-
friend had not paid the money back after nu-
sponse was something to the effect of, “You betcha.” I got even more interested when the
merous informal entreaties. This kind of dispute is a bread-and-butter easy case for a
“potential client” showed pictures of a face
commercial litigator like me. The potential cli-
covered in bandages and what looked to be
ent shared email exchanges that looked very
pretty gruesome injuries, and so I emailed a
real and believable. According to a quick
contingent fee engagement letter right away. Then the complications began. The potential
Google search, the local business was also real. The too-good-to-be-true moment: a week
client explained that he worked on an oil rig overseas, had little access to services, and
later, “the friend” emails saying that he wants to pay my firm the money he owes in full in
might have to be unavailable for weeks at a time. Strange but not implausible. The “too
three easy installments. With a bit more avarice, it would have been tempting to say,
good to be true” moment came about a week later when I got an email from the
“Sure, that sounds great.” But I thought it best to tell “the friend” that I don’t provide that
“homeowner defendant,” who also happened to reside outside the U.S., saying that he felt
kind of service, suggest that he pay his friend directly, and withdraw from the engagement.
so terrible about the situation that he wanted to immediately send a mid-six-figure cashier’s
Of course, the retainer check (supposedly in the mail from overseas) never arrived, and I
check to me to avoid any publicity or court
never heard from the potential client or his
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friend again. The State Bar and other authorities are well aware of both of these schemes; both are variants of internet frauds that have been around for years. More information about schemes targeting attorneys can be found here, and an article about the way these scams work can be found here. An article about whether the bank or the law firm is lia-
ble when the bank tells the lawyer that funds from a fraudulent cashier’s check are immediately available (spoiler alert, the law firm is liable) can be found here. The New York City Bar has published an opinion letter for attorneys who fall victim to these or similar scams, which is available here. For me, the moral of these stories is not so much “woe-is-us, we lawyers can be easy targets for internet fraud,” but rather that if the scammers can put together schemes that are sophisticated enough to snare attorneys, imagine how stressful and scary internet life has become for seniors and others more susceptible to fraud. That is something we should not be proud of at all. View this article at Marinbar.org J. Timothy Nardell is a partner with Nardell, Chitsaz & Associates in San Rafael. He runs a general civil litigation practice, focused on real estate and business disputes, and select tortious injury cases. Tim can be reached by email at tim@ncalegal.com or by phone at (415) 306-5560. EMAIL | WEBSITE
The Marin Lawyer encourages our readers to also be our writers. If you have something you’d like to write about, get in touch with us. We also encourage our readers to be our critics. If there’s something you’d like to see (or not see) in the Marin Lawyer, let us know. If you’d like more articles on practical law firm topics, tell us. More book reviews? Let us know. All feedback is welcome.
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ELDER SCAMS Scamming Elders Is an Industry ELLA KRAINSKY
Marin County is the oldest and most rapidly
Attorneys with elderly clients or loved ones
aging county in the Bay Area. About 28% of Marin residents are 60 years old or older. This
may be able to identify financial exploitation by suspicious changes in wills or powers of
percentage is expected to increase to 33% by 2025 and 38% by 2030. This aging population
attorney, bills left unpaid, significant withdrawals or unusual purchases.
is, unfortunately, a favorite target of scammers.
An elder who becomes a victim of fraud
According to the Federal Bureau of Investiga-
IdentityTheft.gov to file a complaint and
tion, fraud and other financial abuse targeting
freeze their credit with the three credit bu-
older Americans results in over $3 billion in
reaus. They may also contact their county’s
annual losses. A more comprehensive private
Adult Protective Services (in Marin at
sector study estimates annual losses of over
415.473.2774). Marin also has a Financial
$36 billion. Many scams specifically target
Abuse Specialist Team (FAST), consisting of
older people because criminals believe them
public agency representatives and private
to be both more trusting and wealthier.
professionals within the financial services in-
Financial Exploitation Financial exploitation of older adults refers specifically to a caregiver or other person in a relationship of trust, including family members, misusing or stealing the financial assets
should follow the instructions at
dustry. FAST assists with investigations into complex cases of suspected elder financial abuse. Grandparent Scams Grandparent scams have
or personal identifying information from an older person. This theft may occur without
been targeting older adults for several years. A
knowledge or consent of the older person, or through fraud or deception. The Consumer
fraudster calls a senior, pretending to be their
Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) has recently advised financial institutions to report
grandchild. They claim to be experiencing an emer-
suspected exploitation to local, state, and federal law enforcement and to file a Suspicious
gency. For example, they may claim to be trapped
Activity Report with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. (See 12 CFR § 21.11.)
Credit: Photo by Icons8
in a foreign country, in
jail, or sick or injured. The grandchild's voice
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may sound unfamiliar because they are cry-
We can prevent seniors from falling victim to
ing, have a poor connection, or from their purported illness. In recent years, scammers have
grandparent scams by helping them adjust their social media privacy settings and warn-
used social media as a resource to execute the ruse. They may be able to learn the name,
ing them not to panic if they receive a call like this, but instead, take a moment to call their
gender, and other identifying information of the grandchild they plan to impersonate
grandchildren at a trusted phone number or check in with their parents.
through a grandparent's or grandchild's social media.
Tech Support Scams
Traditionally, imposter grandchildren ask grandparents to send a gift card or wire money to help get them out of their alleged trouble. In 2017, Western Union agreed to pay the federal government $586 million as part of a settlement for aiding and abetting wire fraud, including wire fraud targeting grandparents. The FTC and AARP are now warning of a new twist: The scam begins with a similar
phone call from a purported grandchild, but the scammers send someone to pick up cash or a gift card from the grandparent's home. Once grandparents hand their money to the scammer at the door, it is likely gone for good.
In March, the CFPB filed a lawsuit against a Chicago-based company called BrightSpeed that allegedly processed $71 million worth of fraudulent charges for tech support, with many of those charges incurred by older Americans. People over age 60 filed more than two-thirds of the 15,421 complaints about tech support scams last year. These often begin with a call purporting to be from Microsoft, Apple, or a security software company, claiming that they detected a security problem on the elder’s computer. They request remote access to the computer and diagnose the computer with a virus or malware. Alternatively, some tech support frauds begin
These scams are crimes that should be reported to the police. In addition, a victim or
with an email indicating an account has been suspended. Others begin with a virus warn-
their advocate should report it to:
ing. Sometimes an elder inadvertently downloads "scareware" through a spam link or oth-
•
The FTC;
•
The Attorney General's Office;
er software. In all instances, the scammer frightens the elder, threatening that a virus
•
The Marin County District Attorney's Office, Consumer Protection Unit;
will destroy all the data on their computer. Sometimes the scareware causes the comput-
•
Western Union's fraud hotline at
er to freeze or otherwise behave strangely, underscoring the imminent threat.
800-448-1492 or MoneyGram at 800-926-9400 if a victim sent money by
wire transfer.
A scammer impersonating tech support then requests credit card payments for repairs and
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services. Those credit cards may be charged
age groups.
repeatedly, after the "repairs" are completed. Sometimes the scammer actually infects the
Scammers pose as online suiters who live in
elder’s computer in the guise of making the "repair," and the cycle continues. They may
suggest moving the relationship off the dating
even call again in a few weeks to ask if the elder was satisfied with the support. If not, the scammer obtains their bank or credit card information on the pretense of depositing a "refund." Microsoft has estimated that tech support scams defraud 3.3 million people a year, causing them to lose an average of $450 each. Tech support scams should be reported to the victim’s computer company, as well as the FTC and the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center. In addition, consumers may be able to reverse payments through their credit card
companies. If a victim was asked to pay for tech support services with a gift card, they may be able to contact the company that issued the card to stop payment. Keeping operating systems and antivirus software current and knowing they are current is one step elders can take to protect themselves.
other parts of the country or abroad. They platform and into email or private message. The relationship progresses quickly. The new love would like to meet in person, but needs to borrow some money to do so. Or they have a family emergency and need financial help.
They ask their target to wire money or send a gift card. Elders can protect themselves from romance scams by treading carefully. They should be wary of overly effusive interest and photos that look like professional models. They should avoid revealing too much personal information that may make them targets of identity theft. They should never send money to anyone they have not met in person. Elders should report suspected romance scams to the online dating platforms, as well as the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center and the FTC.
Online Romance Scams
Online dating has become a popular way to find companionship. It has also become a popular way to find money: According to the FTC, romance scams led to $304 million in losses in 2020, a 50% increase from 2019. Older Americans have been particularly hurt by these scams, with the median loss for people 70 years and older over $9,475, compared to median losses of $2,500 for other
Credit: Image by athree23 from Pixabay
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Sweepstakes or Lottery Scams
winners to claim their prize. These scams
These classic scams disproportionately affect
should be reported to the FTC, FBI, and BBB. If calls originated abroad, they should be re-
seniors. The FTC reported Americans lost $166 million due to these scams in 2020, with 80 percent of these victims age 65 and older.
ported to the International Consumer Protection Enforcement Network.
In these scams, victims are contacted by
Fraudsters, scammers, and thieves continue
phone, email, social media, or direct mail to
to find new ways of exploiting older consum-
alert them that they won a sweepstakes or
ers, often with serious financial and emotional
lottery. All they have to do is pay taxes, cus-
implications. New technologies lead to new
toms, or another fee to receive their prize.
opportunities for abuse. Spreading awareness
Many of these scams originate in the Caribbe-
and reporting abuse as specified above are
an, particularly Jamaica. Once these scam-
important for helping to prevent future vic-
mers identify a person willing to pay, they
tims.
may call several more times, promising a big-
View this article at Marinbar.org
ger prize each time. The Better Business Bureau reports some cases of truly tragic results, such as a woman who lost $150,000, her home, and her job in efforts to claim a big-
ger prize.
Ella Krainsky is an attorney and the Program Coordinator of the Mediation Unit in the Marin County District Attorney’s Office. Previous-
ly, she worked in the Division of Advertising
Although one must buy a ticket to play a lottery, it is against the law to charge a fee for
Practices in the Bureau of Consumer Protection of the Federal Trade Commission. EMAIL
RESOURCES FTC FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center Better Business Bureau Attorney General's Office The Marin County District Attorney's Office, Consumer Protection Unit Adult Protective Services Marin County 415-473-2774 Western Union Fraud Hotline 800-448-1492
MoneyGram Fraud Hotline 800-926-9400 THE MARIN LAWYER An Official Publication of the Marin County Bar Association
14
DATA PROTECTION Prioritizing Data Privacy and Security CELINE GUILLOU
The protection of personal information is an
what was traditionally “personally identifia-
increasingly important issue for organizations large and small across all industries. On the
ble information,” to include data such as IP addresses and device identifiers, inferences
consumer front, data protection has traditionally been perceived as largely a “tech” is-
made about consumers and biometrics. The CCPA also applies where personal infor-
sue. However, as data collection and stricter global regulations proliferate, this narrow
mation is collected online and offline – meaning that many retailers, restaurant groups or
perception is outdated. The reality is that organizations collect personal information and
more traditional brick and mortar companies that meet the CCPA thresholds and physically
lots of it: whether it relates to customers, users or employees, data collection is ubiqui-
collect information must comply, even if their website is merely informational.
tous.
California, like most other jurisdictions, also
Understanding the Patchwork of Data Protection Laws
requires companies to secure personal information by implementing reasonable security
California is among the states with the most
measures. As security breaches skyrocket, having the right security in place is critical—
stringent privacy laws. The California Online Privacy Protection Act (which became effective in 2004 and was amended in 2013) requires operators of commercial websites that collect “personally identifiable information” from California residents to conspicuously
all the more so under the CCPA because it includes a private right of action for breaches of certain unencrypted personal information, with statutory damages that can be very costly.
post and comply with a privacy policy that
Organizations based in California may also be
meets specific requirements, as well as dis-
subject to other states’ laws, federal rules and
close what tracking they do. The more recent California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”)
regulations (such as the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act if dealing with children
carries a number of additional requirements
under the age of 13), as well as rules outside
for organizations that meet its thresholds, including a number of consumer rights. Nota-
the United States. This depends in large part on where individuals are located whose per-
bly, the CCPA defines personal information very broadly: the categories of personal infor-
sonal information is processed by the organization, as well as the nature of the organiza-
mation listed in the CCPA extend well beyond
tion’s business activities and the types of
THE MARIN LAWYER An Official Publication of the Marin County Bar Association
15
personal information processed. Many busi-
ulatory audit or lawsuit. Agreements with
nesses located only in California are, for instance, subject to the EU’s stringent General
third parties and vendors that involve personal information should also be carefully craft-
Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”), either because they offer goods and services to indi-
ed, because understanding and monitoring the personal information supply chain is criti-
viduals in the EEA or provide services (e.g., SaaS platforms) to organizations that are
cal not only for meeting transparency requirements, but also because many data
themselves subject to the GDPR. Data protection is a complex web of overlapping rules
breaches begin with third-party vendors that organizations have entrusted with personal
with which organizations must comply at var-
information they have collected.
ying levels, depending on their business and data processing activities. So What Does This Mean? Organizations should first take stock of all personal information they hold. At a very high level, this means identifying what personal information is collected, the sources and purposes of collection, and the third parties to whom the personal information may be disclosed. This is also referred to as “data mapping” and it is the starting point for any privacy program. Once the inventory of personal information is complete, a privacy expert can assess applicable laws, which will each separately dictate what must be done to achieve compliance.
One nearly standard requirement is providing accurate and complete consumer-facing policies and disclosures because transparency is a key element of data privacy. Internal policies (that are actually enforced) also guide an organization’s protection of personal information, and even if not specifically required, will demonstrate an organization’s commitment to data protection in the event of a reg-
Credit: tigerlily713 from Pixabay
The Bottom Line Not paying attention to privacy and security in the eyes of both consumers and investors. For instance, in the context of funding, investors now almost always require companies to disclose their privacy and security practices. On numerous occasions, I have seen
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16
transactions delayed or otherwise impacted
and procedures and with the assistance of ex-
because a company simply had no privacy program in place. The same goes for M&A
perienced privacy counsel to navigate the patchwork of data protection laws. One thing,
transactions. In addition, while California has been considered a pioneer of privacy here in
however, is certain: ignoring data privacy and security is increasingly likely to be a much
the United States, other states are catching up. Many states are now considering new pri-
costlier bet. View this article at Marinbar.org
vacy laws, and Virginia just recently adopted one, effective in January 2023, alongside the new California Privacy Rights Act, which passed by ballot initiative last year and expands on the CCPA. Finally, with data breaches through the roof, organizations must prioritize security. In other words, it is no longer possible to ignore the fast-changing landscape of data protection laws or the vastly increased security threats.
Céline Guillou advises on data privacy and security, with a particular focus on U.S. and European data protection laws. She advises clients in a wide range of industries and sectors, including gaming, B2B, e-commerce, Saas, IoT, and hospitality. Céline holds a (CIPP/E) certification from the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) and is a member of Hopkins & Carley’s Data Privacy & Security Team. She frequently writes about current trends and issues in data privacy and security for The Privacy Hacker. WEBSITE
Developing a comprehensive privacy and se-
curity program may be viewed by many as costly, but in reality, much of the legwork can be done internally with the right processes
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Credit: facebook.com/marinpd
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MARIN COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER Jose Varela: A Transformational Leader Retires KARTHIK RAJU
Following a career spanning four decades of distinguished service in public defender offices across California, Jose Varela retired as chief Public Defender of Marin County in March of this year. Jose’s illustrious career has been defined by a tireless work ethic, persistence, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to every client served by the public defender’s office. His contributions to the Marin community—and legal community at large—cannot be fully captured in these few paragraphs. Born in El Paso, Texas to immigrant parents from Mexico (neither of whom spoke English), Jose’s family moved to a diverse but tough neighborhood in Long Beach when he was seven. He grew up among people from all backgrounds and walks of life, and he credits
Jose Varela. Credit: facebook.com/marinpd
Public Defender office in Los Angeles and later at the San Diego Public Defender’s Office. Jose came to Marin in 2001 as Assistant Pub-
this experience with cultivating in him the deep sense of empathy he would need as an
lic Defender, the number two position in the office. He was named Public Defender in
attorney representing indigent clients facing the most heinous allegations.
2010, and he headed the office until his retirement this year. In various capacities, Jose
After graduating from Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, Jose began his career in public service as a high-school teacher. He went on to earn his law degree from Berkeley and then spent his entire legal career as a public defender. He began with the Los Angeles Public Defender’s Office, and went on to try numerous death penalty cases for the Alternate
sought and achieved transformative change during his career. In the office, he emphasized the idea that public defenders should provide not just counsel in criminal cases, but holistic, client-centered, community-oriented representation. Indeed, the office’s clients have come to view it not only as a high-quality provider of criminal representation, but as a broader community resource where they will
THE MARIN LAWYER An Official Publication of the Marin County Bar Association
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find an empathetic listener and support for
plished little without his vision, energy, and
needs beyond their immediate cases. Kindness, humility, and accessibility are qualities
hard work," said Matt.
Jose encouraged everyone in the office to aspire to achieve. To bring awareness to client and community needs, he recognized the importance of building bridges and working collaboratively with local justice partners, including the Probation, Sheriff, and District Attorney offices. He championed rehabilitative courts and restorative justice programs, and he shared a particular dedication to issues of juvenile justice.
In his first few months of retirement, Jose has enjoyed getting caught up in the bread baking craze, and he is spending time reading and writing poetry. His latest works can be found at wordwhittlingpoetrybyjosevarela.com. If he brings the same relentless commitment to his poetry that he brought to full-service rep-
resentation of public defender clients, you should keep a lookout for his name when Poet Laureate is announced. Over the course of a remarkable career, he earned the highest re-
Among Jose’s proudest achievements are his
spect from colleagues, members of the bench,
efforts in collaboration with fellow local at-
and community partners. He leaves a deep
torneys to create pathways for greater diver-
legacy of countless students and attorneys
sity in the Marin bar. He was a founding mem-
inspired through his mentorship and oft-
ber and subsequent president of the Associa-
stated guidance to “dream big.”
tion of Latino Marin Attorneys (ALMA). Tony Cortes, a longtime friend and colleague, re-
View this article at Marinbar.org
calls sitting with him at Judge Mark Talamantes’ induction ceremony, where Jose remarked on the absence of—and need for—a local Latino lawyers’ association to support the needs of the community and to mentor young Latino lawyers. He then worked tirelessly alongside others to establish and nurture what is today a vibrant organization. Jose also provided active assistance and encouragement to Matt White and others in founding MCBA’s Diversity Section, dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion in the Marin legal community. “Jose has provided consistently strong support and wise leadership since the Diversity Section was created
in 2004. The section would have accomTHE MARIN LAWYER An Official Publication of the Marin County Bar Association
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WEIGHTS & MEASURES Marin County’s Division of Weights and Measures: Keeping Fingers Off the Scales MARY SACKETT
What is “Weights and Measures”? The scale
scales; and point-of-sale systems. The Divi-
of justice? A third-grade math assignment?
sion of Weights and Measures touches nearly
The latest fitness craze? The Marin County
every aspect of our daily activities, protecting
Division of Weights and Measures ensures equity in the marketplace and protects our
our pocketbooks to ensure we are getting what we pay for with every transaction.
economic health and welfare by inspecting commercial weighing and measuring devices and verifying retail price accuracy to ensure consumers receive the lowest advertised or posted price. Inspectors test and seal a wide variety of devices, including: gas pumps; meters such as electric, taxi, and water meters; weighing devices such as scales at grocery check-out stations, deli scales, and livestock
Price Gouging and Short Packaging Last year, Weights and Measures collaborated with the Consumer and Environmental Protection Unit of the Marin County District Attorney’s Office to investigate numerous instances of alleged price gouging. In March of
that year, Governor Newsom signed Executive Order N-44-20, making it unlawful to
Credit: andreas N from Pixabay
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increase the price of food, consumer goods, or
state survey results completed in the past
medical and emergency supplies by more than 10 percent. No one will soon forget that
nine years.” Frequent overcharging and failed price verification inspections have led many
toilet paper, hand sanitizers, cleaning supplies, and certified masks were scarce in the
high-profile businesses to enter settlements and many others are subject to court injunc-
spring of 2020, thus a prime target for price gouging. During a time of such economic dis-
tions. Per publicly available court records, businesses with current and past injunctions
ruption and hardship, it was up to inspectors from Weights and Measures and the DA’s of-
and/or settlements include: 7-Eleven, BestBuy, CVS, Kohl’s, Office Depot, Petco,
fice to work together to ensure we were pay-
RiteAid, Safeway, Staples, Target, Walgreens,
ing reasonable prices.
and Whole Foods.
Weights and Measures also looks for “short
A New Leader
packaging.” A container may state it holds 16 ounces, and actually hold 16 ounces, but be sized for 24 ounces. Short packaging deceives consumers that they are purchasing more than what they actually are. Fortunately, it is illegal. Weights and Measures takes evidence
of “short packaging” to the District Attorney for further action. Equity In 2019, Marin County joined 26 other counties to conduct statewide price verification inspections at retailers in low-income and underserved communities. While pricing errors affect all consumers, they have a dispropor-
tionate effect on low-income households. The result was a report entitled, The Value of Statewide Support & Coordination of Weights and Measures in the Marketplace: Necessary Advantages for Disadvantaged Communities (Dec. 2019). Sadly, the report found, “Within Disadvantaged Communities economic impacts and marketplace overcharges run 3.8 times higher than the frequency of any past county or
Weights and Measures is a division of the County Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures, which has 14 employees and an annual budget of $3 million. In Marin County, we are fortunate to have a brandnew Agricultural Commissioner/Director with a long history of commitment to consumer protection: Stefan Parnay. Parnay grew up in Sebastopol, earned a bachelor’s degree with honors in ornamental horticulture from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and has managed and prepared the department’s budget for more than a decade, including the implementation of budget reductions during
challenging times. Announcing the appointment on May 25, County Administrator Matthew Hymel said, “We are fortunate to have someone with Stefan’s skill and ability leading the department forward, especially as we confront the challenges of a major drought.” Parnay commented that he is looking forward, “to continuing the critically important work we have collectively been doing in response to the pandemic, racial equity, climate
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change, the drought crisis, and more.”
Protecting Consumers
The agriculture side of the department has a
By verifying the accuracy of devices used in
wide variety of programs, including:
commercial transactions and ensuring price
•
Promoting sustainable agricultural practices through its organic certification program;
•
Providing education on integrated pest management principles and strategies;
•
accuracy at retail businesses, Weights and Measures saves Marin consumers money every day. If you believe you were overcharged or notice something not quite right, please reach out to the department’s Consumer Help Line at 415.473.7888.
Inspecting plant shipments for invasive
View this article at Marinbar.org
pests of agricultural crops and horticultural plants; •
Inspecting farmers markets;
•
Providing support for the management of invasive weeds;
•
Implementing a livestock protection pro-
Mary Sackett serves on the Board of the Marin County Bar Association. She is licensed to practice law in the states of California, Iowa, and West Virginia. She is Aide to Marin County Supervisor Damon Connolly, serving District 1, San Rafael.
gram; and •
Producing an annual livestock and crop report.
Reach a high-profile targeted audience of legal professionals in Marin County. We have ad packages available for all budgets. Website Advertising Digital Magazine Program Sponsor
THE MARIN LAWYER An Official Publication of the Marin County Bar Association
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COURT UPDATE Judges' Town Hall: News from the Court ANDY PEREZ
On May 13th, MCBA sponsored a town hall-
proceedings anywhere in the county, if neces-
styled event featuring three of our Marin Superior Court judges: Presiding Judge Andrew
sary; and 3) time relief for juvenile matters and criminal matters. [Editor’s Note: The lat-
Sweet, and Supervising Judges Verna Adams and Stephen Freccero. MCBA Board Presi-
est order (21-05) allows the same.]
dent J. Timothy Nardell moderated the hourlong event, which provided members with a look into the measures the judiciary has taken to keep our courts operating over this unusual past year as well as a glimpse into what the (near) future holds. So as not to bury the lede, Judge Sweet stated approximately 20 minutes into the presentation that there would be "No Big Announcements!" during the event, which nonetheless was amply in-
Judge Adams started her Family Law Court update by first acknowledging Judge Sweet for yeoman's work guiding the courts through an unprecedented time and then acknowledging all the judges for mastering the art of presiding over a virtual courtroom. All Marin judges are now at a Judge Haakenson-like level when it comes to technology. The three family law judges (Judges Adams, Lichtblau, and Talamantes), along with Judge Wood's
formative.
juvenile court matters, are currently sharing Courtroom L. Each judge is handling their
Judge Sweet began with a brief summary of the current general orders, followed by status
matters vertically and takes turns using the courtroom. They hope to be getting the use of
reports on the criminal, civil and family law divisions. He prefaced his remarks by noting
courtroom G as well. All matters are being held virtually.
that everything discussed during the event would have two main subtexts: 1) the courts are currently almost at full operations, with the exception of jury trials, which are being conducted at a slower pace with hopes to get back to normal trial procedures as soon as possible; and 2) court operations are currently constrained by physical space and available staff. In pertinent part, Judge Sweet indicated that the then-current order (21-04) allows for: 1) use of remote technology; 2) holding THE MARIN LAWYER An Official Publication of the Marin County Bar Association
25
Judge Freccero's civil division has been oper-
lieves to be a high for the Court. Also of note,
ating as a single consolidated civil department, working remotely out of Courtroom B.
he pointed out the recent proliferation of pending misdemeanor diversion motions fol-
Each week, one of the three civil judges acts as the duty judge, handling all courtroom mat-
lowing the passage of a new law that allows judges to grant diversion.
ters for that week and setting new dates based on when they will be duty judge in the
At this point, the panel opened up the discus-
future. All matters have been virtual and calendars have had minimal delays. In the begin-
our moderator. The first question ("Any big
ning of virtual appearances, there were slight technical issues and only on the attorneys' end clearly, but thankfully no virtual cat appearances. While technically not a big announcement, Judge Freccero indicated that Courtroom E was recently designated the civil overflow courtroom for all types of matters. The intention is to allow the civil judges to specially schedule matters for a time when they are not the duty judge, which should sig-
sion to questions from the membership via changes to the courts upcoming?) is what
prompted Judge Sweet's big announcement that there would regrettably be "No Big Announcements!" Nonetheless, Judge Sweet emphasized that the court would generally be guided by safety protocols or "safety, safety, safety." While the judges are uncertain what changes may be coming, Judge Sweet reminded us of Governor Newsom's announcement that the state would be opening up mid-June,
nificantly increase capacity and workflow.
including a possible lifting of any mask mandates. As he sees it, the six-foot social distanc-
Judge Sweet provided an update on the rest
ing mandate is probably the biggest driver of
of the departments, indicating that just about
what courts can do, considering the fixed size
everything is up and running. Probate (Judge
of a courtroom. June may see new rules that
Simmons) and Juvenile (Judge Wood) are conducting law and motion, trials, etc. all vir-
create greater opportunities to open up further.
tually. Small Claims matters are being heard 1.5 days per week and pro-tems are being in-
J. Timothy Nardell (JTN): Do you see a way in
vited back to hear these matters. Traffic (Referee Slavitt) is fully remote unless the law requires an in-person trial. Veteran's Treatment Court will be proceeding starting in July, with Judge Chernus presiding. Further on the criminal side, Judge Sweet indicated that homicide trials are stacked up weeks to months out and there are currently eight or
which our courts will have a virtual option even after we open in full? Judge Sweet (JS): Our courts will always try to accommodate those who need it for health concerns. Personally, he believes we should be taking advantage of virtual options in the future where the law allows.
nine pending homicide cases, which he beTHE MARIN LAWYER An Official Publication of the Marin County Bar Association
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JTN: What is the status of the clerk's office,
have speedy trial time waivers. There are cur-
in particular with respect to backlogs and filings?
rently only two jury trial courtrooms available and only one jury panel can be picked at a
JS: While the Court is aware of the issues, the
time due to social distancing.
clerk's office is still not fully staffed. He is en-
Judge Freccero: No civil jury trials are taking
couraged by the willingness of team members
place because criminal trials have prece-
to pitch in as much as possible. In general, the
dence; however, some virtual trials are occur-
office has a four to six-week backlog of filings
ring in cases where no jury trial right exists or
on non-urgent matters. Rush documents are
it has been waived. He is finding that virtual
still being processed on the day of filing/
trials are very effective, with evidence coming
receipt. He emphasized that his number one
in more organized than usual and no unusual
administrative goal is to find out why the of-
delays. He asked our members to strongly
fice is behind and how to fix it.
consider waiving juries, consenting to virtual
JTN: We have heard there are issues getting access to court records; what is the status? JS: He has a newfound commitment to dive into the issue but already the Court has clerks
working on Saturdays to address the backlog of requests. On a slightly different topic, he wanted members to be aware the Court is
trials, and/or stipulating to a jury of less than 12. He is currently starting to set jury trials in August and is booking through March 2022. JTN: On the issue of equity and diversity in the courts, do you have any thoughts on dealing with diversity, bias, and perceived bias?
looking into an e-delivery system (not e-filing) by late summer, early fall, which would allow
JS: The Court is keenly aware of the issues and has been doing as much as possible to ad-
attorneys to deliver documents electronically instead of dropping them off at the clerk's of-
dress them. This includes annual training requirements, which include judicial training on
fice or in a drop box.
equity issues. The Court is actively working on these issues, much like other courts
JTN: How are trials currently being handled? Judge Adams (JA): The Family Law Division is not experiencing the same issues as the other divisions and is current on everything but jury trials. They are so efficient that attorneys are complaining about available hearing dates being "too soon." JS: There are 83 criminal jury trials set be-
around the state, and they always have been. JTN: How is the Court addressing economic disparity? JA: Family Law Courts are acutely aware of it because of the number of litigants who are self-represented because they cannot afford an attorney.
tween now and June 15; 15 of those do not THE MARIN LAWYER An Official Publication of the Marin County Bar Association
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MCBA President J. Timothy Nardell, Judge Freccero, Judge Adams, Judge Sweet
Our Court has many resources available that
person MCBA events (where drinks may be
create greater access to justice, including the
on him—or something like that).
many services through the self-help center. Virtual court appearances have also been invaluable to economically disadvantaged selfrepresented litigants by lowering barriers to
making court appearances. Finally, our Court
To close out the event, Judge Adams reiterated Judge Sweet's comments and left the membership with these parting words: "You are the best!" Thank you, judges, and ditto. View this article at Marinbar.org
has received a Judicial Council grant to procure technology to allow indigent litigants to take advantage of virtual features and access. JS: Approximately a year ago, the Court stopped sending delinquent traffic fines to collections because the extra fees from collections further weighed on those who could
MCBA MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
least afford it. In his closing remarks, Judge Sweet offered thanks to MCBA’s membership for all the work you do, especially the amount of volunteering for court programs. He believes the Bench and Bar interaction in Marin County is without parallel and looks forward to maintaining that relationship. Finally, he asked MCBA to remember to invite him to future in-
Networking & Community Learning & Education Volunteer & Leadership Opportunities Professional Credibility
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VOLUNTEER SIGN UP
THE MARIN LAWYER An Official Publication of the Marin County Bar Association
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SECTION SPOTLIGHT Michelle Christovich and the Barristers Section THE MARIN LAWYER
The Marin Lawyer recently spoke with MCBA member Michelle Christovich to learn more about her and her role as the Chair of MCBA's Barristers Section. 1. What is the Barristers Section? The Barristers Section of MCBA is for attorneys who have been practicing for 10 years or less. Our goals include providing networking, education, and mentoring opportunities for attorneys in the earlier stages of their career. 2. Why did you get involved in MCBA and Barristers?
When I first began practicing in Marin, I quickly became involved with MCBA through all their great networking opportunities and legal education programs. When I was invited to get involved with Barristers, I jumped on the opportunity because I wanted to help create a space in Marin’s legal community to help early-stage attorneys connect and thrive.
3. What are you hoping to accomplish as Chair of the Barristers Section? I’m hoping to create a space for attorneys who are in the earlier stages of their practice to connect with one another and find valuable tools, resources, and opportunities. And while I want to build meaningful connections among Barristers members, I also want to help connect our members with other attor-
Michelle Christovich. Credit: www.keeginharrison.com
neys in Marin’s legal community. But most importantly, I want to address the issues earlycareer attorneys care most about. So, if you are an attorney in your first 10 years of practice, please reach out to me and let me know
what you want to see from Barristers! 4. What is your practice area and where do you practice? I’m a business attorney at Keegin Harrison LLP in downtown San Rafael. My transactional practice focuses on corporate, trademark, data privacy, and business law. I advise new and established businesses on matters like
entity choice and formation, securities
THE MARIN LAWYER An Official Publication of the Marin County Bar Association
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compliance, drafting custom contracts, trade-
ness & Professional Women’s Dinner (which
mark registration and protection, compliance with state and federal privacy laws, and draft-
will have just taken place on June 2nd via Zoom when this article is published!), to CLE
ing tailored privacy policies and terms of use.
programs. I also bake for Cake4Kids, an organization that provides custom birthday
5. What made you decide to become a lawyer? I became a business attorney because I love working with business owners. Whether you’re a tech startup, a new business, a family
-owned brick-and-mortar business, or someone investing in a business, you need to have passion and drive to make a business succeed. As a business attorney, I get to work closely with people who embody that entrepreneurial spirit and help them meet their goals, while
cakes for underserved and at-risk youth. 8. What do you enjoy doing in your free time? In my free time, I enjoy reading, being crea-
tive, and exploring the Bay Area. If you have any input or questions for Michelle regarding the Barristers Section or would like to get involved with the section, you may contact Michelle at: EMAIL | WEBSITE
learning about new businesses and industries. Whether it’s a new privacy regulation or a
View this article at Marinbar.org
new business model, there’s always something to learn. 6. What brought you to Marin? I lived in San Francisco for about 5 years while attending UC Hastings and beginning my legal career. I loved the city but was ready for a change. After starting a new job in San Rafael, I quickly realized Marin was just the place I was looking for to make a fresh start. 7. You are very active in the legal community; what kinds of volunteer work do you do in addition to MCBA? In addition to Barristers and MCBA, I’m also very involved with Marin County Women Lawyers. I’ve been on the board of MCWL for the past few years, and have helped to put on
everything from socials, to our Annual BusiTHE MARIN LAWYER An Official Publication of the Marin County Bar Association
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RENEW NOW THE MARIN LAWYER An Official Publication of the Marin County Bar Association
JOIN NOW 33
Join MCBA in the fight against hunger. We are participating in this year's Food From The Bar. Last year, the legal community helped raise the funds to provide over 1.2 million meals in San Francisco and Marin where 1 in 5 individuals faces hunger. Due to COVID-19, the Food Bank is facing an unprecedented challenge to support our neighbors who were already receiving assistance from the Food Bank as well as those who now find themselves facing hunger as a result of lost hours, wages, or jobs. With every dollar raised, the Food Bank is able to distribute food for two healthy meals. Thank you to those who donated to this year’s Food From the Bar. Our campaign ends June 15th, so please consider donating to the SF-Marin Food Bank .
Gratitude to our Donors Jeanne Pieters
Philip Feldman
Emilie Calhoun
Froneberger & Leviloff
Stephen Sulmeyer John McCall
Kelley + Farren LLP J. Timothy Nardell
Paula Kamena Cirby Family Law
Nicole Ryan Mary Sackett
Renee and Roy Chernus Susan Feder
Mee Mee Wong Marin Community Foundation
DONATE
Together we can help our most vulnerable neighbors. Thank you for supporting Food From the Bar 2021. THE MARIN LAWYER An Official Publication of the Marin County Bar Association
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UPCOMING EVENTS UPCOMING EVENTS TUE | JUN 15 | 12:00-1:00P
FRI | OCT 08 | 6:00-9:00P
FAMILY LAW SECTION MEETING
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT DINNER
Birdnesting: A Child-Centered Solution to Co-
Honoring Gary T. Ragghianti
Parenting During Separation and Divorce
INFO & REGISTRATION >
INFO & REGISTRATION >
TUE | JUN 22 | 12:00-1:00P JOINT ADR AND LITIGATION
Visit marinbar.org/events/calendar for our most up-to-date event information.
SECTION MEETING To Caucus. Or Not To Caucus. Why Joint Sessions Work in Mediation! INFO & REGISTRATION >
Thank you to our 2021 LEADERSHIP CIRCLE MEMBERS
PETER KLEINBRODT, FREITAS LAW FIRM MONTY WHITE LLP SUSAN FEDER MEDIATION
Visit www.marinbar.org to learn more about the Leadership Circle and how you can join.
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NEW MEMBERS Andrew Gibson Allianz Technology Attorney Membership
Peter Pelavin Peter N. Pelavin, Attorney at Law Attorney Membership
Conor Granahan Granahan Law, P.C. Attorney Membership
Sean Phillips Borton Petrini LLC Attorney Membership
Sasha Fahimi Sucherman Insalaco LLP Attorney Membership
Samantha Tighe Empathy Estate Planning Attorney Membership
Hamilton Tatum Holt Bay Area Disability Attorney Membership
Jessica Watson Leland, Parachini, Steinberg, Matzger and Melnick LLP Attorney Membership
Caleb Jarmon Affiliate Student
Mary Needham Law Offices of Mary L. Needham Attorney Membership
Darrell Nguyen Tyson & Mendes Attorney Membership Contact us at membership@marinbar.org to request your digital membership badge.
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MCBA Member Listserv for Practice Areas MCBA Members can join the listservs by clicking HERE. Signing up with your name and email address adds you to the MCBA-wide listserv. You can then check the boxes to be added to listservs for your specific practice areas. Because the listservs are opt-in, MCBA must approve each signup before you can send or receive emails. Once you have been approved, use the following email addresses to email the listservs for your practice area(s): All MCBA mcba@groupvine.com ADR Section adr.mcba@groupvine.com Barristers Section barristers.mcba@groupvine.com Business Law Section business.mcba@groupvine.com Construction Law Section construction.mcba@groupvine.com Criminal Law Section criminal.mcba@groupvine.com Diversity Section diversity.mcba@groupvine.com Employment and Labor Law Section el.mcba@groupvine.com
Probate and Estate Planning Section ep.mcba@groupvine.com Mentor Group mentorgrp.mcba@groupvine.com Family Law Section familylaw.mcba@groupvine.com Intellectual Property Section ip.mcba@groupvine.com Litigation Section litigation.mcba@groupvine.com Probate Litigation Section probatelit.mcba@groupvine.com Real Property Section realproperty.mcba@groupvine.com Tax Law Section tax.mcba@groupvine.com
Note: The listservs are for MCBA Members only.
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