Attorney Profile

Practice Areas- Derek specializes in the practice areas of business formation and transactions, mergers & acquisitions, debt & equity financing employment, trademarks, and real estate. Derek began his legal career in litigation and trial work, which has given him a distinct advantage in performing transactional work for his clients. Derek understands the hidden contractual “time bombs” that often gets litigated over years later. He takes a holistic view in evaluating the liability and potential risks of a business, and creates a comprehensive plan to efficiently resolve such issues and avoid the costs and stress of litigation that can cripple a business.

Some recent engagements include:

• Represent early stage company in negotiating $14.5 million in convertible debt securities.
• Negotiate and advise client in securing over $6 million in Series A and B preferred stock financings.
• Represent various technology companies in negotiating complex consulting and service agreements with Fortune 500 companies such as Deutsche Bank, Northwest Airlines, General Electric, Palm, American Express, VMware, KPMG, Deloitte & Touche, Network Appliance, and Siebel.
• Designed and implemented stock option, restricted stock, and phantom stock plans for various technology companies to retain valued employees and consultants while preserving capital for future growth.
• Represent surviving company in the merger between a Nevada and California IT Consulting company with combined revenues of over $20 million.
• Represent both buyers and sellers in the purchase and sale of various nationally recognized franchise businesses in the restaurant and education industries.
• Represent buyer in the acquisition of a regional biotech company.
• Successfully defended hiring company from a wage claim alleging over $100,000.00 in overtime pay.
• Represent builders in joint development construction project valued over $25 million.
• Represent landlord owning 70,000 square feet of office space in Mountain View, California.

Education- Derek graduated from the University of California at Berkeley in 1995. Thereafter, Derek earned his law degree in 1999 from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. Derek was admitted to practice law in California later that same year in 1999.

Personal & Professional Affiliations– Derek grew up in the ethnic melting pot of Queens, New York. Derek worked with the boutique law firms Tyre Kamins Katz & Granof (Los Angeles) and Schofield & Schiller (Walnut Creek & San Ramon).

During his free time, Derek enjoys traveling, cooking, and spending time with his wife and two children.