Generally, we provide a full spectrum of legal services to our business clients, most of which are small and closely held businesses.  We form and dissolve partnerships, and joint ventures.  We write and review leases, both commercial and residential.  We write a host of business contracts, including employment agreements, indemnity agreements, security agreements, and non-disclosure agreements, to name a few.  We also prepare contracts and related documents for the sale and purchase of businesses and business assets.  If and when it becomes necessary, we handle trials of business disputes, including partnership accounting, breach of contract cases, and trade secret/non-competition claims.

Over the years, we have represented homeowners, real estate agents and brokers, developers, builders, landlords, tenants, design professionals, and engineers in relation to the use and sale of real estate.  We have represented sellers who have procured a buyer without the assistance of a realtor.  We draft real estate related contracts, including sales agreements, agreements between tenants in common, easements, deeds, and leases, both residential and commercial.  We work with homeowners who have disputes with their Homeowners’ Association, or their neighbors, over such matters as the enforcement of CC&R’s or the abatement of a nuisance.  When necessary, we represent clients in litigation related to these matters.

We have represented designers, builders, contractors, and homeowners in construction related matters, whether for residential or commercial properties.  While some of this work is transactional, involving the preparation of construction contracts and related documents, the recording of Mechanic’s Liens, or assisting in permit applications, many of our cases in this area have involved disputes and litigation.  Our trial experience includes defending construction defect claims on behalf of licensed contractors and design professionals, prosecuting and defending basic breach of contract actions, and representing homeowners as well as contractors in cases resulting from Mechanic’s Liens.

Since 1976, Allen Capeloto has been working in the area of civil litigation and civil appeals.  The work now focuses on business, real estate, and construction related matters.  He has trial experience in both Federal and State courts, and has argued civil appeals before the California Court of Appeal, and the Federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal.  He is also experienced with Alternative Dispute Resolution proceedings, including mediation and arbitration.

More and more, the Small Claims Courts of California are a viable alternative to the high cost of litigating small to moderate money damage claims in the general trial courts.  With few exceptions, lawyers are not allowed in Small Claims Court.  So we provide in-office assistance to clients who are preparing or defending a Small Claims Court case, and we help clients address legal and procedural issues that come up in their cases.  We also counsel and assist those successful litigants who are having trouble collecting on their Small Claims Court Judgment.  Starting in 2011, we will be building a link on this site to resources for use in Small Claims Court cases.  Please check back periodically, as we expect to update that page on a regular basis.

As with our practice in general business law, we represent small closely held corporations from start-up to dissolution.  We prepare corporate formation documents, minutes of meetings, buy-sell agreements, and asset purchase agreements, among others.  We represent our corporate clients in trial courts, both in defense of actions brought against the company, as well as in the prosecution of claims made by the company.  We also represent individual officers, directors, and shareholders with respect to their rights and duties as owners, agents, and fiduciaries of corporations.

Including counseling artists, and registration of works with the United States Copyright Office.