Civil litigation accounts for more than half of Wise Pearce Yocis & Smith’s practice. On most days, at least one of our lawyers is in trial or making a court appearance somewhere in California (or occasionally in another state). The firm’s litigators handle jury and non-jury trials in state and federal courts, as well as arbitrations, throughout the State of California and sometimes beyond. Our lawyers include experienced appellate advocates who have briefed and argued appeals in the California Supreme Court and Courts of Appeal and several circuits of the U.S. Court of Appeals. The firm is particularly experienced and adept in handling complex multi-party litigation.

A large part of the firm's work, however, involves the giving of legal advice, opinions and assistance regarding problems, disputes or other matters which are not in litigation. Most such matters either are business-related or insurance-related, or fall under the heading of personal legal services (such as trusts, wills, probate, employment and contract issues).

The substantive areas in which the firm has expertise and is currently handling matters--whether in litigation or not--include the following:

Insurance coverage - The firm has long had a reputation for its work in the field of insurance coverage. We have handled coverage disputes arising out of landslides, floods, earth subsidence, construction defects, environmental pollution, toxic torts, employment disputes, wrongful termination, business torts such as unfair competition, bank lending practices, personal injuries, and accidents of all types. The firm is also experienced in dealing with "bad faith" cases and issues arising out of claims handling practices. We have advised insurers regarding drafting and revising policy forms and claims handling and procedure manuals, and also provide services relating to underwriting matters, premium collection and agent errors and omissions claims.

Personal Injury - The firm has vast experience in representing both defendants and plaintiffs in almost every type of personal injury case. It has successfully handled wrongful death cases, and cases involving brain damage and other catastrophic injuries. At the same time, we also handle a wide variety of claims involving lesser injuries.

Real Estate and Construction - The firm has considerable experience in handling most of the types of disputes which can arise out of real property transactions. For example, several of our lawyers have broad expertise in construction defect litigation. The firm has represented buyers and sellers of real property--both commercial and residential--and real estate agents and other professionals, in disputes arising out of property transactions. The firm also represents landlords and tenants in disputes involving commercial leases.

General Business - A large part of the firm's practice involves representing business enterprises and business people involved in commercial and/or contractual disputes. Many of these cases involve health law or related matters. The firm also provides legal assistance with the drafting and negotiation of contracts. We can likewise provide legal help with incorporation and the formation of partnerships and limited liability companies, issues of governance, business taxation issues, dissolutions and acquisitions, buy-sell agreements, and so forth.

Personal Legal Services - In serving individual clients from all walks of life, the firm provides a wide variety of personal legal services, including the following: Preparation of estate plans (ranging from the preparation of wills and trusts to more sophisticated planning involving generation-skipping transfers, charitable gifts, and insurance trusts); probate administration and litigation; formation and operation of corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies; drafting and analysis of purchase agreements for businesses or specific assets; drafting and analysis of service, employment and independent contractor agreements; employment matters (including issues regarding termination) for both employees and employers; preparation and review of real estate purchase agreements and leases; drafting and analysis of agreements regarding health law matters.

Alternative Dispute Resolution - The firm always looks towards the use of alternative dispute resolution in appropriate cases. The attorneys in the firm have been involved in virtually every conceivable type of alternative dispute resolution process: judicial and private arbitration, mediation, mini-trials, trials before private judges, and other variations. Several lawyers in the firm serve as "neutrals" in mediations and arbitrations of other parties, which enables them to offer the firm’s clients a unique perspective in handling such proceedings.

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