In Torrecillas v. Fitness Int’l, L.L.C., No. B296194, 2020 Cal. App. LEXIS 679 (Cal. Ct. App. July 21, 2020), Jose Torrecillas (“Torrecillas”) excelled as a general manager at Fitness International (“Fitness”).  Torrecillas set multiple all-time sales records, became Fitness’s highest paid general manager, and received several promotions.  Upon being promoted to Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Torrecillas signed a new employment contract that contained an arbitration agreement. Fitness ended up firing Torrecillas in 2017, and Torrecillas sued in state court in 2018.  Fitness moved to compel arbitration, but the trial court found that the parties’ arbitration agreement was both […]

It’s crucial to pay attention to the legal side of your bookkeeping business to ensure that you’re protected both in times of success and most especially in times of chaos and uncertainty. Jeffrey Love is a corporate lawyer and partner at the firm, Gibbs Giden in California. His practice areas include business, commercial and real estate law. He provides outside general counsel to a wide array of businesses, advising on joint ventures, strategic alliances, partnership arrangements, entity formation, and general contract preparation.  Listen here.  For more information contact: Jeffrey B. Love, Esq. email: jlove@gibbsgiden.com Jeff Love is a partner with the firm. […]

Sophisticated contractors and material suppliers (and their counsel) understand the benefits of serving a stop payment notice upon an owner, lender, or other construction fund holder on both private and public works of improvement.  In essence, the stop payment notice places a lien on the undisbursed construction funds and is often considered a complementary remedy to a mechanics lien on private projects, and to a payment bond on public works of improvement.   It is generally understood that stop payment notices for public projects and owner-financed private projects are straightforward.  Often times, claimants simply complete a one-page stop payment notice […]

In Carmel Development Co., Inc. v. Anderson, 48 Cal.App.5th 492 (2020), Carmel Development Company, Inc. (“Carmel”) agreed under an oral contract with Monterra LLC to provided design and construction work to create a luxury subdivision called Monterra over 10+ years.  Monterra LLC was unable to pay so Carmel recorded two liens to collect the unpaid obligations.  The water lien burdened only the 85 unsold lots, but the work benefited all 170 lots.  The site improvement lien burdened only lots in Phases 7 and 9, because they were the only lots benefited by that work.             Carmel sued several of Monterra […]

John Chapman talks with Jeff Love, who is a Partner at Gibbs Gidden law firm in Los Angeles, about the importance of a Buy-Sell agreement in a partnership or small business. Jeff talks about some of the unforeseen risks that can come up when a partnership doesn’t have a Buy-Sell agreement in place. And he also talks about what all is included in the drafting process of the agreement and how you can get started today.  Listen here. Making Sense of a Buy-Sell Agreement with attorney Jeff Love For more information contact: Jeffrey B. Love, Esq. email: jlove@gibbsgiden.com Jeff Love is a partner […]

  For more information contact: Jeffrey B. Love, Esq. email: jlove@gibbsgiden.com Jeff Love is a partner with the firm. His practice encompasses all facets of real estate transactions, including drafting and negotiating purchase, sale, syndication, and financing transactions in connection with commercial, industrial, and residential assets. He also regularly drafts and negotiates office, retail, and industrial leases for regional landlords and tenants throughout the West Coast. Mr. Love has extensive experience drafting, negotiating, and reviewing real estate loan documents, including originations, modifications, note purchase agreements and other finance-related transactions from structuring through loan closing. He is a licensed real estate broker in […]

Commercial real estate transactions can be complex with lots of paperwork and legal documents. Protecting yourself on these major transactions is vital and having a strong agreement and legal team is key. Partner Jeff Love helps investors buy all types of real estate and work through all types of deal and partnership structures.   In this episode, Jeff shares key lessons on structuring strong and profitable deals, how to find red flags, and how to protect yourself when entering into a purchase agreement. Learn why you should never sign your own name on a deal and how to select the […]

Looking to learn Who, What, When, Where, and Why to incorporating your real estate business? Partner Jeff Love teaches about the 5 W’s of incorporating your business. Those new to real estate investing might not know the detailed processes and considerations you need to take in managing your business. This will introduce you to the advantages of incorporating your business and requirements you have to take into account in doing so.   Listen here.  For more information contact: Jeffrey B. Love, Esq. email: jlove@gibbsgiden.com Jeff Love is a partner with the firm. His practice encompasses all facets of real estate transactions, including […]

Contractors, suppliers, and others providing labor, materials, and equipment to California private works of improvement must navigate a minefield of conditions precedent to ensure they have a valid lien claim against the property they improved. From the timely and proper service of a preliminary notice to the timely service and recording of the lien itself, claimants must be vigilant to preserve their claim. Make one mistake and the lien claim may be declared invalid. Rarely does a single case address even a portion of the multitude of potential issues facing a subcontractor or supplier seeking to enforce its lien claim. However, in Palomar Grading & […]

Partner Jeff Love talks with  Charles Dobens on the Multifamily Investing Buy Apts Podcast. They discussed: Why you need to have contracts in place Drafting documents When to get MOU’s What could happen if an investor loses money Bringing in your attorney at the LOI stage The cost of not hiring an attorney  Listen here. For more information contact: Jeffrey B. Love, Esq. email: jlove@gibbsgiden.com Jeff Love is a partner with the firm. His practice encompasses all facets of real estate transactions, including drafting and negotiating purchase, sale, syndication, and financing transactions in connection with commercial, industrial, and residential assets. He also regularly […]