Bar/Professional Activity:

• Member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association Family Law Executive Committee, 2011

Pro bono/Community Service:

• Adopt-A-Center Program - Its purpose is to aid local non-profit organizations who help those less fortunate, in particular, those non-profit organizations which provide services to families and children.  To date, the Adopt-A-Center Program has assisted a number of unique groups, all of whom have benefited tremendously from the firm's commitment. Not only does PLLJ donate and raise money for these worthy non-profit organizations, the attorneys and staff provide hands-on participation in various activities and events during a 12-month period of service. Moreover, many stay on after the completion of the firm's commitment in order to assist as Board members and volunteers.

Scholarly Lectures and Writings:

• Aside from initiating a guardianship petition, the recourse a nonparent who seeks custody has is: (1) to convince either parent to initiate a UPA action; (2) to join an existing/active UPA action; or, (3) to convince either parent to seek to modify, or to set aside, a custody order in an otherwise dormant UPA action., Co-Author, In Re Scott, California Family Law Monthly
• Trial Court court did not abuse its discretion in holding that H’s California Public Employees’ Retirement System service credits purchased with community funds were community property, but did abuse its discretion in awarding H’s entire PERS survivor benefits to W in exchange for reimbursement to H for the monthly cost of the benefit given that the value of the benefit far exceeded the cost., Co-Author, In re Marriage of Sonne, California Family Law Monthly, Legal, 2008
• Under what circumstances can the District Court properly invoke the doctrine of abstention in claims concerning child abduction (or retention) made pursuant to the Hague Convention., Co-Author, In re Marriage of Barzilay, California Family Law Monthly, Legal, 2008
• Private disability benefits paid to a spouse during marriage are the spouse’s separate property if the spouse acquired the right to the benefits before marriage without any contribution from the community.  Waiver of Family Code Section 2550’s mandate that the Court effect an equal division of community property must be in writing or oral stipulation in open Court.  Deeds transferring property do not make a transmutation or a settlement agreement., Co-Author, In re Marriage of Rossin, California Family Law Monthly, Legal, 2009
• In Guo and Sun, the Court of Appeal rejected the notion that Family Code Section 2251 allows for a determination that a putative marriage exists if either party has a good faith belief in the marriage.  This is consistent with the common law rule that only an innocent party can be a putative spouse.  Under the circumstances, it was determined that the appellant was not an innocent spouse and should not be entitled to rely on Respondent's good faith belief in the marriage as this would not be equitable and inconsistent with both the language and policy embodied in Section 2251 and common law on which it is based.  The Court of Appeal’s opinion in Guo and Sun is in conflict with the earlier opinion rendered in In re Marriage of Tejada (2009) 179 Cal. App. 4th 973 and thus the issue is teed up for the California Supreme Court to decide., Co-Author, Guo & Sun, California Family Law Monthly, 2010
• The article discusses  the impact of the State of California's financial crisis on its court system., Co-Author, It's Time To Step Up To the Plate, Daily Journal, Legal, 2010
• Does Real Party In Interest (who has no relationship with the children) have standing to asset a Petition for Guardianship in the estate of a minor?  This depends upon the definition of the phrase “other person on behalf of the minor” as used in Probate Code Section 1510.  Ruling as a matter of first impression, the Court of Appeal concluded that the phrase meant: “a person who pleads ultimate facts demonstrating financial misconduct or alleges other information sufficient to warrant court intervention in the management of the minor’s money or other property.”  The Court of Appeal determined that under the circumstances presented, no standing was properly shown., Co-Author, In Re Suleman, California Family Law Monthly, 2010
• In re R.S. the right of birth parents to voluntarily relinquish their parental rights is upheld, but the legislature’s intent to allow birth parents to maintain at least a semblance of control over the adoptive process by designating the individual with whom the public adoption agency is to place the child for adoption is emphasized (that is, as long as adoption agency agrees)., Co-Author, In re R.S., California Family Law Monthly, 2010
• A voluntary relinquishment which had become final in accordance with Family Code Section 4326 trumps the potential results, or arguably, very existence, of a pending Welfare and Institutions Code Section 366.26 hearing., Co-Author, In re Marriage of Kacik, California Family Law Monthly, Legal, 2010
• The article is a "call to arms" on this state’s economy resulting from the cutbacks that our judicial system is  Maintaining the status quo is not an option. As lawyers and guardians of our judicial system, we have an obligation to take action and take it now., Co-Author, Court Budget Cuts Jeopardize the Economy and Justice for All, Century City Lawyer, 2010
• The program discusses ERISA’s impact on the division of assets in family law cases; how a spouse's bankruptcy filing impacts your divorce proceedings; appelaing the divorce settlement; tax issues to watch out for; the effect of mediation privilege; and the fiduciary duty between spouses., Speaker, Family Law Special Topics: Appeals, ERISA, TAX, Bankruptcy and other issues, Pincus Professional Education, 2010
• The article discusses  the impact of the State of California's financial crisis on its court system. , Co-Author, It's Time To Step Up To the Plate, Daily Journal, 2010