ATTORNEYS
Jonathan Blau
Mr. Blau’s practice includes corporate, licensing and real estate transactions. Since 1981, he has represented businesses of all sizes and stages, from hi-tech startups to multinational Fortune 500 corporations. Mr. Blau has negotiated and drafted thousands of contracts in his approximately thirty years of practice and is among the most experienced contracts lawyers in California. Recent transactions include a successful multi-million dollar stock offering for a Chinese company and the negotiation and drafting of the construction contracts for a major new building in Silicon Valley.
Mr. Blau obtained his Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (magna cum laude) in 1978 and his JD from Stanford Law School in 1981. Mr. Blau served as Articles Editor of the Stanford Journal of International Law. He has been admitted to practice in California since 1981 and is a resident of our Santa Monica office.
Joseph Bolnick
Joseph Bolnick has extensive experience in bankruptcy, commercial, and personal litigation. He has litigated matters in California state courts, federal district courts, and federal bankruptcy courts. Mr. Bolnick’s practice includes representing clients in general business litigation, including contract disputes, and in business and personal tort litigation. Mr. Bolnick also has substantial experience representing debtors and secured creditors in chapter 11 reorganization cases.
Mr. Bolnick is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of New Hampshire and received his J.D. from Stanford Law School. He is admitted to practice in California and is a resident of our Santa Monica office.
Santa Monica Office
310-656-8000
jbolnick@gormanmiller.com
Chester Hayes
Chester Hayes has been with Gorman & Miller for over 10 years in an “Of Counsel” capacity.
Mr. Hayes has been practicing law for over 35 years and has held senior level legal positions for several Fortune 500 corporations. Most of his activities were focused on transactions involving government contracts (FAR & DFAR), export/import control regulation issues including ITAR as well as international and domestic commercial contractual matters. His other activities have included employment law, antitrust, intellectual property protection, technology licensing and risk management issues.
Mr. Hayes has taught Contract Law including the Uniform Commercial Code at a local law school for over five years. Mr. Hayes is also a mediator and arbitrator and has been doing so for over 15 years.
Mr. Hayes graduated from Suffolk University Law School, Boston MA in 1973 and is admitted to practice law in both Massachusetts and North Carolina. In addition, Mr. Hayes holds a business and engineering degree from Northeastern University, Boston, MA and Wentworth Institute, Boston, MA respectively and is currently licensed as a Professional Electrical Engineer in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
San Jose Office
408-297-2222
chayes@gormanmiller.com
Kenneth Heisz
With over 20 years of experience, Ken Heisz is an accomplished litigator and skilled trial lawyer. He has been lead counsel in complex cases in both state and federal courts at both the trial and appellate levels. He has tried many cases in state courts and in arbitrations with favorable results.
Mr. Heisz’s practice is diverse and includes probate and trust litigation, trademark, copyright, unfair competition, trade secrets, breach of contract, labor, employment, defamation/First Amendment, professional malpractice, entertainment, internet, domain name disputes, administrative, licensing and corporate governance issues.
His clients have included public and private companies, school districts, financial institutions, start-up companies, internet companies, a network of hospitals, a municipality, prominent executives, CEO’s, entrepreneurs, celebrities and investors.
Mr. Heisz frequently serves as a judge pro tem for the Los Angeles Superior Court and as an arbitrator for the Dispute Resolution Services program of the Los Angeles County Bar Association.
Mr. Heisz graduated from Kansas Wesleyan University (B.A., 1979) and obtained his law degree from Loyola Law School (J.D., 1989), where he was an Articles Editor for the Loyola of Los Angeles International and Comparative Law Journal and a member of the Jessup Moot Court Team. Mr. Heisz has been a member of the California State Bar since 1989 and is admitted to practice in all federal courts in California, the Ninth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. He is a resident of the Santa Monica office.
PUBLISHED DECISIONS
Tia Carrere v. Steven Baxt, D2005-1072 (WIPO November 28, 2005);
Gardenhire v. Superior Court of Santa Clara County, 127 Cal.App.4th 882 (2005);
PriceGrabber.com v. Other World Computing, Inc., FA 0004000094651 (Nat. Arb. Forum June 5, 2000);
Powers v. Dickson, Carlson & Campillo, 54 Cal.App.4th 1102 (1997);
Ameri-Medical Corp. v. W.C.A.B., 42 Cal.App.4th 1260 (1996);
American Psychometric Consultants, Inc. v. W.C.A.B., 36 Cal.App.4th 1626 (1995).
REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS
Prosecuted a black market company and network of individuals operating in Asia and secured a permanent injunction against them on claims of trademark infringement, trade secrets, and unfair competition on behalf of an international skin care products company. This global injunction was subsequently enforced in a separate contempt proceeding in which a contempt order was obtained for violation of the injunction.
Defended a national irrigation company and its board against wrongful termination and breach of contract claims by its former president. Defense verdict rendered after a state court trial.
Prevailed on behalf of an individual client accused of financial elder abuse by relatives of decedent and Los Angeles County in which the client’s bank accounts were frozen and personal possessions were taken by Los Angeles County. Defense verdict rendered after trial in probate court with accounts ordered released and possessions ordered returned.
Represented a financial institution in lawsuit filed by another financial instituion alleging trademark infringement. Case settled on favorable terms.
Filed complaint with international arbitration provider against a corporate competitor and successfully regained the domain name for an internet company.
Defended a marketing company in lawsuit filed by a national ice cream company alleging claims of copyright infringement, breach of contract and unfair business practices. Case settled on favorable terms.
Advised a national company regarding the distribution and licensing of its products and drafted contracts for same. Drafted an adult entertainment ordinance for large municipality and counseled city officials in enactment of same.
Santa Monica Office
310-656-8000
kheisz@gormanmiller.com
Richard Klein
Mr. Klein’s practice includes business and personal injury litigation. Since 1980, he has successfully resolved business disputes for clients ranging from sole proprietors to corporations with sales in excess of a billion dollars.
Mr. Klein is an experienced and skilled trial lawyer, yet understands that litigation is not about fighting, but rather about achieving results. An extremely effective and creative negotiator who views problems from all sides, his goal is to resolve every business dispute as expediently and cost-effectively as possible.
Recent litigated matters include representation of an infomercial marketer in a lawsuit against a credit card processor resulting in a judgment for the infomercial marketer, representation of a world famous singer in the defense of a lawsuit brought by a concert promoter resulting in dismissal of the lawsuit, the defense of a bank CEO in a wrongful termination claim resulting in a dismissal, the defense of a French manufacturing company in a breach of contract suit by an American design company resulting in a substantial settlement in favor of our client, and representation of a theater operator in the defense of a lawsuit brought by an entertainment production company resulting in dismissal of the lawsuit.
Mr. Klein obtained his B.A. (Mathematics) from Northwestern University (Dean’s List of Distinction) in 1977 and his J.D. from Stanford Law School in 1980. He has been admitted to practice in California since 1980 and is a resident of our Santa Monica office.
Santa Monica Office
310-656-8000
rklein@gormanmiller.com
Paul Levinson
Mr. Levinson’s practice consists primarily of estate planning, estate administration as well as business formation and tax planning.
Mr. Levinson received his JD from the University of California at Los Angeles School of Law, Los Angeles, California in 1956, and was a member of the UCLA Law Review, 1954-1955. He has been an active member of the California State Bar since 1957. He has been certified as a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Tax Specialist, California Board of Legal Specialization. Mr. Levinson has extensive experience in estate planning, trust administration, probate and probate administration. He has also had extensive business experience as a general partner in both real estate and oil and gas ventures, as well as an initial investor, officer and director of a start-up electronics company.
He is of counsel to the firm.
Santa Monica Office
310-260-5620
plevinson@gormanmiller.com
Ken Miller
Mr. Miller’s practice includes both real estate transactions and litigation. He specializes in the area of commercial real estate transactions. Since 1999, he has represented clients in the successful closing of over $4 billion of commercial real estate transactions throughout the United States, primarily involving net leased properties. His recent transactions include over $500 million in sale-leasebacks with public companies, such as Rite Aid, Pep Boys and Fleetwood Enterprises; the acquisition of a limited liability company owning an $80 million portfolio of commercial real estate; residual value financings; credit tenant lease financings; and the acquisition of remainder interests in over two million square feet of commercial property.
He also represents clients in real estate litigation, workouts and other disputes. Recent litigated matters and workouts include the litigation and successful settlement of a mechanic’s lien foreclosure action on behalf of the general contractor, the litigation and successful settlement of a dispute involving a fair market value purchase option on behalf of a real estate investor, the representation of a commercial landlord in connection with the bankruptcy of the sole tenant and the representation of a lender in a real estate loan workout.
Mr. Miller obtained his Bachelor of Arts from Hamilton College (summa cum laude) in 1978 and his JD from Stanford Law School in 1981. He has been admitted to practice in California since 1981 and is a resident of our Santa Monica office.
PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
“Credit Tenant Loans” (Presentation at Interface Net lease West, Los Angeles, California on March 21, 2012.)
“Valuation of the Mortgagee’s Interest on Partial Condemnation” (15 Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review 227 (1982))
PATENTS
“System and Method for Conducting the Closing of a Real Estate Sale over a Computerized Network” (co-inventor) U.S. Patent #7,085,735
“Closing System for Closing Real Estate Transactions between a Plurality of Parties” (co-inventor) U.S. Patent #7,596,511
Santa Monica Office
310-656-8000
kmiller@gormanmiller.com