VALLE MAKOFF - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate - San Francisco
- Member of the State Bar of California
Ms. Stange practices commercial litigation and works on various intra-business and intra-family disputes involving business governance, breach of contract, management and control and fiduciary duty claims. Ms. Stange has also worked with asset management and private equity firms in litigation and advisory roles. Ms. Stange is skilled in handling discovery and drafting motions and pleadings for trial in state and federal court and has experience handling foreign law issues for cross-border contract disputes. Ms. Stange contributed extensive research to "Litigating and Judging California Business Entity Governance Disputes" (LexisNexis/Matthew Bender 2019). She has also contributed to publications on the topics of California's Civil Discovery Act and sovereign debt.
Ms. Stange earned her J.D. in 2019 from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. During law school, Ms. Stange mediated civil disputes at the San Francisco Superior Court through her participation in the Civil Justice Mediation Clinic. Ms. Stange also assisted members of underserved communities in preparing taxes and disputing creditor claims. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of California, Berkeley where she served as President of the sociological honor society, Alpha Kappa Delta. Prior to law school, Ms. Stange worked with investment banks and start-ups in Silicon Valley.
Ms. Stange is a member of the State Bar of California and is admitted to practice in all California state courts and the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.
Job Titles:
- Creator of " Melrose Place" and "Sex and the City" )
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner - Los Angeles
David Shukan is a litigator with more than 20 years of experience, specializing in Intellectual Property matters. Before joining Valle Makoff, Mr. Shukan was a partner in the Los Angeles office of Kirkland & Ellis for almost ten years. He has represented plaintiffs and defendants in a wide variety of matters, from complicated, protracted, high-tech Internet and healthcare patent cases for major companies, to a series of broad injunctions against a wave of knockoff scooters right before a big holiday selling season. In 2005, he was one of the principal drafters of a highly publicized patent settlement that brought his client more than $1 billion. He has handled dozens of trademark and trade dress disputes and assisted in the design of numerous litigation-related consumer surveys, including in one instance a ground-breaking survey on consumer color perception. He has also represented studios, directors, and authors in various entertainment-related matters, including copyright and idea-submission cases, production disputes, and negotiations. Understanding that many Intellectual Property clients have legal needs that extend beyond litigation, Mr. Shukan has also developed an expertise in Intellectual Property transactions, particularly in licensing and confidentiality agreements.
Mr. Shukan was named a Southern California Super Lawyer by Law & Politics Magazine in 2005 and 2006, an annual recognition based upon evaluations from other lawyers. He has also been honored by California Lawyers for the Arts for his commitment to pro bono work in the local artist community. And he has volunteered on occasion as a Judge Pro Tem, presiding over small claims cases in which both parties have agreed to have a temporary judge hear their dispute.
Mr. Shukan began his legal career in 1989 at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, where he worked with Jeff Valle on numerous entertainment-related matters.
Mr. Shukan earned his J.D. degree with Honors from the University of Texas in 1989. He graduated from Princeton University in 1986 with a degree in Physics and a minor concentration in Theater.
Apart from his activities as a lawyer, Mr. Shukan sits on the Board of the Institute for Educational Advancement (IEA), a non-profit organization dedicated to identifying and providing academic and social programs for highly gifted children. Several times a year he designs and leads puzzle and game workshops for students in IEA programs. Mr. Shukan himself is a long-time puzzle and game enthusiast, having published several crossword and related puzzles, designed board games, and written and competed in, and occasionally won, some of the largest puzzle events in the country.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Managing Partner - San Francisco
- Managing Partner of Valle Makoff LLP 's San Francisco
Ms. Fenichel's practice focuses on business, real estate and trust disputes in civil and family law matters. She represents high-net worth individuals, closely-held companies, trusts, partnerships and publicly-held corporations. With over 25 years of litigation experience in jury trials, bench trials, arbitrations, mediations and appeals, she oversees matters for the life of the dispute - early stage fact investigation, risk assessment and pre-filing negotiations, then on to initial court filings, discovery and motion practice, and finally to conclusion, whether by trial, settlement, judgment (and subsequent enforcement) or appeal, as necessary.
Her multi-faceted cases regularly require guidance with respect to on-going business management, control, governance and employment issues, consultation and coordination with clients' accounting, investment, tax and estate planning advisors, overseeing the valuation of jointly-held assets and their subsequent sale or division, planning and implementing complex domestic and international discovery (including the management of electronically-stored information (ESI)), supervising forensic accountings and designing and effectuating structured settlements.
Ms. Fenichel is fortunate to enjoy long-term relationships with many of her clients and provides these clients with on-going risk management services for the duration of their business ventures.
Ms. Fenichel is the Managing Partner of Valle Makoff LLP's San Francisco operations, has been recognized as a Northern California Super Lawyer, is a past Co-Chair of the California Lawyers Association's Business Litigation subcommittee, and is a longtime member of Queen's Bench. She is admitted to practice in all California state and federal courts and the U.S. Tax Court. She arbitrates and mediates before AAA, JAMS and other panels and has been admitted pro hac vice in Delaware.
Ms. Fenichel earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology in 1987 from the University of California at Berkeley, and she obtained her law degree in 1994 from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. While at Hastings College of the Law, Ms. Fenichel served as Editor-in-Chief of the Hastings Women's Law Journal (1993-94).
Prior to law school, Ms. Fenichel worked in development for the New England Aquarium in Boston, and she continues to be passionate about animal welfare, the arts, the environment and social justice causes.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner - Los Angeles
Ilan Wisnia is a partner with Valle Makoff, where he specializes in sports, entertainment, and business litigation. This includes the representation of professional athletes, sports and talent agencies, film studios, and production companies. He has extensive experience in litigating claims before both state and federal courts, as well as the California Labor Board, FINRA, AAA, and JAMS.
In addition, Mr. Wisnia has a strong commitment to public service, and has worked on a variety of pro bono matters. This includes working with Public Counsel to represent a homeowner who had been fraudulently induced into entering into a predatory home loan, as well as working with Bet Tzedek to defend a mother and her children from being wrongfully evicted.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner - Los Angeles
Jeffrey B. Valle is an experienced litigator and former senior partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, one of the nation's preeminent law firms. Mr. Valle has more than 25 years of litigation experience. He has represented Fortune 500 companies, smaller businesses and high profile individual clients in a wide range of commercial and business disputes. Mr. Valle also specializes in entertainment and intellectual property litigation. He was the co-head of the Skadden, Arps west coast entertainment and intellectual property group. Mr. Valle has successfully conducted many trials, arbitrations and mediations in state and federal courts throughout California. He has an "AV" rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the organization's highest rating for attorneys. Mr. Valle was selected as one of Southern California's 2009 and 2013-2021 Super Lawyers by Thomson-Reuters and he was selected as a 2013 Top Rated Lawyer in Intellectual Property and a Top Rated Lawyer in Labor and Employment law by American Lawyer Media and Martindale-Hubbell.
Mr. Valle has received numerous awards and commendations, including a Special Commendation from the Governor of California and a Certificate of Recognition from the California Legislature for his highly successful trial work. Mr. Valle also taught a required class on First Amendment Law as an adjunct professor at the University of California at Los Angeles for many years. He is a recognized expert on First Amendment issues and has commented frequently in print and electronic media on various legal issues. Mr. Valle is also a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America.
Mr. Valle also has a commitment to public service and pro bono legal work. At Skadden, Mr. Valle headed the firm's West Coast Pro Bono Practice. He also served as the President of the Board of Directors of the Western Center on Law and Poverty, a public interest law firm, from 1997 to 2003. In 1997, the American Civil Liberties Union awarded Mr. Valle the Pro Bono Civil Liberties Award.
Mr. Valle received his J.D. in 1983 from the University of California at Berkeley ("Boalt Hall"). Mr. Valle received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1980 from the University of California at Los Angeles. He was an associate at Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker from 1983 until 1986. He joined Skadden as an associate in 1986. He was elected to the partnership in 1991. He was a Skadden partner from 1991 until 2002, when he left the firm and formed Valle Makoff.
Mr. Valle is also a talented jazz pianist. His band, Evolution, plays at clubs and private parties in the Los Angeles area.
Examples of clients Mr. Valle has represented include:
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Litigation & Mediation Partner - San Francisco
Jeff Makoff has represented California businesses, families and entrepreneurs on major legal matters for 35 years. From the San Francisco Bay Area technology hub, to the L.A. media capital, to Wine Country and the Central Valley, Jeff handles complex disputes concerning the management and control of all types of businesses, fiduciary obligations and commercial litigation. Jeff is skilled in proceedings before judges, arbitrators, juries and government agencies, and is a constructive force in high stakes, often emotional, business and settlement negotiations. Jeff's practical experience with California law, business and the state's diverse constituencies has proven invaluable in hundreds of complex disputes. Jeff is the Executive Editor of "Litigating and Judging California Business Entity Governance Disputes" (LexisNexis/Matthew Bender 2019) and the co-author of CEB's Practice Guide on "Understanding Fiduciary Duties in Business Entities" on "Fiduciary Duties in Family Businesses and Transactions." Jeff has been selected as a Northern California Super Lawer for 11 years and Best Lawyers in Commercial Litigation since 2018.
Jeff is admitted to practice in all California federal and state courts and in Washington, D.C. Jeff handles plaintiff and defense cases, and mediator, receiver and trustee assignments. Jeff is experienced in jury trials, court trials, arbitrations and federal and state appeals and writs. His broad motion experience includes dismissals, summary judgments, anti-SLAPP (First Amendment), trial motions and a variety of provisional remedies motions. In business control disputes, he handles management, control, governance and employment matters in high technology, finance, media and other industries, and negotiates buyouts and management agreements for corporations/LLCs, partnerships, proprietorships, estates and their stakeholders. He handles contested corporate and LLC disputes and dissolutions (called "founder friction" or "business divorce"), as well as consent solicitations, proxy contests and involuntary buyouts. He handles owner-funded, business-funded and lender financed buyouts (including SBA funded transactions).
In an advisory capacity, Jeff handles family dispute resolution, fiduciary issues, Marvin ("palimony") cases, crisis management, business stabilization, complex asset management, division and disposition, compensation (including stock options/units and carried interests), asset-secured settlements, shareholder agreements, strategic legal and succession planning, internal and external communications and risk management. Jeff frequently assists family law professionals with business fraud investigations, fiduciary duty issues, business valuations, characterization of business interests, community/separate property apportionment, contractual disputes pertaining to premarital and postmarital agreements, tort and injury claims that arise from intimate relationships, and with the discovery and analysis of electronically stored business information (ESI). He negotiates complex property agreements between married and unmarried intimate partners/cohabitants with respect to property rights, business management and control, termination, estate-related claims, resolution of disputes and other matters.
Jeff served as Co-Chair of the Committee on Business Litigation of the Business Law Section of the California State Bar and is a former Trustee of the UC Hastings Law School Foundation. Jeff was trained at the leading international law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom under trial lawyers Frank Rothman, Bill Masterson, Mike Diamond and Jim Lyons. He co-tried a case with legendary Houston cross-examiner Richard Caldwell. Jeff worked on many of the major West Coast corporate control battles of the 1980s era.
Jeff received his J.D. in 1985 from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, where he published his Note on Attorney-Client Privilege in the European Communities after A.M. & S. v. Commission: The Secret Is Out. He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1981, cum laude, from the University of California at Los Angeles. In 2013, Jeff completed the week-long "Mediating Disputes" program at the Harvard Law School Program on Negotiation.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner - Los Angeles
Ms. Laser is a seasoned business litigator with extensive expertise in handling all types of business disputes including complex contract litigation, tortious interference and misappropriation of trade secrets litigation, consumer class actions (including ADA, false advertisement and unfair competition claims), real estate, antitrust and other commercial litigation in both state and federal courts. Ms. Laser represents a wide range of clients, which include a national grocery retailer, a publicly-traded real estate firm, a private equity firm, entertainment companies, real estate investors and other businesses and individuals. For over twelve years, Ms. Laser practiced general commercial litigation at O'Melveny & Myers LLP, in its Century City office, and for two years at Boren, Osher & Luftman, LLP. Prior to joining O'Melveny & Myers, Ms. Laser clerked for the Honorable Ferdinand F. Fernandez at the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner - Los Angele
John Moscarino represents both plaintiffs and defendants in a wide variety of complex litigation matters in federal and state courts. His practice encompasses such diverse areas as professional malpractice, sports and entertainment, securities fraud, labor and employment, real estate, defamation, intellectual property, unfair competition and related business torts. In addition to his trial practice, Mr. Moscarino has handled numerous appeals. He regularly represents clients in arbitrations and mediations and has served as a mediator himself.
Mr. Moscarino has served as an expert witness in legal malpractice matters.
Mr. Moscarino has written and lectured extensively on a variety of business-related topics. He regularly teaches in the Deposition Skills program sponsored by the National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA).
Mr. Moscarino is:
The youngest person on the Los Angeles Business Journal's 1997 list of the "50 Top L.A. Lawyers You Should Know."
Profiled in the "20 under 40" feature of the Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journals.
On the inaugural list of "Southern California Super Lawyers" in 2004 and listed as a "Super Lawyer" every year since then.
A Charter Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America.
Mr. Moscarino is a graduate of both Dartmouth College and the UCLA School of Law and has been an active fundraiser for both.
Josef D. Houska's experience is founded on business transactions and estate planning, which developed into handling contested business, intellectual property, conservatorships, Wills, Trusts and probates, and financial abuse matters.
Mr. Houska has served the public interest in many roles. From 2006 to 2008, Mr. Houska was a member of a Financial Abuse Specialist Team, along with the FBI, the District Attorney's office, the Sheriff's Department, Adult Protective Services, the IRS and other entities. From 1999 to 2006, he served as a member of the steering committee for the South Coast Business and Technology Awards Dinner, which raised net proceeds of over $100,000 every year since 2001 for charity.
Mr. Houska received his J.D. in 1990 from the Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, receiving the American Jurisprudence Awards in Property and Insurance Law and obtaining an Editorship of the Loyola Law Review. Mr. Houska earned an M.B.A. in 1986 from the University of California at Berkeley ("Hass School of Business"), during which he was selected and served as a Washington Campus scholar in the District of Columbia and an International Exchange Program scholar at the London Business School. Mr. Houska received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1982 from the University of California at Los Angeles. From 1996 to 2006, he was an associate at Hatch & Parent and at Mullen & Henzell. He joined Valle Makoff LLP in 2010 and became Senior Counsel with the firm in January 2012.
Job Titles:
- Senior Counsel - Los Angeles
Julie J. Roback began her career at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, where she worked from 1994 until 1998. From 1998 until 2000 she was an associate at Diamond & Ostrow LLP. She is currently Senior Counsel with Valle Makoff.
Ms. Roback has more than 20 years of business, commercial and employment litigation experience. Over the years, Ms. Roback has been involved in matters such as:
Obtaining a $2 million arbitration award on behalf of Taco Bell Corp.in a breach of contract dispute.
Obtaining nearly $2 million jury verdict on behalf of former executive against visual effects firm based on wrongful termination and breach of contract.
Successfully settling multi-million dollar dispute between private equity firm and former employee.
Obtaining settlement on behalf of Ernst Paul Lehman Patentwerk, a model train manufacturer, in a false advertising and breach of contract lawsuit.
Defending City National Bankin a lawsuit alleging sex and race discrimination.
Defending Pacific Shore Fundingin a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and gender discrimination.
Negotiating increased salary and back-pay package pursuant to Equal Pay Act on behalf of long-term salesperson at Fortune 500 company.
Obtaining both Workplace Violence and Domestic Violence Restraining Orders.
Successfully settling dispute on behalf of real estate developers against former owner of property.
Ms. Roback received her J.D. in 1994 from Loyola University School of Law, Chicago, Illinois, where she received two American Jurisprudence Awards and finished in the top ten percent of her class. Ms. Roback received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1991 from the University of Michigan.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner - Los Angeles
Katherine Balatbat started her legal career in the New York office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. She worked in Skadden's New York and Los Angeles offices, and in both the corporate and the litigation departments. She worked at Skadden from 1996 until 2003 before joining Valle Makoff.
Ms. Balatbat has a broad litigation practice, representing both plaintiffs and defendants in federal and state courts. She has represented clients in matters involving antitrust, communications, employment, and entertainment law as well as other complex business litigation. With Mr. Valle, Ms. Balatbat has obtained multi-million dollar jury verdicts for her clients and favorable decisions in arbitration. She also has obtained seven-figure settlements in a suit involving wrongful termination and in a suit involving theft of an idea.
In addition to her litigation experience, Ms. Balatbat has transactional experience. She has worked on a variety of corporate transactions, including private placements, public offerings, leveraged buyouts and mergers and acquisitions.
In 2000, Ms. Balatbat received a Special Commendation from the Governor of California and a Certificate of Recognition from the California Legislature. Ms. Balatbat has dedicated many hours to public service and pro bono legal work for individuals as well as non-profit organizations both at home and overseas.
Ms. Balatbat earned her law degree in 1996 from Columbia University School of Law, where she was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in political science from Northwestern University in 1991. Mrs. Balatbat is admitted to the State Bars of California and New York.
Job Titles:
- Senior Counsel - Los Angeles
For more than 30 years, Ken Ostrow has been litigating complex cases on behalf of corporate entities and stakeholders and representing individuals in family law and estate planning matters. Ken has significant jury and non-jury trial experience and has been responsible for the management and oversight of all phases of civil litigation in federal, state, and bankruptcy courts, including appellate briefing and appellate oral argument. Ken also has advised individuals in marital dissolution and post-judgment dissolution matters and has developed an expertise in estate planning for families and individuals, including the litigation of probate and trust disputes in probate court.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Member of the State Bar of California
- Partner - San Francisco
Mr. Freeman practices as a litigator and advisor in complex disputes and transactions concerning the management and control of businesses, fiduciary obligations, and commercial disputes. Mr. Freeman has experience in trial and appellate litigation, handling plaintiff and defense cases in business, commercial and contract lawsuits, and fiduciary duty and business-related issues in family law matters. Mr. Freeman also has experience in litigation and advisory work in business dissolutions ("business divorces") and intra-business disputes involving control, management and buyout issues in private and family-owned business entitites. He assists family law professionals with business litigation and complex civil procedure and discovery issues, spousal breach of fiduciary duty claims, and "Marvin" claims. Mr. Freeman also handles complex property agreements between married and unmarried intimate partners/cohabitants with respect to property rights, business management and control, termination, estate-related claims, resolution of disputes and other matters.
Mr. Freeman has been involved in matters including:
Trial court and appellate attorney in two consolidated commercial cases that resulted in total summary judgment against multi-million-dollar claims, plus an award of over $318,000 in legal fees, affirmed on appeal. Korchemny v. Piterman, 68 Cal.App.5th 1032 (2021).
Trial court and appellate attorney in a commercial litigation case, obtaining favorable decision to avoid involuntary dissolution of LLCs valued at over $20MM, affirmed on appeal. Boschetti v. Pacific Bay Investments, Inc., 32 Cal.App.5th 1059 (2019).
Litigation and settlement for plaintiffs and defendants of commercial claims arising from a personal relationship (called "Marvin" claims under California law).
Litigation and settlement of marital dissolutions involving complex asset division and compensation issues (including stock options/units).
Ownership buyout agreement resolving LLC control and management dispute involving real estate development company.
Asset-secured settlement (through acquisition) of LLC control and management dispute involving technology company.
Ownership buyout agreement resolving LLC control and management dispute involving finance-related company.
Litigation and settlement of contract claims concerning investment banking agreement for technology company.
Litigation and settlement of family business ownership and control dispute.
Litigation and settlement of commercial claims of co-founder and minority shareholder of a high-tech startup in a dispute with his co-founder and various venture capital funds related to the recapitalization of the company.
Mr. Freeman is a member of the State Bar of California and is admitted to practice in all California state courts, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
Mr. Freeman earned his J.D. from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly the University of California, Hastings College of the Law). He received B.A. degrees in Psychology and Rhetoric from the University of California, Berkeley. While in law school, Mr. Freeman received CALI Excellence Awards in Legal Writing and Cyberlaw. He was an editor for the Hastings Law Journal and a mediator for the Civil Justice Mediation Clinic of the San Francisco Superior Court. Mr. Freeman also served as an extern to the Honorable Jon S. Tigar in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.
Job Titles:
- Adjunct Instructor at JFKU Law School
- of Counsel - San Francisco
Peter Clapp has broad experience in all aspects of business reorganization and bankruptcy. From 1983 - 2004, he was a member of the corporate reorganization department at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, in the firm's New York and Los Angeles offices. At Skadden, he represented debtors, creditors, and other participants in complex chapter 11 cases and in the full range of litigation that arises under the Bankruptcy Code.
After leaving Skadden, Mr. Clapp served for two years as General Counsel and Secretary to a $100 million manufacturing-distribution company, responsible for all commercial, IP, real estate, employment, and other legal matters.
Mr. Clapp has published articles on the duties of directors of financially troubled companies, the treatment of pension and retiree claims in bankruptcy, bankruptcy reform legislation, and other matters. He graduated magna cum laude from Hastings College of the Law in 1982, where he was Note and Comment Editor on the Hastings Law Journal. His B.A. is from Columbia University, where he majored in Asian Studies.
Mr. Clapp is an adjunct instructor at JFKU Law School (corporate and partnership law; contract drafting and interpretation) and at St. Mary's College (business law).
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate - San Francisco
Ms. Makoff practices in the areas of commercial litigation and fiduciary duties, especially related to management, control and operations of private and family business enterprises, business owner buyouts and the management and disposition of complex assets, related negotiations and trial practice. She has experience in litigation and advisory work involving venture capital and private equity funds, mergers and acquisitions, broker-dealer regulation and financial services compensation. Ms. Makoff was appellate co-counsel in two consolidated commercial cases that resulted in total summary judgment for our client in both cases, plus an award of over $318,000 in legal fees, affirmed on appeal (Korchemny v. Piterman, 68 Cal.App.5th 1032 (2021)). Ms. Makoff is the Executive Editor (Updates) and contributed extensive research, writing, and editing to "Litigating and Judging California Business Entity Governance Disputes" (LexisNexis/Matthew Bender 2019), is the co-author of CEB's Practice Guide on "Understanding Fiduciary Duties in Business Entities" on "Fiduciary Duties in Family Businesses and Transactions" and co-authored an article in the Daily Journal, "The Law and Practice of Litigating Marvin Claims in a Less-Married Millennium."
Ms. Makoff received her J.D. in 2017 from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York. She graduated from Hamilton College with a Bachelor of Arts in 2012 (Public Policy) and attended St. Paul's School (New Hampshire). Ms. Makoff was an editor of the Cardozo Law Review with a published Note, Judicial Dissolution Under New York's Limited Liability Company Law: Should Breaking Up Be This Hard to Do?, 38 Cardozo L. Rev. 1541 (2017). During law school, Ms. Makoff served as an extern for the Honorable Arthur F. Engoron at the New York County Supreme Court and had a summer position with the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C., Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. Prior to law school, Ms. Makoff worked as a case clerk at Clyde & Co. U.S. LLP in San Francisco and at the U.S. Fund for UNICEF in New York City.
Ms. Makoff is a member of the State Bar of California and is admitted to practice in all California state courts, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Steven Ragona started his career at Girardi & Keese in Los Angeles, a plaintiffs' law firm specializing in mass tort cases, professional malpractice, insurance litigation and personal injury. He joined the Los Angeles office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in 1997, where he worked until 2003 before joining Valle Makoff.
Mr. Ragona's practice focuses on complex commercial, insurance and business litigation matters and class action lawsuits. He also has litigation experience in matters involving securities law, intellectual property and constitutional law. Over the years, Mr. Ragona has been involved in matters such as:
Defeating certification of a nationwide class action lawsuit brought against Farmers Insurance Company challenging their claims handling policies;
Obtaining dismissal of a California class action lawsuit brought against State Farm Insurance Company challenging their procedures for payment of third party claims;
Obtaining summary judgment for Bear Stearns in a misappropriation of trade secrets case arising out of a hostile tender offer;
Representing Ohio Casualty Insurance Company in Proposition 103 rate rollback proceedings before the California Department of Insurance; and
Successfully representing Cytec Industries, Inc. in a commercial dispute regarding the development and exploitation of composites technology.
Mr. Ragona earned his law degree in 1995 from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, graduating cum laude and order of the coif. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in English literature from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1989. Mr. Ragona is a member of the California and Los Angeles County bar associations.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Managing Partner - Los Angeles
Susan Klein has represented clients for more than 30 years in a wide range of business, entertainment and employment litigation matters, including partnership and private equity disputes, fraud and other business torts, and copyright and trademark actions.
Ms. Klein joined Valle Makoff from The Walt Disney Company where she was Vice President-Counsel in the litigation department. During her more than 18 years at Disney, Ms. Klein handled litigation and related matters involving Disney's diverse entertainment and media operations which include theme parks and resorts, motion pictures and television shows, consumer products, retail stores, internet offerings and cable networks.
In 2005, 2006 and 2007, Ms. Klein was named a Southern California "Super Lawyer" by Los Angeles Magazine. This designation results from an evaluation process based on peer recognition of outstanding professional achievement.
Ms. Klein began her legal career in the Los Angeles office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP where she worked in the litigation department from 1984 until 1988, handling intellectual property, franchise, entertainment, securities, antitrust and general business litigation matters.
Ms. Klein earned her J.D. in 1984 from the University of California at Berkeley ("Boalt Hall"). She received her A.B. degree in Political Science, with distinction, from Stanford University, in 1980.
Active in pro bono matters, Ms. Klein was a member of the Executive Committee and served on the Board of Directors of the Western Center on Law and Poverty and on the Board of Directors of the Women Lawyers' Association of Los Angeles. Ms. Klein also served on the Board of Directors of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles.
Examples of clients Ms. Klein has represented include:
American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.
Estee Lauder Companies
Pepsico, Inc.
Taco Bell Corp.
Valeant Pharmaceuticals
The Walt Disney Company
Zenith Insurance Company
Examples of matters Ms. Klein has handled include:
Prospect Park Networks, LLC v. American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.
Broadstream Capital Partners v. Penthouse Media Group, Inc.
Minakshi Jafa-Bodden v. Bikram Choudhury, et. al.
The Walt Disney Company v. Angelo Scrigna, et. al.
Duncan Lindsey Ph.D. v. Elsevier, Inc.
The Collection At Downtown Burbank Property Owners' Assoc. v GPI Burbank Collection, LLC
Orlandic v. Valeant Pharmaceuticals International
Zenith Insurance Company v. Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Company, et. al.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Managing Partner - Silicon Valley Office
Tim Miller founded the Silicon Valley office of Valle Makoff after 14 years as a litigation partner in the Northern California offices of the international law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. Mr. Miller has extensive experience litigating complex cases in federal and state courts.
Mr. Miller's practice includes a broad range of business and contract disputes, claims of trade secret misappropriation, claims against officers, directors and trustees asserting breach of fiduciary duty, claims of unfair business practices and unfair competition, business tort litigation, corporate and securities litigation, litigation arising from mergers and acquisitions and shareholder derivative litigation. He also represented special committees and individual members of Boards of Directors in connection with internal corporate and SEC investigations.
Since joining Valle Makoff, Mr. Miller has handled a variety of "business divorce" and other commercial and shareholder disputes, including the representation of:
a co-founder and minority shareholder of a high tech startup in a dispute with his co-founder and various venture capital funds related to the recapitalization of the company;
a majority member of a California LLC in a dispute with the minority members regarding his management of the company;
a minority member of a closely-held California LLC engaged in real estate investment in a dispute with her partners under various operating agreements;
a 50% shareholder of a closely-held family held business in shareholder disputes with the other shareholders and family members regarding the management and sale of the business;
JD.com (the Amazon.com of China) in a dispute with Amazon regarding JD.com's hiring of a former Amazon engineer;
HP Inc. in confidential commercial disputes;
a government sub-contractor in connection with breach of contract claims asserted by the prime contractor on a major, high profile contract with the Department of Energy;
a manufacturer of innovative plumbing solutions in connection with its claims for millions of dollars of indemnification against the former owners of the business under an asset purchase agreement;
a technology startup in connection with a dispute regarding the client's acquisition of a business, resulting in a full rescission of the sale following Mr. Miller's internal investigation;
the former President and Chief Operating Officer of a retail chain in a dispute with the private equity owners of the company.
While at Skadden, Mr. Miller's representations included:
The National Football League in connection with a class action filed by retired players alleging that the players suffer from injuries and addictions resulting from the alleged improper administration of prescription drugs and painkillers during their playing days;
The current and former independent directors of Hewlett-Packard Co. in connection with shareholder derivative and class actions arising from HP's $11.1 billion acquisition of Autonomy Corporation;
Computer Sciences Corporation and certain former officers in consolidated shareholder federal class action litigation in the Eastern District of Virginia, arising in part from CSC's contract with the United Kingdom's National Health Service (acting through Connecting for Health) to establish a centralized patient record system in the United Kingdom;
The former CEO of a publicly traded REIT in connection with claims of trade secret misappropriation by his former employer and to recover millions of dollars in severance withheld by the company he founded;
A private equity fund asserting claims of fraud, breach of contract and indemnification against another private equity fund in connection with the sale of a portfolio company;
A Japanese conglomerate in a dispute with its collaboration partner regarding the development of a new siRNA drug;
The acquirer of Peet's Coffee & Tea in connection with shareholder litigation seeking to enjoin a $1 billion merger transaction;
NRG Energy Inc. in an original proceeding brought in the California Court of Appeal by a competitor in the electronic vehicle charging market challenging a settlement between NRG and the California Public Utilities Commission pursuant to which NRG would invest $100 million in California's EV charging infrastructure;
The investment banking division of UBS in connection with claims brought in California state court by private investors in Solidus Networks Inc. dba Pay By Touch;
A special committee of the KLA-Tencor board of directors in connection with an investigation of past stock option granting practices, and the special litigation committee of the KLA board in connection with related shareholder derivative litigation;
McKesson Corporation in connection with state and federal shareholder litigation arising from its 1999 restatement, including consolidated federal shareholder class action litigation, federal ERISA class action litigation and individual shareholder actions in multiple federal and state courts;
The CEO of a company involved in the computerized algorithmic trading of securities in connection with claims of theft and trade secret misappropriation;
A major investment bank in defense of a trade secret litigation arising from a contest for corporate control involving one of its clients; and
Golden Eagle Insurance Co. in connection with the seizure by the California Department of Insurance of more than $2 billion in assets and the related insurance insolvency proceedings in the San Francisco Superior Court.
Mr. Miller has been selected repeatedly for inclusion in The U.S. News & World Report's Best Lawyers in America for commercial litigation and is listed as a Super Lawyer in Business Litigation for 2018. He writes and speaks frequently on legal and business issues critical to public and private companies.
Mr. Miller received his Juris Doctor degree from the Boalt Hall School of Law (now UC Berkeley Law) in 1991. He graduated Order of Coif and served as an Associate Editor on the California Law Review. Mr. Miller graduated summa cum laude from Whitworth College in 1988 with a B.A. in Philosophy, where upon graduation he was awarded the President's Cup, Whitworth's highest academic honor. He is admitted to the California Bar.