Attorney Profiles

NORMAN S. STIMMEL

• Position: Founder and Shareholder (1914-1991).

LEE D. STIMMEL

• Position: Senior Partner; President of Company; Director.
• Admitted to California and Federal bar, 1973.
• Education: University of California (A.B.), 1970; Harvard University (J.D.), 1973.
• AV Rated by Martindale Hubbell; Listed in Register of Preeminent Attorneys (International) since 1998.
• Lecturer and Author: Continuing Legal Education of the California State Bar and University of California, in both Contractual Arbitration and Legal Ethics. Has also taught courses on various related business formation topics. Has served as an arbitrator in numerous disputes both domestic and international.
• Specializes in complex business formation, international business structure and negotiations, arbitration and mediations, estate planning, real estate developments, construction, and all aspects of domestic and international business including immigration and litigation.
• Reported Cases: Diamond vs. Connelley, upholding the constitutionality of Mechanics Liens and Stop Notices in United States Supreme Court (1976); Outdoor Services, Inc. vs. Pabagold, Inc., binding to arbitration third party beneficiaries of a contract containing an arbitration clause in the California Court of Appeals (1986).
• Languages: Spanish.
• Founder of Blue Water Foundation ( http://www.bluewaterfoundation.org/ ); Founding Board Member of Institute for One World Health ( http://www.oneworldhealth.org/ ); Past Board President of Urban Pioneer Experiential Academy, a San Francisco Public Charter School; Secretary and Board Member of Supporters of the San Francisco Police Department Wilderness Program, a foundation of the San Francisco Police Department which develops and funds wilderness activities for youth; Founder of Criminal Legal Aid Collective; Member of over thirty other boards, both for profit and non profit purposes; United States Coast Guard Licensed Captain.
• Email: lstimmel@stimmel-law.com

ANDRINE K. SMITH

• Position: Partner; Treasurer; Director.
• Admitted to California and Federal bar, 1993.
• Education: Colby College; Golden Gate University (J.D. with honors), 1992. Editor, Ninth Circuit Survey.
• Specializes in employment law, domestic and international business formation and contract negotiations, structural planning and drafting for domestic, international business as well as domestic and international litigation, arbitration, real estate development, construction, and mechanics liens
• Member: San Francisco Bar Association, Employment Law Section.
• Member of many Boards of Trustees or Directors of various profit and not for profit entities and active in various business organizations and charitable organizations, including Alameda Point Advisory Committee; Women in Real Estate; Island Cat Rescue.
• Legal counsel in numerous international and domestic arbitrations resulting in multi million dollar verdicts for clients. Represents various foreign Consulates and engages in enforcement of international judgments.
• Regularly conducts seminars on various employment issues for members of business and industry.
• Email: asmith@stimmel-law.com

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OF COUNSEL

SPENCER W. WEISBROTH

• Position: Of Counsel
• Admitted to California Bar, 2004; Massachusetts Bar, 1996; Maryland Bar, 1989 (inactive).
• Education: University of Maryland School of Law (J.D.), 1988; State University of New York, College at Plattsburgh (B.A.), 1985.   
• Specializes in complex domestic and international business transactions, litigation, and arbitration; business formation; structural planning for business entities and ventures; intellectual property law and litigation; entertainment law and business matters; and non-profit law.
• Peabody/Robert Wood Johnson Award for legal services to The DNA Files, 2002.
• Pro Bono Panel Attorney:  AIDS Legal Referral Panel
• Board President, SoundVision Productions. Former National Advisory board member: Mediarites. Former board member: Straight Ahead Pictures, Inc.; Association of Independents in Radio; Arms Public Library Association.
• Publications: Contributing Editor, “How to Organize (Just About) Everything”; authored Prepare for the Bar Exam, (Free Press, 2005);  The Law and the Independent Radio Producer, RadioCollege.Org, Feb. 14, 2000;  Imagine 2000 and Beyond: Predictions for the New Millennium "The Age of Ideas” , Immagine News Magazine, January 2000;  Ask the Lawyer-Music Licensing on the Web: AIRSpace, November/December 1999;  Licensing for the New Millennium: The Shameless Complexities of the DMCA, Immagine News Magazine, November 1999; Ask the Lawyer-Fair Use, AIRSpace, March/April 1998; Ask the Lawyer-Music Licensing, AIRSpace, May/June 1998 
• Former partner at Starter Fluid Management, a venture capital firm; former business affairs attorney with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
• Email: spencer@weisbroth-law.com

DARRICK T. CHASE

• Position: Of Counsel.
• Admitted to California and Federal bar, 1990.
• Education: University of California, Berkeley (B.A.), 1987; University of San Francisco (J.D.) 1990; Masters in Federal Taxation (LLM), In Progress.
• Settlement Conference Judge in San Francisco Superior Court.
• Specializes in Family Law, Estate Planning, and Business.
• Email: darricktchase@hotmail.com

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WILLIAM T. WEBB

• Position: Of Counsel.
• Admitted to California and Federal bars, 1997. Licensed in California, Colorado, Illinois & Indiana.
• Education: University of Notre Dame Law School (J.D.), 1991. University of Notre Dame (B.A.) 1988.
• 16 years of legal experience in variety of practice areas, including litigation and transactions.
• Adjunct professor of law, Uniform Commercial Code, Moot Court.
• Extensive trial experience, including being lead trial counsel in many civil litigation cases.
• Appellate experience, including oral argument before the Seventh Circuit and California Court of Appeals: numerous published opinions.
• National Institute of Trial Advocacy Instructor.
• Administrative Editor, Journal of Legislation, The International Legal Aspects of the Lithuanian Secession, 17 Journal of Legislation 309.
• Email: wwebb@webblegalgroup.com

LAURA BASALOCO-LAPO

Position: Of Counsel.

Admitted to bar:

• Brazil 1976, Portugal 1977, California and Federal bars, 1986.
• Education: Candido Mendes University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (L.L.B.), 1975; New York University (M.C.J.), 1978.
• Author: Business Lawyer's Bankruptcy Guide, Chapter 6; Planning and Process of a, Chapter 12.
• Member: Bar Association of San Francisco; State Bar of California; Bar Association of Brazil; Bar Association of Portugal; U.S. District Court, Northern, Southern and Eastern.
• Specializes in Debtor Creditor Rights Law, Insolvency Law, Corporate Law, Family Law, International Law.
• Languages: English, Portuguese, and Spanish.
• Email:lapo2000@aol.com

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CORRESPONDING FIRMS

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BELGIAN FIRM  “BROCORENS BERVOETS DEFAUW”

Boulevard Louis Schmidtlaan 72, B-1040 BRUSSELS, BELGIUM

Tel. + 32 2 739 30 30 – Fax. + 32 2 736 61 55

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Members:

JEAN-MARIE BROCORENS

• Position: Founder.

• Admitted to the Brussels bar, Belgium, 1973.

• Education: University of Louvain; Tax Law, I.S.S.F. Brussels.

• Specializes in commercial and civil litigation, complex negotiations, real estate, construction, and lease law.

• Board member of various companies and non profit foundations.

• Languages: French and Dutch.

BRUNO BERVOETS

• Position: Founder.

• Admitted to the Brussels bar, Belgium, 1997.

• Education: University of Louvain-la-Neuve; LL.M Commercial law, Université Libre de Bruxelles.

• Specializes in business and commercial law, including litigation, corporate law, estate, and lease law.

• Author of various legal articles.

• Member of various boards of companies.

• Languages: French and English.

CHRISTIAN DEFAUW

• Position: Founder.

• Admitted to the Brussels bar, Belgium, 1998.

• Education: University of Louvain-la-Neuve, 1996. LL.M, Masters of Intellectual Property Law, University of London, Great Britain, 1997; B.A. Art History and Archaeology, L.S.H.A.A.B, Brussels, Belgium (2001-2005).

• Paralegal: U.S. firm, Stimmel, Stimmel & Smith, P.C., San Francisco, U.S.A. 1998-2000.

• Specializes in contracts law, intellectual property (trade marks, patents, information technology and copyright), commercial and business law, distribution law, company law, and art law.

• Member of the Belgian Copyright Association (A.B.A.).

• Lecturer Author’s rights, Brussels School of Photography, University of Louvain-la-Neuve, Art History and Museum Law.

• Author of various legal articles.

• Languages: French, Dutch, English and German.

ALESSANDRO DE SANTIS

• Position: Trainee.

• Admitted Brussels bar, Belgium, 2005.

• Education: Université Libre de Bruxelles, 2004 ; LL.M. Master in Fiscal Administration, Solvay Business School, Brussels.

• Specializes in tax law.

• Languages French, Italian and English

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SETH J. SCHWARTZ

• Position: Corresponding Firm Partner.
• Admitted to California and Federal Bar, 1981.
• McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific, (J.D.), 1981. Upper 22%. University of California, Santa Barbara (B.S.), 1976.
• Specializes in complex civil litigation, mediations, arbitrations, and trials in the areas of insurance defense; construction matters; business transaction disputes; commercial transactions.
• Seminars and Panels: April 2003 – National College of Trial Advocacy, New York City, NY, Litigating Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Cases, “The Defense Perspective.” September 2002 – 4^th Annual Medical and Legal Seminar; Brain Injury Association of America; Napa, CA, "The Defense Perspective". March 2002 – ATLA National College of Advocacy; Mild to Severe Head Injury Cases; Houston, Texas; "A View from the Defense". Auto Insurance Law and Accident Litigation in California, "Trial of the Case, Defendant's Perspective." Oakland, CA February, 1999 -2001. Sponsor,  Lorman Educations Services, Eau Claire, WI. SMARTER Program Panelist, Contra Costa County Courts (settlement conferences/ mediations).
• Lectures: UC Davis School of Law, February 2002 - Negotiations and Settlements.
• Martindale and Hubbell AV rating  (highest rating available).

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LEGAL ASSISTANTS

MERRILYNN PROSS

• Position: Legal Assistant.
• Education: University of Pacific (B.A. with honors); St. Mary's College (Paralegal Certificate with honors).
• Specializes in Intellectual Property; Corporate; Civil Litigation; Probate; Immigration.

JO LAMBERT

• Position: Legal Assistant/Paralegal.
• Education: Word of Life Bible Institute of New York; Albuquerque Technical Vocation Institute; San Francisco City College (Paralegal Certificate)
• Specializes in Civil Litigation and Arbitration; Business and Corporate.
• Email: jlambert@stimmel-law.com

KIMBERLY FERER

• Position: Legal Assistant.
• Education: University of Nottingham, England (B.A. with honors); U.C. Berkeley (Paralegal Certificate).
• Specializes in Civil Litigation and Arbitration; Business and Corporate; International.
• Email: kferer@stimmel-law.com

OFFICE ADMINISTRATION

KELLY CAIRNS

• Position: Office Manager

ELSA EVANS

• Position: Receptionist/Legal Secretary
• Notary Public