Arnold LaRochelle Mathews VanConas & Zirbel LLP

Sayer presents on Ag Industry Risk Management

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:58:00 +0000

Michael Swanson, Ph.D., of Wells Fargo Ag Industries, and Melissa Sayer, senior associate at A to Z Law, will host a seminar on how to manage global and local risk in agriculture. Sayer will speak on Ventura County agriculture and ways to manage risk locally; Swanson will focus on the overall global ag market and aspects of global risk management at the free seminar. The free event will be held 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Jan. 31 at Courtyard Marriott, 600 E. Esplanade Drive, Oxnard.

Sayer, co-owner of a citrus and avocado ranch outside Santa Paula, will put the global ag issues in context for local landowners, growers, and owners of packing and distribution channels. She will discuss ways to manage legal and business risks such as through diversification of crops, vertical integration of business structure, management and succession planning and business agreements.

“This seminar will help agribusinesses in the county understand global trends in managing risk and specific ways to manage risks locally,” said Sayer, a member of the Business Law Group of A to Z Law.

Lunch will be provided and reservations are strongly recommended, as seating is limited. To RSVP, contact Elsa R. Burton at (805) 987-5731 or elsa.r.burton@wellsfargo.com.

John Mathews Addresses Leadership Program

Kendall VanConas — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:52:40 +0000

This Friday, January 20, 2012, A to Z Law senior partner John Mathews will address the CORO Executive Fellows Program at the Ventura County Agricultural Commissioner’s office. The CORO Executive Fellows Program is a part-time leadership program that works to enhance the skills and empower individuals to affect change in the communities in which they serve. Those involved in the program represent the leaders from the private sector, such as Kaiser Permanente, North American Business Development, Chrysalis Enterprises, as well as those from the private sector, including elected City Council Members, Regents of the University of California and others.

Joining Mr. Mathews in presenting to CORO are John Krist, CEO of Ventura County Farm Bureau; Ben Faber, Farm Advisor, UC Cooperative Extension; David Schwabauer, Farmer with Leaven’s Ranches; Lynn Maulhardt, Farmer and Chairman of the Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency; Chris Sayer, Manager of Petty Ranch, and; Henry Gonzales, Agricultural Commissioner of County of Ventura. The presenters will discuss the importance of water and agriculture and how it relates to the economy of Ventura County. The program is being held at the offices of the Ventura County Agricultural Commissioner, 669 County Square Drive in Ventura, and begins at 8:00 a.m. Mr. Mathews will begin his remarks at 10:30 a.m.

John Mathews focuses his practice on serving as a general counsel to private and public individuals and entities that provide water and waste water services.

A to Z Law brings holiday cheer to needy families

admin — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 19:56:58 +0000

For the last several years, Chris Miyasaki and Monica Garcia of A to Z Law have organized a gift drive for families living at the RAIN Transitional Living Facility in Camarillo. Attorneys and staff donate money to purchase toys and clothing to be given to needy families, which until recently had been without permanent housing. Miyasaki and Garcia receive wish lists from the residents at RAIN and then shop, wrap and deliver the items to the RAIN facility for the families to open on Christmas morning.

RAIN is a transitional living facility that provides shelter, counseling, education and job seeking skills for those who have been without permanent housing. Individuals and families may stay at the facility for up to 18 months while preparing to move into permanent housing. Partner John Mathews serves as the president of the board of directors of the RAIN Communities, Inc., a nonprofit, which raises funds and provides support for counseling and ancillary programs in support of RAIN.

For more information or to make a donation to RAIN, please visit their website at www.RAINCommunities.org/.

From the attorneys and staff at A to Z Law, we wish you and your family a happy and joyous holiday season and a great 2012.

Melissa H. Sayer provides legal advice for WEV

admin — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:13:24 +0000

In November, Melissa H. Sayer, a senior associate with A to Z’s Business Law Practice Group, began serving as a consultant for Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV), which offers micro-loans and a self-employment training program primarily for women entrepreneurs. As a legal consultant, Sayer provides pro bono advice to participants in WEV’s program to help them launch their business.

This new role is in addition to Sayer’s involvement with WEV’s corporate committee. She is also on the board of the Museum of Ventura County and the Board of the Ventura County Economic Development Association (VCEDA). Additionally, Sayer is the A to Z Law representative to the Santa Paula Chamber of Commerce.

Stuart G. Nielson joins the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme board of directors

admin — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 18:23:40 +0000

Stuart G. Nielson, an associate with A to Z Law’s Real Estate and Business Law Practice Groups, recently was elected to the board of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme.

Nielson is dedicated to the community’s youth and supports the work of the Club as it develops young leaders. On the board, Nielson will help the Club continue serving more than 7,500 youth at 18 locations, including the state’s only Club inside a Juvenile Justice Center.

Nielson was honored recently as one of the Pacific Coast Business Times’ 40 Under 40 and serves on the Lawyer Referral and Information Service Committee of the Ventura County Bar Association. He has assisted a number of local nonprofit organizations with various projects on a pro bono basis, including the Museum of Ventura County and the Ventura Botanical Gardens, which he assisted in finalizing a long-term lease with the City of Ventura to secure a site for the future development of the gardens in Grant Park in Ventura.

Dennis LaRochelle Installed as Treasurer of Statewide Jury Trial Lawyer Association

admin — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 17:04:31 +0000

At its recent annual conference, members of the California statewide chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, CAL-ABOTA, installed A to Z Law’s Dennis LaRochelle as treasurer, making him the first attorney from Ventura County to hold a statewide office for the organization, and positioning LaRochelle to serve as president in 2015.

With stringent membership requirements that include extensive experience arguing civil matters before juries, ABOTA is one of the most respected and exclusive trial lawyer organizations in the nation, and the California regional chapter is among the largest.

“It’s an honor for me personally, for our firm and for the local tri-counties ABOTA chapter for me to be elected to a statewide office in ABOTA,” said LaRochelle. Historically these positions are held by people from the larger chapters such as Los Angeles and San Francisco. “This is recognition that our tri-counties chapter is an important part of the statewide association.”

ABOTA is a prestigious national association of plaintiff and defense jury trial lawyers with a mission to preserve the right to a jury trial in civil cases and to promote civility within the trial bar. “Trial by jury anchors our right to justice. It’s important that both small and weighty matters are not left to be decided by one person or even a panel of ‘professionals’,” notes LaRochelle. “The people set our society’s standards on what is right and fair. It has been that way for over 200 years now, but not without fighting hard to perserve the right to a jury trial in civil cases.”

His new post will strengthen relationships with the best trial lawyers in the state, giving A to Z Law’s clients top resources statewide if matters arise outside this region.

Susan L. McCarthy represents A to Z Law at the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce

admin — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:22:49 +0000

Susan L. McCarthy, a senior associate with the litigation practice group, recently became the A to Z Law representative to the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce. McCarthy’s expertise in matters of business, commercial and property litigation will be a valuable asset to the organization and its members.
A community-minded professional, McCarthy serves on the board of directors of Goodwill Industries of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, Inc., and has been a member of the Sandpipers Toastmasters Club since 2009. She serves on the Ventura County Bar Association’s board of directors and is a member of Ventura County Bar Association’s Business Litigation Section Steering Committee. Since 2008 she has been on Ventura County Trial Lawyers Association’s board of directors and is currently in her second term as secretary.

Maria Capritto becomes A to Z Law’s representative to the Ventura Chamber of Commerce

admin — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:22:05 +0000

Maria Capritto, an associate with a practice in estate planning, probate, conservatorship, tax law and elder law, is now A to Z Law’s representative for the Ventura Chamber of Commerce.
As the former chairperson of Ventura Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Ventura Advisory Committee, Capritto is looking forward to strengthening local business through the organization’s programs and advocacy.
A Ventura resident, Capritto is the past president of the Boys & Girls Club of Ventura and of Elderpride, Inc. She’s a former board member of Rotary Club of Ventura East and currently serves on the Ventura County Bar Association’s board of directors.

Robert S. Krimmer helps basketball tournament be a slam dunk

Kendall VanConas — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 23:03:44 +0000

Ventura Family YMCA recently held its third annual “Take it to the Court” basketball tournament, a joint effort between the YMCA and Ventura County Bar Association’s Barristers section.

The tournament has raised thousands of dollars in scholarship funds for the YMCA’s Open Doors Program, which provides YMCA memberships to local youth and families in need. Robert S. Krimmer, an associate with A to Z Law’s Environmental and Land Use Practice, originated the tournament concept and continues to play a pivotal role in the tournament’s success.

An athlete and father of two, Krimmer is committed to youth development and the YMCA’s mission. He serves on the Ventura Family YMCA board of managers and is president-elect of the Barristers.

Associate Stuart Nielson Honored As Top 40 Under 40

Kendall VanConas — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 18:48:48 +0000

Stuart G. Nielson, an associate in the business law and real estate groups at A to Z Law, was recently recognized as one of the top 40 up-and-coming business leaders under age 40 in Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties by the Pacific Coast Business Times’ 11th Annual 40 Under 40 special report. Nielson was honored for his dedication to his real estate and land use clients and to the nonprofit community. He received the honor at an awards dinner on Oct. 17 at the Topa Tower Club in Oxnard.

A 2001 graduate of the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, Nielson serves on the Lawyer Referral and Information Service Committee of the Ventura County Bar Association. Nielson has assisted a number of local nonprofit organizations with various projects on a pro bono basis, including the Museum of Ventura County and theVentura Botanical Gardens, which he assisted in finalizing a long-term lease with the City of Ventura to secure a site for the future development of the gardens in Grant Park inVentura. He recently joined the board of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Oxnard and Port Hueneme.