Arnold LaRochelle Mathews VanConas & Zirbel LLP Legal Blog

Ventura County attorney Dennis LaRochelle was the keynote speaker at Pasadena Magazine’s “2014 Top Attorneys Celebration,” held Thursday, Nov. 20, at the Noor ballroom in Pasadena. LaRochelle, the newly installed president of the California chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, wowed the audience of more than 200 guests with an interesting speech detailing the historical importance of two…

Dennis LaRochelle, a partner in the Oxnard law firm of Arnold LaRochelle Mathews VanConas & Zirbel LLP (A to Z Law), is the new president of CAL-ABOTA, the state chapter of a national association of plaintiff and defense jury trial lawyers. ABOTA’s goals are to preserve the right to a jury trial in civil cases (guaranteed by the 7th Amendment)…

Dennis LaRochelle, the new president of CAL-ABOTA, was among the three panelists who headed a discussion and video presentation for attorneys focusing on the issue of civility and courtesy in the legal profession. “Civility Matters” was hosted by the California Coast Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and the Ventura County Bar Association. The three panelists for…

Robert N. Kwong, an attorney with the Oxnard law firm of Arnold LaRochelle Mathews VanConas & Zirbel LLP, is among the speakers at an upcoming workshop held Nov. 7 on the California Environmental Quality Act. Kwong will speak at the Association of Environmental Professionals (AEP) 2014 California Environmental Quality Act Essentials: An Introduction and Intermediate-Level Training Workshop. The AEP is…

Robert N. Kwong and Melissa H. Sayer were honored to be featured in the Oct. 24 issue of the Pacific Coast Business Times in the paper’s special annual section, “Who’s Who in Professional Services.” Congratulations go out to both attorneys. Sayer provides business counsel services to clients ranging from individual entrepreneurs and investors to mid-sized growth companies. She handles a…

A to Z Law’s Kendall VanConas will participate in a seminar for the National Business Institute on Oct. 20 in Santa Barbara focusing on trusts. “Trusts 101” will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. at the Canary Hotel Santa Barbara, 31 West Carrillo St. Designed for attorneys, paralegals, accountants, trust officers, financial planners and estate planners, VanConas, who specializes…

Everybody likes things to be simple. I know I do. But I am part of a profession that is often accused of willfully complicating things. Sometimes that accusation has merit. But sometimes lawyers make things complicated because they have to be … if they’re going to be simple. Let me explain. Odds are pretty good that if you are reading…

Robert N. Kwong, who has served as assistant county counsel for Ventura County since 2003, has joined the Oxnard law firm of Arnold LaRochelle Mathews VanConas & Zirbel, specializing in land use and environmental law. Kwong, of Newbury Park, comes to A to Z Law with over 25 years of experience primarily in land use and environmental law. For the…

A daily publication which contains federal administrative rules and regulations. A periodic listing of general definitions of commonly used legal terms (not intended as legal advice but useful to better understand frequently used legal phrases).

(Editor’s note: The following article by Dennis LaRochell was published in the Ventura County Bar Assn. and San Luis Obispo Bar Assn. newsletters last month.) Civility is an important part of being a professional.  It is hard to feel professional while engaging in a screaming match, employing underhanded tactics or simply refusing to extend common courtesies to an opponent.  Although preservation of…