• Mobile Trademarks: Protecting Brands in Mobile Applications

    On December 13, 2017, please join us for a panel discussion on special issues concerning the protection of trademarks and other intellectual property in mobile applications. The panel will explore hot topics for brand owners working in the limited real estate of mobile devices, including evolving trademark use conventions, recent case law developments, and special considerations in gameplay. This panel of all-stars will share their experiences navigating the cutting edge of these issues. The panel will conclude with a question & answer session, followed by hors-d’oeuvres and refreshments.

    Wednesday, December 13, 2017  |  5:30 PM – 7:30 PM

    Click here to RSVP.

    SPEAKERS:

    Frank Goldberg
    Associate General Counsel, Intellectual Property, Zynga

    Kat McGowan
    Global Trademark Counsel, LinkedIn

    Matt Stratton
    Associate General Counsel, Snap, Inc.

    MODERATOR:

    Thomas Harvey
    Intellectual Property Litigation Partner, Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP

    Posted on: November 21, 2017 Tags: Categories: Events

  • Coblentz Recognized as Client Service Leader by BTI Client Service A-Team 2018

    Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass is recognized in BTI’s Client Service A-Team 2018, where corporate counsel ranked Coblentz in the top firms nationally for client service excellence. The annual report ranks the top law firms serving the world’s largest clients, recognized for delivering the absolute best levels of client service. The report is the results of more than 350 in-depth interviews with legal decision makers and corporate counsel at the world’s leading organizations. The leaders in client service earn recognition on an ongoing basis, fostering and maintaining strong client relationships day-in and day-out.

    The independent survey from BTI Consulting Group solicits feedback from leading legal decision makers at large organizations with $1 billion or more in revenue to determine which law firms top the charts in client service. Firms are scored on 17 client service activities including client loyalty, legal skills, understanding a client’s business and advice on business issues. No submissions, nominations or client names are accepted for the survey.

    Posted on: Tags: Categories: News

  • The Business of Wine featuring Scott Greenwood-Meinert

    On November 16, 2017, real estate attorney Scott Greenwood-Meinert will moderate a panel on “Land Use, Land Use Law, County Ordinances, and Permitting” at The Seminar Group’s The Business of Wine event.

    About The Business of Wine:
    The vineyard and winery business has been teeming with acquisitions and mergers over the last year – the pace of transactions barely outpacing the rumors of the next deal. The morning sessions look at the participants in this “frenzy” – longstanding industry players consolidating, as well as newer categories of capital entering the arena – and the impacts on land and vineyard values. The afternoon sessions will update attendees on legal nuances for the new and experienced industry participants – permitting, land use and county ordinances, and protecting assets (including trademarking, IP, and licensing).

    Click here for more information on the event.

    Posted on: November 16, 2017 Tags: Categories: Events

  • Dude, Where’s My Car? San Francisco’s New Gross Floor Area Definition Furthers Sustainable Transportation Goals

    The San Francisco Board of Supervisors is considering minor modifications to the Planning Code definition of Gross Floor Area. The Planning Department characterizes these changes as “good government” measures to clarify the Code and further the City’s sustainable transportation goals.

    The proposed changes count floor area dedicated to accessory or non-accessory parking as Gross Floor Area, except for: (1) required car-share parking, (2) required off-street loading, and (3) accessory parking within the amount principally permitted as accessory and located in a “Basement Story” (detailed below). Other exemptions from Gross Floor Area’s definition, such as uninhabitable attic space, fire escapes, and mechanical areas, remain unaffected.

    The most noteworthy change is incentivizing car-share spaces in new developments by excluding them from Gross Floor Area that would count toward the FAR calculation. This is in keeping with the City’s Transportation Sustainability Program and Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Program (examined in an earlier post), which aim to, among other things, reduce car traffic and promote higher transit ridership. Indeed, this change tracks closely with prior legislation from earlier this year that excluded car-share spaces provided as part of a development project’s TDM Program from the definition of Gross Floor Area. Together, the prior legislation and this recent change expand the types of car-share spaces that are excluded from the definition of Gross Floor Area.

    Additional minor, mostly clarifying changes include:

    • Inclusion of floor space in accessory buildings in C-3 districts in the definition of Gross Floor Area;
    • Exclusion of required off-street loading spaces from the definition of Gross Floor Area for all districts, not just C-3 districts;
    • Removal of extraneous references to C-3 districts where distinguishing C-3 districts from all other zoning districts is unnecessary;
    • Replacement of “underground,” with “Basement Story,” a defined term, to clarify that floor space dedicated to accessory parking that does not exceed the amount principally permitted as accessory and that is located in a Basement Story is not included in the definition of Gross Floor Area.

    The ordinance was unanimously recommended for adoption by the Planning Commission and was assigned to the Board’s Land Use and Transportation Committee under the 30-day rule on October 20th.

  • What a Difference a Year Makes: Proposed Tax Legislation & Year-End Planning Strategies

    There is a lot in the news about possible tax legislation. The Napa offices of Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP and the Napa Valley Community Foundation will discuss an up-to-the-minute discussion of the proposed tax legislation, and general tax planning strategies during these uncertain times. Topics will include income tax, estate and gift tax, and California and local tax planning. The panel will consider the latest proposals and tweets. This presentation is going to be HUGE!

    Thursday, November 9, 2017  |  4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

    LOCATION:

    Bardessono
    6526 Yount Street
    Yountville, CA 94599

    SPEAKERS:

    Terence P. Mulligan
    Chief Executive Officer, Napa Valley Community Foundation

    Charles W. Meibeyer
    Real Estate Partner, Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP

    Jeffry A. Bernstein
    Tax Partner, Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP

    Philip B. Feldman
    Family Wealth Partner, Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP

    SCHEDULE:

    4:00 pm – Registration and Refreshments
    4:30 pm – Program and Q&A
    5:30 pm – Wine and Hors D’Oeuvres Reception

    Posted on: November 9, 2017 Tags: Categories: Events

  • Coblentz Awarded Best Law Firms Recognition by Best Lawyers® 2018

    U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers® ranked Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP among its 2018 list of “Best Law Firms.” Coblentz is ranked in 14 different practice areas in both National rankings and Metropolitan San Francisco rankings. The firm was awarded six prestigious “Tier 1” rankings in the highly competitive Metropolitan San Francisco law firm category for Commercial Litigation, Land Use & Zoning Law, Litigation-Land Use & Zoning, Real Estate Law, Tax Law and Trusts & Estates Law. Coblentz was also awarded a National “Tier 1” ranking in Land Use & Zoning Law.

    Seventeen Coblentz attorneys are also recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® for 2018, and partner Karen Frank was named the Best Lawyers® 2018 Copyright Law “Lawyer of the Year” award in San Francisco.

    Best Lawyers® names firms included in the 2018 “Best Law Firms” list as being recognized for professional excellence with persistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. Achieving a tiered ranking signals a unique combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal expertise. Rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes clients’ and peers’ evaluation of firms based on expertise, professionalism, and responsiveness.

    Posted on: November 2, 2017 Tags: Categories: News