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01-15-10 | Local Attorneys to Speak on Drafting and Negotiating Contracts

OXNARD, Calif.—Attorneys at Nordman Cormany Hair & Compton LLP, Ventura County’s largest law firm, will present a seminar series for non-lawyer business people on drafting and negotiating contracts. Diane Becker, Melissa Sayer, Nancy Kierstyn Schreiner, Christopher Kitasaki, Joshua Best and Christopher Kunke will present 10 sessions from 7:30-9 a.m. between January and April at the firm’s offices at 1000 Town Center Dr., 6th floor, Oxnard. Attendees can choose specific programs or attend the entire series. Attendance at the first session is recommended but not required.

“Businesses owners and executives are constantly presented with contracts to sign, and all too often do not fully understand them or just sign them without reading,” Becker said. “Most contracts, including pre-printed form contracts, can be negotiated. In these difficult economic times, businesses must understand and negotiate contracts that will best protect their interests.”

The first five sessions are: Jan. 20, Review of General Contract Terms; Jan. 27, Develop Purchase Order Terms (Purchasing), Invoice Terms (Sales), Manufacturing Agreement Terms and Develop Construction Agreement Terms; Feb. 9, Develop License Agreement Terms and Develop Distribution Agreement Terms; Feb. 17, Computer Related Agreements; and Feb. 23, Subcontracts. A more comprehensive list of sessions and presenters can be found at www.nchc.com/seminars.asp.

There is no cost to attend, and a continental breakfast will be served. Seating is limited to 22 participants per session. Reservations, which are required, may be made by contacting Dinorah Baker at (805) 988-8337 or dbaker@nchc.com. This popular series has been updated for 2010. Attendees will receive a list of contract terms to help them better negotiate contracts and agreements internally as well as with third parties. Attendees also will learn how to use outside legal services more efficiently and cost-effectively.

The former chief legal officer and senior vice president of licensing for Bugle Boy Industries, Inc., Becker leads Nordman Cormany Hair & Compton LLP’s Corporate & Business Law Group and formed its General Counsel Services Group. Becker provides general counsel services to small and mid-sized companies, and practices in the areas of corporate and business law, employment law and intellectual property law.

Melissa Sayer provides clients with strategic planning advice as well as legal expertise to enhance business growth and avoid legal problems. As the owner of a Santa Paula avocado and citrus ranch, she knows first-hand the challenges that businesses face. Her practice includes general corporate and business law, federal and state securities law compliance, as well as agricultural, oil and gas, and water-related issues.

Nancy Kierstyn Schreiner serves as general counsel for the Economic Development Collaborative-Ventura County, is past chair of the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce Land Use Subcommittee, and holds pro bono seminars addressing disabled access defense for business and property owners. She received her bachelor’s degree from UC Irvine and her law degree from Pepperdine University School of Law.

Christopher Kitasaki has more than 23 years of experience in advising individuals and entities in various corporate and business matters, including entity formation, secured financing, protection of proprietary information, and the purchase and sale of businesses.

Joshua Best practices in the areas of corporate, business, real property and intellectual property law. He graduated from Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego and the Pepperdine University School of Law, where he earned a certificate from the Center of Entrepreneurship and Technology Law.

A native of Camarillo, Christopher Kunke practices civil litigation and general corporate law. He attended Dartmouth College and Emory University School of Law, where he was executive managing editor of the Emory International Law Review.

For more than 70 years, Nordman Cormany Hair & Compton LLP attorneys have represented a variety of influential clients in Ventura County and throughout California. The firm provides legal services in business and corporate litigation, employment, real estate and land use, environmental law, oil and gas, administrative and local government law, business and commercial law, taxation, estate planning and intellectual property law. Clients include individuals, national and international corporations, small businesses, municipalities and public agencies. For more information, visit www.nchc.com.