Top State Lawyers in Menlo Park | 5 available

I represent companies and executives in employment litigation, administrative board actions, workplace investigations and mediations. I advise companies in their daily operations, focusing on labor law and human resources counseling, sexual harassment and discrimination claims, wage & hour and compensation disputes, severance pay issues and terminations. I've handled many cases involving intellectual property rights (trade secrets), non-compete agreements and restrictive covenants, employment contract disputes, and related insurance coverage issues. I've appeared many times in the California and federal courts, at EEOC, DFEH and the Department of Labor's Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE).. I have testified as an expert witness regarding executive employment agreements, on the subject of "good cause" for termination.. As a lawyer and a member of the California State Bar, my conduct is regulated by California’s Rules of Professional Conduct. Those rules apply to communications, solicitations and advertising, and also to testimonials and endorsements. The contents of my profile may be considered to be a communication or solicitation under Rule 1-400. Any recommendations, testimonials or endorsements found in my profile do not amount to a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of any legal matter for which I might be retained, or in which I might become involved.

David Spence heads the Estate, Trust, and Wealth Strategies practice for Royse Law Firm. His areas of expertise include taxation, estates, trusts and other private wealth structures used in the efficient management, protection, and transition to succeeding generations. David’s clients are international and domestic individuals, families, businesses, and charitable organizations. Over the last twenty-five years, David has practiced with prominent law firms and “Big 4” international accounting firms, and the oldest and largest west coast trust company.. David has counseled some of the largest and most complex estates in the world. He has worked extensively with philanthropists, private foundations, and many public charities to develop and implement tax-efficient, planned giving programs. David has represented clients before various courts and administrative agencies of the federal and state government, including the United States Tax Court and the Internal Revenue Service.. Currently, David is also an adjunct professor with the Master of Science in Taxation (MST) program in the Lucas Graduate School of Business at San Jose State University, where he teaches Taxation of Estates and Trusts.. David has served in numerous volunteer positions with charitable and professional organizations. He is currently a member of the Planned Giving Advisory Council for Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County, and was a founding board member of the Silicon Valley branch of the London-based Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. David also served for two years as a full-time voluntary representative of his church in Sweden, and has conversational proficiency in the Swedish language.

Analisa Pratt is the Founder of Pratt Law, which specializes in estate and trust planning and estate administration. Analisa has been practicing law for over 10 years and is licensed in California and Arizona.. Before launching Pratt Law, Analisa practiced law with Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and K&L Gates.  She also served as a judicial law clerk in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona and as a legal research attorney with the Superior Court of California.. Analisa has received a number of awards for her pro bono contributions to the legal field including the Wiley M. Manuel award from the California State Bar Association, the Jack W. Londen Award for exemplary efforts protecting and advancing civil rights of marginalized communities from the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, and the John Wilson Award for pro bono service from WSGR.. Analisa has lived in the Bay Area for nearly 20 years. Originally from the Midwest, she earned her B.A. from the University of Minnesota. She earned her law degree with tax specialization certificate from Golden Gate University School of Law in San Francisco.. Analisa's experience working with her own family's estate planning and administration inspired her to transform her practice from focusing on litigation to a practice in which she helps individuals and families manage their complex personal estate-planning needs.