Richard A. Frankel
Partner

Areas of Practice

Mr. Frankel's practice is devoted to general business and employment matters. His clients include manufacturers, retailers, service companies, professional associations (e.g., physicians, accountants, attorneys, etc.), non-profit organizations, independent contractors and public and private employees.

Professional & Community Activities

Mr. Frankel serves as an associate professor at John F. Kennedy University School of Law, where he has taught business courses since 1982. He has written extensively on business and employment issues. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Contra Costa County Bar Association for 10 years, serving as President during 2002. Mr. Frankel previously served as a Trustee of The Athenian School, Danville. He presently serves on the State Bar of California Board of Governors, representing four Bay Area counties in District 3. A longstanding member of the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Frankel served on its board from 1993-1996 and was elected that organization's President in 1995. In 2002, Mr. Frankel was chosen the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year. Mr. Frankel is a member of the American Bar Association, and the National Employment Lawyers Association. He serves as a judge pro tem, arbitrator, and mediator for the Contra Costa County Superior Court. From 1966 - 1970, Mr. Frankel served in the U.S. Army Security Agency including a tour of duty in Vietnam.

Education

Mr. Frankel is a 1972 graduate of the University of California, Davis. He received his J.D. in 1982 from the John F. Kennedy University School of Law.

Stuart I. Goldware
Partner

Areas of Practice

Mr. Goldware concentrates on employment and other civil litigation in state and federal courts.

Professional & Community Activities

Mr. Goldware is a member of the Contra Costa County Bar Association, serving on the Board of Directors of the Employment Section. He is a former president of the Contra Costa Barristers Association. Mr. Goldware enjoys memberships in the National Employment Lawyers Association and the California Employment Lawyers Association. Elected to two terms to the Board of Education in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District, Mr. Goldware served as that board's president in 1993 and 1998. He is a former instructor at California State University, Hayward, and Diablo Valley College. Mr. Goldware serves as a judge pro tem, arbitrator, and mediator for the Contra Costa County Superior Court.

Education

Mr. Goldware is a 1972 graduate with honors from the University of California, Davis. He received his J.D. from Loyola University School of Law, Los Angeles, in 1977.

Michelle R. Ferber
Partner

Areas of Practice

Ms. Ferber focuses on employment and other civil matters in state and federal courts.

Professional & Community Activities

Ms. Ferber is a board member of the Women's Section and a member of the Employment Section of the Contra Costa County Bar Association. She is also a member of both the National and California Employment Lawyers Associations. Ms. Ferber currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Beth Chaim Congregation, Danville. Ms. Ferber is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Contra Costa Jewish Community Center and of the Women's Division of the Jewish Federation of the Greater East Bay.

Education

Ms. Ferber is a 1987 graduate of California State University, Northridge. She received her J.D. in 1990 from Southwestern University School of Law.

Ken Begun
Partner

Areas of Practice

Mr. Begun is a Commissioner on the Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law Advisory Commission to the Board of Legal Specialization of The State Bar of California. Mr. Begun is a member of various professional organizations including the Estate Planning Council of the Diablo Valley, the Tri-Valley Estate Planning Council (Board Member) and the State Bar Section of Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law. He is also a member of the Contra Costa County Bar Association and serves on its Membership/Education committee.

Mr. Begun has made several appearances as a panelist on the Television Channel 30 Series entitled "Preserving Your Wealth." He has also made appearances on KALW Radio’s “Your Legal Rights” as a guest speaking on estate planning and estate planning related topics.

Professional & Community Activities

Mr. Begun has been a private arbitrator as well as an Arbitrator Panelist for the American Arbitration Association. He was an Associate Professor in "Wills and Trusts" at John F. Kennedy University School of Law and is an instructor in "The ABC's of Estate Planning" for the Pleasanton Unified School District, Adult Education Program. Mr. Begun is a past President of the Kiwanis Club of San Ramon Valley and Beth Chaim Congregation in Danville. He is also a graduate of Leadership San Ramon Valley, Class of 1996-97.

Education

Mr. Begun received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California, Berkeley in 1981 and earned the Juris Doctorate (law degree) from John F. Kennedy University School of Law in 1986. In 1995, Mr. Begun earned a Diploma in Trial Advocacy Skills from the National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA) Notre Dame Law School, Notre Dame, IN.

Jonathan C. Watts
Associate

Areas of Practice

Mr. Watts concentrates his practice on corporate law, nonprofit organizations, contracts, and general business transactions.

Professional & Community Activities

Mr. Watts is a member of the board of directors of the Danville Area Chamber of Commerce. He is also a member of the Contra Costa County Bar Association, and serves on the steering committee of the Contra Costa County Bar Association's Business Law and Corporate Counsel Section.

Education

Mr. Watts received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Pacific Union College in 1996. He received his J.D. from the U.C. Davis School of Law in 2000, and is a member of the Order of the Coif.

Ingrid von Kaschnitz
Associate

Areas of Practice

Ms. von Kaschnitz focuses on employment litigation and other civil litigation in state and federal courts.

Professional & Community Activities

Ms. von Kaschnitz is a member of the Contra Costa County Bar Association. Ms. von Kaschnitz served as a judicial extern for the Honorable John A. Arguelles of the California Supreme Court. She served as a law clerk for the Honorable Kenneth L. Ryskamp of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Education

Ms. von Kaschnitz received her B.A. from Stanford University in 1986. She received her J.D. from Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California, Berkeley, in 1989.