Preparing for a Sale: Three Steps Business Owners Should Take Now
Thinking about selling your company? The biggest mistakes happen before the deal even starts. This new article by Bill Eigner breaks down three often-overlooked steps that can protect your value, streamline the process, and help you walk away with more, building on three other steps he had shared previously.
How Does Orange Book Delisting Affect Ongoing Hatch-Waxman Litigation?
A Federal Circuit decision clarified when patents qualify for listing in the FDA’s Orange Book, the agency’s official register of approved drugs and their associated patents, but left open what happens when those patents are removed mid-litigation. Jeremy Edwards and Brett Garrison note this uncertainty raises real strategic stakes, from whether cases survive at all to what remedies and evidence remain in play. In a new article, they answer three key questions stakeholders were left with after the decision.
Preserving Privilege in the Age of AI: Key Lessons from United States v. Heppner
A federal court just delivered one of the first major rulings on AI and privilege and the takeaway is clear: using public AI tools can undermine both attorney-client privilege and work product protection. In a new article for the Association of Business Trial Lawyers, Elaine Harwell explains how for legal teams, this is not theoretical. It is an immediate risk area that requires policy, training, and oversight. Read the article through the link below or read the entire March 2026 ABTL Report.
Procopio Adds Trusts and Estates Partner Jason Galaif to its Growing Orange County Office
We're excited to welcome Jason Galaif as the newest Partner in our Trusts and Estates practice! Based in our Orange County office, Jason has an active practice in Los Angeles and throughout SoCal advising high-net-worth individuals, families, and business owners on sophisticated estate and tax planning strategies.
Jason joins us from Venable's Los Angeles office and brings a valuable combination of legal and financial insight as a CPA, helping clients navigate complex wealth planning with a practical, integrated approach. His addition reflects our continued investment in expanding our legal offerings across Orange County and Los Angeles.
Managing IP Disputes: Decisions that Drive Outcomes – A Five-Part Series
Join Procopio and ACC San Diego for a five-part webinar series for in-house counsel tackling today’s most pressing litigation and dispute resolution challenges. Each hour-long session begins at 12:00 pm PT and features experienced legal leaders sharing practical strategies on managing litigation, mitigating risk, handling internal investigations, navigating e-discovery, and more.
SPED Best Practices Webinar Part III: End-of-Year Issues | 12:00 – 1:00 pm PT
| webinar
School teams are invited to join David Graham for Part III of our special education webinar series, in which he will focus on the critical considerations that arise as the school year comes to a close, including: determining eligibility for Extended School Year (ESY) services; best practices for implementing ESY services; completing timely assessments while navigating summer timelines; reviewing and preparing for incoming IEPs; and addressing student discipline at year-end.
Charitable Remainder Trusts: Utilizing CRATs and CRUTs to Minimize Income and Transfer Tax, SECURE 2.0 QCD | 10:00 – 11:00 am PT | webinar
Procopio Partner Renee Gabbard and another panelist will take a comprehensive look at charitable remainder trusts (CRTs) as a means to reduce estate and income taxes paid by taxpayers. They will explain which taxpayers are ideal candidates for CRTs, the calculation of the remainder interest and annual payouts, differences in CRATs and CRUTS, and the SECURE 2.0 provision allowing a one-time transfer to a CRAT.
BIO 2026 Reception Hosted by Procopio | 5:30 – 7:00 pm PT | San Diego, CA
Are you attending BIO 2026 in San Diego? Take a break from the convention and join us for a lively reception with delicious hors d'oeuvres, local beer and wine and live music as you mix and mingle while enjoying unmatched views of downtown San Diego from our office's 22nd floor.
2026 Procopio International Litigation & Arbitration Retreat | San Diego, CA
Procopio attorneys will speak alongside numerous legal experts at PILAR, an annual forum where litigators from the United States and Mexico come together to analyze the legal challenges impacting both jurisdictions. Major policy shifts in the U.S. and Mexico will be among the topics discussed.
2026 Procopio International Tax Institute | San Diego, CA
Held again in collaboration with the Graduate Tax Program of Georgetown University and International Fiscal Association, this premier educational and networking event is again dedicated to the latest developments in U.S. and Mexican international tax law. This year's PITI comes as tax policies are evolving with the U.S. and Mexican presidential administrations.
Real Estate Partner Andrew Yocopis Recognized by Super Lawyers for Seventh Straight Year
Kudos to Partner Andrew Yocopis on his seventh straight year earning recognition by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star for Real Estate Law in the Southwest!
Based in our Scottsdale, Arizona, office, and a member of our award-winning real estate practice, Andrew represents clients in the acquisition, development, financing, leasing, and disposition of commercial properties, including multifamily and mixed-use developments, office buildings, shopping centers, industrial sites, and hotels. His clients include commercial real estate developers, banks, pension funds, private equity groups, real estate investment trusts and various non-real estate-related companies.
Procopio attorneys have previously been recognized by Super Lawyers in San Diego, Orange County, and Silicon Valley.
Please give a warm welcome to our newest land use and environmental law attorney, Shawna Strecker! Based in our Orange County office, Shawna has a broad environmental law practice, focusing on land use, project siting, and litigation. She advises clients on a wide range of complex environmental regulatory matters, including compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), California Coastal Act, Housing Accountability Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, and other state and federal regulatory requirements. Shawna also has significant experience with environmental litigation, and previously served as a law clerk for the Environmental Enforcement Section of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Please welcome to Procopio the latest addition to our award-winning patent prosecution practice, Aroon Karuna! Joining our Silicon Valley office, he brings a rare combination of law firm and in-house experience that allows him to align patent strategy with broader business objectives. Aroon has managed global patent portfolios for major organizations, including serving as Lead Counsel of Intellectual Property at GE Healthcare and as IP counsel at Wolfram Research, where he supported core technologies such as Mathematica and Wolfram Alpha. He focuses on patent preparation, prosecution, and strategic portfolio management for technology-driven companies, from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 enterprises. Aroon regularly advises clients developing cutting-edge innovations in areas such as artificial intelligence, software, medical devices, and emerging technologies, guiding them through complex patent strategies before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Attention Orange County startups: Corporate Partner Chyi Gary Chen of our OC office is assisting entrepreneurs in the region through an affiliation with the Orange County OC Startup Council. The OCSC describes Procopio as "an AmLaw200 full-service law firm with nearly 200 attorneys in seven U.S. offices, including four in California, representing startups in a wide range of industries from AI to life sciences. Procopio's startup attorneys advise emerging and growth stage companies on formation, corporate governance, capital raises, and position their businesses for sustainable growth, leading to complex later-stage financings, public offerings, cross-border transactions, and strategic exits. Procopio's acclaimed LaunchPad incubator assists select groups of emerging growth companies to work side by side with Procopio attorneys, positioning them for growth and success." Gary works with many startups, including those who are native Mandarin speakers.
Kudos to Procopio IP Litigation Partner Ben Herbert on being named to the Board of Advisors of &AI, a Y Combinator–backed AI startup. &AI CEO Caleb Harris said “Ben has tried the kinds of cases where getting the analysis wrong isn't an option — $500 million verdicts, $800 million verdicts. When someone has been on trial teams at that level, they know exactly what patent tools need to deliver and where they can't afford to miss. That's the standard we want to build to.” &AI describes their innovation as a “platform for patent litigators to craft trial-ready work product—fast enough for pitches, strong enough for court," adding in its press release that "Ben's addition strengthens that mission considerably." The company notes Ben “helped secure more than $1.5 billion in jury verdicts in the span of two years — including an $855 million trade secret and copyright verdict and a $765 million verdict in a digital radio patent case.” Learn more in the &AI press release.
Procopio Corporate Partner Bill Eigner has been named to the Business Advisory Board of Owaves, a San Diego-based health tech platform at the intersection of circadian biology, lifestyle medicine, and productivity. Its core product is a physician-designed, visual “body clock” calendar that helps users plan their day around natural rhythms, optimizing sleep, nutrition, exercise, and focus for better overall performance and well-being. In their press release, Owaves notes Bill is a leading San Diego corporate attorney with deep experience in M&A, venture capital, and advising high-growth companies, adding he’s been named to the San Diego Business Journal SD 500 list of the county’s most influential leaders for a decade. They anticipate his insight will support Owaves as it continues to scale its platform and expand its impact. Learn more in the Owaves press release.
“If you're not selling your products on Amazon, then someone else is." IP Partner Neil Salyards explains why you can never start protecting your brand too early online in the short video below. This is an excerpt from a recent video podcast on the many IP tools--trademarks, design patents, and copyrights--you can make use of in protecting your products and brand, which also included Procopio Partners Steve Beuerle and Miku Mehta. Watch the full video:
Seeking mediation in northern California? Turn to Procopio Partner Robert Sloss, who along with being an accomplished intellectual property litigator is now also a certified mediator. Bob has spent decades in the trenches of complex IP disputes, handling everything from patent litigation to trade secrets and high-stakes commercial matters. He brings that experience in dispute resolution to his mediation clients. Don’t worry, he’s still representing clients in complex IP litigation matters as he has for years.
Procopio tax attorney Jorge M. Obén-Cuadros was recently quoted by Sarah Paez of Tax Notes on the IRS’s move to remove a lead agent tied to Puerto Rico Act 60 investigations. He said that while there has been a slight uptick in audits involving Act 60 beneficiaries, enforcement activity has not matched the momentum many expected following the Government Accountability Office’s findings on widespread tax avoidance. Jorge also points out how unusual it is for a senior IRS agent to be removed midstream, especially one leading high-profile enforcement efforts. That kind of disruption raises a fair question: does changing leadership at a critical moment slow progress just as enforcement begins to gain traction? The broader story here is about consistency in tax enforcement. The article highlights a tension between stated IRS priorities and on-the-ground execution. For taxpayers and advisors, this creates a mixed signal environment.
What a great audience that heard Procopio Employment Law Partner Gina Miller discuss internal investigations and crisis management before a North County San Diego Professionals in Human Resources Association (PIHRA) meeting at the California Life Sciences (CLS) office in San Diego. Gina discussed when and how to conduct an internal investigation; preserving privilege and handling whistleblower complaints; responding to government inquiries and subpoenas; and reputational risk considerations. Among those in attendance was Procopio Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer Kevin Wilson.
Procopio Partner Mindy Morton shared her insights at the recent Meritas Law Firms Worldwide conference in New Orleans on the topic of achieving leadership success in law firms. Mindy, a member of our firm's Management Committee, is also a member of the Meritas Board of Directors. those are only some of many leadership roles she holds.
Procopio Litigation Partner Michael Kiesling played a key role in fundraising for the 2025 Light The Night Executive Challenge, supporting critical research and resources for blood cancer patients and families, with Procopio as a sponsor. The fundraiser was organized by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, now a part of Blood Cancer United. The effort was recently recognized in the San Diego Business Journal, highlighting the impact of this year’s San Diego challengers and their collective contributions. We're proud that our attorneys continue to focus on making positive contributions to the communities we serve.
April 24 is officially "Alec Cory Day" in California, in which our late co-founder is honored for his commitment to helping the less fortunate. He founded the Legal Aid Society and was recognized for outstanding achievements by the San Diego Volunteer Lawyers Program and the San Diego County Bar Association. Mr. Cory actively practiced law for over 47 years before retiring in 1993 and passed in 2010 at the age of 95. He served as our Managing Partner for decades, building the firm into one of the most influential in San Diego. His commitment to community and pro bono work continues to influence our firm's culture. Some of our attorneys and staff still remember working alongside this inspiring man.
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