Local Counsel Representation
The attorneys of Evans Law are available to be retained as local counsel to represent businesses and persons that have been sued or that need to file lawsuits in the Courts of Southern California, including Superior Court and United States District Court in Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside and San Diego. The local rules, customs, and simple issues of form can be confusing to practitioners from other parts of the country, so it is imperative to retain local counsel if your client has been sued in Southern California. Based in Orange County and San Diego County, we routinely practice in the federal and state courts of California.
Once retained as local counsel, we work closely with primary counsel to help determine the best courses of action, and initially whether to seek dismissals or jurisdictional transfers to more convenient forums. If the case stays in our local jurisdiction, we work with the primary counsel to process pro hac vice applications, and everything else that needs to be done from initial filings through trial, and appeals, if necessary.
Further, California does not allow out-of-state attorneys to represent clients in securities arbitration proceedings within the state. California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1282.4, requires non-California lawyers to associate with a California attorney who will serve as the attorney of record. Section 1282.4 was enacted in January 2007 in response to Birbrower, Montalbano, Condon & Frank v. Superior Court, 17 Cal. 4th 119 (1998), which held that non-California attorneys who appear in California arbitration proceedings are engaged in the unauthorized practice of law. FINRA has also adopted guidelines and procedures to ensure that attorneys are in compliance with Section 1282.4.
