KENNETH S. GAINES

Kenneth Gaines graduated from UCLA in 1966 with a B.S. in Business Administration. There, his studies focused on real estate and finance. He then obtained his J.D. degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. At Hastings, Kenneth was both a participant and a member of the Editorial Board of the Hastings Law Journal, a recipient of two scholarships and a Board of Directors merit grant for academic excellence, and the American Jurisprudence award for his coursework.

Since his admission to the California Bar in January 1971, Kenneth has specialized in real estate - both transactions and litigation - including residential, apartment houses, commercial, and industrial. Because of his vast expertise, he often consults with other attorneys, he has testified as an expert witness and he has served as special real estate counsel to bankruptcy trustees by appointment of the United States Bankruptcy Court.

In the real estate arena, he has extensive knowledge of purchase and sale transactions; broker rights and liabilities; financing, including the rights of borrowers and lenders; foreclosures – both non-judicial and judicial, including rights to a deficiency judgment; landlord/tenant disputes; title issues, including title insurance litigation; neighbor disputes; problems with trees and shrubs; easements, enforcement of CC&R’s; homeowner’s associations; construction disputes; fraud relating to real estate transactions and has special expertise in the area of remedies.

From 1973 until 1978 he was an Adjunct Professor of Law at Mid-Valley College of Law (since merged with University of San Fernando Valley) where he taught Real Property, Secured Real Estate Transactions, Modern Real Estate Transactions and Trusts.

Kenneth is also the author of How to Sell (and Buy) Your Home Without a Broker published by Coward, McCann and Geoghegian (G.P. Putnam & Sons). This work was described as "outstanding" by Money Magazine and "an absolute necessity for the novice" by Kirkus Reviews.

Kenneth has participated in countless mediations, both as the mediator and as the attorney for the parties. As a practicing attorney with an active litigation practice, he has personal, firsthand knowledge of the benefits, burdens, costs and expenses of litigating real estate disputes and therefore has a high degree of credibility in making recommendations and evaluations. While serving as a mediator, he is not reluctant to express his opinion as to probable outcomes if litigation is pursued and to suggest alternative measures of resolution.

DANIEL F. GAINES

Daniel F. Gaines focuses his practice on employment disputes, with a special emphasis on wage and hour claims on behalf of California employees. Daniel represents employees in single and multiple-plaintiff cases, and in the class action context, for claims relating to unpaid overtime, minimum wage violations, expense reimbursement, overtime exemption disputes, unpaid meal and rest periods, and unlawful wage deductions. In recent years, Daniel has represented plaintiffs in state and federal courts and in arbitrations throughout California. Daniel has also successfully respresented clients in hearings before the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement.

Daniel's diverse practice also includes the representation of clients in real estate and general business transactions and litigation. Daniel has represented clients in a vast array of matters, including landlord-tenant disputes (commerical and residential), lease negotiations, contract negotiations and claims, business tort claims, construction defect claims, real estate purchase and sale transactions, homeowner association disputes, and privacy claims.

Daniel graduated in 2007 with a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, where his coursework primarily focused on real estate and tax. He was the receipient of the Lacy Amour Scholarship, honoring academic excellence.

Prior to attending law school, Daniel graduated cum laude from UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business with a B.S. in Business Administration. At Berkeley, Daniel focused his studies on finance and economics. He also taught a course on investing. While pursuing his undergraduate degree, Daniel spent a semester abroad at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, one of Asia's most highly regarded business schools.

Among Daniel's passions are travel and fine dining. Daniel is married to his assistant, Desiree.

ALEX KATOFSKY, Of Counsel

Alex P. Katofsky has worked on hundreds of legal matters including jury and court trials, arbitrations, mediations, and appeals to the numerous Courts of Appeals and the California Supreme Court.

Alex has extensive experience in the prosecution and defense of business litigation, professional liability, real estate, insurance, collections, and personal injury matters, as well as transactions involving the purchase, sale and lease of commercial real estate, restaurants and other businesses. Alex has also drafted and negotiated license, marketing, and franchise agreements relating to the sale and distribution of consumer products.

His business litigation experience includes the representation and defense of publicly and privately held companies in a variety of complex business disputes. Alex’s professional liability practice includes the defense of lawyers, insurance agents/brokers, and real estate professionals. His real estate practice includes the representation and defense of owners, tenants, brokers and agents in disputes involving sales, leases, commissions, and evictions. He has also litigated numerous insurance coverage actions.

As a licensed real estate broker, Alex also has a vast knowledge of commercial and residential real estate transactions.

Alex is admitted to practice before all California State Courts and the Central District of the United States District Court of California.

Alex received a Juris Doctor from University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law where he earned an American Jurisprudence Award in Insurance Law. While at McGeorge, Alex student-taught a course in Appellate Advocacy and volunteered two years in Community Legal Services where he helped represent indigent families in matters involving family law, bankruptcy and landlord-tenant disputes.

He also earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from California State University Northridge. Alex was a founding member of the CSUN chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.