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Agribusiness
The San Joaquin Valley is the breadbasket of the United States, so it stands to reason that several of the firm's lawyers devote a substantial portion of their practices to agricultural issues of all kinds. Some have considerable personal experience in agribusiness.
Services Provided
- Planning and consulting concerning leases, farm management agreements, packing agreements, marketing agreements, grower agreements, crop financing, joint ventures, loan workouts and regulatory compliance.
- Representation of packers, cooperatives, processors, shippers, lenders and growers in all aspects of agriculture.
Lawyers in this Group: Kenneth A. Baldwin, W. F. Docker, Jeffrey M. Reid, and Robert L. Sullivan, Jr.
Tax and Estate Planning
Our lawyers have been successful counsel in significant court cases concerning the taxation of agriculture. These include Zaninovich v. Commissioner (9th Cir. 1980) 616 F.2d 429 [cash basis farmer's payment of farm rental attributable to following tax year held deductible in the year paid]; Rojas v. Commissioner (9th Cir. 1990) 901 F.2d 801 [cash basis corporation's crop costs deductible in year of its liquidation even though crops had not been harvested]; Giannini Packing Corporation v. Commissioner (1984) 83 T.C. 526 [agricultural cold storage facility held eligible for the investment tax credit]; and Estate of Frazier v. Commissioner (9th Cir. 2003) 2003-2 U.S.T.C. 60,473 [almond and walnut processing facilities built at the tenant’s cost on leased property were not includable in the landlord’s estate for estate tax purposes].
Lawyers in this Group: W. F. Docker, Kenneth M. Klug, John J. McGregor, and Robert L. Sullivan, Jr.
Labor Relations
The Labor Relations Practice Group represents management in labor disputes and provides counseling and guidance on labor relations and compliance issues in both public and private sector employment. Our practice includes:
Developing management strategies and proactive plans to maintain positive labor relations and prevent vulnerability to union organizing
- Defense of unfair labor practice charges before the National Labor Relations Board, Agricultural Labor Relations Board, and Public Employment Relations Board
- Counter-organizing campaigns, including pre-election hearings
- Brand protection and response to corporate campaigns, picketing , and strikes
- Collective bargaining negotiations
- Employment contracts
- Grievance and arbitration defense
- Employee handbook and internal policy drafting and review
- Supervisor training
- Payroll, Safety, and Human Resource audits
- Employee opinion polling
- Counseling on wage and hour compliance, disciplinary compliance, and workplace investigations
- Counseling on workers’ compensation claims management and disability issues, including managing modified work and return to work
Lawyers in this Group: Anthony Raimondo and Christina Cusimano.
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