We are dedicating this issue of the Ervin, Cohen & Jessup LLP Legal Update to a celebration of our 50th Anniversary. We are very proud of reaching this milestone, and we thank all of our clients and friends for their loyalty and support, and for helping us become who we are today. The Legal Update will return to its regular format with the Winter 2004 issue.
Ervin, Cohen & Jessup LLP
Celebrates 50th Anniversary
By Kelly O. Scott
This year, Ervin, Cohen & Jessup LLP (“ECJ”), the largest and oldest law firm in Beverly Hills, celebrates its 50th Anniversary. The firm was founded in 1953 by John W. Ervin, then Professor of Taxation at the University of Southern California School of Law, with Leonard Cohen and W. Edgar Jessup, Jr., two young lawyers just beginning their careers.
Over the last 50 years, the firm has grown, changed, expanded, contracted and expanded again, but throughout has maintained its reputation for providing quality legal services and an environment where both clients and attorneys feel at home. Much of the firm’s success for the past 50 years derives from the standards and high principles of its founders.
At its beginning, ECJ focused primarily on issues of taxation and estate planning. But ECJ soon evolved into a full-service business law firm that now provides advice and representation in tax, estate planning, probate and trusts, business and securities law, litigation, health care law, real estate law, business reorganization and bankruptcy, Internet and technology law, antitrust law, banking and financial legal services, environmental law and employment law. A lot has changed over 50 years, but ECJ continues to hold each of its lawyers to the same high standards of practice established by Professor Ervin and Messrs. Cohen and Jessup.
Why is ECJ special? What makes this law firm stand out from the rest? Why has ECJ continued to thrive and remain distinct in the tough mid-sized law firm market for over 50 years?
The key to ECJ’s success and longevity extends beyond offering high quality legal services. Today, ECJ builds on its tradition by continually searching for new ways to be of greater service to its clients. The practice of law varies widely, based on differing philosophies of law firms. ECJ has developed a practical approach to the practice of law, always keeping its clients’ needs in the forefront of its thinking. Its philosophy - helping its clients avoid problems before they arise, providing legal services that produce results quickly and economically, and building strong personal relationships - sets it apart. ECJ’s long-term view of its relationships with its clients, which focuses on the financial health and growth of those it represents, distinguishes it from many of its competitors in a crowded law firm landscape.
In addition, ECJ attorneys bring to bear a diversity of experience and expertise in solving clients’ problems in ways that work in practice, not just in theory. Further, the ECJ environment fosters creative thinking and individuality, so its attorneys find solutions by moving beyond the commonplace “cookie cutter” approach. Viewed in this light, it is no wonder that ECJ is a place where attorneys practice for their entire careers. ECJ is committed to professional integrity, innovation and cost-effectiveness as it meets its clients’ legal challenges. It is this spirit that characterizes ECJ.
Recently, ECJ was invited to participate in a Law Firm Identity Study conducted by the London Business School. The study concluded that ECJ is extremely relationship-oriented and thrives in the community because of its ability to understand clients and their internal processes, and to cultivate close professional relationships with them. The study confirmed what clients have always known: to be a successful law firm it is important to foster sustained, quality relationships, both externally and internally.
In the universe of law firms, 50 years is a long time. In spite of dramatic changes in our culture and economy over the last 50 years, ECJ has kept its character, personality, reputation and focus. ECJ stands apart because of its loyalty to its clients, its high regard for long-term and close working relationships and its continued emphasis on quality legal services. Indeed, ECJ’s passion for maintaining its place of distinction in the law firm world is as much a cause for celebration as is ECJ’s 50th Anniversary.
ECJ’s Partner Profile
As we celebrate our 50th Anniversary, it seems only fitting that this issue’s Partner Profile feature one of our founders, W. Edgar Jessup, Jr., Esq.
Ed received his J.D. from the University of Southern California in 1949, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Order of the Coif. While at USC, he served on the Editorial Board, Southern California Law Review. He also attended Brown University, earning a B.S., magna cum laude, in 1943, and was a member of Tau Beta Pi.
In 1953, Ed joined his USC tax law professor, John W. Ervin, and Leonard Cohen, an associate at another law firm that John Ervin worked for as a tax consultant, to form what we now know as Ervin, Cohen & Jessup LLP. The firm began with just three attorneys, with John Ervin continuing to maintain his office at USC, while Ed and Leonard rented offices on South Beverly Drive in Beverly Hills.
Ed was also a lecturer at the University of Southern California Law Center in the areas of Law in 1957, 1959-1972, 1977-1978, and in Engineering Law from 1950-1953. In addition, he is the co-author of “Recapture of Depreciation Under IRC 1245,” 1964 University of Southern California Tax Institute; author of “Law and Specifications for Engineers and Scientists,” Prentice-Hall, 1963; and “How to Draft the Partnership Agreement and Trust Provisions for a Family Partnership with Trusts as Partners,” 1956 University of Southern California Tax Institute.
Ed is currently a member of our Business and Securities Law and Taxation Departments. His areas of practice include general business and securities law and directors’ and officers’ liability issues; in the area of taxation, his experience extends to corporations, other business entities, estate planning, non-profit organizations, real estate and trust administration.
Ed is a member of the State Bar of California and the Beverly Hills, Los Angeles County and American Bar Associations; the Brown University Club of Southern California (Past President of its Board of Directors); the Westside YMCA (Past Chairman, Board of Managers); the Brentwood-Westwood Symphony Orchestra Association (Advisory Director); and the California Yacht Club.
Ed and his wife, Audrey, live in Pacific Palisades. The Jessup children (actually no longer children) are Holden, who now resides in Palo Alto, and Bryn, who is now Chicago-based, each of whom have a son and daughter. While no longer racing sailboats, Ed and Audrey still enjoy charter sailing to exciting places such as the Caribbean, the San Juan Islands and New England, just to name a few.
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Firm News:
Large Trial Win by Litigation Partner Allan B. Cooper
On July 17, 2003, a unanimous jury awarded ECJ client Cels Enterprises, Inc. $1,837,500 in compensatory and $2,250,000 in punitive damages after a 6-day jury trial conducted by Allan B. Cooper, head of ECJ’s Litigation Department and Heather L. McCloskey, an Associate in ECJ’s Litigation Department. The jury found for Cels on each and every claim, including fraudulent misrepresentation, fraudulent concealment, negligent misrepresentation, breach of contract and breach of warranty.
In July of 1999, JBA International, Inc. (“JBA”) sold to Cels a computer software system that was to have certain functional capabilities necessary to support Cels’ growing business. Cels argued, and the jury apparently agreed, that the software lacked pieces of the functionality that it was represented to possess and that the system failed to perform as promised, thereby causing damage to Cels’ business.
JBA, through its successor-in-inter-est Geac Enterprise Solutions, Inc. (part of the international family of Canada-based Geac Computer Corporation, Ltd.) was unsuccessful on its claims for copyright infringement, breach of contract, account stated, unjust enrichment and quantum meruit. In fact, the court granted Cels’ motion for judgment as a matter of law on JBA’s copyright claim, so this claim did not even reach the jury. On August 25, Allan Cooper was interviewed in the Extra Section of the Daily Journal regarding his trial victory in the Cels’ case. To read Allan’s interview on our website, please go to www.ecjlaw.com.
New Partner
Randall S. Leff has joined ECJ as a partner in the Litigation, Health Care and Employment Law Departments, where his areas of practice include general business litigation, health care, employment law and real property law. Mr. Leff also specializes in antitrust and corporate dissolution litigation. In addition, he will continue representing financial institutions, developers, medical groups and independent medical practice associations. Prior to joining ECJ, he was a partner at Nebenzahl, Kohn, Davies and Leff, and was formerly a Staff Attorney for the National Labor Relations Board and the Federal Trade Commission. Mr. Leff received his Juris Doctorate degree from Hastings College of Law, University of California, in 1977.
ECJ Announces New Associates
Shiraz D. Tangri has joined ECJ as an associate in the Environmental Law Department, where his practice areas include environmental law and litigation. Mr. Tangri graduated from Georgetown University Law Center in 1995, where he served as a director of the International Law Society and as a Foreign Lawyer Law Fellow. Mr. Tangri graduated from New York University’s College of Arts & Sciences in 1992, magna cum laude, with a Bachelor’s degree in English and Politics. Currently, he serves as the Recording Secretary of the Land Use & Planning Committee of the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council.
Shaun M. Simmons has joined ECJ as an associate in the Litigation Department. Mr. Simmons' practice focuses on securities law, constitutional law and antitrust law. Mr. Simmons graduated from Cornell Law School, cum laude, in 1999, where he was both a member and Internet editor of the Cornell Law Review. He completed his undergraduate studies in 1996 at the University of California, Los Angeles, with a Bachelor of Arts in English.
Mark E. Carrillo has joined ECJ as an associate in the Bankruptcy and Reorganization Department. Mr. Carrillo’s bankruptcy practice focuses on creditor and debtor rights, corporate reorganizations and commercial transactions and workouts. Mr. Carrillo graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law in 2001, where he was the recipient of the Cogan Scholarship and a member of the Journal of International Law and Foreign Affairs. He completed his undergraduate studies in 1996 at the University of California, Los Angeles, cum laude, with a Bachelor of Arts in both History and Political Science.
Shirley S. Dloomy has joined ECJ as an associate in the Litigation Department. Ms. Dloomy's areas of practice include general business, intellectual property and unfair competition litigation. Ms. Dloomy earned her Bachelor ’s degree, cum laude, in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1996. She then graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law in 1999, where she was a national team member of the University of California, Los Angeles Moot Court, Secretary to the Student Bar Association and a member of the Task Force on Admissions.
ECJ Legal Update
Legal Update is published by the law firm of Ervin, Cohen & Jessup LLP as a service to clients and friends of the Firm. Articles are intended as summaries of the law and should not be relied upon as substitutes for legal consultation. Authors will, on request, be pleased to discuss in greater detail the information contained in their articles.
Correspondence regarding information contained in this issue or address corrections should be addressed to Cynthia Kaiser, c/o Ervin, Cohen & Jessup LLP, 9401 Wilshire Boulevard, Ninth Floor, Beverly Hills, California 90212-2974 or ckaiser@ecjlaw.com.
Legal Update is printed on recycled paper. ECJ is a registered service mark of Ervin, Cohen & Jessup LLP. Copyright 2002.
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