Free Initial Consultation Accepts Credit Cards

(Main Office)

We are trial lawyers who will take on all types of civil litigation, including business and contract disputes, real estate, construction and contractor issues, labor and employment, and cases involving intentional torts such as defamation, malicious prosecution and misappropriation of trade secrets. We also do appellate work, with appeals before both state and federal courts of appeal. We pride ourselves on our strategic approach to litigation, and we have been hired by other attorneys to consult with them on litigation tactics and to assist them in their cases up through trial.

Statement of Practice

Litigation, Real Estate, Civil Litigation, Civil Practice, Federal Civil Practice, Civil Appeals, Appellate Practice, Business Law, Business Arbitration, Business Associations Law, Business Development, Business Dissolutions, Business Enterprises, Business Formation, Business Fraud, Business Litigation, Business Mediation, Business Organization, Business Planning, Business Start-Ups, Business Torts, Business Transactions, Business Transfers, Buying and Selling of Businesses, Closely Held Business Law, Complex Business Litigation, Entrepreneurial Business Law, Limited Liability Company Law, Private Business Law, Small Business Law, Sole Proprietorships, Professional Practices, Construction Law, Construction Accidents, Construction and Design Law, Construction and Surety Law, Construction Arbitration, Construction Claims, Construction Contracts, Construction Defects, Construction Insurance Defense, Construction Insurance, Construction Labor Law, Construction Liability, Construction Liens, Construction Litigation, Construction Mediation, Construction Products Liability, Construction Safety, Construction Workouts, Contractor Performance Bonds, Contractors Liability, Mechanics Liens, Labor and Employment, Employer Intentional Torts, Employer Liability, Employer Rights, Employment Arbitration, Employment at Will, Employment Breach of Contract, Employment Claims, Employment Contracts, Employment Defense, Employment Litigation, Agreements, Personnel Policies, Wrongful Termination.

Representative Clients:

Carmax, Inc.
CarMax Auto Finance
Travelers Insurance Company
James River Insurance Company
Dogma Studios
Interstreamer, Inc.
INDARG
various small and mid-sized companies, entrepreneurs and individuals.

Rate Information

Fixed Hourly Rates
Fixed Fees Available
Free Initial Consultation
Accepts Major Credit Cards

• Visa
• MasterCard
• American Express
• Discover

Address

3601 Aviation Boulevard, Suite 2700
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266, (Los Angeles Co.)

Phone

Phone: 310-643-0111
Fax: 310-643-1638

Website

http://www.sandsattorneys.com

Office Hours

Monday: 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Tuesday: 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Wednesday: 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Thursday: 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Friday: 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM

PARTNERS

Kurt Andrew Schlichter (Partner) born Cincinnati, Ohio, December 24, 1964; admitted to bar, 1994, California. Education: University of California, San Diego (B.A., 1987); Loyola Law School (J.D., 1994). Recipient, Dean's Scholarship, Loyola Law School, 1992-1994. Profiled, Los Angeles Daily Journal, October 23, 1998. Senior Note and Comment Editor, Loyola Law Review, 1993-1994. Member, Million Dollar Advocates Forum, 1998. Author: "Kosovo Counsel," California Lawyer, August 2006; "What Kind of Leader Are You?" Los Angeles Daily Journal, May 11, 2009. Member: State Bar of California. [Lieutenant Colonel, Infantry, U.S. Army; National Guard, California Army 1987—Present; Lt. Col., Student, U.S. Army War College Class of 2011; Veteran, Persian Gulf War and Operation Enduring Freedom Kosovo]. Practice Areas: Litigation; Real Estate; Civil Litigation; Civil Practice; Federal Civil Practice; Civil Appeals; Appellate Practice; Business Law; Business Arbitration; Business Associations Law; Business Development; Business Dissolutions; Business Enterprises; Business Formation; Business Fraud; Business Litigation; Business Mediation; Business Organization; Business Planning; Business Start-Ups; Business Torts; Business Transactions; Business Transfers; Buying and Selling of Businesses; Closely Held Business Law; Complex Business Litigation; Entrepreneurial Business Law; Limited Liability Company Law; Private Business Law; Small Business Law; Sole Proprietorships; Professional Practices; Construction Law; Construction Accidents; Construction and Design Law; Construction and Surety Law; Construction Arbitration; Construction Claims; Construction Contracts; Construction Defects; Construction Insurance Defense; Construction Insurance; Construction Labor Law; Construction Liability; Construction Liens; Construction Litigation; Construction Mediation; Construction Products Liability; Construction Safety; Construction Workouts; Contractor Performance Bonds; Contractors Liability; Mechanics Liens; Labor and Employment; Employer Intentional Torts; Employer Liability; Employer Rights; Employment Arbitration; Employment at Will; Employment Breach of Contract; Employment Claims; Employment Contracts; Employment Defense; Employment Litigation; Agreements; Personnel Policies; Wrongful Termination.Email: Kurt Andrew Schlichter

Steven C. Shonack (Partner) admitted to bar, 1994, California. Education: University of California, Berkeley (B.A., Biophysics, 1990); Loyola Law School (J.D., 1994). Articles Editor, Loyola of Los Angeles Entertainment Law Journal. Recipient: Excellence in Entertainment Law, Prestigious Pickford Scholarship, Loyola Law School; National Merit Scholarship; University of California Regents Scholarship. Author: "Postmodern Piracy: How Copyright Law Constrains Contemporary Art in the Loyola of Los Angeles Entertainment Law Journal;" "Protecting Postmodern Art," Visual Artist's Business and Legal Guide, Prentice-Hall in 1995. Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel, Applied Phase Transition, Inc. Formerly with Zimmerman & Kahanowitch, Woodland Hills. Member: State Bar of California. Practice Areas: Appellate Work; Business Law; Contract Law; Commercial Law; Banking Law; Insurance Disputes; Employment Law.

ASSOCIATES

Mary Neifert (Associate) born 1972; admitted to bar, 2005, California; 2007, U.S. District Court, Central District of California; 2008, U.S. District Court, Eastern and Southern Districts of California. Education: Stephens College (B.A., English); Oxford University (English Literature Study); Loyola Law School (J.D., 2004). Instructor, China and U.S. Trade Seminar, Summer Abroad Program in Beijing, Loyola Law School, 2005; Board Member, Public Interest Law Foundation; Member, Mediation Team; Research Assistant for Professor John Nockleby. Member: Los Angeles County Bar Association; State Bar of California. Languages: Mandarin.Email: Mary Neifert

Heather Dufau (Associate) admitted to bar, 2005, California; U.S. District Court, Central District of California. Education: University of California at Santa Barbara (B.A., Communications); Santa Clara University School of Law (J.D.). Heather Dufau is an associate attorney with a civil litigation practice focusing primarily in business, real estate, bankruptcy law and creditors rights. Since joining Schlichter & Shonack LLP, she has litigated and obtained favorable judgments in civil trial proceedings as an associate attorney. She also provides corporate formation services and facilitates various business transactions and contracts. Ms. Dufau has worked with a variety of clientele ranging from individuals and small local businesses to large-scale corporations, providing high quality legal services at a competitive price in comparison to large firm, which often charge excessive fees and unnecessary overhead. Prior to her employment with the firm, Ms. Dufau worked in a variety of areas ranging from environmental law to securities fraud class action lawsuits, as well as smaller scale suits involving construction defects and business disputes. She also has experience in patent litigation defense specific to the video gaming industry. Ms. Dufau graduated from University of California, Santa Barbara with a B.A. in Communications. She earned her J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law. While in law school she spent time abroad in Geneva, Switzerland, and Strausbourg, France, studying international law and human rights. She also volunteered at the East San Jose Law clinic assisting low-income clients with workers compensation claims and served as a teacher and life coach for the Fresh Lifelines For Youth program helping juvenile delinquents with violence prevention and life skills. Ms. Dufau is admitted to practice in California as well as the United States District Court for the Central District of California. She is also a member of the Beverly Hills Bar Association and Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce. Member: Los Angeles County and Beverly Hills Bar Associations; State Bar of California. Practice Areas: Business Law; Real Estate; Contract Law; Bankruptcy.Email: Heather Dufau

Cynthia Sun (Associate) admitted to bar, 2006, California. Education: University of California at Los Angeles (B.A.); Western New England College School of Law (J.D.). Member: State Bar of California.Email: Cynthia Sun

OF COUNSEL

Sheri R. Handel (Of Counsel) born Los Angeles, California; admitted to bar, 1995, California. Education: University of California at Los Angeles (B.A., 1991); Loyola Law School (J.D., 1995). Full-time Judicial Extern to the Honorable Kathleen T. Lax, United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California. Graduate, Prestigious National Institution for Trial Advocacy Advanced Trial Academy. Formerly with: Chancellor's Official Service Organization; Rus, Miliband, Williams & Smith; Gunderson, Schlichter, Shonack & Handel. Member: Beverly Hills and Los Angeles County Bar Associations; State Bar of California; Los Angeles Bankruptcy Forum; American Bankruptcy Institute. Practice Areas: Bankruptcy; Corporate Reorganizations; Commercial Litigation; Secured Transactions.Email: Sheri R. Handel

All partners and associates are members of the State Bar of California.

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