THE FIRM'S HISTORY

     The law firm of Titchell, Maltzman, Mark & Ohleyer traces its roots back to 1909 when Norman A. Eisner founded his Law Offices.   In 1955, Haskell Titchell joined Norman Eisner as a partner, and the firm changed its name to Eisner & Titchell.   Following Mr. Eisner's death in 1970, the firm changed its name to Titchell, Maltzman & Mark.   The original clients of Eisner & Titchell included a significant part of the San Francisco economic community at the time.   The firm has continued to represent many of those clients over several generations, and still represents prominent businesses, individuals, families, and philanthropic organizations in San Francisco and Northern California.

     Today, the firm engages in a broad business and litigation practice, with particular expertise in estate planning, taxation and tax controversies, and the counseling of closely held businesses.   The firm's lawyers have distinguished academic and professional qualifications; several are certified specialists in taxation, probate and estate planning, and others have Internal Revenue Service backgrounds.

     We emphasize working closely with clients to develop creative ways of accomplishing the clients' goals.   The firm's size and the collective experience of its lawyers enable us to offer our clients personalized, efficient, and integrated representation.

THE FIRM'S PRACTICE AREAS

Corporate and Business

      The firm's corporate and business practice serves newly forming, emerging and established corporations and partnerships.   We represent businesses and venture capitalists in reorganizations, recapitalizations, and leveraged buy-outs.   The firm regularly represents clients in mergers and acquisitions, commercial lending transactions, licensing and franchising, equipment leasing, and general corporate matters such as employment, trademark protection, contracts, and corporate governance.   Our experience covers diverse manufacturing and service industries.

Real Estate and Land Use Law

      We are experienced in all aspects of real estate acquisition, finance, development, and management, including tax structuring, secured financing, complex leasing transactions, and problem loan workouts.   Our real estate practice focuses on commercial real estate, including office buildings, hotels, shopping centers, apartment projects, and industrial properties.   The firm represents developers in all phases of the development process, including project origination and site assembly, zoning and other land use regulation, financing, construction, leasing, and sale.   Our attorneys deal regularly with governmental authorities in many Bay Area communities, and have substantial experience with permit procedures.   We provide ongoing operational advice to our clients' property and asset managers.

Taxation, Estate Planning, and Probate

      One of the firm's strongest areas of practice is taxation, estate planning, and probate.   Many of our tax and estate planning attorneys are certified specialists or have advanced tax degrees, and others have been associated with the Internal Revenue Service.   We advise clients on federal and state income tax planning; estate, gift, and inheritance taxes; property tax; sales and use tax; and taxable transactions with international aspects.

     The firm's tax lawyers have significant experience in developing tailored, practical estate plans.   They provide a full range of tax counseling for mergers, acquisitions, public and private syndications, and employee benefits matters, including pension and profit sharing plans and executive compensation.   We also represent clients during tax audits, and have substantial experience in contested tax matters with the IRS and other tax authorities, both at the administrative level and in court.

     Our probate department engages in estate settlement matters, including the administration of inter vivos trusts, estate tax and related matters, and formal probate proceedings.   We use specially trained probate paralegals in rendering these services.

Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution

      The firm's litigation attorneys have extensive experience with federal and state court trials and appeals, administrative hearings, arbitrations, and mediations.   They have handled disputes in a wide variety of disputes including trust and probate contests, business contracts and fraud claims, trade secrets, real estate, and insurance coverage.   We are experienced and aggressive advocates, but our primary objective is to conclude disputes fairly and cost-effectively.   We therefore offer experienced familiarity with all forms of alternative dispute resolution procedures and their effectiveness.