Lee, Hong, Degerman, Kang & Waimey is pleased to announce and introduce the following distinguished counsel and senior associates who have joined our firm’s diverse and expanding practices.
Don M. Drysdale
Don M. Drysdale is a State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization Certified Specialist in Franchise and Distribution Law. In 2016, Don M. Drysdale was awarded an “AV Preeminent” rating (the highest possible in legal ability and ethics) from the prestigious Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory. Mr. Drysdale has more than 35 years franchise experience including, preparing and registering with state franchise regulators franchise disclosure documents for more than 75 national franchisors.
He has also prepared international master franchise agreements and international disclosure documents for more than 20 international franchisors involved in various service related industries.
Douglas Smith
Douglas Smith’s practice emphasis is in complex litigation and trial work, including the defense of class actions, unfair competition claims, employment, and defense of multiple plaintiff litigation, in both state and federal court. Previously, for over 12 years, Mr. Smith was the Managing Partner of the Orange County office of Gordon & Rees and managed the group’s practice areas, which included complex Business/Commercial Litigation, Class Action, Tort & Product Liability, Employment, Construction, Tax and Wealth Management, Trust and Fiduciary Litigation, Intellectual Property, Professional Liability, Business Transactions, and Aviation.
Mr. Smith has successfully obtained orders denying class certification of product defect and false advertising claims on behalf of national power tool distributor; denying class certification of an action filed against a global auctioneer under California’s Unfair Competition Law; and denying class certification of a nationwide action for fraud and breach of contract filed against an internet marketing company.
Nathaniel J. Tarvin
Nathaniel J. Tarvin is Senior Counsel in the firm’s Orange County office. Mr. Tarvin focuses his practice on litigation and trial work in the context of commercial disputes, class action defense, shareholder disputes, and employment law.
Mr. Tarvin’s class action experience includes securing an order denying class certification on behalf of national franchisor on claims of violation of Telephone Consumer Protection Act. Mr. Tarvin also obtained a complete defense verdict (affirmed on appeal) against a multimillion dollar personal injury and contract claim arising from water damage to commercial property; a defense judgment in favor of a national distributor against contract claims by a retailer; dismissal of multiple foreign entities and individuals on jurisdictional grounds; and dismissal of several claims under California’s anti-strategic lawsuit against public participation laws.