cgoldman@bowlesverna.com
Charles S. Goldman is the senior attorney devoted exclusively to corporate and business transactional law and estate planning at Bowles & Verna LLP. Mr. Goldman has considerable experience in an extensive range of transactional matters. He provides legal representation to retail, technology, real property and other commercial businesses in start-ups, financing, acquisitions and sales, combinations (mergers, partnerships, joint ventures and limited liability companies), and management and operation of businesses. He also counsels clients in asset preservation strategies, including family partnerships and estate plans.
Mr. Goldman is a 1980 graduate of the UCLA School of Law, where he was a member of the UCLA Law Review. He earned his undergraduate degree in Journalism, with Distinction, from the University of California at Berkeley. He is a member of the State Bar of California, the Contra Costa County Bar Association and the American Bar Association.
Mr. Goldman’s areas of practice include the following:
Corporate and Business Law
Acquisitions and sales: Negotiation and documentation of transactions involving privately held companies in a variety of businesses, including asset and stock purchases and sales, mergers and spin-offs. Extensive experience in managing transactions from preliminary negotiations to closing, including preparation of letters of intent, definitive agreements, due diligence (including environmental matters, title and third party claims), legal opinions, and organizing and managing closings. Bulk sale transactions; stock redemption agreements; loan purchase agreements.
Combination strategies: Negotiation and documentation of limited and general partnership agreements, limited liability companies and joint ventures for business operations (retail, technology and others) and investments (including real property acquisitions).
Business counseling: Advice on choice of entity (“C” and “S” corporations, general and limited partnerships, limited liability companies). Long range structural planning; employment and personnel policies. Negotiation and documentation of employment and consultant agreements, shareholder agreements (management and control, buy-sell, life insurance), service contracts, computer and other equipment leases and purchases.
Intellectual property: Technology licensing and acquisition; evaluation and prosecution of federal and state trademark and service marks; trade secrets protection (confidentiality agreements, risk management).
Real Property Law
Purchase and sale transactions: Negotiation and documentation of transactions in commercial, industrial, retail and residential developments and multi-residential projects. Extensive experience in managing transactions from preliminary negotiations to closing, including preparation of letters of intent, purchase and sale documentation, due diligence (environmental matters, title, tenancies, development rights, governmental restrictions), legal opinions, and organizing and managing closings.
Leasing: Office buildings, retail properties (regional, community and local shopping centers, mini-malls and single-user assets), industrial and warehouse properties, ground leases and multi-residential buildings. Lease assignments and subleases. Representation of both landlords and tenants in all types of properties.
Ownership and development: Co-tenancies, partnerships and limited liability companies; covenants, conditions and restrictions; easements. Construction, architectural, engineering and development management agreements.
Finance: Negotiation and documentation of purchase and construction financing, refinance, workouts.
Estate Planning
Planning and implementation of business succession plans, including family partnerships and limited liability companies with gifting programs, living trusts and related vehicles. Mr. Goldman also works with estate planning specialists in setting up gift trusts, charitable trusts and life insurance trusts.
Personal Information
Mr. Goldman has lived in California since migrating from Cleveland in 1962. He was a founding actor, graphic designer and first business manager of San Francisco’s famed drama company, the Magic Theatre. He retains an active interest in graphic arts. He serves on the advisory board of the Vajrayana Foundation Tibetan Arts Institute, which is dedicated to preserving and teaching the sacred arts of the Tibetan tradition.