Jeffrey L. Marcus, Esq.
jeff@marcuslawgroup.com
Mr.
Marcus founded the firm and has been a licensed attorney in State and Federal
Courts for over 17 years. His practice focuses on real
estate and business law.
Mr.
Marcus’ litigation practice areas include:
all real estate related matters, leases, purchase and sale
agreements, landlord/tenant, land use and environmental
issues, lot line disputes, homeowner association disputes,
groundwater, professional liability, business disputes,
contract disputes, asbestos, premises liability, personal
injury and construction defect.
He has tried and arbitrated more
than 50 cases involving complex litigation and has advised
clients in sophisticated real estate and business matters.
His
recent litigation highlights: He successfully
represented in trial a business entity concerning a
management dispute of a joint venture and dissolution of
its assets totaling $200,000,000. He successfully
represented through trial and appeal, a business entity
concerning a seven figure dispute involving the
interpretation and application of a contract. He also
successfully defended a publicly-traded company in a
$2,500,000 asbestos related injury claim.
Mr.
Marcus’ transactional practice areas include:
commercial leases, purchase and sale agreements for real
estate and business transactions, easements, development of real
property, advising common interest
communities, advising real estate professionals, public
agency representation, and structuring
business entities.
Mr.
Marcus represents some of the largest commercial real
estate developers, landlords and real property
owners in Southern California. He also serves as
outside counsel to several commercial and residential brokerage offices
in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.
Mr.
Marcus’ legal and business experience is wide and varied, having worked in
private practice and served as Assistant Vice President,
corporate counsel, to CB Richard Ellis, Inc., a publicly-traded full service real
estate company. In his role as corporate counsel, he
managed company legal activities and advised management on
legal matters. As such, Mr. Marcus is cognizant of the
business influences which affect his clients and shape
their deal-making.
In
1990, Mr. Marcus started his legal career at Spray, Gould &
Bowers, a midsize litigation firm in Los Angeles, CA. In
1995, Mr. Marcus became corporate counsel for CB Richard
Ellis, Inc. in Los Angeles, CA handling the company’s
complex real estate and business litigation and
transactions. In 2002, Mr. Marcus returned to the law firm
environment and on January 1, 2004,
opened this firm.
Mr.
Marcus attended University of Hartford, Hartford, CT and
achieved a B.S.B.A. degree in 1982. He attended Whittier
Law School, Los Angeles, California and received his J.D.
in 1989. In law school he was member and coach of Moot
Court Honors Board.
Mr.
Marcus is a member of the State Bar of California,
American Bar Association, Los Angeles County Bar
Association, and Ventura County Bar Association (Real
Property Section). He is on Los Angeles County Superior
Court Arbitration/Mediation Panel. He is a member and
chairs the Real Estate section of the Conejo Valley Bar
Association. And, he is AV rated with Martindale-Hubbell.
Barbara Higgins, Esq.
barbara@marcuslawgroup.com
Ms. Higgins is Of Counsel to the firm.
Ms. Higgins is licensed to practice law in the state of
California and has actively practiced law for
approximately 17 years. Ms. Higgins was formerly
employed as Vice-President/Senior Counsel for CB Richard
Ellis, Inc. While at CB Richard Ellis, Ms. Higgins
successfully represented the corporation and its
employees in litigation and transactional matters
involving contracts, real estate, and employment law
issues from claim inception through trial. Prior
to joining CB Richard Ellis, Ms. Higgins worked as a Senior Associate
at the Santa Monica law firm of Haight, Brown &
Bonesteel where she maintained a multifaceted business
litigation practice in state and federal courts, and was
appointed to co-chair the firm's hiring and education
committees.
Ms. Higgins graduated Cum Laude from the
University of Massachusetts, Amherst with a B.S. degree
in 1979. She, thereafter, took courses
towards an MBA degree at the University of Lowell before
earning her J.D. degree from Southwestern University
School of Law, Los Angeles, CA. with a J.D. degree in
1984.
Kenneth K. Howell, Esq.
kenneth@marcuslawgroup.com
Mr. Howell is Of Counsel to the firm and
is admitted to practice law in California and Illinois.
He is a graduate of the University of
Chicago where he was Managing Editor of the Law Review,
a member of the Order of Coif and a recipient of the
Beal Tutorial Award for research and writing skills.
Mr. Howell was formerly a partner with
the law firm of Sidley & Austin and has been practicing
law for over 40 years. His experience has been primarily
in the area of business litigation, but he has also
handled a variety of other kinds of litigation including
personal injury, civil rights, employment discrimination
and sexual harassment.
Niki Frank Stokols, Esq.
niki@marcuslawgroup.com
Ms. Stokols is Of Counsel to the firm and is admitted to practice law in California and Texas.
Ms. Stokols was an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Dallas and represented the city on a variety of complex federal court lawsuits involving real property construction delay-claims, zoning violations, anti-trust litigation in the cable television and taxicab industries, civil rights, and miscellaneous business torts. Her case load also included state court lawsuits and claims involving eminent domain, property damages, personal injuries, subrogation (worker’s compensation), and collections.
After moving to California, Ms Stokols became an associate with Kane, Ballmer, & Berkman.
Her experience included representing the Community Redevelopment Agencies of the Cities of Whittier and Hawthorne in eminent domain issues and successfully litigating a contract dispute arising out of redevelopment project fees before an arbitration panel.
Ms. Stokols took time off to raise a family. During this time she graduated from the first class of the Hadassah Leadership Academy, a three-year program. She has since held numerous portfolios for Hadassah on the ARC level and recently finished her second term as Education and IZAIA Chair on the Hadassah Southern California Cabinet.
Since returning the practice of law, Ms. Stokols has been primarily working construction defense including construction defect, sick-house, and wrongful death. Her other areas of practice have included quiet title and trespass, and various business torts.
Ms. Stokols graqduated from the University of Texas, Austin, Texas, with a B.A. degree in 1980. She earned her J.D. degree from Southern Methodist University Dedman Law School, Dallas, Texas, in 1984.
Toni Kiser
toni@marcuslawgroup.com
Ms. Kiser is a legal assistant and office manager. Her
responsibilities include secretarial and administrative
support to the attorneys. Ms. Kiser has worked in an
administrative capacity for three years. She relocated
from North Carolina two years ago, and currently resides
with her husband in Oak Park, CA.
Poya Ghasri
poya@marcuslawgroup.com
Mr. Poya Ghasri is the firm’s law clerk and is responsible for assisting in litigation, legal research and writing. Currently, he is a second year law student at UCLA School of Law. Mr. Ghasri graduated Summa Cum Laude from UCLA in 2006. While an undergrad, Mr. Ghasri was Vice-President of Phi Alpha Delta, Pre-Law Fraternity. When he arrived at law school, he helped reinstate the law school chapter of Phi Alpha Delta. He is currently the Treasurer of the Jewish Law Students Association.
Susan A. Marcus
susan@marcuslawgroup.com
Ms. Marcus is the firm’s office manager. Her responsibilities include overall
administration of the office, account’s receivable and payable and secretarial services. Before
joining the firm, she was office manager for Maude Stewart Millenary, a clothing and apparel company.
Ms. Marcus graduated UCLA in 1989 with a B.S. degree.
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