FSG Lawyers PC
FSG’s “Action Sports Practice Group” provides tailored legal services to the action sports industry. Our clients include and leading apparel companies as well as participant surfers, skiers, snowboarders and skaters. FSG handles all business affairs for the corporate client including corporate governance, transactions, acquisitions, buy-sell agreements, manufacturing, licensing (foreign and domestic), marketing and promotions, labor and employment and intellectual property.
Bryan M. Friedman
Shareholder
Bryan M. Friedman is a shareholder of FSG LAWYERS and chairs the firm’s Corporate and Business Practice and the Action Sports Practice Group.
Bryan has had extensive business and management experience which enables him to advise clients on legal and business matters. Bryan has represented clients in structuring, negotiating and documenting mergers and acquisitions, implementing and evaluating domestic and international licensing and trademark programs; advising and assisting businesses in start-up, ongoing business and crisis situations; registering and enforcing trademarks and copyrights; forming business entities; negotiating and documenting finance and factor arrangements; negotiating and documenting strategic business alliances such as joint ventures, licenses, production and distribution agreements; negotiating and documenting employment agreements; counseling and drafting shareholder agreements; providing financial crisis management and bankruptcy advice.
Although Bryan has represented clients in numerous businesses, he is particularly experienced and knowledgeable in apparel and action sports. Bryan’s clients have included many prominent California lifestyle brands, as well as many manufacturers, contractors and retailers which operate both domestically and abroad.
Born and raised in South Africa, Bryan was admitted to the South African (Natal Provincial) Bar in 1970. Bryan practiced law in South Africa from 1970 until 1980, when he moved to California.
Brian Matlock
Partner
Brian Matlock, Partner, has been a corporate and intellectual property attorney for almost 15 years, handling both transactional and litigation matters.
Brian practices broadly in the areas of corporate governance, venture funding, patent portfolio management, intellectual property, technology transfer and licensing, corporate restructuring and business counseling. Brian also handles complex disputes in these areas including judicial matters in a wide variety of US and international jurisdictions, settlement conferences, mediation, and arbitration. Among other things he advises clients in shareholder disputes, structured transactions, mergers/acquisitions, and anti-fraud litigation. His clients are primarily investment funds, investors, directors, C-suite officers and inventors.
Previously Brian was a partner and co-chair of the civil litigation practice at a Los Angeles-based law firm, and a licensing associate at the University of Missouri where he assisted faculty and investors in launching cutting edge technology in therapeutics, diagnostics, chemicals, advanced materials, software and energy. Prior to that, he worked as in-house corporate counsel for a Fortune 500 electronics manufacturer and developer, where he directed all of the company commercial contract, corporate law, intellectual property and patent related matters, and all company patent and intellectual property litigation worldwide.
Brian has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering, M.B.A., J.D., and LLM in Technology and Intellectual Property.
James D. Stroffe
Shareholder
James D. Stroffe, shareholder, chairs the Real Estate & Construction Practice Group. Jim has over 30 years’ experience in real estate related transactions and litigation, corporate litigation management, development management, financial management and analysis, project and property management, and business administration.
Jim’s experience includes the acquisition, management and disposition of improved and unimproved land; public and private mixed-use development projects; land use and entitlements including planning, zoning, environmental impact reports, development agreements, historic preservation, conservation easements and redevelopment law; major residential, commercial, retail and industrial lease transactions; real estate finance, including promissory notes, loan agreements, participation agreements, mortgages and deeds of trust, title insurance, surety bonds and guarantees, letters of credit, mortgage loan workouts, foreclosure and related matters; all aspects of construction law including licensing, owner/contractor and contractor/subcontractor contracts, owner/architect agreements, mechanic’s liens, performance and payment bonds, risk management and insurance.
Jim was a senior executive with a regional real estate developer and syndicator, where he was responsible for all asset management functions relating to syndicated and wholly owned multifamily properties, disposition/sale of assets, investor relations and investment banking relationships. He also held a senior executive position with a national real estate developer where he was responsible for managing all West Coast operations, including acquisition, development, finance, construction, administration and asset management. As chief operating officer for a $100 million per year construction company, he gained extensive knowledge and a deep understanding of construction industry operational practices. These experiences, including interacting with outside counsel, over 10 years afford Jim valuable insight on the practical, as well as legal, aspects of these client activities.
Jennifer V. Stroffe
Shareholder
Jennifer is a shareholder at FSG LAWYERS. Jennifer is experienced in the structuring, negotiation and closing of transactions which involve the acquisition, disposition and financing of businesses, real and personal property.
Jennifer provides legal advice to small and middle market businesses on their day to day operations and company-defining transactions to help them operate and grow their business while minimizing risk and liability. She advises her clients on all major real estate transactions including secured financings, leasing, acquisition and disposition of real property, and all corporate/commercial matters including mergers, acquisitions and dispositions of businesses, debt and equity capital raisings and restructurings, as well as providing advice on day to day business matters, including corporate governance, commercial contracts, licensing, and a myriad other corporate and real estate issues faced by most businesses.
Prior to joining FSG, Jennifer was an associate attorney with the Los Angeles office of Latham & Watkins where her duties were split between the Real Property and Corporate Finance departments. Jennifer also co-founded a boutique real estate brokerage and investment company, where she oversaw the acquisition and disposition of real property assets, implemented investment strategies and opportunities on behalf of investors, and managed project construction from inception through completion.
Jennifer was selected to Super Lawyers for 2021. This peer designation is awarded only to a select number of accomplished attorneys in each state. The Super Lawyers selection process takes into account peer recognition, professional achievement in legal practice, and other cogent factors.
