William (Billy) DeClercq is an experienced business litigation attorney and the firm's founder. He leads the firm's litigation and alternative dispute resolution practice and assists clients with business formation and compliance issues, with an emphasis on employment practices and human resources risk management. Litigation matters have included complex commercial disputes, partnership disputes, employment litigation, and real property actions.

As a civil litigator and business advisor, he aims to be a peacemaker with a creative “aggressive but reasonable” approach that focuses on achieving the client’s desired objectives, always considering the costs and benefits of any approach, while maintaining a healthy sense of humor.

He seeks to treat every client's challenges with equal vigor and commitment, no matter the size, and he brings a unique personal approach to every valued client by emphasizing practical, cost-effective, tailored solutions to challenging legal problems. In that past he has represented a range of clients including small and large businesses, entrepreneurs, private individuals and Fortune 500 companies, large banking and financial services companies, real estate investment trusts, federal government agencies, pharmaceutical companies, healthcare agencies, logistics firms, manufacturers, and retailers.

He is actively involved in pro bono and public interest representation, including adoptions, immigration, and education advocacy.

Billy enjoys working as a comedy writer/performer and legal commentator. He wrote, produced and performed in a full-length comedy show, “Law & Disorder – LIVE” and performs improv and sketch comedy in Hollywood with his troupe, "You're on Mute!" Billy is the creator and host of a long-running legal/comedy podcast, “Laying Down the Law,” which combines real legal cases with improvised comedy and interviews. To learn more about Billy's comedy, visit www.Comedy.Lawyer.

Education

• J.D. — University of California, Los Angeles - School of Law, 2005, with honors
• California State University - East Bay, Teaching Credential, Education, 2001
• Whittier College, B.A. - cum laude, Theatre Arts/Philosophy, 1997, cum laude

Areas of Practice

• Business Litigation and Dispute Resolution
• Corporate Formation and Compliance
• Employment Compliance and Litigation
• Real Estate Agreements and Litigation

Bar Admissions

• Supreme Court of the United States
• Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
• Supreme Court of California
• California Courts of Appeal
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
• U.S. District Court, Central District of California
• U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of California
• U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Central District of California

Awards

• Selected to Super Lawyers
• Super Lawyers Rising Star
• Wiley W. Manuel Award for Pro Bono Legal Service
• John Greenleaf Whittier Scholar - full tuition scholarship to Whittier College

Professional and Civic Affiliations

• Special Counsel to Board of Directors of Gifted Research & Outreach, Inc.
• Boy Scout Leader - Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop 351, San Marino
• Focus Out Group Leader, Arcadia, CA
• AYSO Regional Referee
• Knights of Columbus Council 1174 - First Degree Knight

Ken Mallernee is a results-oriented professional, contract negotiator, problem solver, and transactional specialist with more than thirty years of legal experience in all aspects of commercial real estate with an emphasis in commercial leasing, franchise, disposition and acquisition, property management, and real estate closings.

As a former in-house counsel for a nationwide retailer, Ken brings extensive practical and strategic business experience to the representation of his clients and a thorough understanding of the retail real estate industry. Ken also works with local restaurant operators and franchisees of national chains in the leasing, purchase, and sale of business assets and real property.

Ken’s clients in office leasing include general and medical office leasing and cover a wide spectrum of industries and sizes, and he has negotiated leases and subleases for office locations across the country. In addition, his leasing practice includes warehouse and industrial locations and manufacturing facilities, and specialty leases such as airports and solar farms.

Additionally, Ken represents clients in the acquisition, disposition and development of real estate wherein he performs title, survey and site plan review, real estate closings, and loan modifications and closings. He also advises clients in multi-family leasing and residential real estate matters, including those involving apartment complexes, condominiums, and homeowners’ associations.

When he is not practicing law, Ken enjoys sailing, hiking, and cycling. He serves as a mentor to law school and high school students, and is an advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism. Along with his husband, he is a devoted dog owner and supporter of rescue dogs.

Areas of Practice

• Commercial Real Estate
• Commercial Leasing
  • Office/Medical Office
  • Retail/Restaurant
  • Warehouse/Industrial
• Real Estate Disposition and Acquisition

Bar Admissions

• The State Bar of California
• The Florida Bar
• State Bar of Georgia
• North Carolina State Bar
• Ohio State Bar Association (currently inactive)

Education

• University of Akron School of Law, JD, 1989
• Kent State University, BBA, cum laude, 1986

Professional and Civic Affiliations

• Executive Committee Member, California Lawyers Association Real Property Law Section
• Member, California Lawyers Association
• Member, International Council of Shopping Centers
• Member, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Division of San Diego County Bar Association
• Co-Chair, Anti-Racism Group of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Division
• Member, San Diego County Bar Association
• Mentor, Diversity Fellowship Program of San Diego County Bar Association
• Mentor, Crawford High School Academy of Law and Justice
• Board Member and Mentor, Tom Homann LGBTQ+ Law Association
• Member, LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance, San Diego

Robert Chiappetta specializes in entertainment, business, and contract law. His experience as a writer, producer, and development executive in Hollywood writing and developing studio level projects over the past twenty years give him a unique insight into the needs of talent and production companies. During that time, Robert also developed a screen credit arbitration practice, working with writers defending their credit on studio released features. It was working on these actions while a writer and producer that made Robert turn back to the law and focus on the legal side of the entertainment business.

Rob is also an expert witness in literary and copyright disputes. Again, bringing his deep understanding of the writing and development process to help determine who should receive credit for original authorship and ideas.

In 2001, Rob graduated from the University at Texas School of Law and passed the Texas state bar that same year. He recently passed the California Bar in 2022. He enjoys the sunny weather of Southern California and exploring the coastline and mountains.

Areas of Practice

• Entertainment Law
• Business Law
• Business Transactional Work

Bar Admissions

• The State Bar of California
• The State Bar of Texas

Education

• University of Texas, School of Law, Austin, Texas, JD, 2001
• American University, Washington D.C., BA, 1996

Pat is the paralegal with the firm. She is also a lawyer licensed to practice in the Republic of the Philippines with experience and areas of practice that include civil and criminal litigation, property and real-estate, SEC registration, legal documents drafting, and legal research. Her expertise in remote and virtual legal assistance has allowed her to help the firm in client management and litigation. She is also able to assist various Filipinos based in the State of California and the United States of America with their legal concerns in the Philippines.

Pat was admitted to the Philippine Bar in January 2025 after obtaining her Juris Doctor Degree from San Beda College Alabang - School of Law. While a law student, she worked as a virtual assistant for a law firm, served as the Lay Out Editor and Associate Editor for the Law Review, the Vice President and a Law Student Practitioner at their Legal Aid Center, and the Governor for the National Capital Region at the Association of Law Students in the Philippines.

Pat is a Registered Psychometrician and is experienced in the field of psychological testing and community work. In her free time, she participates at activities organized by the Catholic church specifically at the Madonna del Divino Amore Parish and at the Philippine Jesuit Prison Service, Inc.. She likes to do calligraphy and typography in her spare time.

Bar Admissions

• Integrated Bar of the Philippines - Republic of the Philippines

Education

• J.D. - San Beda College Alabang, School of Law 2025
• Bachelor of Science in Psychology - University of Santo Tomas 2017, with distinctions

Professional and Civic Affiliations

• Notary Public, City of Las Piñas
• Member, Integrated Bar of the Philippines - PPLM Chapter
• Volunteer, Philippine Jesuit Prison Service, Inc.
• Registered Psychometrician, Philippine Regulation Commission
• Alumni, Association of Law Students of the Philippines, Inc.