We are proud to announce that John Pinkney and H. Neal Wells III are both recognized in the 2021 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America© : John for his work in Municipal Law, and Neal for his work in Trusts and Estates. Congratulations to John, Neal, and all other attorneys for their hard work.
“After completing a thorough RFP process, the Greater Palm Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) has selected the law firm of Slovak Baron Empey Murphy & Pinkney (SBEMP) as its legal representation. SBEMP will provide all manner of legal support to the CVB from the Joint Powers Authority (JPA) to advice and guidance on day-to-day legal operations.”
Congratulations Lena Wade, for being selected as General Counsel, and Robert Patterson, for being selected as Assistant General Counsel! To read the full press release, please click the link below.
https://sbemp.com/sbemp-partner-lena-wade-selected-as-general-counsel-to-cvb/
SBEMP.COM
SBEMP Partner Lena Wade Selected as General Counsel to CVB - Palm Springs California Law Firm
Valerie Powers Smith featured on Media Spur.
Media Spur
September 11 at 10:41 AM ·
Partner Profile: Valerie Powers Smith
Valerie is a partner at Slovak Baron Empey Murphy and Pinkney, Coachella Valley’s largest full-service civil law firm. For over twenty years, Valerie has been representing clients in special needs and elder law and she is highly respected in her field. When she’s not busy working, Valerie enjoys riding and playing polo: "I’ve always loved the teamwork and camaraderie of sport. Polo requires teamwork and building a relationship with horses so it combines two of my loves in one activity - athletics and animals!" Look for Valerie on the field at the Eldorado Polo Club this upcoming season.
@vapsesq
WED, SEP 23
The Coachella Valley's Economic Future Webinar Series. Webisode 1: Tourism & Hospitality
We are proud to announce that SBEMP Partner Lena Wade has been elected to the Desert Bar Association Board of Trustees. Congratulations Lena! We look forward to all that you will accomplish as a Trustee.
In Webisode 3 of our series with Palm Springs Life, SBEMP Partner Valerie Powers Smith discusses the importance of arts, culture, and entertainment for the economy with local leaders in the arts. Joining her in this episode are: Louis Grachos, Executive Director and CEO of the Palm Springs Art Museum, Chris Mobley, Chief Executive Officer of Modernism Week, and Ron Celona, Founding Artistic Director of Coachella Valley Repertory. Click the link below to watch the full webisode.
https://sbemp.com/the-economic-future-of-the-coachella-valley-webisode-3-arts-culture-and-entertainment-palm-springs-life/
SBEMP.COM
The Economic Future of the Coachella Valley Webisode 3: Arts, Culture, and Entertainment | PALM SPRINGS LIFE - Palm Springs California Law Firm
From the Labor & Employment Department: AB 1947, signed by Governor Newsom on September 30, 2020, lengthens the time in which employees can file complaints with the DLSE alleging retaliation and/or discrimination in violation of any law enforced by the Labor Commissioner (from 6 months to 1 year) and allows the court to award attorneys fees to a plaintiff that prevails in a “whistleblower” action under Labor Code Section 1102.5.
For more information, please contact the Labor & Employment Department at SBEMP LLP.
WED, OCT 21 AT 2:00 PM PDT
Webisode 5: Real Estate
For those who are unable to join us live, all webisodes for The Economic Future of the Coachella Valley Webinar Series will be posted on our website. Please visit the link below for the full recap.
https://sbemp.com/blog/
SBEMP.COM
Law Firm | Attorney | Palm Springs | Rancho Mirage | Coachella Valley
SBEMP is proud to announce the addition of Oscar A. Verdugo to our legal team! Oscar is a Coachella Valley native and Notre Dame Law School alumni. Welcome to the team, Oscar.
https://conta.cc/2TeIE4y
MYEMAIL.CONSTANTCONTACT.COM
Oscar A. Verdugo Joins SBEMP
How can local governments help the Coachella Valley get through economic challenges caused by COVID-19? Click the link below for the full answer and discussion with local leaders from the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, the City of Palm Springs, and the County of Riverside.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WRadBNueNU
YOUTUBE.COM
Webisode 8: Governance | PALM SPRINGS LIFE
We are excited to announce that SBEMP Partner Valerie Powers Smith will once again be speaking at the CW3 Confidence Summit. CW3 is designed to inspire its audience and encourage participants both personally and professionally. The summit will be held virtually on January 21, 2021. To learn more about the event or purchase tickets, please visit cw3confidencesummit.com
We are proud to announce that SBEMP has been voted the Desert’s Best Law Firm in the Desert’s Sun’s 2020 official community choice awards. Thank you to our clients and peers who nominated us for this honor; and, to the SBEMP Team that works to provide quality service to our clients every day.
CW3 Confidence Summit is with Valerie Powers Smith.
December 17 at 4:30 PM ·
Meet Valerie Powers Smith – CW3 Speaker
Partner at SBEMP with over twenty-one years of experience, practicing in the area of Trusts, Estates & Probate and Special Needs & Elder Law; and Chairs those Departments within SBEMP. Valerie has written extensively, co-authored several publications, and lectured throughout California, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and D.C. Valerie has served on a variety of Boards and currently sits on the Board of Directors for Leadership Coachella Valley and the Desert Estate Planning Council. @vapsesq
About Valerie’s Session: The 3rd Key to Financial Wellness: Negotiation
This topic is important to Valerie because she sees it as critical to everyday functioning whether it be personal or professional. She believes we negotiate with ourselves from the moment we wake up to the moment our heads hit the pillow at night, that we negotiate with ourselves as to our lifestyle (what we eat, how we workout, who we socialize with, to what events or obligations we will commit ourselves,) and that we negotiate with our spouses/partners, and even with our kids (furry or human). And, for some of us, our jobs (like hers) are all about the art of negotiation to get the best result for our clients.
REGISTER for CW3 2021: https://cw3confidencesummit.com/confidence-summit-2021/
Learn more about Valerie at https://sbemp.com/
#CW3ConfidenceSummit #womenempowerment #girlpower #womenwealthwellness #financialeducation #selfcare #womenandwealth #womeninbusiness #confidence #knowledgeispower
The SBEMP family wishes you & your family a Happy Holiday season!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5b8Cu62Fz8&feature=youtu.be
YOUTUBE.COM
2020 SBEMP Holiday Greetings
From the Labor & Employment Department:
FFCRA LEAVE OBLIGATIONS EXPIRE ON 12/31/20
Employers’ obligations to provide employees with paid sick and family leaves under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”) will expire today, December 31, 2020. However, employers’ tax credits for providing such leaves will extend through March 31, 2021. As of the new year, employers will no longer be legally required to provide paid leaves of absence for COVID-related concerns. However, if employers voluntarily decide to continue providing paid leaves pursuant to the FFCRA through March 31, 2021, they may continue to obtain the tax credits for amounts they pay to employees for such leaves.
Don’t forget to join us for this year’s CW3 Confidence Summit, coming up this January 21st! Start 2021 feeling Empowered and Confident with seventeen financial and self-care sessions that are relevant to women of all age groups. The Summit Team also offers ticket scholarships to those who would like to attend but cannot afford it on their own. To apply for the scholarship, please visit https://cw3confidencesummit.com/scholarships/
To purchase a ticket, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2021-cw3-confidence-summit-tickets-127666559115
Congratulations to GPS Business Insider for the launch of their new blog which offers insight on issues affecting the Greater Palm Springs economy. This blog features articles from guest writers throughout the Coachella Valley, and includes Legal Updates from attorneys within practice areas such as Labor & Employment, Trusts, Estates & Probate, Litigation, and many more, to help you make informed business decisions. To learn more about GPS Business Insider, please visit the link below.
https://marraintel.com/blog/
MARRAINTEL.COM
Blog » Marra Market Intelligence
SBEMP Partner Valerie Powers Smith’s session covers the art of negotiation in business and personal matters. We’re grateful for another CW3 Summit to start off the year strong!
#CW3ConfidenceSummit
From the Labor & Employment Department:
With limited exceptions, all California employers are required to implement a written COVID-19 prevention policy that addresses COVID prevention, COVID outbreaks in the workplace, COVID recording and reporting requirements, and prevention in employer-provided housing and transportation.
If you do not have your written COVID policy, please contact us.
From the Labor & Employment Department:
The California Supreme Court recently ruled that employers cannot round time in the meal period context. In Donohue v. AMN Services, LLC, the employer used an electronic timekeeping system that rounded time punches to the nearest 10-minute interval. For instance, if an employee clocked out at 12:02 p.m. and clocked back in at 12:29 p.m., the system rounded down the clock-out time to 12:00 p.m. and rounded up their clock-in time to 12:30 p.m. A non-compliant 27-minute meal break was now recorded as 30 minutes. The plaintiffs alleged that the employer’s rounding policy violated California’s meal period law, and the California Supreme Court agreed.
In light of Donohue, employers should review their time keeping policies to ensure that they do not round time in the meal period context. Employers should also check to make sure that employees are receiving compliant and timely meal breaks as allowed by law.
For questions on this topic, or any other employment matter, please contact the Labor & Employment Department at SBEMP.
NEW PAID SICK LEAVE UPDATE
Governor Newsom signed legislation that mandates the addition of up to 80 hours of employer-paid COVID-19 sick leave, retroactive to January 1, 2021. The new law goes into effect on March 29, 2021, and applies to employees who work for a public or private employer with more than 25 employees.
For questions on this topic, or any other employment matter, please contact the Labor & Employment Department at SBEMP.
