Hobson Bernardino Davis Capabilities

Big law firm experience + sophistication.
At a fraction of the cost.
It’s that simple.

Hobson Bernardino + Davis LLP is an “AV-Rated Preeminent” law firm.
The principal partners are big law firm veterans and former in-house
lawyers for national companies. We bring our sophisticated practices
and in-house lawyer insights to a more nimble platform in order to offer
more competitive rates and better serve our clients.

In short: Think big. Be nimble.

Hobson Bernardino + Davis LLP is a certified minority-owned law firm.

Practice Areas

Commercial Litigation Energy
Real Estate + Real Estate Finance Corporate Matters
Structured Finance Tax Credits

Representative Clients

Pacific Gas & Electric California Public Employees Retirement System
Los Angeles Department of Water & ARCO
Power
JM Manufacturing Company (JM BP America, Inc.
Eagle)
Asbury Environmental Services World Oil
FDIC Pacific Convenience & Fuels, Inc.
The Walt Disney Company Mexmil Industries
UPS Bacardi USA, Inc.
Alliant Capital Tax Credit Funds Newport Partners Tax Credits
The Christian Broadcast Network Helen Grace Chocolates
The Synod of Southern California Atlantic Richfield Company, Inc.
and Hawaii
Alcoa, Inc. Mercedes Benz of North America
Du Pont de Nemours and Company California Pacific Holdings, Inc.
Baja Fresh Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao

www.hbdlegal.com Think Big. Be Nimble.

Meet the Firm’s Principal Partners

Jason A. Hobson Rafael Bernardino, Jr. Symeon K. Davis

Real Estate and Structured Commercial Litigation Real Estate and Corporate
Finance Matters

Prior Affiliations: Prior Affiliations: Prior Affiliations:
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Arco (in-house) Walgreen Co. (in-house)
Pittman LLP
Alliant Capital (in-house) Christensen White Liner Grode Stein
Miller Fink & Jacobs Yankelevitz Sunshine
Cox Castle & Nicholson LLP LLP Regenstreif & Taylor LLP
Michelman & Robinson Much Shelist LLP

Law School: Law School: Law School:
University of California University of Southern Chicago-Kent Law School
Hastings College of the Law California Law Center (1996); Princeton Univ.
(1996) (1985)

Misc. Fact: Misc. Fact: Fun Fact:
The California Public Rafael is a Symeon’s new passion—
Utilities Commission Commissioner of the track car racing.
appointed Jason to its Low City of Los Angeles Fire
Income Oversight Board. and Police Pension
Jason is a 5-Time finisher of Board.
the Ironman Triathlon.

See full bios for the partners.


Client References

Pacific Gas & Electric JM Manufacturing Company (JM Eagle)
Attn: Cesar Allegria, Senior Counsel Attn: Camille Eng, General Counsel
Phone: 415.973.0360 Phone: 310-693-8200

LA Department of Water & Power Allied Argenta Real Estate Partners
Attn: Eduardo A. Angeles Attn: Chuck O’Neal, Principal
Senior Assistant City Attorney Phone: 310.394.9090
Phone: 213.367.4580

Additional references available upon request.

Bank References

Union Bank, N.A. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
Paul Abe, Asian Segment Manager Marina Babajanian, Private Banking Manager
Phone: 213.236.6788 Phone: 818.508.6750

Firm Contact and Office Locations

Jason A. Hobson Los Angeles Office:
Hobson Bernardino + Davis LLP
E: jhobson@hbdlegal.com Ernst & Young Plaza
P: 213-235-9191 725 S. Figueroa St., Suite 3230
Los Angeles, California 90017
San Francisco Office: Washington, D.C. Office:
One Embarcadero Center, Ste. 500 601 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 900
San Francisco, California 94111 Washington, District of Columbia 20004


Jason A. Hobson is an experienced real estate, tax credit
and structured finance attorney with a unique blend of legal and
industry-specific knowledge. Jason has broad experience in the
negotiation and documentation of complex real estate transaction
loans including construction, environmental and property
development concerns, as well as loan work-outs, secured
transactions, foreclosures and receiverships. Most of the projects
which Jason provides assistance involve numerous layers of public
and private funds, and complex regulatory requirements. Jason
routinely advises clients on commercial real estate projects and
finance matters involving significant real estate assets across the
state.

Jason represents investors, banks and syndicators of tax credits,
as well as developers and public agencies. Jason was previously
senior legal counsel and an officer of a national tax credit
syndication firm engaged in Solar Tax Credit, LIHTC and Historic
tax credit equity investments throughout the United States. Jason
was also previously an attorney and a key member of the Real
Estate and Corporate practice teams of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw
Pittman LLP and Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP. On May 9, 2012,
Jason A. Hobson Jason was appointed by the California Public Utilities Commission
Partner in a 5-0 vote to its Low Income Oversight Board to ensure the
Ernst & Young Plaza success of the public-private partnership programs for low-income
725 S. Figueroa St., Suite 3230 residents of California.
Phone: 213.235.9191
In addition to his law practice, Jason is a board member of Synergy
jhobson@hbdlegal.com
Community Development Corporation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
corporation engaged in the preservation and development of
affordable housing. Jason is a native Angeleno, and is a 5-Time
finisher of the Ironman Triathlon.

Education

University of California, Hastings College of the Law
University of California, Los Angeles Anderson School of Management
California State University (Cum Laude, Highest Honors)
Waseda University (Tokyo, Japan)

Publications and Related Matters

“Disadvantaged Get an Advantage – Federal New Markets Tax Credit

program pumps $460 million in new equity into California” California Real
Estate Journal

Publications and Related Matters (continued)

“Removing the Roadblocks: How to Make Sustainable Development
Happen Now” July 2009, participant in development of Berkeley Law,
UCLA Law and Bank of America Policy Report.

“Tax Credit Update – Recent Guidance for LIHTC and NMTC Programs” -
Pillsbury Winthrop on Affordable Housing

“New Markets Tax Credits: A New Idea for an Old Problem” – 2004
Issue, Pillsbury Winthrop on Real Estate

“Avoid the Pitfalls of Tenant Relocation Assistance” – Journal of Property
Management, co-authored with Gary P. Downs, Esq.

“New Markets Tax Credits: After Much Delay, NMTC Proceeds Start
Flowing” – 2004 Issue, Pillsbury Winthrop on Affordable Housing

“As Federal and State Subsidies to Older Projects Expire,
Developers and Public Entities Focus on Affordable Housing
Preservation” and “New Markets Tax Credit Update” – 2003
Issue, Pillsbury Winthrop on Affordable Housing

“Relief at Last: IRS Releases Revenue Ruling Relating to
Impact Fees and Eligible Basis” and “California Multifamily
Revenue Bond Statute Sunset Jeopardizes Third Round Deals”
– Premiere Issue, Pillsbury Winthrop on Affordable Housing

Frequent speaker and panelist on Tax Credit and Real Estate
matters

Professional Activities

California Public Utilities Commission’s Low Income Oversight
Board Member
Board Member, National Asian American Coalition
Member, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
Faculty Member, Practising Law Institute (Tax Credits & Tax-
Exempt Bonds)
Member, Real Property Law Section of California State Bar
Board Member, San Gabriel Valley Consortium on Homelessness


Rafael Bernardino, Jr. has extensive trial experience in both
civil and criminal law. He was attorney-advisor with the United States
Department of Justice Office of Intelligence Policy. Rafael was born and raised
in Los Angeles, where he attended the University of Southern California,
earning a B.A. in Economics and his law degree. He was law clerk for the
Honorable Manuel L. Real, then Chief Judge of the United States District Court
for the Central District of California. Rafael served as partner in several law
firms, recruiting and representing major clients such as the Los Angeles
Department of Water and Power, ARCO, the Walt Disney Company, World
Oil, JM Eagle, and Pacific Gas & Electric. He is the former editor-in-chief of
Sheppard's California Environmental Law Reporter and author of numerous
legal articles. Committed to the Mexican-American community, Rafael has
been a member of the Mexican-American Bar Association, Hispanic National
Bar Association, and the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Education
Fund. He is a member of the Democratic Congressional Campaign
Committee's "Speaker's Cabinet." Mr. Bernardino is currently Commissioner
of the Proposition “Q” Citizen Oversight Commission and the Los Angeles
Fireman, Police Pension Board.

Representative Clients (Past & Current): Air France· Alcoa, Inc.·Asbury
Environmental Services·Atlantic Richfield Company, Inc.· BP America, Inc.·
Rafael Bernardino, Jr.
Partner California Pacific Holdings, Inc. ·The Christian Broadcasting Network · City of
Ernst & Young Plaza Cudahy · City of Los Angeles, Department of Water & Power · City of South
725 S. Figueroa St., Suite 3230 Gate· Du Pont de Nemours and Company · Helen Grace Chocolates, Inc. · JM
Los Angeles, California 90017 Eagle · Koch Industries, Inc.· Mercedes Benz of North America · MGM/UA
Phone: 213.235.9190
rbernardino@hbdlegal.com
Communications Company · Multicoat Products, Inc · Pacific Gas & Electric
Company · The Walt Disney Company · World Oil, Inc.

Education:

University of Southern California Law Center
Member, Southern California Law Review

University of Southern California
A.B. Economics and Political Science


Prior Government Service:

Attorney Advisor, United States Department of Justice, Office of Intelligence
Top Secret and Secure Compartmented Information Clearance
Washington, D.C. 1987-1989

Law Clerk to the Honorable Manuel L. Real
Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Central District of
California, Los Angeles, California 1984-1985

Community Affiliations:

Asian American Bar Association
Asian Pacific American Bar Association
Filipino American Service Group (Board Member)
Hispanic National Bar Association
Italian American Bar Association
Mexican American Bar Association
Mexican American Legal Defense & Education Fund
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
Philippine American Bar Association
Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association
University of Southern California Alumni Association

Publications:

Editor in Chief, Sheppards California Law Reporter
Santa Monica, California 1991 - 1992


Symeon K. Davis is an accomplished transactional attorney in
the areas of commercial real estate and corporate transactions. He
structures and negotiates agreements for commercial real estate
transactions across all asset classes, including major acquisitions,
dispositions, leases and easements, and a variety of development deals
for shopping center, retail, office, industrial and multi-use properties.
Symeon also has experience with real estate debt and equity capital
transactions, including private placements and loans, as well as related
corporate formation and broker agreements. He consistently creates
added value for clients based on his significant expertise with retail and
large leasing deals.

Symeon was previously an attorney at a corporate firm in Los Angeles
and a real estate firm based in Chicago. Prior to private practice, he was
senior legal counsel for the nation’s top chain drug store retailer, where he
was responsible for negotiating real estate transactions totaling more than
$1.2 billion. Previously, Symeon served as a judicial law clerk for the
Honorable Chief Justice Charles E. Freeman of the Illinois Supreme
Court, for the Honorable Presiding Justice William Cousins, Jr. of the
Appellate Court of Illinois (First District) and for the Honorable Presiding
Judge Earl E. Strayhorn of the First Municipal District of the Circuit Court
of Cook County (Illinois).

Symeon enjoys photography, skiing, golf and his new passion—track car
racing.
Symeon K. Davis
Partner Education
Ernst & Young Plaza
725 S. Figueroa St., Suite 3230
Symeon received his A.B. in Sociology from Princeton University in 1992,
Phone: 213.235.9192 and his J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1997.
sdavis@hbdlegal.com
While in law school, Symeon was appointed by the administration to
numerous key committees, including the Dean Selection Committee, the
Faculty Appointment Committee and the Student Admissions and
Recruitment Committee. During his final year of law school, he was
elected President of the Black Law Students Association and was
Chairman of the Write-On Committee of the Chicago-Kent Journal of
Intellectual Property.

Professional Activities

International Council of Shopping Centers
National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (Grammys)
Princeton Club of Southern California
Chicago Bar Association (former Vice Chair of the Arts and Entertainment

Law Committee)
Perspectives Charter School (former member of the Board of Directors)

Awards

While in law school, Symeon won the American Jurisprudence Award for
legal writing, was the national champion of the Sandy Brown Memorial
Scholarship Essay Competition, earned the Black Law Students
Association Outstanding Student of the Year Award and was regularly on
the Dean’s Honor List.

Admissions

Symeon is admitted to practice in California and Illinois.


Commercial Litigation and Dispute Resolution

The Firm’s litigators specialize in counseling and handling of complex
litigation involving business clients in disputes with other businesses,
government entities, or groups of individuals, each of which necessarily
involves an understanding of both the business issue and the industry of
the client. We represent leaders in diverse industry sectors, including
Fortune 100 companies, in connection with their most important litigation
matters. What sets us apart from our peers is our trial and arbitration
experience, our competitive rate structure and class action expertise.
Our ultimate goal is to advance our clients’ interests. We understand that
a client’s business plan, balance sheet, and competitive profile are critical
elements for successfully positioning litigation matters from the outset. We
are committed to developing solutions to help our clients solve their
toughest problems, and we approach each new challenge as an urgent
business matter to be resolved expeditiously and cost-effectively. We
specialize in work for clients across all industries with respect to disputes
including:
 Breach of Contract/Fiduciary Duty

 Environmental Litigation

 Property Damage Litigation

 Business Torts

 Partnership Disputes

 Private Deals/Post-Closing Disputes

 Bad Faith Litigation/Insurance Disputes

 Regulatory Litigation

We aggressively seek litigation solutions short of trial, and we have
significant expertise in alternative dispute resolution methods such as
mediation and arbitration. In structuring settlements, we look at the overall
insurance, regulatory, and tax implications—both in the near-term and for
the future. When trial is called for, we bring exceptional experience and
skill to the courtroom as well as an impressive record of success.
Before litigation, the Firm’s attorneys are frequently called upon to counsel
clients on ways to minimize liability exposure, assess litigation risks and
objectives, or develop strategies in light of recent judicial trends. Although

the firm’s practice includes highly experienced litigators, we often structure
and negotiate creative, cost-effective, consensual resolutions that achieve
our clients' objectives without incurring the cost, delay, and risk of
protracted litigation. Indeed, we believe that our reputation for litigation
success enhances our ability to achieve favorable negotiated results. Our
clients benefit from the credibility we have built up with the courts over
many years.

Contract disputes form the basis of virtually all business litigation and the
Firm’s attorneys have extensive experience in presenting complex
contractual disputes to both juries and courts in high-stakes commercial
cases. Among the clients that the Firm’s Attorneys have represented in
complex contractual disputes are: Air France, Alcoa, Inc., Asbury
Environmental Services, Atlantic Richfield Company, Inc., BP America,
Inc., California Pacific Holdings, Inc., the City of Cudahy, City of Los
Angeles, Department of Water and Power, and the City of West Covina.

SIGNIFICANT TRIALS:
Kleinman v. American States Insurance Company - obtained $7.96 million
verdict against major insurance company.
United States v. Danny Means - obtained not guilty verdict for client
charged with bribing an IRS Revenue Officer.
United States v. Akin - obtained verdicts of guilty in nationwide insurance
fraud case. Led task force of more than fifty personnel from Internal
Revenue Service, Postal Inspection Service, Interstate Commerce
Commission and Department of Transportation.
United States v. Tyler - obtained guilty verdicts against officer of company
engaging in securities fraud and ponzi scheme.
United States v. Pratte - obtained guilty verdicts against owner of
retirement facility for loan fraud.
United States v. Lawson - obtained guilty verdicts against tax preparer for
tax crimes.

SIGNIFICANT INJUNCTIONS OBTAINED:
Representation in cases in which injunctions were obtained on behalf of
clients involving billions of dollars, namely:
Independent Living Center of Southern California v. Shewry, Central
District of California, injunction obtained on August 18, 2008;

Independent Living Center of Southern California v. Shewry, Central
District of California, injunction obtained on November 17, 2008;
Managed Pharmacy Car v. Maxwell-Jolly, Central District of California,
injunction obtained on February 27, 2009; and
California Pharmacists Association v. Maxwell-Jolly, Central District of
California, injunction obtained on May 5, 2010.

RECENT SIGNIFICANT FILINGS IN UNITED STATES SUPREME
COURT:
David Maxwell-Jolly v. Independent Living Center of Southern California,
Brief in Opposition, May 22, 2009;
David Maxwell-Jolly v. Independent Living Center of Southern California,
Brief in Opposition, April 19, 2010 (Petition granted on January 18, 2011);
and
David Maxwell-Jolly v. California Pharmacists Association, Brief in
Opposition, May 24, 2010 (Petition granted on January 18, 2011).


Energy

The firm’s attorneys have extensive experience representing clients
involved in the delivery and production of energy, including oil, gas,
electricity and renewable methods. We provide comprehensive legal
services for national and international companies acquiring, expanding,
developing or operating power-generation projects.
We assist clients with the development of energy-generating and energy-
distribution facilities, such as power plants and natural-gas pipelines;
negotiation of energy-related services, such as energy infrastructure
agreements for new development projects; acquisition-related activities for
power plants; and ongoing advice on critical operational issues.
Our energy attorneys offer services including:
 Due diligence

 Deal structuring

 Drafting and negotiating documents for acquisition, financing and
contracts

 Negotiating power purchase and power sale agreements

 Renewable Energy Tax Credit matters.

 General real estate, corporate and compliance counseling for
operational projects

We also have specific expertise in the electric power industry. We have
represented and advised public power utilities as well as industrial and
commercial end-use customers in connection with a wide range of electric
energy issues and litigation matters.


Corporate Matters

The firm’s lawyers routinely provide corporate counsel to a wide range of
clients in various industries and sectors, advising them on legal issues
encountered in everyday business operations. In other cases, clients
seek our help as local or special counsel on complex transactional or
operational matters such as:
 Corporate Governance
 Financial Restructuring
 International Finance
 Mergers and Acquisitions
H H

 Private and Public Debt and Equity Financing
 Special Needs of Banks, Emerging Businesses and
Entertainment Companies
 Dissolution of Business Entities, Bankruptcy workouts and
dispositions
 Commercial Finance
 Intellectual property protection
 Commercial licensing and distribution agreements
 Executive compensation and employee benefits
 Tax-exempt organization qualification, operations and fundraising
activities
 Commercial licensing and distribution agreements

All of the attorneys are big law firm veterans as well as previously in-
house lawyers for national companies. As such, we understand in-house
dynamics and the added value of accessible legal counsel. Our corporate
services are tailored to each client's unique operating environment and
growth sensitivities. Our clients include multinational corporations,
middle-market businesses, start-up joint venture entities, entrepreneurs
and nonprofit organizations in different sectors including aviation and
aerospace, national and community banks, media and
telecommunications, sports and entertainment, education, energy and
utilities, health care and biotechnology, manufacturing to commercial real
estate.


Tax Credit Financing

Renewable Energy Tax Credits. Hobson Bernardino + Davis LLP
attorneys have supported clients in many renewable energy and project
finance arrangements. Our experience includes creating and
implementing a variety of financing and investor relationships for
renewable energy projects. These may include bonds, leases, sale-
leaseback arrangements and other ownership and investment structures.
We also are experienced in monetizing the environmental attributes of
renewable energy, which may have substantial value and provide critical
additional revenue. Our attorneys are sensitive to the unique tax
ramifications of renewable energy projects. As such, we specialize in the
representation of investors, guarantors, sponsors, syndicators, developers
and lenders in all aspect of tax credit transactions, including energy tax
credits such as renewable (solar, wind, biomass) electricity credits under
the Internal Revenue Code. We have extensive experience in the issues
involved in combining energy credits with LIHTC or NMTC transactions.

Low-Income Housing Tax Credits. Our firm’s principals have extensive
experience in the financing of affordable housing developments
throughout the United States using LIHTCs. Our experience in multifamily
development and finance has been an invaluable asset to our developers
and investors structuring transactions to include historic tax credits.
New Markets Tax Credits + Historic Tax Credits. Our firm’s principals
have extensive experience in the financing of historic buildings throughout
the United States using historic tax credits. Our experience in multifamily
and commercial development and finance has been an invaluable asset to
our developers and investors structuring transactions to include historic
tax credits.
Film Tax Credits. Hobson Bernardino + Davis LLP lawyers specialize in
tax-advantage structures for film finance, including state tax credits
available for production companies. To date, we have structured state tax
credit finance deals (certificated and non-certificated state tax credits),
together with accelerated and bonus depreciation, in order to offset
production costs and to stimulate local economies.


Real Estate Finance

Our real estate finance practice has developed a reputation for responsive
and cost-effective representation. We are active market participants in
creatively guiding clients through challenges during this time of
unprecedented disruption in the credit markets. We represent real estate
industry clients as borrowers, lenders or investors in a wide range of debt
and debt-related matters, including financings and refinancings, loan
extensions and restructurings, negotiated workouts, foreclosure and in-
lieu transactions, and associated litigation, as well as investments in
distressed debt.

We have longstanding experience through many evolutions in real estate
finance in both up and down cycles, including:

 Acquisition, construction and permanent mortgage financing for
all property types

 Mezzanine and other subordinated debt financing

 Credit facilities for REITs and other operating companies

 Subscription secured credit facilities for funds

 Participated, syndicated and securitized debt

 Multi-layered borrower structures and complex creditor
arrangements

We are currently assisting clients as they invest, finance, refinance,
modify, extend, workout, foreclose and otherwise deal with both
performing and non-performing debt in a time of greatly reduced
valuations and impaired debt and equity capital markets. As clients work
to de-lever their holdings, we are also assisting in evaluations of entire
portfolios, and with sales and other capital-raising transactions.
We understand the complexities involved in both existing and proposed
capital structures and the varying motivations of stakeholders. Our broad
and deep experience allows us to counsel clients effectively as they
address a variety of financing needs, problems and opportunities in a very
challenging environment.


Real Estate

Real estate development requires technical expertise and dedication.
With a deep understanding of the legal and business issues of real estate
development, we’re committed to helping clients through the process —
from concept to completion. We counsel developers, investors, corporate
owners and managers, nonprofit institutions, and lenders in large-scale
projects of all kinds.
We help clients manage the conflicting needs of developers, lenders,
tenants, public authorities, and other stakeholders to find common ground
and appropriate, cost-effective solutions. From site evaluation, due
diligence, acquisition, permitting, zoning and financing, to construction,
leasing, and disposition, we take a proactive approach to addressing
issues before they become problems.
Our clients rely on us for development-related advice that addresses the
complexities and transactional demands of the real estate development
process. Our services cover:
 Institutional financing

 Environmental permitting

 Historic preservation

 Architectural and construction contracts

 Securitization of real estate-related investments

 Real estate joint ventures and partnerships

 Hazardous materials remediation, cost recovery and liability
management

 Public land acquisitions

 Specialized tax treatment


Labor and Employment

The Firm has significant experience in labor and employment matters. We
regularly provide counseling and litigation avoidance strategies
concerning discrimination, whistleblower, harassment, retaliation, tort
claims and wrongful termination claims. We are proud of our record
before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, state court and
federal court. We have successfully tried more than 50 cases (bench and
jury trials) and class actions. The Firm’s attorneys have extensive
experience representing local municipalities and businesses, for-profit and
nonprofit. The Firm’s labor and employment practice is led by Myrna
Castañón.
The labor and employment legal services which we are poised to render in
an affordable housing, real estate transaction include the following:
 Discrimination based on sex, race, national origin, color, sexual
orientation and national origin

 Disability Discrimination and Reasonable Accommodation under
the Rehabilitation Act

 Racial Harassment

 Sexual Harassment

 Union and Labor Collective Bargaining Agreements

 Worker’s Compensation Fraud

 OSHA Compliance

 Family Medical Leave Act Violations

 Religious Accommodation

 Reduction in Force (RIF) Issues

 Unenforced Lease Issues

A detailed list of labor and employment-related cases and results is
available upon request.


Meet the HB+D Team Members

Stanley L. Friedman
Partner

Stanley L. Friedman has over 25+ years litigation experience in business litigation,
contract disputes and white collar crimes. Stanley is graduate of the University of
Southern California Law School, and has since been a fixture in the federal and state
courts in Southern California. Stanley is a member of the Los Angeles County and
American (White Collar Crime Committee, Rules of Criminal Procedure and Evidence
Committee), State Bar of California (Member, Criminal Law Advisory Commission),
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Association of Federal Defense
Attorneys, and the Los Angeles Criminal Justice Inn of Court (Master).

Myrna Castañón
Partner

Myrna Castanon is a labor and employment attorney with 15+ years of experience. Ms.
Castañón has litigated cases in Northern and Southern California. Prior to working for the
United States Postal Service, Ms. Castañón worked as an associate at Kazan, McClain,
Edises, Simon & Abrams, where she practiced products liability litigation. After working
in the private sector, she worked in the public sector and specialized in Labor &
Employment.

Ms. Castañón started working for the United States Postal Service in 2000. She
represented management before the EEOC, MSPB, and the United States District Courts
in the Northern and Central Districts. While at the Postal Service, she also served as an
Acting Deputy Managing Counsel and in that capacity she managed attorneys in the area
of Labor & Employment. During her tenure with the Postal Service, she had a 90+%
success rate in handling her cases. She was lead counsel in a multi-million dollar class
action, race discrimination case and was solely responsible for preparing the case for
trial. This was the largest case handled by the Postal Service in the Pacific Area. Not only
did she obtain a successful verdict, but she was given one of the highest awards in the
Postal Service and recognized for her outstanding performance.


Ms. Castañón also served as a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the United
States Attorneys Office in the Northern District of California. She trained federal agents
and prosecuted white collar offenses, such as mail fraud and worker’s compensation
fraud. She successfully tried a $600,000 dollar disability discrimination case in district
court and obtained a jury verdict in 30 minutes. She received her undergraduate degree
in History at the University of California, Los Angeles. At UCLA, she received an
academic scholarship and was on the Dean’s Honor List for four terms. Ms. Castañón
received her law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.
She is licensed to practice law before the State of California and the United States Court
of Appeal for the Ninth Circuit.

In addition to litigating cases, Ms. Castañón advised and counseled management on
various employment matters, including proposed actions. She trained management in the
areas of sexual harassment, disability discrimination, and FMLA (Family Medical Leave
Act). Ms. Castañón is fluent in Spanish and has used her language skills to assist low-
income Spanish speakers. She was profiled in the San Francisco legal periodical, The
Recorder, for outstanding pro bono services. She is also a member of the American Bar
Association, the State Bar of California, the Mexican American Bar Association, and the
Beverly Hills Bar Association.

Howard J. Kern
Of Counsel

Howard represents companies in connection with financing opportunities and securities
matters. Howard regularly advises clients in connection with formation of investment
entities and regulatory issues related thereto. Howard also has significant experience in
the drafting and negotiation of M&A transactions, reverse mergers and traditional IPOs,
and the preparation of SEC filings in connection therewith.

Prior to joining Hobson Bernardino + Davis LLP as counsel, Mr. Kern was a shareholder
for the international law firm, Greenberg Traurig LLP in its Los Angeles, California
office. With Greenberg Traurig LLP, Howard focused on M&A transactions, venture
capital transactions, NASD arbitrations, corporate and transactional structuring;
representing underwriters in connection with public offering; corporate governance in
connection with 1934 Act reporting.

Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, J.D., with high honors (top 5% of Class), June
1986 (Member of Cardozo Law Review)
Rutgers College, B.A., Business Administration, May 1982 (Top 25% of Class)

Howard has published articles on reverse mergers and executive compensation.


Christopher R. Pantel
Of Counsel

Christopher R. Pantel is a civil litigation attorney with expertise in complex commercial
litigation, contract and business disputes, white collar crime, securities fraud, product
liability, mass torts, labor, hour and wage disputes, wrongful termination, unfair
competition, class action, copyright, receivership, lender liability and judgment
enforcement defense.

Prior to practicing law in California, Christopher was an associate in the Complex
Litigation and Business Fraud practice group of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, in
Washington, D.C. Christopher worked on numerous high-profile matters involving,
among other corporate entities, Enron, WorldCom and AOL.

Christopher graduated from Georgetown University with a B.S. in Foreign Service in
1996. He received his J.D., With Honors, from George Washington University Law
School in 2002. During law school, Christopher interned with the Department of Justice
and a federal judge.

Christopher is admitted to practice law in California (2008), Washington, D.C. (2003),
and Virginia (2002).

Ashton R. Watkins
Of Counsel

Ashton R. Watkins is an experienced litigation trial attorney. He has tried cases in both
state and federal courts, as well as administrative tribunals. Mr. Watkins’ focuses on
complex litigation, with an emphasis on real estate and business disputes. He regularly
represents clients in the financial services industry, retailers and a diverse group of
professionals (pharmacists, medical doctors, physical therapists) in actions involving
claims of breach of contract, mortgage fraud, bankruptcy, negligence and violations of
the California Business and Professions Code. He also represents litigation clients in the
entertainment industry, including actors, movie producers and cinematographers. He has
also represented criminal defendants facing fraud charges.

Mr. Watkins is focused on results at the trial and appellate levels. He first tries to
negotiate a settlement favorable to the client and, if that fails, takes the case to trial. He
has obtained judgments and settlements for clients in excess of $2 million dollars. He has
also obtained defense verdicts, saving his clients several millions in potential jury
verdicts. He has also represented homeowners and renters in foreclosure related lawsuits
and evictions. Over the last two years, Mr. Watkins has successfully defended several
eviction cases against an overly aggressive property owner seeking to evict its long-term
tenants who were paying less than the market rent for their units.


He has also successfully briefed and argued an appeal in Le v. Pham (2010) 180 Cal.
App. 4th 1201. His victory expanded the fiduciary obligations of owners in regulated
professional corporations. The general principle enunciated in that case applies to
pharmacy corporations, professional law corporations and medical corporations.

Mr. Watkins received his J.D. from the UCLA School of Law in 2004, where he
participated in the school’s Moot Court program. He received his B.A. in Sociology and
Criminal Justice in 2000 from California State University at Bakersfield, where he earned
the Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award and served as a Teaching Assistant for
undergraduate courses.

Diana G. Fakhrai
Of Counsel

Diana G. Fakhrai is an experienced immigration attorney, with knowledge in all aspects
of immigration law. Diana is a graduate of the University of California San Diego
(Masters in Pacific Rim Studies in 2004, and B.A. in Economics in 2001). During
graduate school Diana worked as a consultant for Atkins International. After graduate
school, she attended the University of Wisconsin Law School. During law school, Diana
interned for the Honorable Charles Dykman of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals. She also
co-founded the Middle Eastern Law Students Association and served as its president
during her third year of law school and was an articles editor for the Wisconsin
International Law Journal.

Diana’s passion for Immigration and Nationality Law started in law school when she
worked at immigration clinics. That passion grew and after law school she worked for
Catholic Charities as an immigration attorney. Diana then worked as an associate in a
private firm in Downtown Los Angeles before starting her own law firm, the Law Offices
of Diana G. Fakhrai in 2011.

Diana currently serves on the Executive Board of the University of California, San Diego
and as the liaison for the American Immigration Lawyers Association. She is also a
member of the National American Immigration Lawyers Association Pro Bono
Committee. In the past she has served as the liaison for the Executive Office of
Immigration Review for the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

University of Wisconsin Law School (2007)
Wisconsin International Journal-Articles Editor
Middle Eastern Law Students Association-President
University of California, San Diego
(School of International Relations and Pacific Rim Studies), Masters (2004)
University of California, San Diego (Economics) B.A. 2001


Dmitry Chesnokov
Of Counsel

Dmitry Chesnokov is a sports and entertainment lawyer for Hobson Bernardino + Davis
LLP, handling both transactional and litigation matters for clients. Mr. Chesnokov is
licensed to practice in the State of California and Russia. Mr. Chesnokov received his
law degree from the Moscow Academy of Business in Moscow, Russia and studied at the
University of Essex School of Law in the United Kingdom. Mr. Chesnokov is fluent in
Russian. In his litigation practice, Mr. Chesnokov has a strong background in
government investigations, FCPA, due diligence, extensive knowledge of e-discovery
matters. In his transactional practice, Mr. Chesnokov represents international athletes
and entertainers.
Dmitry Chesnokov is also an internationally recognized sportswriter. His groundbreaking
interviews with NHL stars have made news around the world. His critically acclaimed
reporting of the Lokomotiv air crash was picked up by most major media outlets,
including BBC, NBC Sports, TSN, ESPN, the Washington Post and many others.
Dmitry is a senior writer at Yahoo! Sports and other new and traditional media outlets.
Member of the International Sports Press Association and the prestigious Professional
Hockey Writers Association, Dmitry is also an on-air contributor to TSN, Canada’s
leading English language sports TV channel.


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