Sound Business Insights

Dan Watkins brings more than 40 years of perspective to the topic of Artificial Intelligence or AI. This isn't something to be feared - it's something to be embraced. It makes us better at our jobs, saves our clients time and money. Saves our attorneys time, allowing us to spend more time with our clients and getting to know the nuances, the facts, the details surrounding the events in question, or their business goals, challenges and opportunities.

We think AI is great. AI is like these other programs, and if your lawyer's up to speed, which they should be on emails, communications, text messages, computer research, then this is just a transition for them. It's not much of a change because AI summarizes the law we already know. And a lot of our time is spent with clients trying to educate them on what the law is. So when a says, 'I used AI and I asked about my case,' first thing we say is, 'you didn't mention your own name, did you?' Keep it anonymous because AI gets shared with everybody on the planet.

But use AI because instead of the hundreds of dollars an hour you pay your lawyer to explain what the law is, you could already have an understanding of what the law is from your questions to AI and save a ton of money. Then we can spend your time talking about the nuances, the important details of your specific case and how it changes. Because unless you've gone to law school, you can't ask yourself questions that we need to ask you to get to the really important details that may make your case wonderful, or Oh boy, we're in trouble.

The more you're allowed to talk to your lawyer about you, the better your attorney can do representing you. I love it when I can have a client into my office and talk to them and they just talk and talk and talk, and we listen. We take notes, we get all this wonderful information, and then if we're in a litigation, we crush the other side. If we're in a transaction, we know which deal points to push, which deal points to go soft on, go easy. What you really need in the deal, where you are in your life, all the background, all that information about you is gold for us lawyers when it comes to being successful and what we do. So use AI. Let's talk about what AI is. Alright, from a lawyer's perspective, AI is the next step in research and analysis, all these programs just like looking up a question on Google, but it's faster, and you'll often get a better answer, quicker.

In Sound Business Insights Episode 44 - Neighbor Disputes Dan Watkins discusses the nuances of helping neighbors to resolve their challenges while protecting their rights to the "quiet enjoyment of their property" as well as their property boundaries. The discussion starts with boundary disputes and why it is important to seek the advice of one of our experienced San Diego real estate attorneys if you are facing a boundary dispute with a neighbor. This can involve everything from a fence dispute to a building, storage unit or fence being built across your property line. Property in San Diego is quite expensive and a little encroachment can result in tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands in actual damages.

Sound Business Insights Episode 44 - Neighbor Disputes provides insight on issues such as view disputes including tree disputes. Were you surprised when a neighbor addeded a second story, blocking your $10 million view? In many cases this is perfectly legal. It all depends on local ordinances and C C & R's. This also applies to tree disputes. Tree disputes are actually quite common, but neighbors should never take matters into their own hands. A single tree can cost $30,000 or more to replace if taken down inappropriately.

Finally, Sound Business Insights Episode 44 - Neighbor Disputes goes on to discuss issues such as noise violations, noxious fumes, animal issues and how to resolve challenges with difficult neighbors. There are actually free legal forums specifically designed to help to resolve these disputes. Dan Watkins shares that he often counsels clients to prepare them for crucial conversations, or ghost writes letters or emails to try to help protect our clients interests without raising the neighbor's concerns about the presence of an attorney.

What is the best way to resolve a neighbor dispute? Tune in to learn from a trial attorney with more than 40 years of experience in these cases.

In Sound Business Insights Episode 43 - Real Estate Disputes Dan Watkins shares common issues and challenges associated with real estate disputes and how the Watkins Firm is able to help to resolve these challenges. This substantive conversation covers a wide range of topics including hidden defects, failure to disclose, mold issues, cracked slabs, failure to perform and other real estate related disputes, as well as the remedies available in specific situations.

In Sound Business Insights Episode 43 Dan Watkins shares that real estate, under California law, is unique, the same way a work of art is unique. Real estate is irreplaceable, and if you have a contract to purchase a piece of property and as the buyer you have done everything required of you to complete the purchase there is a remedy known as "specific performance." Perhaps the seller had another offer come in that is $100,000 higher than yours and is trying to get out of their agreement with you to take the higher offer. There are legal remedies to allow you to complete the transaction.

The episodes concludes with fights over money related to real estate projects including construction defects and the difference, under California law, between new construction, improvements or tenant improvements. Dan discusses the real estate concept of "stigma" and how stigma is real and can genuinely affect the actual value of a piece of real estate. Finally, in California real estate transactions there is a covenant of good faith and fair dealing. But everything has to be in writing within the "four corners of the contract." Sound interesting? It is, and we invite you to listen and learn from a real estate trial attorney with four decades of experience in these cases.

In Sound Business Insights Episode 42 - Employer Updates for 2024 Part 2 Dan Watkins continues to explain changes in California employment laws that will affect employers in the coming year. Part 2 of the conversation picks up where part 1 left off. If you have not listend to part 1 you may wish to go back and review it after you complete this podcast. SB 553 implements additional workplace violence protections for those who work in-office (versus those who work remotely). Small employers with less than 10 employees that are not open to the public are excluded. There are initial steps to be taken this year in preparation for an expected roll out in 2025. 2025 will also see the expansion of TRO coverage to include harassment by another employee, client, vendor, etc.

Sound Business Insights Episode 42 - Employer Updates for 2024 Part 2 goes on to cover several new laws which will impact most employers. Off duty cannabis use is now permitted in the State of California. Protections are prvided for off-duty hours and drug tests can no longer include nonpsychoactive cannabis metabolites. New tests should screen for active THC (the employee is high at the moment of the test) and that is what will be required to take action. You cannot ask applicants if they use marijuana.

Criminal background check policies have undergone substantial change as well. If you are going to perform a background check on a potential employee the timing of that check will have to wait until the decision to hire has been made. Sound Business Insights Episode 42 - Employer Updates for 2024 part 2 continues with changes relating to healthcare workers and a new minimum wage for those workers. These changes cover not only professionals but most employees in facilities with more than 25 physicians, even those in non-medical roles.

It is important for all California employers to stay up-to-date with changes in the law and required updates to public notices, as well as the policies and procedures and employee handbook. This lively discussion serves to inform employers of changes coming in the new year and how to prepare while avoiding risk, litigation, disputes and other adverse outcomes.

In Sound Business Insights Episode 41 - Employment Law Updates for 2024 (Part 1) our founder, Dan Watkins, discusses all of the important changes a San Diego or California employer must know going into 2024 and beyond. The only constant in the life of a California employer is change. How can you keep up with all the changes in California law as it relates to an employer? How do you protect yourself from the increasing risks of disputes, lawsuits and class actions facing those who provide employment throughout California?

Sound Business Insights Episode 41 - Employment Law Updates for 2024 (Part 1) begins with an increase in minimum wage for California to $16.00 per hour and an exempt salary minimum of $66,560. There have been significant changes to sick leave (we used to call this PTO) and how quickly employees must accumulate sick leave (40 hours or 5 days by the 200th calendar day of employment). What is the new minimum accrual cap for sick leave? What are the frontloading requirements for a San Diego or California employer and how do you make sure your sick leave policies fulfill the requirements of California law?

Sound Business Insights Episode 41 - Employment Law Updates for 2024 (Part 1) continues to discuss the requirement to notify all employees (past and present) of changes to the law regarding Non-Compete Agreements (NCAs) and how California has made NCAs not only void but illegal (exposing the employer to civil and even criminal action). The new fast food restaurant minimum wage of $20 per hour begins April 2024. Who does this apply to and will it affect your company? Part 1 concludes with new requirements regarding compensation for training courses and whether or not these can be a condition of employment as well as a blockbuster development regarding retaliation: The legal presumption / burden of proof now lies against the employer in retaliation cases. In other words, the employer is now required to prove they did NOT retaliate within 90 days of an employee engaging within a protected activity. How does this single substantial and game-changing change affect the legal and financial risks you face as an employer?

In Episode 40 - Stock Purchase Agreements Dan Watkins discusses one of the most complex legal and financial transactions a business can undertake: a stock purchase. What makes the stock purchase such a risk and how can the 40+ years of experience at the Watkins Firm in literally thousands of these transactions increase the likelihood of success in your acquisition or sale?

The Harvard Business Review recently cited multiple long-term collegiate studies which concluded the probability of success in a business merger or stock purchase acquisition was 30% or less. In those transactions which were unsuccessful the target of the acquisition is either resold (at a loss) or outright closed within five years. The Watkins Firm's track record of success is 85% to 90% in the words of Dan Watkins. What makes the difference?

In Episode 40 - Stock Purchase Agreements we discuss the goals of the buyer and the seller and how to bring the two interests together to create a successful transaction. What are the goals of the buyer? The primary goal is usually to acquire the company while protecting existing relationships, revenue and goodwill through the transaction and into the future. Taxes are a consideration for both the buyer and the seller. The seller is obviously interested in achieving top dollar for their company and has an interest in making sure the buyer achieves their goals while the seller is either immediately or eventually free to take their earnings and move forward with their own goals and objectives.

Episode 40 - Stock purchase agreements is an insiders look at these complex business and financial transactions. Why is due diligence the key to a stock purchase acquisition? How can the experience, proprietary due diligence checklists and contracts (such as the Letter of Intent or LOI) of the Watkins Firm increase the likelihood of success in your transaction? How does the covenant of good faith and fair dealing apply to these transactions? Access the insight of a business attorney with more than 40 years of experience and thousands of successful stock purchase transactions.

In Sound Business Insights Episode 39: What Keeps Employers Up at Night, Dan Watkins discusses many of the challenges a California employer faces and what our firm can do to help not only manage what is happening in real time, but to establish the right policies, processes, employee handbook and other aspects of daily documentation and work to prevent issues, disputes and lawsuits from ever arising, while making it much easier to keep small isues from expanding into large exposures.

Episode 39: What Keeps Employers Up at Night discusses the extensive challenges California employers face and perhaps the most important piece of advice we can provide to an employer: if you feel like there's something "off" or "strange" about an employee or how they're acting, you're probably right. The best strategy is to pick up the phone and call the Watkins Firm for a free consultation to find out if there is anything that you need to be concerned about and how to handle it.

Episode 39: What Keeps Employers Up at Night discusses the types of disputes and lawsuits that an employer is likely to face, including PAGA lawsuits and class actions, and that it is often possible to substantially reduce the legal and financial risks, if not mitigate them altogether, just by having a brief conversation with the Watkins Firm. Learn about the "secret clock" and the steps you can take as an employer to reduce your exposure to employee-related disputes and lawsuits and to keep legal and financial exposures at an absolute minimum.

In Episode 38 - What is a General Counsel Dan Watkins helps to explain why every business should have access to an experienced business attorney - a general counsel. If you're a company owner and you are trying to do everything right in the best way you can for your company, you're going to have general counsel, and that attorney or couple of attorneys or law firm will advise you on things that have to do with your business, your field specifically, and in general, You'll also have a banking relationship because opportunities come along and if you wait to go get your banking relationship started, you're behind the eight ball. And also expenses happen. You need to have some kind of a flexibility there, some backup. And finally, and maybe most importantly, you'll have some type of accountant who's a professional. I'm not talking about if you're still just using a CPA or your tax person. I'm talking about how do you define what is profit? How do you define it to match what you are doing to match tax deductions, to match zoning, to match licensing, to match future sales, your exit strategy, to match all those things. How do you get your accounting? What is actually important to you? What is a real profit to you that's your professional accountant who you talk to on a monthly or quarterly basis?

In Episode 38 - What is a General Counsel we discuss the concept of a business "coach." Olympic athletes and professional athletes, they're the top of their game. They're rich, they're making money, they're performing at the highest level, and yet they all have a coach. Your corporate general counsel knows you and your business. In the case of the Watkins Firm, we've been in business for more than 40 years and have worked with literally thousands and thousands of companies of all sizes. Odds are, we've worked with a company a lot like yours and know not only your industry but the things to watch out for, and, more importantly, the opportunities to grow and dominate. It's the ability to pick up the phone and get a quick answer without a quick bill!

Episode 38 - What is a General Counsel discuses every aspect of what your corporate general counsel should provide, from contracts to mergers and acquisitions to business disputes. Employers in California face unbelievable challenges and need a lot of advice and counsel along the way. And, if you are successful, it's not a matter of IF a dispute or lawsuit will arise, it's WHEN. Your general counsel from the Watkins Firm is able to reesolve the vast majority of business disputes through effective leveraged negotiation. 70% or more of the remaining cases we are able to resolve by representing our clients in mediation. We also represent clients in arbitration and at trial.

Having the Watkins Firm at your side as your general counsel gives you access to insights, counsel and proven strategies developed here in San Diego and Southern California across more than 40 years. Learn more about why you need Dan Watkins and the Watkins Firm as your company's general counsel.

In Sound Business Insights Episode 37 - Healthcare Governance and Compliance Dan Watkins provides insight into the complicated world of corporate governance and compliance in the setting of a medical practice or healthcare-related business. There are so many Federal and State agencies and entities that regulate, oversee or control a medical practice or healthcare business. What are the issues any healthcare-related company will face when working on corporate governance and compliance in California?

Episode 37 - Healthcare Governance and Compliance provides an over of many of the agencies and the issues they address, and how this is different in a healthcare setting when compared to any other "normal" corporate environment. Doctors and medical practices are told where they can get their patients from, what to do and not do (i.e. Stark Law anti-kick back regulations) and the substantial risks of penalties, fines and even licensing issues.

Episode 37 - Healthcare Governance and Compliance shares the types of compliance work required and how the Watkins Firm can contribute more than 40 years of experience to make that job simpler and to ensure governance and compliance requirements are met. Dan Watkins even discusses the topic of "dead wood," independent contractor agreements and the role and benefits of an MSO not only to the practice but in terms of governance and compliance.

In Episode 36 – Best of Sound Business Insights Volume 1 we revisit some of the most important, insightful and entertaining moments of the podcast so far. The episode begins with a few clips about why it is so important to have an experienced, proven business attorney. This includes Dan's genuine insight that any business should have 3 crucial advisors: an experienced business attorney, a CPA/Tax expert and a banker or source of funding. These are the 3 advisors you can turn to and reply upon for a quick phone call to answer a question as well as insights into the challenges and opportunities you will face along the way.

Episode 36 – Best of Sound Business Insights Volume 1 is full of actual stories and the insights they provide as the conversation turns to one of the largest groups of clients we serve at the Watkins Firm: employers. Dan shares his genuine belief that California is far and away the most challenging and toughest state in which to be an employer. Dan shares the many types of challenges and regulations one faces as an employer, as well as the genuine and extensive risks of employee-related litigation and plaintiff's lawsuits. What are the important issues you need to address as an employer? What are the best strategies for important documents such as the employee handbook, employment agreement and policies and procedures? What important changes have occurred most recently in federal and state courts and how has this completely and positively changed the game for California employers (hint: big news in arbitration)?

Toward the conclusion of Episode 36 – Best of Sound Business Insights Volume 1 we speak with Katya Adams who is the Office Administrator and HR consultant for the Watkins Firm. Katya provides insightful answers to some of the most often asked questions from clients who are employers including how to classify workers and the structure of payment. Katya provides a few surprises including the steps required to implement a 4 day, 10 hour a day work environment. Listen to Dan Watkins as he shares stories of real employers and learn the secret of the most important thing you can do the moment you learn about any employee-related dispute or lawsuit. We hope you enjoy the first installment of our "Best of" series.