SAFE Note Lawyers for Stockton, California

www.linkedin/in/michaelbmiller I am an experienced contracts professional having practiced nearly 3 decades in the areas of corporate, mergers and acquisitions, technology, start-up, intellectual property, real estate, employment law as well as informal dispute resolution. I enjoy providing a cost effective, high quality, timely solution with patience and empathy regarding client needs. I graduated from NYU Law School and attended Rutgers College and the London School of Economics as an undergraduate. I have worked at top Wall Street firms, top regional firms and have long term experience in my own practice. I would welcome the opportunity to be of service to you as a trusted fiduciary. In 2022 and 2023, I was the top ranked attorney on the Contract Counsel site based upon number of clients, quality of work and number of 5 Star reviews.

I am a business attorney and former in-house corporate attorney with more than a decade of experience helping companies navigate contracts, commercial relationships, day-to-day operations, and disputes. My practice includes drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial agreements, licenses, leases, vendor and service agreements, and other business arrangements. Licensed in Nevada, California, New York, and Texas, I also hold an Executive MBA. My goal is to serve as practical, long-term outside counsel to small businesses and entrepreneurs that value responsiveness, sound judgment, and advice grounded in commercial realities - not merely technical legal answers. I handle disputes when necessary, but much of the value I bring lies in identifying issues early, preserving business relationships, and preventing avoidable conflicts. I do not bill separately for routine phone calls. I want clients to feel comfortable calling before a small concern becomes an expensive problem, and I am always happy to have an initial conversation to see if the fit is right for you. www.linkedin.com/in/maxkelner

I am a licensed attorney and a member of the California Bar. I graduated from the University of Dayton School of Law's Program in Law and Technology. I love IP, tech transfers, licensing, and how the internet and developing technology is changing the legal landscape. I've interned at both corporations and boutique firms, and I've taken extensive specialized classes in intellectual property and technology law.

I am a startup veteran with a demonstrated history of execution with companies from formation through growth stage and acquisition. A collaborative and data-driven manager, I love to build and lead successful teams, and enjoy working full-stack across all aspects of the business.

I am an attorney licensed in both California and Mexico. I offer a unique blend of 14 years of legal expertise that bridges the gap between diverse legal landscapes. My background is enriched by significant roles as in-house counsel for global powerhouses such as Anheuser-Busch, Campari Group, and Grupo Lala, alongside contributions to Tier 1 law firms. I specialize in navigating the complexities of two pivotal areas: AI/Tech Innovation: With a profound grasp of both cutting-edge transformer models and foundational machine learning technologies, I am your go-to advisor for integrating these advancements into your business. Whether it's B2B or B2C applications, I ensure that your company harnesses the power of AI in a manner that's not only enterprise-friendly but also fully compliant with regulatory standards. Cross-Border Excellence: My expertise extends beyond borders, with over a decade of experience facilitating cross-border operations for companies in more than 20 countries. I am particularly adept at enhancing US-Mexico operations, ensuring seamless and efficient business transactions across these territories.

AI and crypto-savvy Attorney with 20+ years’ experience advising companies in I.T., software, telecommunications, FinTech and Artificial Intelligence (AI) with 9+ yrs spent in GC roles. Barred in 3 states (Calif. New York & Wash. D.C.) plus the U.S. Supreme Court. Registered Patent Attorney (USPTO). Extremely versatile, with subject matter expertise in a variety of legal topics highly useful for tech and startup companies, including IP, privacy, financial / banking laws (Regulation E, UDAAP, ID Theft Red Flags Rule, etc.), AML, KYC, export controls, litigation/ADR, cryptocurrency regulations and the rules governing the use of A.I. Deep understanding of computer technology via Master’s in Comp. Info. Systems (MSCIS). Also pre-law business experience. Certifications: Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS); Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP-US); Certified HIPAA Professional. Education: Law degree (JD): UCLA, 2003. MSCIS: Boston Univ., 2011.

For more than three decades, Kevin M. Gross has served as a trusted legal advisor to senior management and executive teams providing guidance on global compliance issues (anti-corruption, trade regulation, AML/KYC, privacy, and conflicts of interest), strategic concerns, due diligence, and risk mitigation strategies. In 2020, he founded C&R Consulting Group LLC to provide practical, cost-effective compliance and risk services to small and medium sized businesses. Prior to starting his own consulting firm, Kevin worked at Penumbra, Inc., a global healthcare company that manufactures and sells medical devices to healthcare providers, hospitals and clinics in more than 100 countries. At Penumbra, Kevin was the primary legal advisor to the company’s international sales and marketing executives. In addition, as Penumbra’s principal compliance lawyer, he conducted risk assessments and provided guidance and solutions to Penumbra’s internal compliance team. He oversaw due diligence on Penumbra’s international distributors, regulatory and sales agents, and other commercial partners. Prior to joining Penumbra, Kevin spent 15 years inside Chevron’s legal, compliance and upstream law departments, where he advised senior management on the company’s compliance and risk programs. Kevin overhauled Chevron’s hotline and investigations programs, strengthened internal controls and compliance procedures, and developed best practices and training for compliance personnel and investigators. Kevin also managed and conducted dozens of sensitive, high-profile investigations across six continents (internal and external), including FCPA, cybersecurity threats, and high-value theft and procurement frauds. Kevin directed outside counsel responses to SEC and DOJ inquiries, which were terminated without further action. He developed and conducted FCPA and compliance training for leadership teams and others across the enterprise. Prior to his tenure at Chevron, Kevin spent a decade as a senior enforcement attorney at the US Securities and Exchange Commission Division of Enforcement. At the SEC, he investigated and prosecuted cases involving securities fraud, insider trading, accounting fraud, options backdating, Ponzi schemes, and FCPA violations. Kevin filed and litigated SEC administrative and federal court actions against companies and individuals accused of violating federal securities laws. Early in his career, Kevin was a commercial litigator at Faegre Drinker LLP, an AmLaw 100 firm where he oversaw the investigation and resolution of insurance coverage disputes and other commercial litigation matters. In this role, Kevin took and defended hundreds of depositions, argued dozens of motions, and brought several cases to jury trials in US district courts. Kevin has received numerous accolades from clients and industry leaders, and is a frequent speaker at ACC, ACI, BECA, Consero and other conferences.

Neil Rust is a transactional attorney with almost four decades of experience ranging across a broad range of fields, including M&A, finance, structured finance, VC and general corporate. Before moving to Oregon, Mr. Rust was a partner at the Los Angeles office of an international law for 26 years and the Century City office of a national law firm for 5 years. During his big firm tenure, Neil Rust gathered experience across multiple industries and enjoys counselling clients as much as drafting and negotiating.

I provide the strategic legal guidance of an in-house general counsel without the full-time overhead. Whether you're launching a startup, scaling your digital business, or navigating complex privacy regulations, I'm here to help. With a practice concentrated in privacy law, digital marketing compliance, and small business operations, I help clients make informed decisions that protect their interests while supporting their growth objectives.

I help founders and business owners set up core contracts, deal documents, and ownership terms so they can form companies, close business sales, bring in partners, and launch products without expensive surprises later. I focus on LLC and corporation formations and operating/shareholder agreements, business sales, founder and partner arrangements (including buyouts and separations), commercial contracts (NDAs, MSAs, privacy policies), and IP/SaaS ownership and licensing tied to those deals. Clients describe me as “the antidote to Big Law inefficiency,” “a legal sniper,” and say I’ve “potentially saved hundreds of thousands” by catching gaps other lawyers missed. I do all my own work, explain options in plain English, and give clear scope and hour ranges before I start. Harvard Law (cum laude), MIT, former Wilson Sonsini attorney, and GC/VP Legal for media and tech companies and venture‑backed startups, with a 5.0 rating and repeat clients on this platform.