Attorneys

Rob Berkowitz’s practice focuses upon computer and Internet law, as well as intellectual property and corporate litigation. Rob is the firm’s go-to attorney for online marketing issues and consumer privacy law. He also counsels many of the firm’s clients regarding trademarks and copyrights.

Rob brings over 12 years of experience as a software development pioneer in Silicon Valley to the CLG team. He has participated in the creation of many new and state-of-the-art products for companies such as IBM, Apple, and Lotus. Rob was also a co-founder of Decisive Technology Corporation, a successful Internet start-up company.

Rob received a Bachelor of Science degree from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (1986) and his Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law (2003, cum laude). Rob was admitted to the California State Bar in 2003.

Rob is also admitted to practice before the following courts and/or involved with the following associations:

• California State Bar, Intellectual Property Section, 2003 -
• US District Court of California, Southern District, 2005 -
• US District Court of California, Central District, 2004 -
• Member, Encinitas Chamber of Commerce, 2005 -
• Member, North County Bar Association, 2005 -

Admitted to the California Bar in 2008, Livia has been an attorney at Coast Law Group since 2009. Prior to joining Coast Law Group, Livia interned at the Center for Biological Diversity and San Diego Coastkeeper, where she was hired as an associate attorney after graduating law school. Livia originally moved to San Diego to attend the University of California, San Diego, where she earned her bachelor of science degree in biochemistry. For five years Livia worked in San Diego’s biotech industry as a research associate before earning her law degree at University of San Diego School of Law.

As an Associate Attorney with Coast Law Group’s Environmental & Land Use practice group, Livia’s efforts have included numerous high-profile administrative and permitting matters before local and state government agencies, including the California Coastal Commission, San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board, SANDAG, the County of San Diego, and numerous cities in the region. Livia’s litigation experience has developed through some of the most controversial environmental cases in recent years, including those related to the Carlsbad Desalination Project and the La Jolla Cove fireworks events. In addition to her position with CLG, Livia currently serves as a legal adviser to the Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation.

Outside of the environmental arena, Livia has experience in a broad array of legal disciplines including: general civil litigation; contracts (transactional and litigation); intellectual property; and open government laws.

A first generation American, Livia’s personal life includes active participation in local government and social issues. A committed vegan, Livia volunteers at Seacrest Village Retirement Community, is the President of League of Conservation Voters San Diego, and regularly contributes to the local progressive political blog, Two Cathedrals.

Ross Campbell is a part of the firm’s founding team. Ross specializes in business, real estate, land use, and environmental litigation, and has extensive experience practicing in both the state and federal courts. He represents clients in a wide range of commercial matters, including breach of contract, trade secret misappropriation, partnership dissolution, online marketing, commercial landlord/tenant disputes, unfair business practices, intentional interference, and other business torts. Ross’ practice spans broad areas of litigation, ranging from negligence to complex federal RICO claims.

Throughout his career, Ross has also focused on land use and environmental litigation, and is a highly experienced CEQA practitioner. Providing representation in administrative proceedings, litigation, and matters of regulatory compliance under numerous other state and federal environmental laws, Ross has developed expertise in the California Coastal Act, California Porter-Cologne Act, federal Clean Water Act, and National Environmental Policy Act. As an avid surfer with a commitment to clean water and responsible growth, Ross has devoted a substantial portion of his practice to protecting California’s coastal waters and resources. These efforts date back to his first year of law school, when he clerked for San Diego Baykeeper (now San Diego Coastkeeper) in the organization’s Environmental Law & Policy Clinic.

Ross also serves CLG’s Action Sports practice group, where he provides both litigation and transactional support to a number of high profile brands in the surfing, motocross, and mixed martial arts industries.

A native of Southern California, Ross received his undergraduate degree from the University of California, San Diego in 2000, and his Juris Doctor from the University of San Diego School of Law (USD) in 2004. While at USD, he received an academic scholarship, graduated cum laude, and was a member of the San Diego Law Review. As a student, Ross published The Bajagua Project: Finding a Solution to the San Diego-Tijuana Sewage Crisis, 40 San Diego L. Rev. 1039 (2003).

In 2010 Ross’ efforts were recognized by the San Diego Daily Transcript as a semi-finalist among San Diego’s best young attorneys. That same year Ross was also made Partner at CLG.

Brian Dirkmaat is a senior attorney in the firm’s Business Formation, Action Sports and Intellectual Property and Technology practice groups.

He advises entrepreneurs and businesses in all areas of business transactions. He has a reputation for understanding his clients’ business, allowing him to provide cost-effective solutions in a timely manner.

Mr. Dirkmaat gained extensive experience at several Silicon Valley law firms negotiating angel investor and venture capital private equity and debt financings, guiding founders in choosing and forming business entities and representing buyers and sellers in M&A transactions. He represents clients in many industries, including, action sports, cleantech, software, computer electronics, real estate, food service, automotive and manufacturing.

Mr. Dirkmaat has represented numerous foreign businesses and entrepreneurs in cross-border mergers and acquisitions, financings, entity formation and general business transactions.

He is fluent in French and conversant in Hebrew, German and Spanish. He lived in France and Belgium for 2 years and attended the Jerusalem Ulpan intensive Hebrew study course at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Representative Matters

Financing

• Represented a cleantech company in its $4,500,000 issuance of Series A-3 Preferred Stock, its $7,000,000 issuance of Series B Preferred Stock and its $25,000,000 issuance of Series C Preferred Stock.
• Represented an online community dedicated to healthy, environmentally balanced, sustainable living in its $3,000,000 issuance of convertible debt and Series D-1 Preferred Stock.
• Represented a DSL optimization company in its issuances of Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock.

Mergers and Acquisitions

• Represented an action sports company in its $47,000,000 reorganization transaction.
• Represented a French medical equipment manufacturer in its $46,500,000 acquisition of all the stock of a U.S. manufacturer of biopharmaceutical storage and transportation technology.
• Represented a U.S. shareholder of a French geomechanical software and consulting company in the acquisition of all the shares of the company by a global French company.
• Represented Hong Kong and United Arab Emirates based shareholders in the sale of all the stock of a U.S. IT consulting company to an Indian public company.
• Represented the U.S. subsidiary of a software development Canadian public company, in its sale of Canadian, French and U.S. assets of a software division to a U.S. public company.
• Represented a French probe card and IC testing company in its acquisition of a majority interest in a Silicon Valley competitor.
• Represented a U.S. public company organic restaurant chain in its acquisitions of several California-based restaurant companies.

Professional Activities

• Chair, J. Reuben Clark Law Society, Silicon Valley Chapter, 2007 – 2009.
• Executive Committee of the Santa Clara County Bar Association High Technology Law Section, 2004-2006.
• Santa Clara County Bar Association CLE presentations:
  • Quarterly Review of High Tech Law, May 2006.
  • Annual Review of Hot High Tech Cases, January 2006.
  • Quarterly Review of High Technology and Internet Law, September 2005.
  • Quarterly Review of High Tech and Internet Law Cases, May 2005.
• Author, The Series LLC: Has Its Time Arrived? in The Real Estate Book: Reference Materials for the Real Estate Professional.  4th ed.  (Etnire and Lee edits., 2009) pages 113-118.
• Business group presentations:
  • Legal Issues in Starting and Running a Business, BYU Management Society, May 2007.
  • How to Form, Run, and Improve Small Businesses, BYU Management Society, August 2006.
  • How to Protect Your IP, Netherlands Technology Showcase, hosted by Silicom Ventures and Holland House, August 2005.
  • Legal Aspects of Doing Business in Silicon Valley, Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency, January 2005

Honors and Awards

• Honors in Negotiations, 2001.
• CALI Award for Excellent Achievement in International Business Transactions, 2000.
• Best Brief Award, 1999.
• Admitted to the Phi Delta Phi International Legal Fraternity, 1999.
• Foreign Language and Area Studies Award to attend the Jerusalem Ulpan intensive Hebrew study course at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 1997.
• Louis and Ethel Zucker Memorial Award in Hebrew at the University of Utah, 1997.

Education

• University of San Diego School of Law; J.D., 2001.
• University of Utah; Graduate Studies in Middle Eastern Studies, Hebrew, 1994 to 1998.
• Brigham Young University; B.A., Classics; Minor, Philosophy – Logical Reasoning emphasis, 1994.

Additional Background

Mr. Dirkmaat is actively involved in church and community service and enjoys surfing, soccer, baseball and long walks on the beach with his family and dog.

Sean Flaherty is an associate in the firm’s Intellectual Property, Business, and Action Sports practice groups. Sean represents a diverse range of individual and business clients in their corporate and intellectual property needs, including prosecution, litigation and transactional matters. Sean is licensed to practice in the State of California and before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) as a registered patent attorney.

Sean received his law degree in 2010 from the University of San Diego School of Law. While in law school, Sean served as a two-year member of the Journal of Climate and Energy Law (JCEL), and was a member of the USD Intellectual Property Law Association. Sean was one-half of a two-person team that won the award for best oral argument at the International Trademark Association’s (INTA) Saul Lefkowitz Moot Court Competition in San Francisco. Sean also received the CALI award for excellence in Mergers and Acquisitions.

Sean earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Santa Clara University, where he was active in the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and was a four-year member of the Bronco Men’s Volleyball team.

Professional Licenses

• State Bar of California
• United States District Court, Southern District of California
• United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
• Engineer in Training (EIT)

Publications

• The Lanham Act Meets Haute Couture, 19 J. Contemp. Legal Issues, 333 (2010)
• Application Strategies for Concurrent Use Registration, 19 J. Contemp. Legal Issues, 152 (2010)

Professional Organizations

• San Diego County Bar Association (SDCBA)
• International Trademark Association (INTA)
• San Diego Intellectual Property Law Association (SDIPLA)
• Consumer Attorneys of San Diego (CASD)
• American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)

Marco Gonzalez is a cofounder and Managing Partner of Coast Law Group LLP, where he oversees the firm’s Environment & Land Use, Government Relations, and Election Law practice area groups. Marco also co-chairs CLG’s Action Sports group.

In addition to recognition as a “San Diego Super Lawyer” in 2008 and 2009, Marco was one of ten attorneys awarded the San Diego Daily Transcript’s “Top Attorney” designation in its multi-disciplinary Transcript 10 category for 2011.

Widely regarded for his leadership in the environmental arena, Marco has successfully negotiated and litigated complex disputes on behalf of numerous non-profit environmental organizations and community groups throughout California. As the founder and executive director of the Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation (CERF), Marco is one of a small handful of activist attorneys taking on high-profile and publicly controversial matters such as fireworks displays over water, inappropriately sited desalination facilities, statewide septic system regulation, and irresponsible highway widening projects.  In political matters, Marco advises progressive candidates and elected officials on environmental and campaign issues at the local, regional, and state levels.

While best known for his environmental protection practice, Marco also has extensive experience representing responsible developers and small businesses in land use entitlement matters. With more than 15 years spent fighting development projects, clients are sometimes surprised to find out Marco has successfully entitled major hotel developments, marina expansions, residential subdivisions, and industrial/commercial facilities. Marco is one of very few San Diego attorneys respected by community, business, labor, and governmental stakeholders to drive collaborative land use and development processes to regulatory approval. Examples of successful approvals of large scale multi-party projects include the Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan and City of San Diego Water Reuse Study.

Throughout the County, Marco also represents restaurants, bars, and nightclubs seeking permits and permit modifications from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

In addition to his efforts in these areas, Marco provides business consulting, transactional, and litigation support to established corporations, start-up companies, film makers, and professional athletes involved in the surfing, skateboarding, snowboarding, and cycling industries. Outside of his CLG efforts, Marco owns and manages an Action Sports design studio and marketing firm, PRJCT LLC.

Prior to founding CLG, Marco was the Senior Attorney with San Diego Baykeeper (now “Coastkeeper”), an environmental organization dedicated to the protection and preservation of coastal resources throughout San Diego County. He was also the founder and director of the San Diego Baykeeper Environmental Law & Policy Clinic and Chairman/Legal Counsel for the Surfrider Foundation, San Diego Chapter.

Marco is a frequent lecturer at universities and conferences on a diverse array of environmental issues such as Clean Water Act enforcement, desalination, land use and planning/smart growth, transit and transportation, coastal armoring and seawall policy, the role of non-governmental organizations in environmental enforcement, and Mexico-U.S. border water quality.

Marco’s focus on environmental issues began with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in biology and environmental studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz (1992). After pursuing graduate studies in conservation biology at San Francisco State University (1993), Marco achieved his Juris Doctor from Northwestern School of Law at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon (1997). He was shortly thereafter admitted to the California Bar.

When not working on cases and managing CLG, Marco can often be found surfing alternative board designs at Cardiff Reef or mountain biking local trails around North San Diego County. Marco currently resides in Encinitas with his wife and two young children.

Extremely active in the legal, political, and environmental communities, Marco’s professional associations include:

• California State Bar, Environmental/Land Use Section, 1997 -
• San Diego County Bar Association, Environmental/Land Use Section, 1997-
• Surfrider Foundation, San Diego Chapter

• Vice-Chairman, 1998, 2003
• Chairman, 1999-2002
• Advisory Board Founder, Chairman & Legal Coordinator, 2004-2007

• State of California, AB 982 Public Advisory Group (TMDL Policy)
• State of California, Desalination Task Force

• Environmental Community/Surfrider Foundation Representative

• San Diego Bay Council, Co-founder and Legal Advisor
• San Diego Baykeeper Environmental Law and Policy Clinic

• Co-founder and Director, 2000-2004
• Senior Attorney and Advisor, 2004-2010

• California Western School of Law, Pro Bono Honors Program Mentor
• California State Bar, Environmental Negotiations Competition Mentor
• Progressive San Diego, Founding Trustee
• Past and present environmental clients include:

• Surfrider Foundation
• San Diego Coastkeeper
• San Diego League of Conservation Voters
• Vote the Coast
• Save Our Forest and Ranchlands
• Cleveland National Forest Foundation
• Heal the Ocean
• Heal the Bay
• Environmental Health Coalition
• Keep the North Shore Country
• Santa Monica Bay Restoration Foundation
• Citizens for Responsible Equitable Environmental Development
• Planning and Conservation League
• Sierra Club
• Center for Biological Diversity
• San Diegans for Open Government
• San Diego Affordable Housing Coalition

• Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation

• Founder and Legal Director, 2008 –