Jed Somit

RESUME

Education

J.D. 1976, University of California at Berkeley Law School (Boalt Hall). Order of the Coif; Moot Court Board.

A.B. cum laude in General Studies, 1973, Harvard College, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Major: mathematics; minors: government and social psychology.

Legal Employment

July, 1981 - present, Jed Somit, Attorney at Law. Sole practitioner in general civil practice. Areas of concentration:

Small business counseling and litigation: business entity formation and termination (corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, nonprofits); representation of small businesses (employee matters in court and in administrative hearings, debt collection, corporate opportunity litigation, shareholder disputes, partnership dissolutions, product liability); business counseling (hiring and firing, trade secrets, leases, business purchases and sales, shareholder agreements and buy-sell agreements, securities, operational issues); commercial transactional work (review and drafting of contracts for employment, joint ventures, intellectual property).

Real estate: representation of property owners in litigation (unlawful detainer, lease actions, boundary disputes, construction cases, misrepresentation in sales, breach of contract, rent control, zoning); representation of tenants (unlawful detainer, lease actions, breach of covenants); general real estate counseling to commercial property owners, brokers and salespersons, buyers and lessees; transactional work (drafting, negotiation and review of commercial and residential leases, purchase and sale agreements, exchange agreements); representation of and counseling to developers (litigation and transactional).

General civil litigation: plaintiff and defense personal injury; property rights; taxpayer suits; discrimination; misrepresentation/fraud; professional malpractice (medical, psychological, legal); probate litigation.

Adoption Law: counseling and representation of adopting parents and birthparents in independent and agency adoptions; representation in interstate, difficult and contested adoptions and in other proceedings with adoption law issues; author and speaker; expert witness on adoption law. (See adoption pages of resume).

Family Law: counseling and representation in dissolution, paternity, governmental support, termination of parental rights, guardianships and other family law proceedings.

January, 1991 - present: Hearing Officer, County of Alameda Assessment Appeals Board: hear and decide legal (non-value) matters concerning real property tax, documentary transfer tax, tax sales, base year value, etc.

September, 1988 - May, 1990: Instructor, Contract Law; Oakland College of the Law. First year course in Contracts.

July, 1981 - December, 1983: Professional Consulting. Consultant to other attorneys in case evaluation, general civil litigation strategy, law and motion matters, drafting pleadings and other litigation papers.

January, 1980 - June, 1981: Ibershof & Somit. Partner in a general business practice firm, emphasizing business counseling, State and Federal securities offerings, real estate law, civil and criminal appeals and general civil litigation.

July, 1977 - December, 1979: Law Offices of William C. Ibershof. Associate in predecessor firm to Ibershof & Somit.

January, 1977 - July, 1977: Attorney in charge of trial preparation for the defense of People v. Cleaver, Alameda County Superior Court. Preparation of all pre-trial motions, including appeals and writs, the organization of over 100 physical exhibits and 100 potential witnesses. Lead attorneys: John Keker, Marc Topel.

1974 - 1977: Clerkships: Cullinan, Burns & Helmer, San Francisco; Freitas, McCarthy, San Rafael; Kipperman, Shawn, Keker & Brockett, San Francisco.

Law Related Qualifications

Real Estate Broker, State of California.
Notary Public, State of California.

General Memberships, Positions, Publications

Member, State Bar of California since 1976, and admitted to practice before Federal courts in California.

Member, Executive Committee of State Bar General & Solo Practice Section, 1990 - 1994; Secretary, 1993-94.

Member of Alameda County Bar Association and Berkeley-Albany Bar Association, since 1982.

Alameda County Bar Association Legal Referral Service.

Alameda County Bar Association Fee Arbitration Panel.

Alameda County Bar Association Voluntary Legal Services Program.

Judge pro tempore, Alameda County Municipal & Small Claims Courts.

Arbitrator, Alameda County Superior and Municipal Courts, since 1986.

Director, San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society, a non-profit public benefit corporation, since 1987; Secretary, 1992-96; Vice-President, 1997.

Panelist, State Bar Section Education Institute, May 1993, "Fundamentals of Judicial Arbitration".

Presenter, 24th Annual Seminar Society of Auditor-Appraisers: "Arbitration Of Issues Not Relating To Value", June 24, 1993.

Contributor to MAP (Mentor Access Pack): "Approaching A Marital Dissolution" (CEB, 1991).

Adoption Positions & Membership

Member, Academy of California Adoption Lawyers, 1988 - present.

Member, American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, 1990 -present.

Member, State Bar Committee on Adoption, 1985-1987; Vice-Chair, 1986-87; Chair, Northern Committee on Adoptions (Family Law Section), 1987-89, 1990-1992. Legislative Liaison, 1992 -present.

Director, Hestia House, a non-profit public benefit corporation concerning adoption, 1986-1994.

Director, Independent Adoption Center, a non-profit educational corporation, 1983 - May 1984.

Adoption Publications & Presentations

Author, 1996 Update Revisions, California Family Law Practice & Procedure (Matthew Bender); Chapters on Termination of Parental Rights, Indian Child Welfare Act, and Adoption of Unmarried Minors.

Author, 1992 and 1993 Annual Updates to Adoption Law & Practice (Matthew Bender); Chapter 5 - "Dual Representation" (California Model); author of Chapter 5, 1994, updates 1995, 1997.

Author, "Trends in Adoption", The General Practitioner, (Vol.4, No.1) Winter 1994; developments in the law of de facto parents.

Co-Author, MCLE Article, "1993 Legislative Review Affecting Adoption Law", California State Bar Journal, January 1994.

Author, The Birthparents' Guide to Independent Adoption; privately printed booklet.

Presenter, May 1997, National Business Institute, Inc., MCLE Program, "Adoption Law in California".

Presenter, Academy of California Adoption Lawyers' public MCLE Program, January 1997, "1997 Adoption Law: Practice & Procedures: Birth Father Issues In Adoption"; author of original written materials, "1996 Developments In Adoption Law", and MCLE self-study program "Ethical Issues For Adoption Attorneys. Part I. Issues of Competence And Advertising".

Presenter, Spring 1996, State Bar Section Education Institute, "Birth Father Rights in California Adoptions".

Panel Moderator, April 1996, American Academy of Adoption Attorneys Convention on: "Adoption from the Birthfather's Perspective".

Presenter, 2nd Annual Academy of California Adoption Lawyers' Update on Adoption Law Seminar (1/18/96), "Developments in Adoption Law", "Adoption Service Provider Liability", and "Birthfather's Rights Under The Uniform Adoption Act"; author of written materials on case and statutory developments, and on birthfather's rights.

Presenter, American Academy of Adoption Attorneys Convention, April 1995, Atlanta, Georgia, "Recent Developments In Adoption Law & Practice: California & Hawaii".

Presenter, 1995 National Federation for Open Adoption Education Conference: "The Uniform Adoption Act and Open Adoptions".

Presenter, Academy of California Adoption Lawyers' public MCLE Program, November 1994, "1995 Adoption Law: Practice & Procedures"; author of original written materials.

Presenter, 1994 National Federation for Open Adoption Education Conference: "Birthfather's Rights-Review of the Law & Recent Developments"; and, "Legally Enforceable Open Adoption Agreements".

Presenter, May 1994, State Bar MCLE Institute, Monterey; "Independent Adoption Practice for the '90's".

Presenter, May 1994, Annual Convention of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, Santa Fe, New Mexico; Mock Trial In The Matter of Baby X on contested adoptions and expert testimony.

Presenter, 1993 National Federation for Open Adoption Education Conference: "Birthfather's Rights"; and, "Legislative Proposals/Action Re: Open Adoption Agreements".

Presenter, October 1993 State Bar Convention: "Adoptions: Basics Plus Current Issues".

Presenter, Third Annual National Open Adoption Conference, San Francisco, CA, November 1992: "Settling Contested Adoptions Through Open Adoption Agreements"; and, "Developments in Adoption Law".

Presenter, Spring & Fall 1992, State Bar Section Institutes, and "Introduction to Independent Adoptions"; and "Introduction to Adoption Law".

Presenter to Academy of California Adoption Lawyers of various MCLE Programs, including: "Alleged Father's Rights Under Civil Code 7017" (11/16/91); "Birthfather's Rights: Adoption of H.R." (11/7/92); "Birthfather's Rights in Interstate Placements, The DeBoer Case" (4/17/93).

Presenter since 1989 at semi-annual RESOLVE of Northern California Workshops on: "Introduction to Independent Adoption"; "Open Adoptions"; "Birthfather's Rights"; "Advanced Legal Issues in Adoption"; "Contested Adoptions"; and, "The Changing Legal Face of Adoption".

Jed Somit
1970 Broadway, Suite 625
Oakland, CA, 94612
TEL (510)839-3215
FAX (510)839-7041

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	J.D. 1976, University of California at Berkeley Law School (Boalt Hall). Order of the Coif; Moot Court Board.
	A.B. cum laude in General Studies, 1973, Harvard College, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Major: mathematics; minors: government and social psychology.

	July, 1981 - present, Jed Somit, Attorney at Law. Sole practitioner in general civil practice. Areas of concentration:
	Small business counseling and litigation: business entity formation and termination (corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, nonprofits); representation of small businesses (employee matters in court and in administrative hearings, debt collection, corporate opportunity litigation, shareholder disputes, partnership dissolutions, product liability); business counseling (hiring and firing, trade secrets, leases, business purchases and sales, shareholder agreements and buy-sell agreements, securities, operational issues); commercial transactional work (review and drafting of contracts for employment, joint ventures, intellectual property).
	Real estate: representation of property owners in litigation (unlawful detainer, lease actions, boundary disputes, construction cases, misrepresentation in sales, breach of contract, rent control, zoning); representation of tenants (unlawful detainer, lease actions, breach of covenants); general real estate counseling to commercial property owners, brokers and salespersons, buyers and lessees; transactional work (drafting, negotiation and review of commercial and residential leases, purchase and sale agreements, exchange agreements); representation of and counseling to developers (litigation and transactional).
	General civil litigation: plaintiff and defense personal injury; property rights; taxpayer suits; discrimination; misrepresentation/fraud; professional malpractice (medical, psychological, legal); probate litigation.
	Adoption Law: counseling and representation of adopting parents and birthparents in independent and agency adoptions; representation in interstate, difficult and contested adoptions and in other proceedings with adoption law issues; author and speaker; expert witness on adoption law. (See adoption pages of resume).
	Family Law: counseling and representation in dissolution, paternity, governmental support, termination of parental rights, guardianships and other family law proceedings.
	January, 1991 - present: Hearing Officer, County of Alameda Assessment Appeals Board: hear and decide legal (non-value) matters concerning real property tax, documentary transfer tax, tax sales, base year value, etc.
	September, 1988 - May, 1990: Instructor, Contract Law; Oakland College of the Law. First year course in Contracts.
	July, 1981 - December, 1983: Professional Consulting. Consultant to other attorneys in case evaluation, general civil litigation strategy, law and motion matters, drafting pleadings and other litigation papers.
	January, 1980 - June, 1981: Ibershof & Somit. Partner in a general business practice firm, emphasizing business counseling, State and Federal securities offerings, real estate law, civil and criminal appeals and general civil litigation.
	July, 1977 - December, 1979: Law Offices of William C. Ibershof. Associate in predecessor firm to Ibershof & Somit.
	January, 1977 - July, 1977: Attorney in charge of trial preparation for the defense of People v. Cleaver, Alameda County Superior Court. Preparation of all pre-trial motions, including appeals and writs, the organization of over 100 physical exhibits and 100 potential witnesses. Lead attorneys: John Keker, Marc Topel.
	1974 - 1977: Clerkships: Cullinan, Burns & Helmer, San Francisco; Freitas, McCarthy, San Rafael; Kipperman, Shawn, Keker & Brockett, San Francisco.

	Real Estate Broker, State of California.
	Notary Public, State of California.

	Member, State Bar of California since 1976, and admitted to practice before Federal courts in California.
	Member, Executive Committee of State Bar General & Solo Practice Section, 1990 - 1994; Secretary, 1993-94.
	Member of Alameda County Bar Association and Berkeley-Albany Bar Association, since 1982.
	Alameda County Bar Association Legal Referral Service.
	Alameda County Bar Association Fee Arbitration Panel.
	Alameda County Bar Association Voluntary Legal Services Program.
	Judge pro tempore, Alameda County Municipal & Small Claims Courts.
	Arbitrator, Alameda County Superior and Municipal Courts, since 1986.
	Director, San Francisco Bay Wildlife Society, a non-profit public benefit corporation, since 1987; Secretary, 1992-96; Vice-President, 1997.
	Panelist, State Bar Section Education Institute, May 1993, "Fundamentals of Judicial Arbitration".
	Presenter, 24th Annual Seminar Society of Auditor-Appraisers: "Arbitration Of Issues Not Relating To Value", June 24, 1993.
	Contributor to MAP (Mentor Access Pack): "Approaching A Marital Dissolution" (CEB, 1991).

	Member, Academy of California Adoption Lawyers, 1988 - present.
	Member, American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, 1990 -present.
	Member, State Bar Committee on Adoption, 1985-1987; Vice-Chair, 1986-87; Chair, Northern Committee on Adoptions (Family Law Section), 1987-89, 1990-1992. Legislative Liaison, 1992 -present.
	Director, Hestia House, a non-profit public benefit corporation concerning adoption, 1986-1994.
	Director, Independent Adoption Center, a non-profit educational corporation, 1983 - May 1984.

	Author, 1996 Update Revisions, California Family Law Practice & Procedure (Matthew Bender); Chapters on Termination of Parental Rights, Indian Child Welfare Act, and Adoption of Unmarried Minors.
	Author, 1992 and 1993 Annual Updates to Adoption Law & Practice (Matthew Bender); Chapter 5 - "Dual Representation" (California Model); author of Chapter 5, 1994, updates 1995, 1997.
	Author, "Trends in Adoption", The General Practitioner, (Vol.4, No.1) Winter 1994; developments in the law of de facto parents.
	Co-Author, MCLE Article, "1993 Legislative Review Affecting Adoption Law", California State Bar Journal, January 1994.
	Author, The Birthparents' Guide to Independent Adoption; privately printed booklet.
	Presenter, May 1997, National Business Institute, Inc., MCLE Program, "Adoption Law in California".
	Presenter, Academy of California Adoption Lawyers' public MCLE Program, January 1997, "1997 Adoption Law: Practice & Procedures: Birth Father Issues In Adoption"; author of original written materials, "1996 Developments In Adoption Law", and MCLE self-study program "Ethical Issues For Adoption Attorneys. Part I. Issues of Competence And Advertising".
	Presenter, Spring 1996, State Bar Section Education Institute, "Birth Father Rights in California Adoptions".
	Panel Moderator, April 1996, American Academy of Adoption Attorneys Convention on: "Adoption from the Birthfather's Perspective".
	Presenter, 2nd Annual Academy of California Adoption Lawyers' Update on Adoption Law Seminar (1/18/96), "Developments in Adoption Law", "Adoption Service Provider Liability", and "Birthfather's Rights Under The Uniform Adoption Act"; author of written materials on case and statutory developments, and on birthfather's rights.
	Presenter, American Academy of Adoption Attorneys Convention, April 1995, Atlanta, Georgia, "Recent Developments In Adoption Law & Practice: California & Hawaii".
	Presenter, 1995 National Federation for Open Adoption Education Conference: "The Uniform Adoption Act and Open Adoptions".
	Presenter, Academy of California Adoption Lawyers' public MCLE Program, November 1994, "1995 Adoption Law: Practice & Procedures"; author of original written materials.
	Presenter, 1994 National Federation for Open Adoption Education Conference: "Birthfather's Rights-Review of the Law & Recent Developments"; and, "Legally Enforceable Open Adoption Agreements".
	Presenter, May 1994, State Bar MCLE Institute, Monterey; "Independent Adoption Practice for the '90's".
	Presenter, May 1994, Annual Convention of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, Santa Fe, New Mexico; Mock Trial In The Matter of Baby X on contested adoptions and expert testimony.
	Presenter, 1993 National Federation for Open Adoption Education Conference: "Birthfather's Rights"; and, "Legislative Proposals/Action Re: Open Adoption Agreements".
	Presenter, October 1993 State Bar Convention: "Adoptions: Basics Plus Current Issues".
	Presenter, Third Annual National Open Adoption Conference, San Francisco, CA, November 1992: "Settling Contested Adoptions Through Open Adoption Agreements"; and, "Developments in Adoption Law".
	Presenter, Spring & Fall 1992, State Bar Section Institutes, and "Introduction to Independent Adoptions"; and "Introduction to Adoption Law".
	Presenter to Academy of California Adoption Lawyers of various MCLE Programs, including: "Alleged Father's Rights Under Civil Code 7017" (11/16/91); "Birthfather's Rights: Adoption of H.R." (11/7/92); "Birthfather's Rights in Interstate Placements, The DeBoer Case" (4/17/93).
	Presenter since 1989 at semi-annual RESOLVE of Northern California Workshops on: "Introduction to Independent Adoption"; "Open Adoptions"; "Birthfather's Rights"; "Advanced Legal Issues in Adoption"; "Contested Adoptions"; and, "The Changing Legal Face of Adoption".

Send mail to: mail("info","adoptionattorneys",1,"") to obtain information about the Academy and its members. Send mail to: mail("help","adoptionattorneys",1,"") with questions or comments about this web site.

Send mail to: to obtain information about the Academy and its members.
Send mail to: with questions or comments about this web site.