- Business DisputesGroom & Cave is a small, highly focused business law firm, serving primarily medium to very large, privately held business enterprises and their officers, directors and shareholders. Our clients are located both within and outside of California.
- Business TransactionsMr. Hopkins graduated from the University of California at Santa Barbara, California in 1982 with a B.A in Political Science, and received his law degree from Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California in 1986. Mr. Hopkins joined the firm of Hopkins & Carley in San Jose, California in 1990 and was a partner in the litigation and commercial transactions department from 1993 until 1997. Mr. Hopkins joined the firm of Groom & Cave, LLP in 1997 and has focused his practice on tax and business planning for individuals. In addition, Mr. Hopkins practice is focused on providing advise to individuals and companies in connection with the purchase, sale, leasing, financing, tax structure, ownership, and management of aircraft. Mr. Hopkins practice includes the representation of owner’s purchasing fractional interests in aircraft as well as whole aircraft. Mr. Hopkins has worked extensively with all of the companies offering fractional ownership programs, and has concluded in excess of 100 transactions for clients purchasing fractional interests in aircraft.
- Construction Contracts
- Real Estate LitigationMr. Cave has extensive experience in all aspects of general business and real estate law. Such practice includes the acquisitions and sales of businesses and all types of real estate, commercial real estate leasing and all aspects of landlord-tenant matters, financing, entity formations, joint venture agreements, design and construction contracts, CC&Rs and owners associations, title insurance, tax-deferred exchanges, brokerage agreements and property management.
- Construction LitigationMr. Cave’s practice spans the entire spectrum of transactional real estate, with a primary focus on commercial real estate acquisitions and dispositions, financing, development and leasing. His real property acquisitions and dispositions practice includes complex purchase, sale and 1031 exchange transactions in connection with commercial properties located throughout the United States, and his commercial leasing practice includes the representation of both landlords and tenants in the leasing of office, industrial, retail and mixed-use space throughout California. Mr. Cave has also extensively represented both developers and investors in the structuring and formation of complex joint ventures (using LLC’s, partnerships, and TIC structures) as well as the negotiation and preparation of development agreements, construction contracts, CC&Rs, easements, and management agreements.
- Real Estate TransactionsGroom & Cave has substantial experience in a variety of areas involving real estate transactions and litigation, and represents many of Silicon Valley's most successful investment owners, developers and contractors, as well as pubic real estate investment trusts (Reits). Our representation in the real estate field is quite broad and includes the following...
- Easement
- Landlord-Tenant DisputesWe are very involved in representing our clients in connection with the negotiation and preparation of lease agreements for commercial, retail and industrial projects throughout California and other states. In connection therewith, we have substantial experience regarding matters involving property management, including all aspects of landlord-tenant relationships.
- Estate PlanningEstate Planning constitutes an active area of the firm's practice. Due to the nature of our clientele, most every client has a very substantial and ongoing interest in properly planning for the orderly transition and disposition of their business interests and assets upon death.
- Wills
- TrustsBecause many of our clients own large amounts of real estate or are either the owners of medium to very large closely-held business enterprises or the owners of large blocks of publicly traded securities, the process of planning generally involves considerably more than the preparation of standard trusts and wills. In order to meet the complex and sophisticated objectives of our clients, we again work closely with our clients' outside accountants and other advisors.
- Power of AttorneyThe firm engages in the preparation of simple and complex revocable and irrevocable testamentary and intervivos trusts and associated wills, designed to minimize taxation on death and to provide effective and efficient management of assets both during one's lifetime and upon death. Special consideration is given with respect to planning for individual exemptions from the federal generation-skipping transfer tax. In connection with this level of planning, consideration is also given to the preparation of durable powers-of-attorney for health care as well as directives to physicians to be used in the event of health related problems, and in connection with decisions regarding the use of artificial life-sustaining devices.
- Tax LawGroom & Cave provides advice to individuals and companies in connection with the purchase, sale, financing, management, and ownership of aircraft. The aviation practice includes the representation of owner’s purchasing fractional interests in aircraft as well as whole aircraft. Groom & Cave attorneys have worked extensively with all of the manufacturer’s of business and personal use aircraft, and have successfully concluded transactions for clients purchasing and selling aircraft, including helicopters, and large commercial aircraft. Our practice includes the representation of aircraft management companies, FBO’s, and aircraft hangar owners. We regularly advise clients with respect to tax matters, including sales and use tax, income tax, property tax, and federal excise tax, as they relate to the purchase and ownership of aircraft.