Business

Yelda represents U.S. and multi-national clients in high-stakes federal and state litigation, negotiations, and M&A due diligence. 

• Successful defense of $10M claim involving false advertising under Lanham Act and breach of contract against a multi-national beverage manufacturer. Result:  Resolved 2.5 year litigation within 4 months after beginning representation. 
• Advised and represented multi-state medical group in negotiations involving complex A/R transaction. Result: Obtained a total novation of the contract with superior terms in favor of client.
• Expunged wrongfully obtained lis pendens against business client’s personal real property. Result: Obtained Attorney’s Fees in favor of client.

Catastrophic Personal Injury

Yelda represents seriously injured clients in premises liability, toxic torts, and wrongful death cases.

• $875,000 settlement award in favor of client who suffered 3rd degree burns due to scalding hot water in her rental unit. Result: Petitioned City on behalf of client to strengthen ordinance protecting tenants against excessively hot water.

Family Law

Yelda represents select clients in dissolutions of marriage and partnership in California involving complex cross-over issues of real estate, trusts, business valuations, patents and trademarks, and long term spousal support.

• Resolved marital dissolution action involving parties residing in different countries with real property holdings located in multiple countries and states.
• Represented 100+ clients at all stages of litigation including pre-trial motions, trials, post-judgment motions, and appeals.

Background

Yelda is from Ankara, Turkey by way of Sacramento, California. She is active in the local community, having served as the Commissioner for the Community Environmental Advisory Commission and the Commission on the Status of Women for the City of Berkeley where she was elected chairwoman. Yelda also supports and advises candidates for local political offices. When it’s not campaign season, Yelda enjoys traveling, painting, and running.

Business

• Drafted investor agreements and complex financial transaction contracts.
• Negotiated entertainment contracts including movie rights & production, spokesperson and sponsorship agreements
• Advised national company in the execution of multistate sweepstakes.
• Created master contract for multi-national services company and securitized multi-party fee structure schedule.
• Compliance and due diligence work in high value A/R factoring transactions.
• Executed trademarks and performed strategic analysis for IP licensing market and negotiated national franchise agreement for a restaurant.
• Pitched and created plan for retail goods including formulation, name acquisition, packaging, media and promotional partnerships.

Government Relations

• Drafted the “Pacific Clean Air Partnership”, a Clean Technology trade and investment agreement between California and China; signed by Governor Brown in 2013.
• Designed a series of private equity placements to create a Family of Funds to promote regional development and social equity investment.
• Crafted risk mitigation strategy for Public Private Partnerships.

Personal Injury

• Obtained $60,000 on behalf of client injured due to intentional battery by defendant. Result: Drafted and negotiated settlement terms ending high-conflict litigation.

Background

Ben currently serves a member of the Berkeley City Council. Previously, he served on numerous boards and commissions for the City of Berkeley, where his family has resided since the Civil War: Planning Commission, Zero Waste Commission (Vice Chair), Loan Administration Board, Police Review Commission. Ben also served on the Capital Campaign Committee of the Berkeley Food and Housing Project to raise funds for the construction of a new homeless shelter and service hub for veterans, families, and single men. In his spare time, Ben enjoys the art, photography, filmmaking, and theatre.