DEREK EARLY | PARTNER

BIO

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Derek Early primarily represents businesses and high-net-worth individuals regarding business and real estate matters, including leases, real estate purchases/sales/exchanges, succession planning, and mergers and acquisitions. He also regularly collaborates with the firm’s estate planning attorneys and clients’ advisors to execute complex transactions.

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Derek performs general counsel work for numerous privately held companies, and frequently counsels these clients regarding entity selection, designing and refining corporate governance structures, buy-sell agreements, risk management, and compliance. Much of his time is devoted to helping business owners develop and execute exit and succession plans to meet their personal, tax, and operational objectives. He also represents buyers and sellers in mergers and acquisitions, where the firm places particular emphasis on tax planning and structuring.

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Derek has represented both landlords and tenants in numerous lease negotiations, and he frequently assists clients with sales transactions and financings. Much of his extensive experience has involved commercial shopping centers, but he also regularly deals with industrial, office, multi-family, and rental properties. He also assists clients with developing strategies to address property tax and income tax issues relating to their real estate.

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Before joining Brown & Streza LLP, he litigated numerous business disputes and employment issues, providing him with an understanding of clients’ risks and concerns relating to the litigation process.

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During law school, Derek was a Managing Editor for the Indiana Law Journal and President of the Sports & Entertainment Law Society.

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In 2000, Derek won an Ivy League Championship as a member of the University of Pennsylvania’s football team.

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Click here for Derek's complete biography.

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND | PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION | PUBLICATIONS

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
 

Brown & Streza LLP, Irvine, California:

Partner, 2019-Present

Attorney, 2013-2019

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Varner & Brandt LLP: Attorney, 2010-2013

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Fernandez & Lauby LLP: Attorney, 2008-2010

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Juris Doctor, cum laude, Indiana University Maurer School of Law, 2005-2008

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Bachelor of Arts, University of Pennsylvania, 1999-2003

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PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION

 

 2018 "Southern California SuperLawyers - Rising Star"

Published by Los Angeles magazine and The Journal for Law & Politics. Only 2.5% of lawyers under the age of 40 and/or in their first 10 years of practice in Los Angeles and Orange Counties receive this honor.

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MEDIA MENTIONS

 

Forbes, October 16, 2018

"Using An Intentional Defective Irrevocable Trust (IDIT) To Gift Your Family Business",

Primary source for technical information related to IDIT and briefly quoted

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SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
 

Prudential Irvine Office, Irvine, California, June 19, 2018

Avoiding Business Planning Mistakes Using Life and Disability Insurance and Other Techniques

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2018 Agents Helping Agents (AHA) Conference, Hotel Irvine, Irvine, California, March 30,            2018

Using Life and Disability Insurance for Business Planning

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Exit Planning Institute SoCal Chapter Meeting, The Center Club Costa Mesa, June 1, 2017

Family Business Divorce

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CalCPA Study Group Breakfast, Marie Calender's, Anaheim, California, September 22, 2016

Buy-Sell Agreements

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Morgan Stanley Seminar, The Canaletto Ristorante, Newport Beach, California, June 28,                2016

Avoid the 6 Mistakes that Business Owners Make

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT


State Bar of California: Member

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American Bar Association: Member