
DEREK EARLY | PARTNER

Derek Early
PARTNER
Derek.Early@brownandstreza.com
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PARALEGAL
Daniella M. Fiorentini Daniella.Fiorentini@brownandstreza.com
RELATED PRACTICES
BIO
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.
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.
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.
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.
During law school, Derek was a Managing Editor for the Indiana Law Journal and President of the Sports & Entertainment Law Society.
In 2000, Derek won an Ivy League Championship as a member of the University of Pennsylvania’s football team.
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
Varner & Brandt LLP: Attorney, 2010-2013
Fernandez & Lauby LLP: Attorney, 2008-2010
Juris Doctor, cum laude, Indiana University Maurer School of Law, 2005-2008
Bachelor of Arts, University of Pennsylvania, 1999-2003
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.
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
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Prudential Irvine Office, Irvine, California, June 19, 2018
Avoiding Business Planning Mistakes Using Life and Disability Insurance and Other Techniques
2018 Agents Helping Agents (AHA) Conference, Hotel Irvine, Irvine, California, March 30, 2018
Using Life and Disability Insurance for Business Planning
Exit Planning Institute SoCal Chapter Meeting, The Center Club Costa Mesa, June 1, 2017
Family Business Divorce
CalCPA Study Group Breakfast, Marie Calender's, Anaheim, California, September 22, 2016
Buy-Sell Agreements
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
American Bar Association: Member