David Gurnick, Esq.

David Gurnick, Esq. was a celebrated franchise attorney, business lawyer and litigator. He was certified as a specialist in Franchise and Distribution Law by the California State Bar’s Board of Legal Specialization. David’s practice also focused on licensing, trademarks and copyrights, trade secrets, e-commerce, antitrust and competition matters, and related litigation.

David often served as an expert witness in franchise and intellectual property matters. David authored two texts: Distribution Law of the United States, addressing laws governing U.S. manufacturers and retailers, and Franchising Depositions, a treatise on taking and defending depositions in franchising cases. He was a contributing author of the first law school textbook on franchise law published by the American Bar Association and a separate treatise on international franchising. He was also a co-author of California Franchise Law Jury Instructions, published by Matthew Bender.

In the franchise and distribution field, David advised and represented many different types of clients, including franchisors, franchisees, manufacturers, distributors, resellers and policyholders in claims against insurance companies.

David was also an adjunct professor of law and a panelist at the American Bar Association’s Forum on Franchising, the International Franchise Association’s Annual Legal Symposium and for the California Continuing Education of the Bar. He also served on the editorial board of the American Bar Association Franchise Law Journal and the Franchise Law Committee of the State Bar of California.

In the local legal community, David served two terms as President of the San Fernando Valley Bar Association (SFVBA), chaired the SFVBA’s Business Law and Litigation Sections, was a trustee of the University of West Los Angeles College of Law, was a trustee of the Los Angeles County Bar Association and served as President of the charitable Valley Community Legal Foundation (VCLF).

David’s generosity in the legal community was vast and he would be honored if all of his legal colleagues would continue to support our local Bar Associations and the VCLF.

Marcia L. Kraft

In June of 2018, Marcia received an award from the Valley Community Legal Foundation (“VCLF”) of the San Fernando Valley Bar Association for “Exemplary Community Service” related to her outstanding philanthropic contributions to the San Fernando Valley. As VCLF President, Marcia chaired the development and installation of the Children’s Waiting Rooms at the Van Nuys and San Fernando courthouses and creating murals at the Van Nuys courthouse. Marcia was also a pioneer for female attorneys heading their own multi-associate law firms in the San Fernando Valley when it was unconventional to see women in such leadership positions.