Walzer & Melcher LLP - Past Programs & Seminars

Past Programs & Seminars

April 11, 2008
Advanced Issues in Premarital Agreements
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (Southern California Chapter)
Peter M. Walzer
New Orleans, Louisiana
March 26, 2008
What Every Business Manager Needs to Know About Divorce Law
UCLA Extension
Peter M. Walzer and Christopher Melcher
Los Angeles, California
March 18, 2008
Roadmap Through Divorce Proceedings
National Business Institute
Christopher C. Melcher, co-speaker
Pasadena, CA
February 8-10, 2008
Effective Legal and Psychological Approaches to Parental Alignment, Estrangement, and Alienation
AFCC Conference
Co-Speaker
Peter M. Walzer
Santa Monica, California
February 8-10, 2008
Ethical and Effective Coaching One Parent During a Child Custody Evaluation: Reconciling the Demands of Advocacy and Impartiality
AFCC Conference
Co-Speaker
Christopher C. Melcher
Santa Monica, California
January 20, 2008
The Art of the Trial
Ethical and Malpractice Minefields in Preparation of and During the Family Law Trial
Peter M. Walzer, Jennifer Saunders, and Judge Thomas Trent Lewis
Southern California Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
January 6, 2008
Cross-Examining Psychologists in Custody Cases
Co-Speaker
Christopher C. Melcher
Law Education Institute/Colorado Bar Association
Vail, Colorado
November 30, 2007
2007 Family Law Conference
Moderator and Speaker
Christopher C. Melcher
Speakers
Peter M. Walzer, Judge Thomas Trent Lewis and Renee Lehr
Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB)
Los Angeles, California
November 16, 2007
2007 Family Law Conference
Moderator and Speaker
Christopher C. Melcher
Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB)
Orange County, California
November 9, 2007
2007 Family Law Conference
Moderator and Speaker
Christopher C. Melcher
Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB)
San Francisco, California
October 19, 2007
Caring for the Child: What's Best for Children in a Family Law Case
Discussion of Joint Legal Custody
Peter M. Walzer (By Special Invitation)
New Mexico State Bar
23rd Annual Family Institute
October 9, 2007
Preventing Critical Financial Mistakes In A Dissolution of Marriage
Co-Speaker
Christopher C. Melcher
National Business Institute
Pasadena, California

Peter M. Walzer speaking with Sherry Petersen at the State Bar Convention on Pre and Postmarital Agreements.

Christopher C. Melcher presenting on Preparing a Client for a Custody Evaluation -- An Ethical Approach.

September 24, 2007
California Family Law Practice
National Business Institute
Co-Speaker
Christopher C. Melcher
Pasadena, California
September 27-30, 2007
How to Prepare a Parent for a Child Custody Evaluation
Christopher C. Melcher and Renee Lehr, JD, PhD
The State Bar of California's 2007 Annual Meeting
Anaheim, California
September 28, 2007
Law for Lovers: Drafting Enforceable Premarital and Postmarital Agreements
2:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.
Peter M. Walzer and Sherry Petersen
The State Bar of California's Annual Meeting
Anaheim, California
September 28, 2007
How to Prepare a Parent for a Child Custody Evaluation: An Ethical and Effective Approach
Christopher C. Melcher, Co-Speaker

The State Bar of California's 2007 Annual Meeting
Anaheim, California
July 19, 2007
Peter M. Walzer spoke at the Cal CPA Business Valuations Section on
Effective Valuations for Divorce at the LAX Hilton Hotel
On June 27, 2006, Peter spoke on the topic, "Gender Issues in Divorce and Custody Cases" on the radio program, 'Your Legal Rights' hosted by Chuck Finney on KALW-FM. Click to listen to the program

May 19, 2007
State Bar of California's Committee on Professionalism and Conduct presented,
California State Bar's Annual Ethics Symposium
Ethics at the Edges
Southwestern Law School, Los Angeles
Family Law Panel: Peter M. Walzer, J.A. Williams, Bonnie Rose Hough
May 16, 2007
Family Law
Drafting Premarital, Predomestic Partnership, Postmarital, and Cohabitation Agreements: Legal and Practical Considerations
Peter M. Walzer
UCLA: Rolfe Hall
April 27, 2007
American Bar Association Family Law Section
Spring Meeting, Monterey, California

Power of Perception
Christopher C. Melcher, Walzer & Melcher LLP
Steven Smith, Ph.D., Palo, Alto, California
Edward Mills, Esq, Santa Clara County Superior Court, California
Judge Elizabeth O'Neal LaStaiti, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Probate and Family Court Department
Cheryl Young, Norristown, Pennsylvania
Ann Haralambie, Arizona

Courtroom Realities of Advocacy and Evidence
Peter M. Walzer, Walzer & Melcher LLP
Lynn Gold-Bikin, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Judge Susan Bernardini, Santa Clara County Superior Court, California
March 30, 2007
Roadmap Through Divorce Proceedings
Christopher C. Melcher, S. Roger Rombro, Emily Shappell Edelman
National Business Institute
Pasadena, California
On March 27, 2006, Peter spoke on the topic, "Protecting Your Marriage: How to Develop Skills to Maintain a Happy Marriage" on the radio program, 'Your Legal Rights' hosted by Chuck Finney on KALW-FM. Click to listen to the program

January 14, 15, & 16, 2007
Family Law Tax Mysteries Solved
Peter M. Walzer & Michael Duckworth, CPA
2007 American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
Southern California Chapter Annual Trial Institute
Balboa Bay Club, Newport Beach
2006 FAMILY LAW SYMPOSIUM
Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB)
Christopher C. Melcher, Moderator
Friday, December 8, 2006
Hyatt Regency San Francisco, San Francisco, California

Saturday, December 2, 2006
Hyatt Regency Century Plaza, Los Angeles, California
On September 20, 2006, Peter spoke on the topic, "Family Law - Community Property v. Separate Property?" on the radio program, 'Your Legal Rights' hosted by Chuck Finney on KALW-FM. Click to listen to the program

July 24, 2006
California Family Law Practice
Peter M. Walzer and Christopher C. Melcher
NBI, Pasadena
June 15, 2006 - Crossborder Estate, Financial & Asset Planning Conference
with Peter M. Walzer held at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Marina del Rey
Topics included: U.S. and international income, estate and gift/inheritance taxes; pre-immigration/emigration and multijurisdictional planning; foreign investment structures; immigration; crossborder family law matters (including separate/community property, pre- and post-nuptial agreements, divorce and custody issues); offshore trusts and other offshore entities; international private banking; crossborder professional ethics issues; multi-generational wealth management and succession planning; planning for liquidity events; international family office issues; crossborder philanthropy.
Ed Bernard, State Bar of California
May 17, 2006 - UCLA Extension: Drafting Premarital, Postmarital and Cohabitation Agreements
with Peter M. Walzer at 6:30 pm. to 9:30 pm. in Room 78 - Dodd Hall
April 28-29, 2006 - Fundamentals of Family Law Practice, CEB
with Peter M. Walzer and Christopher C. Melcher
On April 26, 2006, Peter spoke on the topic, "Spousal and Partner Support: How Much and How Long?" on the radio program, 'Your Legal Rights' hosted by Chuck Finney on KALW-FM. Click to listen to the program

December 10, 2005 - Premarital and Postmarital Agreements, Drafting and Enforcement with Peter M. Walzer. Presented by the Continuing Education of the Bar - Family Law Symposium at the Century Plaza Hotel, Los Angeles.
December 10, 2005 - Custody Decisions Involving Alternative Conception, Advanced Spousal and Child Support Issues, Valuation of the Professional Practice, and Premarital and Postmarital Agreements - Drafting and Enforcement with Christopher C. Melcher. Presented by the Continuing Education of the Bar - Family Law Symposium at the Century Plaza Hotel, Los Angeles.
September 9, 2005 - The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Attorney's Fees, Sanctions and Collections with Judge Patricia Garcia, San Diego Superior Court and Peter M. Walzer. Presented by the State Bar of California at the San Diego Convention Center and San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina.
September 16, 2005 - Obtaining the Best Result for Your Client in a Marital Dissolution: Procedures and Strategies for Effective Settlement and Litigation in California with Christopher C. Melcher. Presented by the National Business Institute at the Sheraton Pasadena Hotel.
July 22, 2005 - Garden Grove
July 29, 2005 - San Diego
August 5, 2005 - Los Angeles
Crossover Issues in Estate Planning and Dissolution: When Death and Divorce Collide
Presented by Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB)
Peter M. Walzer, Walzer & Melcher LLP, Beverly Hills/Calabasas
Marc Stern, Greenberg Glusker Fields Claman Machtinger & Kinsella LLP, Los Angeles

Premarital agreements and property settlements can bolster or undermine estate plans; clients in the throes of separation or dissolution may need estate planning advice. Family law practitioners are also often unaware of the ways an estate planner can help with the process. With this program, family law practitioners will discover the real benefits of estate planning guidance during dissolution. Estate planners will learn how best to serve as consultants to the lawyer representing the parties in the dissolution.

Premarital and post-marital agreements often involve cross-over domestic relations and estate planning issues. In discussing how best to structure such agreements, the speakers will pay particular attention to the estate planning ramifications that family law practitioners should know aware and discuss the family law issues that estate planners should take into consideration.

Assumes some experience in family law and/or estate planning.

Program Highlights:
- Premarital agreements
- Death during cohabitation
- Estate planning during separation
- Spousal support and child support
- Custody and guardianship issues
- Cotenancies
- Family living trusts
- Gifting programs structuring gifts from family members gifts to minors
- Death during separation
- Bifurcation issues
- Property settlement transfers of business interests using charitable trusts family residence
- Retirement plan benefits
- Life insurance
- Avoiding conflicts of interest
Specialization: Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Law; Family Law Practice

On July 13, 2005, Peter M. Walzer and Christopher C. Melcher made a presentation on "Protecting the Real Estate Developer or Investor from Divorce" at their law offices. A complimentary lunch was served.

Listen now to Peter on the radio program, 'Your Legal Rights' hosted by Chuck Finney on the topic, "Family Law and Various Methods of Dispute Resolution" which aired on July 6, 2005.

Listen now to Peter on the radio program, 'Your Legal Rights' hosted by Chuck Finney on the topic, "New Domestic Partnership Laws" which aired on January 26, 2005.

On January 15, 2005, Mr. Walzer spoke on domestic violence and custody at the Southern California Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Trial Advocacy Institute. The event which was called "Divorce Hollywood Style" took place at the Lowe's Beach Santa Monica Hotel.

Peter M. Walzer and Robert Kligman, Esq. were speakers at the Workshop on Drafting Domestic Partnership Agreements at the CEB in San Francisco on November 13, 2004 and also on October 23, 2004.

On October 8, 2004 at the State Bar of California Annual Meeting, Peter M. Walzer was a speaker with with Linda Morra, Esq., of Brucker & Morra, LLP on the subject, "Discovering the Hidden Secrets of Retirement Plans."

On August 3, 2004, Peter M. Walzer gave a presentation to Cyprus Family Law Judges about real world experiences in the area of the unique nature of California law concerning enforcement of custody, visitation, and support orders, both intra and inter-state. Presentation was sponsored by the Cyprus Fulbright Commission administered for the U.S. State Department through its administrator AMIDEAST.

Mr. Walzer spoke to the Los Angeles County Bar Association on September 13, 2004, on Winning the Custody Dispute: Effective Legal and Psychological Strategies Child Custody Colloquium, Los Angeles County Bar Association, Family Law Section - Peter M. Walzer spoke with Mary Lund, Ph.D., Donna Beck Weaver, and Commissioner Mitchell L. Beckloff, Los Angeles Superior Court on Assessing the Custody Case: Maximizing Outcomes.

Peter M. Walzer conducted a program on "Drafting Premarital, Postmarital, and Cohabitation Agreements: Legal and Practical Considerations" at UCLA on May 12, 2004. He covered new provisions of the Family Code governing premarital agreements that became effective January 1, 2002.

Peter M. Walzer was on a panel of speakers for the San Fernando Valley Bar Association Family Law section on March 22, 2004.

Peter M. Walzer was a panelist at the seminar, "Complex Issues in Dissolution of Marriage for the California Practitioner" held in Los Angeles on January 8, 2004. Topics included: Forensic Accounting and Valuation, Tax Aspects of Divorce, Asset and Liability Division and Spousal Support, Child Custody and Support, The Lawyer's Ethical Responsibility During Dissolution of Marriage, and The Complex Divorce Case

Mr. Walzer was a panelist at the seminar, "Hell Hath No Fury Like a Duty Scorned: Fiduciary Duty, Disclosure, and Undue Influence" held on November 12, 2003 in West Los Angeles. Topics included: What is the standard of care between spouses? -- Is it the prudent investor or a lower standard? When is a transmutation valid/can quit claim deeds be set aside? How to prepare preliminary and final declarations of disclosure in the light of recent case law and legislation. The seminar also covered Duffy, Delaney, Barneson, Haines Steinberger, Hixson, Rossi, Brewer & Federici, F.C. sections 721, 1100, and 2100 et seq.

Peter M. Walzer moderated a program for CEB entitled "Drafting Enforceable Premarital Agreements - Family Law and Estate Planning Perspectivies" on July 18, 25, August 1 and 15, 2003 in Garden Grove, Sacramento, Los Angeles and San Francisco, CA.

On August 1, 2003, Mr. Walzer moderated a program for CEB entitled "Cross-Over Issues in Estate Planning and Dissolution: When Death and Divorce Collide" in Los Angeles, CA.

Peter M. Walzer conducted the seminar, "Drafting Premarital and Postmarital Agreements" on May 21, 2003 at UCLA with Marc M. Stern.

Mr. Walzer co-authored an article entitled, "What Words Don't You Understand -- Fiduciary or Duty? In Amending Family Code section 721 the Legislature Gives Couples One More Thing to Fight About" which will be published in the Winter 2003 issue of Family Law News, A Publication of the State Bar of California.

Mr. Walzer spoke at the Southern California Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyer's Trial Institute on January 18 and 19, 2003.

In 2003, Mr. Walzer will be serving on the Executive Committes of the State Bar Family Law section and the Los Angeles County Bar Association Family Law section. He is also on the Board of Directors of the Southern California Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.

Mr. Walzer spoke on the subject, "Navigating the Hidden Dangers: New Issues in Disclosure and Fiduciary Duties" for the CPA Education Foundation at the 2002 Family Law Conference -- Effectively Communicating Your Case on November 14, 2002

Mr. Walzer addressed the State Bar of California at Monterey on October 12, 2002 -- Premarital Agreements for Attorneys and Lovers: Drafting Premarital Agreements After SB 78

He also spoke on "Tax Aspects of Divorce in California" for the National Business Institute on October 2, 2002

Mr. Walzer spoke at the State Bar of California Annual Meeting in Anaheim on September 2001 with Terry Hargrave, CPA. The topic, “Business Valuation for Family Lawyers: How to be a Quick Study,” focused on the various definitions of value, the methods used in valuing a business in a marital dissolution, and how to mediate or litigate business valuation issues. To order a tape of this program click here or call (800) 468-2737 and request tape 01SBC-178, Saturday, 4:45pm.

You may order from Continuing Education of the Bar the video tape, audio tape, or the program book for Peter M. Walzer and Marc M. Stern's May 2001 program entitled: “Innovative Premarital Agreements: Family Law and Estate Planning Perspectives on Drafting Enforceable Agreements” by calling Tel: (818) 591-3700.

Mr. Walzer's article, published in the September 2000 issue of Los Angeles Lawyer, on law practice valuation, can be found here.