Areas Of Practice

Construction Law

Sancus Law provides comprehensive advice and counsel and prosecution and defense of claims regarding residential and commercial construction throughout California. Advice and counsel often entails best approaches to contract delivery methods, risk allocation, dispute resolution and avoidance, and preparation of construction contracts and documents. Our claim expertise encompasses bidding disputes, breaches of contract, defective design or construction, delays and acceleration, licensing, and insurance issues. We have years of experience regarding prosecution and defense of claims, including under alternate dispute resolution such as arbitration and mediation.

Representative matters:

Advised and prepared transactional documentation for leasing, financing, development, and construction of 17-unit luxury ground-up condominium project in San Francisco

Prepared construction documents for casino and hotel development in Lake Tahoe, California

Litigated California’s largest dollar value disgorgement claim under Contractors State Licensing Board

Obtained multiple regulatory variances from the State of California regarding commercial construction products

Represented one of the nation’s largest REITs in obtaining regulatory approvals for the construction of over 40,000 square feet of coastal bluff protection from the California Coastal Commission; separately litigated and defended commercial claims between commercial apartment building owners

Litigated on behalf of oil refinery client against commercial claims by prime contractor

Represented national specialty engineering design firm against extra work, delay, efficiency, and construction claims regarding a 260,000 sq. ft. science and cleanroom laboratory

Litigated commercial claims against owner of large condominium project

Represented national design firm in preparation of construction contracts and documents for national retailer

Represented international design firm regarding intellectual property, privacy and employment matters

Represented developer in preparation of design and construction contracts for LEED commercial building

Represented general contractor in preparation of construction contract documents for commercial renovation of a 22-story downtown San Francisco office building

Represented international building equipment manufacturer in successful bid protest for a large public project

Defended class action litigation for national building component manufacturer and defeated class certification

Prepared construction contract documents for oil and gas pipeline construction

Business Litigation

Sancus Law provides comprehensive advice and counsel and prosecution and defense of claims regarding business to business disputes, including involving founder buy-outs, breaches of contract and fiduciary duty, and regulatory compliance.

Representative matters:

Represented business regarding enforcement of San Francisco regulations concerning health and safety and obtained full redress from commercial tenant

Represented founder in buy-out and obtained significant payment based on expert valuations

Represented national manufacturer in regulatory issues and obtaining variances through California agency

Represented business in successor liability claim; Claimant dropped claim with no conditions or payment after response and negotiation

Represented business and surviving spouse against debtor claims under corporate debts and personal guarantees

Disability Rights

Disability rights is broad and encompasses many areas of the law. Sancus Law has expertise regarding disability access and reasonable accommodation and modification requests under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and under Title II of the Americans With Disabilities Act (“ADA”). More recently, Sancus Law also has experience representing tenants that have been wronged by their landlord by failing to grant them a reasonable accommodation under FEHA and a jurisdiction’s obligation to grant reasonable modification of policies under the ADA.

Representative matters:

Defended businesses and multi-family housing owners regarding disability access claims

Represented a tenant against a San Francisco landlord on a singular issue of whether the tenant had a right to have a chair lift installed at his apartment. This case resulted in the landlord paying Sancus Law’s client $795,500 for damages that the tenant suffered because landlord refused to provide tenant a reasonable accommodation as landlord was legally required to do

Represented international building equipment manufacturer in local government matters and commission hearings related to building code and American with Disabilities Act issues

Represented owner in Americans with Disabilities litigation involving high-rise residential building

Start-Up Law

Sancus Law provides advice and counsel regarding licensing and other start-up transactions, and partners with top boutique intellectual property firms for specialized IP services.

Representative matters:

Helping numerous early-stage start-ups with formation, operations, general corporate, fundraising, tuning business models, management of outside counsel, forming partnerships and distribution channels, and bringing products to market

Multi-Family Housing; Landlord-Tenant

The legal relationship between a landlord and tenant is grounded in both contract and property law and is governed predominantly through statute. Sancus Law has expertise representing residential landlords defending claims by tenants, as well as representing commercial landlords and commercial tenants regarding disputes between them arising out of the lease. More recently, Sancus Law also has experience representing tenants that have been wronged by their landlord by failing to grant them a reasonable accommodation under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) and the Department’s obligation to grant reasonable modification of policies under Title II of the Americans With Disabilities Act.

Representative matters:

Defended hundreds of landlord-tenant cases on behalf of landlord in apartment complexes ranging from two units to over 1,100 units throughout California. Have succeeded in obtaining sanctions awards in over a hundred cases with a dismissal

Defended hundreds of mold exposure cases with no case proceeding to trial that resulted in a net payment to tenant

Defended hundreds of habitability claims with no case proceeding to trial that resulted in a net payment to tenant

Personal Injury

Personal injuries to individuals make up a large portion of civil litigation in the United States, and California is no exception. Sancus Law has comprehensive experience defending personal injury actions involving catastrophic injuries and in addition, Sancus Law has also prosecuted personal injury actions, some involving only the claim of emotional distress when the tortious actions of individuals or businesses are grievous. Sancus Law, with its breadth of personal injury litigation experience, is able to handle any plaintiffs’ personal injury matter.

Representative matters:

Defended hundreds of toxic exposure tort claims, including involving chemicals and mold

Defended premises liability claims

Personal counsel to insured regarding catastrophic fire burn injuries of claimant

Prosecuted emotional distress claims on behalf of individuals based on disability rights violations and intentional infliction of emotional distress claims

Commercial Transactions

Technology license agreements, including SaaS services and software licensing.
Due diligence and support for M&A and fundraising.
Joint development agreements, including foreign outsource contractor agreements.

Advice and counsel on a company’s dealings with suppliers, customers and other business partners.
Strategic relationships with third-party service providers.
Infrastructure, inbound/outbound, and partnership agreements, IT projects, IT outsourcing arrangements.

Representative matters:

BAA authorizations for both covered entity and business associates in the context of commercial transactions for the provisioning of telehealth services

Drafted and negotiated HIPAA Business Associate Agreements

Privacy

Assessment, revision and development of privacy policies and programs.
Advice and counsel on addressing strategies and steps for compliance with the CCPA.

Review and analysis for contractual privacy and data protection programs, development of organizational playbooks.
DSAR Responses.

Representative matters:

Drafted and negotiated HIPAA

BAA authorizations for both covered entity and business associates in the context of commercial transactions for the provisioning of telehealth services

AI Implementation and Compliance

Sancus Law helps companies navigate the rapidly evolving legal landscape of artificial intelligence—whether you’re building AI products, adopting AI tools, or deploying AI across your operations. We provide comprehensive guidance on the legal implications and practical challenges presented by AI, and responsible internal AI use, including privacy, data protection, license rights, confidentiality obligations, security requirements, intellectual property rights, regulatory compliance and practical risk management.

We also provide legal support for AI product offerings, including services and user agreements, terms of use and compliance with vendor terms, and guidance on regulatory compliance as frameworks evolve. Whether architecting new AI implementations or auditing existing tools and vendor relationships, we help you stay compliant while harnessing AI’s transformative potential.

Technology Transactions

Sancus Law offers practical, business-focused guidance and strategic support for technology related issues (i.e. in product development) and transactions (vendors/suppliers, users, partners, developers) for established and emerging companies. Having extensive in-house experience in the technology industry, we understand the value of timely, pragmatic guidance and solutions to support company growth and revenue while protecting the company’s interests.

We handle development agreements, IP licenses, SaaS/hosting/cloud agreements, OEM and distribution arrangements, joint ventures, services agreements, open source licenses and compliance, manufacturing and supply agreements, and e-commerce solutions—from consulting arrangements to complex multi-party ventures.

Whether you’re acquiring technology, licensing IP, managing vendor relationships, or structuring strategic partnerships, we combine years of transactional experience with deep technology expertise to craft agreements that reflect your business realities and protect your interests.

Privacy and Data Protection

Sancus Law helps clients comply with the evolving and increasingly complex landscape of state, federal and international laws and directives applicable to data privacy and protection. With significant in-house experience supporting product and business teams in technology and media companies, we understand how privacy requirements intersect with real-world product development, marketing, and operational needs and help companies navigate ambiguities and make informed decisions that are in line with their business goals.

We help organizations determine which laws apply to their operations and implement compliant, scalable solutions. We translate regulatory requirements into clear, actionable steps that align with your business model.

We advise clients through the challenges associated with the collection, storage, sharing and use of PII and other types of protected data, including vendor and third-party data relationships, and internal governance policies.

Our services include drafting and negotiating Data Processing Agreements (DPAs), advising on cross-border data transfers, and supporting vendor due diligence and contracting. We also prepare tailored website and product-facing Privacy Policies that accurately reflect your data practices and regulatory obligations—moving beyond generic templates to provide disclosures that are both compliant and meaningful.

Right of Publicity, Talent and Influencer Agreements

Sancus Law advises companies on the use of names, images, likenesses, voices, and other personal attributes in connection with marketing, advertising, content, and product offerings. We help clients navigate right of publicity laws and related intellectual property, privacy, and advertising considerations to ensure compliant and effective use of talent and influencer-driven content.

Our services include drafting and negotiating talent and influencer agreements, endorsement and sponsorship deals, social media campaigns, and content licenses. We advise on key issues such as scope of rights (including name, image, likeness, and voice), usage channels, term and territory, exclusivity, compensation structures, approval rights, moral clauses, and compliance with advertising and disclosure requirements (including FTC guidelines).

We also support clients in managing risk around user-generated content, reposting and amplification strategies, and emerging uses such as synthetic media and AI-generated likenesses. Whether launching a marketing campaign, building a content library, or developing new digital products, we help ensure that rights are properly secured and aligned with your intended use.