Legal Solutions Efficiently
Offering Law Advice and Support for International Business Transactions and Business-Related Litigation

David R. Socher,
Attorney at Law
Representing domestic and international clients from Lafayette, California office since 2008.
Current Practice and Legal Services
Business Transactions (Domestic and International):
Negotiate and draft agreements/contracts for a variety of companies in international and domestic transactions, including product and software distribution and technology licensing agreements for U.S. companies for distribution in Japan, Korea, China, Russian Federation, Ukraine, Australia, New Zealand, Panama, etc. Representative client products include, skincare products, cosmetics, wine/beer, foods, organic agricultural fertilizers, automobile parts, computer/network servers and related hardware etc.
Litigation:
Experienced with pre-litigation negotiations related to a wide variety of situations, including B2B disputes, fraud, solar installation negligence and product liability, lender liability, real estate transactions, agricultural entity disputes, identity theft, elder abuse, high net worth family disputes, commercial trucking, employment, cannabis production and distribution matters, theft, embezzlement, etc...
Also experienced in personal injury litigation.
Domestic & Foreign Entity Establishment:
Corporations (profit and non-profit), limited liability companies, shareholder/operating agreements, share transfer agreements, dissolutions.
US & International Trademark Registrations:
Registered and managed/maintained trademarks registrations for dozens of client companies over the past 30 years. Registrations and maintenance with United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”), World Intellectual Property Organization (“WIPO”) through the Madrid Protocol and Madrid Agreement, the United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office (“UKIPO”), European Union Intellectual Property Office (“EUIPO”) and non-treaty/non-signatory countries such as Panama and the United Arab Emirates (pre-WIPO). Obtained trademark certificates of protection for Canada, Mexico, the EU, Russian Federation, Switzerland, Turkey, Australia, New Zealand, China and Singapore Australia and Japan.


Work Experience
Northern California District Export Council (NorCal-DEC)
Since 2008, appointed by the United States Department of Commerce to assist small and medium California enterprises begin and increase export of their US goods and services.
Clients have included commercial solar project developer, bio-ethanol technology manufacturer, cosmetic and skincare products manufacturers and distributors, wine and beer manufacturers, organic agricultural fertilizer manufacturer, etc. As a member of the NorCal-DEC, I have also participated in hosting numerous trade missions, trade fairs/expos, and worked closely with many Bay Area businesses and the Port of Oakland to facilitate international business development in the California.
NorCal DEC Co-Chair 2017 – 2018; 2024 - present
NorCal DEC Chair 2019 - 2023
Partner in 70 Attorney Bay Area firm
2004 to 2008, International Practice Group.
Represented Japanese and US clients in solar, ethanol, software licensing, computer hardware distribution, agricultural-related litigation.
Partner/Associate Tokyo Japan International Law Firms
1995 to 2004. Tokyo Bar Association
gaikokuho jimu bengoshi member 1995 to 2004.
Represented Japanese and international business clients in US litigation, negotiation and preparation of various types of business agreements, US and foreign entity set up and operation, trademark registration. PWC Japan affiliated legal counsel.
Allstate Insurance Company
San Francisco in-house counsel 1992 to 1995. Represented Allstate clients in personal injury litigation in Bay Area courts.
Education & Affiliations

Bar Admissions
State Bar of California since 1992
Tokyo Bar Association 2000 - 2004

Education
J.D. - University of San Francisco School of Law, 1991
B.A. - University of California, Los Angeles, 1988

Affiliations
Northern California District Export Council
U.S. Commercial Service