We are proud to be recognized as one of the top business law firms in California. We help small business owners and startups launch their companies, fund their ongoing activities and serve as their outside general counsel so they can focus on successfully running their businesses. We act as a catalyst by providing our clients with exceptional resources to help their businesses grow, and when the time is right we can help navigate a successful exit. It is like having a good friend or family member advising your business.
Team
Doug
Doug Bend
Business and Startup Attorney
Doug is the founder of Bend Law Group, PC, a law firm focused on advising small businesses and startups. He has been featured in numerous publications, including The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, Fox Business, MSN, Inc., and Forbes. Raised in Omaha, Doug is a graduate of Drake University where he graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with his B.A. in Political Science and History. He also received an M.A. in Political Science from the University of Nebraska and his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center. When Doug is not wearing his lawyer hat, he enjoys exploring the Bay Area with his wife, Joanne, and their seven year old daughter and five year old son.
Michael
Michael Tarutis
Senior Business & Litigation Attorney
Michael has advised start-ups and emerging companies as a primary practice since 1999, assisting in complex contract negotiation and contract management, business finance in pre-IPO companies through Regulation A, D and SCOR offerings, corporate governance, and litigation management, representing companies in state and federal courts in Colorado, California and Florida. He is an experienced arbitrator and mediator, and had the pleasure of teaching Entrepreneurial Studies at Washington and Jefferson College. Michael has represented Fortune 500 companies, has appeared before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, represented entities and individuals in SEC matters in Washington, D.C., and has argued in courts of appeal. His heart, though, is in advising, assisting and counseling entrepreneurs in all facets of launching, maintaining and ultimately gaining success through a focused business model. His undergraduate work was at Boston University, leading to a Juris Doctor degree conferred by Southwestern University College of Law in Los Angeles. In law school, Michael won American Jurisprudence Awards for the highest grade and rank in his courses on Business Transactions & Finance and Civil Litigation. He plays tennis regularly, writes for automotive publications like BarnFinds.com and the large auction houses, and is an accomplished cabinetmaker and luthier. His daughter, Ashley, was co-captain and setter for the University of Notre Dame volleyball team also playing on the Los Alamitos (CA) High School team that won the California state championship.
Robin
Robin O’Donnell
Business and Startup Attorney
Robin O’Donnell works with small businesses and startups from a wide array of industries including tech companies and developers, food-related businesses, healthcare providers, and many others. Robin works with companies to achieve their goals through every stage of the business in all transactional matters. Robin previously served as General Counsel advising company leadership how to realize company objectives while navigating tricky legal hurdles. She received her B.A. degree in Psychology and Anthropology from Mount Holyoke College, her J.D. degree from Golden Gate University School of Law, and her LL.M. in Taxation from University of San Francisco School of Law.
Vivek
Vivek Vaidya
Senior Intellectual Property and Brand Protection Attorney
Vivek Vaidya provides legal counsel related to trademark, copyright, privacy and employment law. Vivek handles projects ranging from intellectual property registration and disputes, licensing agreements and software agreements to employment law contracts and compliance. Vivek earned his B.A. from the University of California, Irvine in Political Science with an emphasis in Public Law. He earned his law degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law, obtaining an Intellectual Property Certificate with Honors.
Alyssa
Alyssa Ziegenhorn
Business and Startup Attorney
Alyssa focuses on assisting new and emerging businesses at all levels of growth with transactional matters, with a special focus on forming and advising nonprofits. Alyssa grew up in Northern California in the Bay Area and Sacramento, and received her B.A. in English Literature from the University of California, Davis. Before attending law school, Alyssa practiced as a paralegal in Silicon Valley, working on intellectual property and product counseling issues. She received her J.D. at King Hall at UC Davis and spent her final year interning at the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, working on a wide range of environmental and regulatory issues. When she is not in lawyer mode, she enjoys exploring California with her husband, Andrei, and their corgi, Merryweather.
Matthew
Matthew Schumacher
Business & Litigation Attorney
Matthew focuses on assisting small businesses and startups traverse formal business disputes at every stage, from pre-litigation to formal dispute resolution. The disputes Matthew typically handles include purchaser and supplier disputes, breach of service agreements, partnership disputes, debt collections, business torts, and other breach of contract actions. Matthew received his business degrees in Supply Chain Management and Information Systems Management from California State University, Chico. His J.D. was obtained from the University of Mississippi School of Law, where he also served as an editor of the Journal of Air and Space Law and volunteered for the Mississippi Innocence Project. Prior to joining Bend Law Group, Matthew handled landlord-tenant disputes at a San Francisco litigation firm. Matthew is currently admitted to practice in California, Texas, and the Northern and Central United States District Courts of California. In his free time, Matthew enjoys playing his guitar and going on road trips with his fiancée.
Makenna
Makenna Cox
Business and Startup Attorney
Makenna Cox assists small businesses and startups with a wide range of transactional matters. Before joining Bend Law Group, Makenna practiced as a civil litigator representing plaintiffs in complex class action litigation. Makenna received her J.D. from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, where she served as Senior Production Editor on the Loyola of Los Angeles Entertainment Law Review. She received her B.A. with honors from the University of San Francisco.
Hank
Hank Brown
Operations Manager
Hank arrived at Bend Law Group after working as a site coordinator at a buzzing Bay Area startup that teaches computer programming skills to kids. Before that, Hank had a background as a copywriter and editor at an award-winning San Francisco creative agency.
Hank holds a degree in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University, and currently lives in Marin County with his lovely wife, dog and toddler. He enjoys live music, movies and everything nerdy.
Alexandria
Alexandria Torres
Legal Assisant
Alexandria is a highly skilled and dedicated legal assistant with a robust background in personal injury and medical malpractice. She is known for her exceptional attention to detail, strong research skills, and ability to work well under pressure. She is a master at managing case files and organizing complex legal information. Alexandria holds a bachelor's degree in Sociology from California State University of Sacramento. While completing her degree, she interned for the federally funded Head Start program which promotes the school readiness of children from low-income families. She was also a member of the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority where she began volunteering for the non-profit organization Girls on the Run. In her free time, she enjoys reading, practicing yoga, traveling with family and friends, and hiking with her dog.
