Case In Point - February Edition
Remembering William D. McDowall
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of William D.?McDowall?on February 10, 2024.?Will was a friend, mentor, and an incredible advocate.?He joined the firm of Nagle Vale?in the mid 1960’s, became a partner and thereafter was the managing partner of the firm for decades.??He was the first person from Visalia to attend Harvard University and?he later attended Stanford University’s School of Law.?Will’s skills in advocacy were?recognized by his colleagues, the court,?and through his membership with the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) which he joined in 1969.?He tried hundreds of cases and authored numerous appellate briefs and consistently achieved?favorable?results on behalf of his clients.
He was a person of unquestionable integrity.?He was brilliant and always available for consultation.?To have spent?time with him was to know a person of faith?with a?keen intellect who was nonetheless humble and engaging.?He treated adverse?counsel and the court with civility and respect,?and consistently exhibited a patience and thoughtfulness that would smooth waters?and allow for favorable outcomes in the most trying of cases.
Will was a loving husband, a doting father and grandfather, and a supporter of the bar and the community at large, at one time assisting to create financing needed to fund the construction of a school for?his church.?In his service as the leader of?the?law firm, his willingness to mentor and work with young attorneys was manifest in the open door to his office for all to enter.??While Will retired from active practice in the early 2000’s, firm?members still refer to ‘McDowallisms’ and are heard to ask, ‘what would Will do in this?situation’.
He was a great lawyer, mentor, spouse and father.?His willingness and ability to do good deeds is eclipsed only by the humbleness of his service.?It is our aspiration to continue his legacy of decency,?honor and good works.?Our firm is honored to bear his name.
Upcoming Events
Litigation Prevention: Mastering Wage & Hour Compliance Ernesto Sanchez, Esq. & W. Ethan McCallum, Esq. (NEW! Zoom Webinar)
Registration Details: https://bit.ly/3IftDZE
Tuesday, March 12, 2024 - 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Cancelled: March Madness Cookout
Sadly, we have to reschedule the March Madness Cookout to 2025. The office is undergoing a much needed "beautification" project that has taken a little longer than expected. We promise it will be worth the wait!
E-Waste & Shredding Day (Complimentary In-Person Event)
Thursday, April 4, 2024 - 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
McDowall Cotter San Mateo - 2070 Pioneer Court, San Mateo, CA 94403
To reserve your spot, please register with the link above or contact our Marketing Coordinator, Maja Gutierrez at [email protected]
Community Spotlight
StarVista - San Mateo, CA
At McDowall Cotter, we are dedicated to supporting organizations that make a meaningful impact in our community. This month, we are proud to shine a spotlight on StarVista, a nonprofit organization that has been a pillar of support for individuals and families throughout San Mateo County for over 55 years.
Their mission is to empower individuals, inspire hope, and strengthen communities. Over the years, StarVista has evolved from a small agency focused on suicide prevention to a comprehensive provider of essential services addressing a wide range of challenges faced by the community. StarVista provides counseling, crisis prevention, youth housing, and early childhood programs to over 41,000 every year. McDowall Cotter has been a longtime supporter of StarVista. Shareholder David Rosenbaum served on StarVista's Board of Director's from 2008 to 2017.
领英推荐
Interview with David Rosenbaum, Shareholder at McDowall Cotter and Former Board Member of StarVista
1. Can you share a bit about your journey with StarVista and what drew you to become involved with the organization?
In the late 1990's two local non-profit corporations merged, one of them was called Youth & Family Enrichment Services (YFES). When they merged, they hired my wife's firm to do pro-bono work to help them put the companies together. And so my wife went and sat at all the board meetings and helped them put the companies together and did it. Then one day they called my wife and said that they received some subpoenas for their therapists and they want them to produce therapy records and give depositions. My wife said she doesn't do litigation, but her husband over at McDowall Cotter does do litigation. And so the then CEO called me and said that they did not know what to do. The thing is, therapy records are extremely protected under the law, they are like the most private record you can find out there. So, in order for another party to get a hold of those records, they have to establish a good cause to get them. And so our job was to defend those records according to the law. And if they needed to take the deposition of a therapist, to help prepare the therapist and defend them, we defended them as pro-bono work and became their go-to. We did a bunch of pro-bono work and received the Silver Barbell Award by Youth and Family Enrichment Services for providing our services. [Fun Fact: the Silver Barbell sits in McDowall Cotter's lobby to this day!]
And then as the CEO was beginning to decide to move on, he contacted this next CEO. And then the next CEO asked me if I would join the board because our firm had been providing them so much with legal work. I was asked to join the board in 2008. As part of strategic planning through the board of directors, what was YFES changed its name to StarVista.
2. During your time on the Board of Directors, what were some key moments or initiatives that stood out to you as particularly impactful for StarVista and the community it serves?
There was a day where we were having a 'board retreat'. We went to a community center. and I helped us organize a strategic plan to go forward on. This was a big moment because we really sat down and put together a written plan that carried a lot of oomph with it; and it carried the company forward to it's next major moment which was when we hired Sara Mitchell. Hiring Sarah Mitchell was a huge moment for the organization because she has a PhD and amazing leadership skills. She had a passion for her company, the organization, and was instrumental in bringing light, vibrancy, energy, and bringing people to the organization. She transitioned the board from a lot of wonderful people, but predominantly retirees, to bringing on people that were active members of the community. People that really wanted to serve and to do. It was really a profound transition which led to my leaving because the time had come. I would say that the one thing no one will ever know of or see of was that day we had the retreat, and the one thing that everyone will see or will know is the hiring of Sarah Mitchell and how that really changed the whole organization and really propelled it to the 21st century.
3. From your perspective, what sets StarVista apart from other nonprofit organizations, and what makes its approach to supporting individuals and families unique?
Its geographic breadth of service covers the entire county of San Mateo. They cover such a tremendous group of at risk people, particularly youths and children. They sponsor foster youth. They have a house for teenagers that just couldn't live at home so they have a place to live, get organized, and go to school. And for a while, they had an organization for transition housing, where people who aged out of the foster system instead of being told here you are done, they would rent an apartment for a year and a half. They would get a job, get a bank account, and kind of get ready to be an adult. As board directors, they would have us come to each of their different things that they do, so I saw the kids, I saw the parents, and I saw the foster homes. And it's not just about poor people, it is about people with mental health issues too. What makes them unique is that they are everywhere, even sponsoring a series of speeches put together by people at Stanford and others to help de-stress our kids as they go through high school and get through the challenges for getting into University. They put this on at Hillsdale, Serra High School, Sacred Heart and the area. All these great ideas thanks to Sarah Mitchell.
4. As a shareholder at McDowall Cotter, why do you believe it's important for businesses to support organizations like StarVista, and how have you seen this support make a difference?
Everything they say about service and feeling good is really true. When you're in there and you hear the stories from people that just don't have it as lucky as you (and I) do and equal, and you can go and feel like you're making a difference, it's amazing. And it's really cool to meet the 22-30 people you are serving on the board with. They're from different walks of life and completely different backgrounds- from lawyers to accountant to computer programmers to scientists. You make connections this way too, people who become friends, people who become business. There are just so many different things that come from providing and working for a non-profit.
5. What message would you like to share with individuals and businesses considering getting involved with StarVista or supporting its mission in some way?
Whenever you have the opportunity to go and help them out or see something they do, don't miss it.
To support StarVista's mission, individuals can volunteer their time, make financial contributions, spread awareness, attend events, and explore collaboration opportunities. By joining forces, we can all play a role in making a positive impact in the lives of individuals and families in our community, fostering resilience and promoting well-being.
To learn more about volunteering opportunities or to get involved, please visit StarVista's volunteer page or email [email protected].
What Clients Are Saying
Excellent law office and lawyers. To be honest, even with a father who was an attorney at one point, I never knew how much effort attorney's put towards a client's case. It was eye-opening, and I felt grateful to have had such fantastic help.
We want to hear from you here!
Legal Insights
Our latest article reveals the ins and outs of a critical legal tool: the motion to compel. Dive into this informative read to understand how parties in a lawsuit can compel each other to share documents, items, objects, witnesses, written responses, and testimony, unveiling crucial evidence. Whether you're a curious observer or someone facing a legal challenge, this article offers valuable insights to demystify the legal process.
Learn more here.
As we bid farewell to February, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for your continued support and trust in McDowall Cotter. Your partnership is the cornerstone of our success, and we're committed to serving you with excellence. Should you require guidance, have inquiries, or encounter any legal matters, our dedicated team is just a message or call away. Your satisfaction and peace of mind remain our utmost priority.
Stay tuned for forthcoming newsletters where we'll share valuable insights and updates to keep you informed. Until then, take care and stay well!