Butterfield Schechter LLP is pleased to announce that partners Marc S. Schechter and Paul D. Woodard were selected as finalists for 2019 San Diego Business Journal Leaders in Law Award.
Partner Marc S. Schechter is an outstanding attorney in the areas of employee benefits, employee stock ownership plans, pension and profit sharing plans, ERISA, ERISA litigation and business and tax law. Mr. Schechter is a nationally renowned speaker and continues to educate others on employee benefit matters. His practice and dedication to empowering small business owners to succeed and build their legacy is inspiring.
In addition to Mr. Schechter's successful practice as an ERISA attorney, he lectures on employee benefit law topics for a wide range of organizations. He has written articles on Employee Benefit topics for various periodicals. And he has also taught the ERISA/Employee Benefits course as adjunct professor at California Western School of Law. Mr. Schechter has generously supported St. Jude's Children's Hospital and the Transverse Myelitis Association.
Mr. Schechter encourages his employees to follow his example in leadership and education, and his commitment to providing top-notch employee benefit legal services. He is dedicated to strengthening connections with the community and helping employers achieve their employee benefit goals.
Partner Paul D. Woodard exemplifies leadership as a lawyer and community member. Mr. Woodard is a skilled ERISA and employee benefits lawyer and litigator. He also excels in his practice counseling individuals and businesses on matters including purchases and sales of commercial and residential properties including negotiating the letter of intent, drafting and reviewing purchase and sale agreements, assisting throughout the escrow closing process and negotiating and reviewing commercial lease agreement terms and preparing amendments and renewals to leases. Mr. Woodard believes in empowering small business owners and also offers estate planning in the legal services that he provides to his clients.
As an excellent steward of his community, Mr. Woodard has co-chaired the Wills for Heroes event with the San Diego County Bar Association for several years providing invaluable estate planning documents for first responders free of charge. He is also committed to diversity and inclusion as the Vice President of the Central San Diego Black Chamber of Commerce, even spearheading a joint mixer with other minority chambers in the region. Mr. Woodard's leadership in the field of employee benefits law includes his role as President of the Western Pension & Benefits Council San Diego Chapter where he brings important seminars to industry professionals to keep abreast of updates and developments. He further provides his knowledge and insight to shape curriculum for future paralegals as a member of the San Diego Miramar College Paralegal Advisory Board.
Mr. Woodard was recently named as a partner of Butterfield Schechter LLP. His most recent success was prevailing in an Appellate Court (Second Division) decision remanding the case to the trial court, in the matter of O'Brien v. AMBS Diagnostics, LLC (2019) _ Cal.App.5th _ , 2019 WL 3729478 (C.A. 2nd, August 8, 2019.).
The San Diego Business Journal's 2019 Leaders in Law Awards showcase the most notable in-house general counsel and lawyers throughout the region. The Leaders in Law Awards recognize contributions to company growth, leadership and community involvement by top legal professionals in the San Diego area. A panel of independent judges, drawn from the region's top leaders, will select candidates who have a stellar track reputation and stood apart in the ranks. There will be a reception and awards ceremony held at The University Club Atop Symphony Towers on Thursday, October 24th.
