Law Offices of Joseph C. Markowitz: Contact and Biographical Information

CONTACT INFORMATION

Law Offices of Joseph C. Markowitz
444 S. Flower St., Suite 1750
Los Angeles, CA 90071

213-437-1720

jcmarkowitz@gmail.com

BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE

Joseph C. Markowitz has over 30 years of experience as a business trial lawyer. He has represented clients ranging from individuals and small businesses to Fortune 500 corporations. He started practicing with a boutique litigation firm in New York City, then was a partner in a large international firm both in New York then in Los Angeles, then returned to practicing with a small firm and on his own. In addition to general commercial litigation, Mr. Markowitz has expertise in intellectual property, employment law, entertainment law, real estate, and bankruptcy litigation. Mr. Markowitz has managed his own firm since 1994. His office was in the historic Fine Arts Building in downtown Los Angeles for more than ten years, until moving in 2005 to the “LA Law” Building three blocks away.   He currently shares a suite with three other lawyers, allowing access to additional resources and areas of expertise when needed.

    Mr. Markowitz takes a practical, problem-solving approach to trial practice. His appreciation of the costs and risks of litigation leads him to try to resolve disputes without going to court if possible, to minimize the disruption a lawsuit can cause an ongoing business, to avoid litigation over issues of marginal importance to the company's business objectives, to take into consideration the costs and benefits of any particular step in a case, and to design creative strategies that push the dispute toward a favorable resolution. When winning the case becomes the primary imperative, his extensive trial, arbitration and appellate experience provides confidence in his ability to prevail.

    Mr. Markowitz was trained as a mediator more than 12 years ago, and has conducted a substantial number of mediations as a member of the Mediation Panels in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, the District Court and Bankruptcy Court in the Central District of California, as well as private mediations. In 2010, he became a board member of the Southern California Mediation Association.

    Clients should expect a high level of dedication and service when they hire an individual attorney or small firm. Joe Markowitz’s goal is to offer the high quality of analysis and written work product associated with large, prestigious firms, combined with the personal attention and efficiency of a small firm.

RESUME

Education
B.A., Columbia University, 1976
J.D. with honors, University of Chicago Law School, 1979

Work Experience
Law Clerk, Hon. Bernard M. Decker, Northern District of Illinois (1979-80)
Associate, then Partner, Parker Auspitz & Delehanty (1980-87)
Partner, Morrison & Foerster (1987-93)
Partner, Pettis, Tester, Kruse & Krinsky (1993-94)
Partner, Markowitz & Blasberg, Markowitz & Fernandez (1994-2001)
Law Offices of Joseph C. Markowitz (2001-present)

Bar admissions
New York (1980)
California (1990)
numerous federal courts

Memberships
American Bar Association
Los Angeles County Bar Association
Southern California Mediation Association
Mediation Panels: Central District, Central District Bankruptcy, and Los Angeles County Superior Courts
Los Angeles Conservancy
Alamitos Bay Yacht Club

Publications
Plea Bargaining, An Annotated Bibliography (American Judicature Society)(1978)
Constitutional Challenges to Gerrymanders, 45 University of Chicago Law Review 845 (1978)
Report on the Torture Victims Protection Act, Ass'n of the Bar of the City of New York (1987)(co-author)
"The Decline in the Rule of Law in Malaysia and Singapore," 45 The Record of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York 924 (1990) and 46 The Record 5 (1991) (co-author)
Pre-Dispute Arbitration Agreements in Consumer Cases, ABA Litigation Section Conflict Management newsletter (Spring 2008)
Two blogs, in addition to this one: Mediation's Place, and Hope and Change

Significant Published Appellate Decisions
Christianson v. Colt Industries Operating Corp, 486 U.S. 400 (1988)
Integrated Circuits Unlimited v. E.F. Johnson Co., 875 F.2d 1040 (2d Cir. 1989)
Bazak International Corp. v. Mast Industries, Inc., 73 N.Y.2d 113 (1989)
Solorzano v. Superior Court, 18 Cal. App. 4th 603 (1993)
Abramson v. Juniper Networks, Inc., 115 Cal. App.4th 638 (6th Dist. 2004)
J.C. Gury Co. v. Nippon Carbide Industries (USA), Inc., 152 Cal. App. 4th 1300 (2007)

Valenzuela v. Giumarra Vineyards Corp., 619 F. Supp.2d 985 (E.D. Cal. 2008)

DIRECTIONS AND PARKING

444 S. Flower St. (also known as the "LA Law" Building) is next door to the tallest building west of the Mississippi, and across the street from the Central Public Library, so it is not hard to find. It can be a bit confusing to get to, however, because of all the one way streets downtown. Check Google maps or follow directions below.

Driving Directions to 444 S. Flower St.

From the Harbor Freeway heading north: Exit 3rd Street, turn right on Flower St.

From the Pasadena Freeway heading south: Exit 3rd St., left on Beaudry, left on ramp over freeway toward Flower St., right on Flower St.

From the Hollywood Freeway heading east: Exit at Temple Street, go straight on Hope Street, bear right down the hill until it turns into Flower Street.

From the Hollywood Freeway heading west: Exit at Grand Ave., turn right on 1st St., left on Hope, bear right down the hill to Flower St.

Parking

Parking is available in the building (but it's really expensive). Enter from Flower St. (which is one way heading south)

Arco Plaza garage (which for some reason is actually called City National garage now) just north of 444 St. Flower. Get your car washed one floor above the entrance for about $15, and parking is free!

Under the library (entrance on Flower St. just south of 5th St.). Arrive before 9:30 a.m. and parking is $13 for the day. If you have a library card, you can get it validated in the library and park for 3 hours for about $9. Otherwise that garage is really expensive also.

Cheapest option: Lot on 3rd and Beaudry across the street from the school district headquarters and next door to LA Center studios. Only $6 for parking, but it's a long hike across the freeway.

Various other lots and garages within a couple blocks walk: Pershing Square garage, World Trade Center garage, etc.

Public Transportation

Take the Red Line to either Pershing Square or 7th St. Metro. Destination is about a 5 minute walk from each stop.

From Union Station: take the "B" Dash bus. Get off just after the bus turns right from Grand Ave. to 5th St.