Theodore J. Schneider practices in the areas of business and corporate transactions, employment law counseling, municipal and public law, real estate and land use, and homeowner associations. Ted began his legal career in 2002 when he joined the Los Angeles office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, L.L.P. before relocating to Ventura County to join his father in practice.
Business & Corporate Transactions
Ted advises and represents small local businesses as well as publicly-traded multinational companies, entrepreneurs and non-profit corporations in various corporate transactions, including entity formation and selection, mergers and acquisitions (stock and asset sales), and corporate governance. Ted works closely with his clients to draft, review, and negotiate complex contracts related to sales of goods and services, buy-sell agreements, equipment lease agreements, service contracts, releases and waivers, shareholder agreements, LLC operating agreements, partnership agreements, and licensing agreements.
Real Estate Transactions
Ted provides representation to developers, business owners, landlords, tenants, buyers and sellers in connection with residential and commercial real estate transactions, including negotiating, drafting and reviewing contracts, easements, licenses, coordinating and procuring financing, obtaining and reviewing title reports, and closing the transaction. Ted also assists and advises clients in connection with code enforcement matters, development projects, construction contracts, development agreements, and applying for and processing entitlements from local government agencies, including attending hearings and preparing applications.
Employment Counseling
Ted assists his clients, with respect to all aspects of personnel matters, including employee discipline, wrongful termination, retaliation, discrimination, hostile work environment, sexual harassment, leaves of absence, Americans with Disabilities Act, Fair Employment and Housing Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, and the California Labor Code. Ted also drafts and reviews employee handbooks and employment policies for his clients. Ted provides California’s mandatory two-hour training for supervisory employees in the identification, investigation and prevention of sexual harassment in the workplace. Ted manages independent investigations, coordinates with applicable government agencies and resolves employee claims before they escalate into lawsuits. Ted has drafted and negotiated employment agreements for executives of multi-national corporations and municipalities.
Municipalities And Public Agencies
Ted is experienced in the representation of cities, joint powers associations, special districts and other public agencies. He previously held two public office positions, including City Attorney for the City of Fillmore, California and Assistant City Attorney for the City of Ojai, California. In recent years, Ted’s municipal and public law practice emphasized zoning and land use, economic development, affordable and market-rate housing developments, and mixed-use and commercial projects. Ted represents districts in connection with contract negotiations and compliance matters. Ted is often called upon to render legal opinions for public entities in connection with purchase and financing transactions. His government entity experience also includes assisting public agencies and districts with general plans and codes, zoning, public parks, subdivisions and complex real property acquisitions, exchanges and conveyances. As a city attorney, Ted regularly assisted his municipal clients with the Political Reform Act (conflicts of interest), Brown Act (open meeting laws), Public Records Act and elections laws. Ted also utilizes his municipal law experience to assist property owners with code enforcement issues.
Ted has extensive experience in advising public agencies, as well as developers and contractors, with respect to navigating public works bidding and contracting laws, including prevailing wage laws. Ted is versed in the Tort Claims Act and risk management, mobile home park law, development agreements, the California Environmental Protection Act (CEQA), and municipal election procedures and challenges.
Homeowners Associations General Counsel
Ted provides comprehensive legal services for community associations. Ted’s expertise in real estate, corporate law, non-profit law, employment law, municipal law, and the Davis-Stirling Act combine to provide the most effective and efficient representation of his HOA clients. He has a wealth of experience in this field and advises his clients on the challenges of association management.
Ted has vast experience in amending, restating, and interpreting association governing documents, including CC&Rs, bylaws, election rules, and rules and regulations. He also assists his HOA clients with the enforcement of violations of association governing documents and provides collection strategies. Ted has counseled a wide array of community associations, including condominiums, planned unit developments, communities with common area recreational facilities, sub and master associations, age-restricted communities, and mixed-use associations.