David J. Castenholz, Esq.

711 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 427, Huntington Beach, CA 92648

(714) 465-2079 * Email: dcd7ccc6@westpost.net
PROFILE
I am an intelligent, well-educated, experienced, and creative legal problem-solv
er. I use thoughtful and thorough analysis with careful consideration of cost an
d time constraints to produce effective results. Broad-based knowledge of the la
w, demonstrated legal abilities, experienced in plaintiff and defense litigation
from pleadings through post-trial matters and appeals, significant transactiona
l experience. Extensive representation of businesses and non-profit organization
s. Member: California and Massachusetts Bars.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Law Offices of David J. Castenholz, Huntington Beach, CA Attorney, 1989-Present
Successful general litigation practice in state and federal courts involving bus
iness, real estate, banking, bankruptcy, intellectual property, entertainment, i
nternational law, personal injury, products liability, estate planning, probate,
family law, and criminal matters. General counsel to businesses in real estate
lending/development/management/construction, manufacturing, insurance, printing,
entertainment, hotel management, restaurant, financial, and accounting industri
es. Experience in a wide variety of transactional matters.
* Numerous jury and non-jury trials and arbitrations
* Extensive mediation experience resulting in favorable settlements for clients
* Saved client insurance broker millions of dollars by obtaining coverage, inclu
ding defense costs, after being sued by numerous plaintiffs in a series of cases
in connection with investments sold by client's sales team. All cases settled w
ithout trial on favorable terms
* Successfully defended truck manufacturing client in lawsuit based on claims of
breach of contract and fraud and obtained defense judgment after 7-day bench tr
ial in Los Angeles Superior Court
* Obtained defense judgment for client in alleged real estate fraud case
* Lead attorney in class action of 150 homeowners resulting in multi-million dol
lar settlement
* Utilized creative solutions, including request for in chambers interview of mi
nor son, resulting in custody judgment for father after trial
* Served as general counsel to Pacific Southwest District of the Church of the B
rethren, a district of 26 churches in California and Arizona; extensive travel t
o member congregations; numerous consultations with church leaders and pastors
* Served as corporate broker and general counsel to Residential Property Lenders
, a real estate sales and mortgage brokerage firm; oversaw compliance issues wit
h the California Department of Real Estate and other regulatory agencies
* Served as of counsel to the Law Offices of William R. Lively & Associates, a g
eneral law practice
* Successful in attracting clients and generating repeat business through honest
y, integrity, hard work, and results
Christensen, White, Miller, Fink & Jacobs, Los Angeles, CA Associate Attorney, 1
988-1989
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton, Los Angeles, CA Associate Attorney, 1987-19
88
EDUCATION
Boston University School of Law/Graduate School of Management, Boston, MA JD/MBA
, 1986
* Accepted into prestigious JD/MBA dual-degree program
* Thesis: "How the Legal Order Caused Hunger in Ethiopia"
Stanford University, Stanford, CA Bachelor of Arts, 1977
* Completed Bachelor of Arts degree in the School of Humanities and Sciences
* Study Abroad: Stanford Overseas Studies Program, Vienna, Austria, 1974-1975
University of Austria, Vienna, Austria Coursework, 1975-1976
* Admitted to study at national university
* All lectures, classes, and coursework in German
AWARDS
* Fulbright Scholarship Program, Teaching Assistantship, Vienna, Austria; requir
ed fluency in German and superior teaching skills
* Research Assistantships, Boston University School of Management and Harvard Bu
siness School
* Resident Assistantship, Branner Hall, Stanford University
* Gordon Kimball Memorial Scholarship, Stanford University
HUMANITARIAN ACTIVITIES
Global Partners for Development, a California nonprofit corporation 1979-Present
Throughout my life, I have felt the obligation to help those less privileged tha
n myself. Since 1979, I have actively and financially supported Global Partners
for Development, which is dedicated to helping the poorest communities in East A
frica lift themselves permanently out of poverty. Through the creation and fundi
ng of projects to build schools and medical clinics; provide water, livestock, a
nd medical supplies; and support women's income generation, we have assisted and
contributed to substantially improving the lives of hundreds of thousands of Ea
st Africans. Since 1979, I have:
* Served as volunteer president, director, treasurer, general counsel, and fundr
aiser;
* Overseen the operation and development of the organization from infancy to fin
ancial viability and sustainable long-term growth;
* Chaired and served on several key committees, including the finance, audit, in
vestment, endowment, fundraising, marketing, projects, strategic plan, annual re
port, and travel committees;
* Provided visionary leadership to create and implement a strategic plan which i
ncreased annual income from $20,000 to over $5 million;
* Designed, implemented, and managed a professional fundraising campaign which c
ulminated in the hiring of a development professional and the creation of an Adv
isory Board, a major gifts program, a foundational grants program, and an annual
gift catalog;
* Secured donors who have personally given and raised over $10 million to benefi
t the organization;
* Secured organizational infrastructure grants from the Kellogg Foundation and S
econd Harvest;
* Overseen the design and implementation of a strategic plan to improve organiza
tional effectiveness;
* Overseen the creation and design of the organization's first annual report;
* Traveled to East Africa five times to meet with community leaders and monitor
projects.
OTHER INFORMATION
Language Skills:
Fluent in German; basic Spanish and Italian
Personal:
Marathon runner with a personal best of 2 hours 22 minutes. Semi-professional ba
sketball, Team Tyrolia, National B League, Austria. Charter member, Association
of Surfing Lawyers. Private piano studies, golf, travel.