Chase Law Group, PC

Attorney DeAnn Flores Chase has practiced law for more than 25 years and has owned Chase Law Group in the South Bay since 2007. She has been recognized and awarded many honors, including the Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating for the highest ethical standards and professional ability, the Longstanding Local Business Award by the city of Manhattan Beach for more than a decade of dedicated service to the community, and the Los Angeles Business Journal.

What sets your law firm apart from others?

I am not your typical lawyer. I don’t sit at a desk in a high-rise office building with glass-walled conference rooms. My office is local and accessible. I am an entrepreneur. My clients appreciate that I talk to them as a peer because I understand what it means to run a business. I provide not only legal advice but also strategic consultation to help clients grow their businesses. It is my mission to give business owners peace of mind knowing I have their backs so they can focus on growing their businesses. 

I am a generalist in a world of specialists. There are so many different kinds of lawyers, and clients often either don’t know what kind they need or their legal matters are spread out between several law firms. We provide a range of practice specialties under one roof, including LLC and corporate formation, partnerships, contracts, trademarks, employment, franchise and real estate.

Who are your clients?

We work with growing businesses. Our sweet spot is businesses that have been operating for three to five years. We provide value by helping clean up their business structures, implementing legal structures to help them scale and grow, as well as securing their brand through trademarks. We work with clients across many fields: dentists, chiropractors, general contractors, and professionals in the areas of fitness, entertainment, marketing and real estate. 

What is the biggest mistake business owners make? 

Improperly classifying employees as independent contractors. In California, every worker you hire to perform services for your business is presumed to be an employee. In order to have a proper independent contractor relationship, the worker must meet all parts of a three-part “ABC” test or fall within one of several exceptions that are highly fact-specific and narrowly interpreted. Failure to properly classify workers can lead to lawsuits, audits, fines and penalties. If a worker is truly an employee, it is critical that a business has a comprehensive employment program, including an employee handbook and other policies and procedures. We help our clients properly classify independent contractors and implement employment programs.