Megan Zavieh is the creator of The Playbook: The California Bar Discipline System Practice Guide. Her practice is 100% focused on California State Bar defense. Megan believes that no attorney should face the discipline system without an ally, and that ally should not judge or use fear to motivate her client.
Megan is immersed in the world of legal ethics. She has recently served on the board of the Association of Discipline Defense Counsel (a trade association of state bar defense lawyers in California), is a member of the Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers (a national organization of ethics lawyers), and the Immediate Past Chair of the Solo and Small Firm Section of the State Bar of California. Megan writes for Lawyerist and Attorney at Work on ethics issues.
Megan earned her J.D. from the University of California at Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall) in 1999, graduating Order of the Coif. After clerking for the Honorable Evan J. Wallach at the U.S. Court of International Trade in New York, she went on to practice securities litigation at three top firms in the New York area.
Megan's practice focuses on California State Bar defense and general ethics. She represents lawyers at all stages of State Bar investigation; her work includes drafting responses to letters of investigation, negotiating settlements with the State Bar, negotiating entry into the Lawyers Assistance Program/Alternate Discipline Program for attorneys suffering from addiction or mental illness, trying cases before the State Bar Court, and assisting in probation compliance for attorneys who have been sanctioned. She also works as associated counsel with self-represented attorneys facing disciplinary charges -- a unique way to get assistance through the discipline system without the cost of full scope representation. Attorneys retain her to prepare document productions and written responses to the Office of the Chief Trial Counsel and the State Bar Court.
Practice areas
California State Bar defense, General Ethics Law
Languages spoken
English
State | Status | Acquired | Updated |
---|---|---|---|
GA | Active Member in Good Standing | 2013 | 04/17/2022 |
NJ | Active | 2005 | 04/06/2022 |
NY | Currently registered | 2001 | 03/03/2022 |
CA | Active | 1999 | 02/07/2022 |
Legal answers | 33 |
Legal guides | 0 |
Award name | Grantor | Date Granted |
---|---|---|
Order of the Coif | University of California at Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law | 1999 |
American Jurisprudence Award | University of California at Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall) | 1998 |
Prosser Award | University of California at Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall) | 1998 |
Title | Company name | Duration |
---|---|---|
California State Bar Defense Attorney | Megan Zavieh, Attorney-At-Law | 2010 - Present |
Litigation Associate; Senior Staff Attorney | Dechert LLP | 2005 - 2009 |
Litigation Associate | K&L Gates LLP | 2003 - 2005 |
Litigation Associate | Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP | 2001 - 2003 |
Judicial Law Clerk | The United States Court Of International Trade | 1999 - 2001 |
Association name | Position name | Duration |
---|---|---|
Association of Discipline Defense Counsel | Second Vice President | 2016 - Present |
State Bar of California | Vice Chair, Solo and Small Firm Section | 2013 - Present |
Association of Discipline Defense Counsel | Member | 2013 - Present |
Ecology Law Quarterly | Associate Editor | 1998 - 1999 |
Berkeley Journal of International Law | Associate Editor | 1997 - 1998 |
Publication name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
Lawyerist | Why Lawyers Need to Stand By Apple | 2016 |
State Bar of California, Big News | Getting Paid as a Solo Without Breaching the Ethics Rules | 2016 |
Lawyerist | Legal Competence in the Digital Age | 2015 |
Attorney at Work | Recovery After Bar Discipline | 2015 |
Attorneyatwork.com | Five Ways to Improve Client Communication | 2013 |
The Lawyerist | Responding to an Ethics Complaint: A How-To Guide | 2013 |
The Lawyerist | Minimize the Risk of an Ethics Complaint | 2013 |
California Lawyer Magazine | Virtual Law Down Under | 2012 |
Hedge Funds Review | Uncle Sam Is Watching You | 2006 |
Banking & Financial Services Policy Review | Corporate Responsibility and Accounting Reform | 2002 |
Securities Law Developments | Summary of Anti-Money Laundering Provisions of USA Patriot Act of 2001 | 2002 |
Review of Securities & Commodities Regulation | The Extraterritorial Application of United States Securities Laws to Punish Insider Trading | 2002 |
School name | Degree | Graduated |
---|---|---|
University of California at Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law | JD | 1999 |
California State University, Humboldt State University | BA | 1996 |
Conference name | Title | Date |
---|---|---|
Lawyerist Podcast | Apple vs. the FBI, with Megan Zavieh | 2016 |
State Bar of California (Annual Meeting) | What Do You Mean You're My Client? | 2015 |
State Bar of California (Solo and Small Firm Summit) | What Do You Mean You're My Client? | 2015 |
Webinar | Client Engagement Agreements: Ethical Considerations for Counsel | 2014 |
State Bar of California | Facebook Spoliation and Other Pitfalls of Social Media | 2014 |
State Bar of California | Legal Ethics for Non-litigators in the Client Lifecycle: Part 1 - Finding Clients | 2014 |
State Bar of California | Legal Ethics for Non-litigators in the Client Lifecycle: Part 2 - Representing Clients | 2014 |
Case name | Outcome |
---|---|
In re Member of California State Bar | Investigation closed without charges |
In re Member of California State Bar | Postponed disbarment of attorney for 18 months beyond expected disbarment date |
In re Member of California State Bar | Negotiated settlement with State Bar |
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Renee Kennedy, Ethics and professional responsibility Attorney on Mar 4, 2016
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer. Ms. Zavieh is sharp! She knows the law, thinks quickly on her feet, and gets the job done right the first time. I highly recommend her. She is very well-respected.
Eleanor Southers, Ethics and professional responsibility Attorney on Mar 4, 2016
Relationship: Worked together on matter
I endorse this lawyer. I have worked for several years now with Megan at the CA State Bar Solo and Small Firm Executive Committee. Megan is a highly competent resourceful attorney who is willing to work hard and take leadership. I have referred matters to her with the knowledge that my referrals will receive great service. It would be hard to find a better attorney for personal but professional help with a legal matter within her areas of the law.
Christopher White, Ethics and professional responsibility Attorney on Oct 26, 2019
Relationship: Friend
Megan cares for her clients and for the future of the legal profession. I unequivocally can recommend Megan.
Terry Szucsko, Ethics and professional responsibility Attorney on Mar 4, 2016
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer.
Eleanor Southers, Ethics and professional responsibility Attorney on Mar 4, 2016
Relationship: Worked together on matter
I endorse this lawyer. I have worked for several years now with Megan at the CA State Bar Solo and Small Firm Executive Committee. Megan is a highly competent resourceful attorney who is willing to work hard and take leadership. I have referred matters to her with the knowledge that my referrals will receive great service. It would be hard to find a better attorney for personal but professional help with a legal matter within her areas of the law.
Renee Kennedy, Ethics and professional responsibility Attorney on Mar 4, 2016
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer. Ms. Zavieh is sharp! She knows the law, thinks quickly on her feet, and gets the job done right the first time. I highly recommend her. She is very well-respected.
Evan Oshan, Ethics and professional responsibility Attorney on Jan 26, 2013
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
I endorse this lawyer. An honorable attorney.
Michael Doland, Litigation Attorney on Nov 6, 2012
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
Although Ms. Zavieh is new to the Avvo community, her answers are succinct, accurate, analytic and customized to the needs of the Avvo askers. These are exactuly the qualities that any client would be looking for when hiring an attorney. Welcome!
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