$ 350-500 per hour
About Elaine
Biography
Elaine Dai is the founding attorney of InspiraLaw. For over a decade, Elaine has advised clients throughout California with a focus on businesses and tax-exempt organizations.
Over the past 8 years, Elaine has served as General Counsel to the Music Teachers' Association of California, and its supporting organization, the MTAC Foundation, handling all legal affairs for both organizations including corporate governance, tax-exempt and regulatory compliance, commercial transactions, intellectual property, and risk management. MTAC is a professional association representing 4,700 members and 64 affiliate Branches throughout the state of California.
Elaine was the CEO and coFounder of EventLoko, a mobile web app that helped people find, discover, and share local family-friendly events and activities. She oversaw product development, finance, user growth, marketing, and legal affairs. Launched in private beta, EventLoko grew to cover 150,000 events in all major California cities, and major cities across the United States including Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston, New York, Philadelphia, Portland, Seattle, and Washington DC.
Elaine previously worked as a corporate transactions attorney at Morgan Lewis, an AmLaw 100 firm, prior to launching a private law practice. In a former life, she also owned a private music teaching studio in Los Angeles and Vancouver. Elaine leverages her extensive experience in the law, business, and the arts to deliver outside-the-box solutions and services to her innovative, trailblazing clients.
Ms. Dai holds a law degree from the University of British Columbia, where she had the honor of serving as Editor-in-Chief for the UBC Law Review in its 50th Anniversary year, hosting legal luminaries such as the Right Honorable Beverly McLachlin, who later became Canada’s first female Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, and former Prime Minister Kim Campbell, Canada’s first female Head of State. Elaine also holds a Master’s degree in Music Education from Boston University, a Bachelor’s degree in History and English Literature from UBC, and a Bachelor’s degree in Music, Piano Performance and Pedagogy, from Mount St. Mary’s College. Elaine also completed an intensive executive training program at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business on Negotiation and Power. She is admitted to practice law in California and New York.
Elaine is a strong believer in meaningful community involvement, and has served on the Board of Directors of several non-profit arts and music organizations. A passionate proponent of education, Elaine has also undertaken various roles with the Palo Alto Unified School District, serving on School Site Council, Principal Selection Committee, and Academic Assessment Report Committee. She has also worked as a credentialed substitute teacher in elementary, middle school, and high school.
She continues to perform in the community as a pianist and music coach. When she has the chance, she loves to read, cook, bike, and hike with her family.
Practice Areas
2
Practice Areas
Business
50%
10 years
Fees and Rates
Cost
Hourly Rates
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
- Credit Card
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in California for 25 years
State: California
Acquired: 2000
No misconduct found
Licensed in New York for 26 years
State: New York
Acquired: 2000
No misconduct found
Location
InspiraLaw
855 El Camino Real, #13A-200, Palo Alto, CA, 94301
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Elaine Hall-Yee Dai's Reviews
Avvo Review Score
6 Client Reviews
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Practice Areas
Showing 1 - 2 of 2 reviews | General Knowledge
Posted by anonymous | March 02, 2017 | Hired Attorney | Contracts & Agreements
Look no further if you want a highly competent, trustworthy, and responsive attorney!
Elaine reviewed and revised several lease agreements for me and I find great peace of mind knowing that these agreements have been vetted by such a knowledgeable attorney. You will find that Elaine is not only competent, thorough, and very responsive to your questions and concerns; she is a pleasure ...
Elaine Dai
Replied last March 02, 2017Thank you, it was a pleasure working with you too!
Posted by Summer Williams | March 02, 2017
Extremely thorough and detailed
I needed legal answers and other lawyers gave me a general idea of what needed to be done but Elaine Dai gave a thorough and detailed step by step explanations along with the necessary links I would need. This was extremely helpful to me and I've very grateful.
Elaine Dai
Replied last March 02, 2017Thank you, my pleasure!
Elaine Hall-Yee Dai's Lawyer Endorsements
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer. She has an excellent reputation in the community and is a brilliant advocate for her clients."
"I endorse this lawyer."
Elizabeth Peck
Public finance and tax exempt finance lawyer | Nov 27
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer; she takes initiative and is motivated, and is a good choice for businesses in need of her types of service."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"Elaine has an impressively diverse background, having worked with companies ranging from tax-exempt non-profits to some of the largest corporations. I endorse Elaine Hall-Yee Dai."
"I endorse this business savvy lawyer."
Thomas Walker
Public finance and tax exempt finance lawyer | Sep 08
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer, excellent credentials, a specialist in an important subject area for many SF Bay Area organizations."
Robert Vantress
Public finance and tax exempt finance lawyer | Sep 07
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"Elaine is smart and hard-working and is the right lawyer for non-profits and small/medium businesses."
"I endorse this lawyer."
Ignascio Camarena
Corporate and incorporation lawyer | Dec 07
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer."
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Experience
Honors
2017
Lawyers of Distiction, Lawyers of Distinction
2017
Distinguished Lawyer, The Expert Network - Distinguished Lawyer
2005
STAR Teaching Award, Music Teachers National Association
1998
Summer Associate Law Scholarship, Fraser Milner
1995
Law Scholarship, Ladner Downs-Osgoode Hall
1995
Dean's List, University of British Columbia
1993
Summer Scholarship, University of British Columbia
1991
District Scholarship in Music, Government of British Columbia
Work Experience
2017 - Present
Commercial Transactions Attorney, Axiom Legal
2008 - Present
General Counsel, MTAC Foundation
2008 - Present
General Counsel, Music Teachers Association of California
2002 - Present
Founding Attorney, InspiraLaw
2017 - 2017
Commercial Transactions Attorney, Genentech (Contract through Axiom)
2000 - 2002
Attorney, Morgan Lewis & Bockius
Associations
2015 - Present
Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Silicon ValleyMember
2014 - Present
Palo Alto Bar AssociationMember
2014 - Present
California Society of Association ExecutivesMember
2008 - Present
California Lawyers for the ArtsMember
2000 - Present
State Bar of CaliforniaMember
2000 - Present
New York State Bar AssociationMember
2000 - Present
American MensaMember
2012 - 2014
American Bar AssociationMember
2010 - 2013
American Society of Association ExecutivesMember
Sample of Legal Cases
Breach of Contract
Settled in favor of client.
Education
2012
Stanford University
Certificate - Executive Program for Women's Leaders
2009
Boston University
Masters in Music
2005
Mount St. Mary's College
Bachelor's of Music
1999
University of British Columbia School of Law
JD - Juris Doctor
1995
University of British Columbia
Bachelor of Arts
Speaking Engagements
2016
Women's Startup Lab - Batch 10
Mistakes and Risks to Avoid for Startup Entrepreneurs
2013
San Mateo MTAC Branch Meeting
The Legal Aspects of Business Marketing & Social Media
2013
Presidents' Meeting
The Joy of Leadership
2013
Business Meeting
How to Start a Creative Business
2013
Business Meeting
Corporate Governance Duties & Ethics of Non-Profit Boards of Directors
2012
Presidents Meeting
Protecting Your Intellectual Property
Publications
2013
California Music Teacher
Branching Out: Music That Keeps Giving
2012
California Music Teacher
Fine Tune Your Studio Policy
2011
California Music Teacher
Copyright Essentials for Music Teachers
Languages
English
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Answers
Q&A
Can I use the term "university" as a part of what we are calling Mental Health University?
23 Feb 2018
Q&A
Currently a For-Profit Sole Proprietorship. Why should I be a Non-Profit?
20 Feb 2018
Q&A
Can Non for profit orgs. refuse to help people who come to them for help?
23 Feb 2018