Services

California Dental Law Firm

For Practices

With extensive experience as a corporate attorney, trust Cecilia’s expertise to assist your dental, veterinarian and optometry practice.

Practice Purchase and Sale

Our firm represents dentists selling and acquiring their dental practices. Leverage our strong legal experience in the sector, including mergers and acquisition. Each transaction is unique and complicated in their own ways and Cecilia Chen will go to the extra mile to ensure that your interests are protected and taking your transaction across the finish line. Many issues require special attention and negotiation such as restrictive covenants, uncompleted dental work, retreatment, patient credits and refunds, accounts receivable, referral sources, and insurance plan transfers.

Partnership Buy-Outs or Formation

Whether it’s a group practice or association of two or more doctors operating a practice, having a written comprehensive partnership agreement is extremely important to cover issues such as death and disability, buy-sell rights, compensation and partner draws, financing issues, etc. Cecilia can also assist existing partners in negotiating buy-in or buy-out terms, and drafting of associated agreements to effectuate the transition.

Practice Start-up

Cecilia works closely with clients to provide all legal support in practice startups. From setting up a professional corporation, review, negotiating contracts and leases, and patient forms and employment agreements. Cecilia also offers a network of professionals who can assist you in setting up your practice quickly and efficiently.

Contracts

Including services in drafting and negotiating contracts such as: Associate Agreements, Space Sharing Agreements, and Employment Agreements.

Real Estate

Cecilia regularly assists clients in purchase and sale of medical building and commercial real estate as well as construction and permanent financing. Our firm also have the expertise to draft and negotiate leases on behalf of owner/landlords with retail, industrial and office tenants.

Leases Review and Negotiation

Cecilia has a strong real estate background and will aggressively negotiate leasing terms that will not only protect your investment and practice, but also how it might affect your future buyer/lease assignee. A lease that contains hostile terms against tenants could affect your ability to sell your practice and transfer the lease in the future.

Buyers

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Estate Planning

We cannot stress the importance of estate planning enough in preserving your practice value and transition in the unforeseen event of death and incapacity.

Wills & Estates

Our firm has the expertise in representing clients in drafting of wills, trusts, and other estate planning documents to avoid the expensive and time-consuming process probate process and save on estate taxes.

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About the Firm

Cecilia Chen received her law degree from American University Washington College of Law in District of Columbia and undergraduate degree from Boston University in Boston Massachusetts. While at American University, Ms. Chen was an Associate Editor of the International Law Journal, and graduated at the top one third of her class Ms. Chen’s legal experience is diverse. Prior to starting her own firm, she worked at two corporate boutique firms in Virginia and San Diego in the following practice areas: complex Mergers & Acquisition transactions involving over $100 million dollar deal size; corporate financing transactions representing start-up companies to raise funding with venture capital firms and private equity investors; commercial lease drafting and negotiation representing large anchor tenants.

In specific, Cecilia Chen provides counsel to clients in acquisition and sale transactions, partnership agreements, corporate formation, space sharing agreements, office leases, and estate planning. Ms. Chen is admitted to the bars of the States of Virginia and California, and is an active member of the San Diego County Bar Association and Lawyer’s Club. Cecilia resides in San Diego with her husband and their daughter, and enjoys traveling, cooking, volunteering, and spending time with her family when not working.

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“I am writing with my highest recommendation for Cecilia Chen’s services, specifically for helping with a dental practice transition or purchase. Cecilia was extremely knowledgeable about the entire office transition process and she helped me from the initial letter of intent, to the lease agreement, and finally to the purchase agreement. She was very responsive to all of my questions and concerns, and would even email me back around midnight some nights. Cecilia is not afraid to stand up for her clients, especially with the tricky negotiations that come with buying a dental practice. She had my best interests in mind the entire time and did not back down until a fair agreement was reached. Her foresight in the negotiations with the letter of intent helped avoid complications down the road when the lease agreement was being negotiated. Cecilia also took the time to explain the final documents page by page, and interpreted the legal jargon so that I fully understood the agreements before signing.

I have been extremely pleased with Cecilia’s services, and I have already recommended her to several colleagues.”

Meghan Toland, D.M.D.

“Cecilia Chen helped me with the recent sale of my practice. She made the entire process clear and easy. She is always available, well informed and offers great service at a reasonable fee. She was a great help throughout the negotiations and I would highly recommend her to anyone wishing to buy or sell their practice.”

Alex Sabet, DDS

I would like to recommend Cecilia Chen, J.D. to you with the highest regard. As a first time buyer, I knew very little regarding buying a practice and knew nothing at all about dental law. Since the practice is over 35 years old, there were several issues with the office that required the expertise of a dental attorney. Especially during the purchase agreement negotiations, Cecilia was incredibly skilled and knowledgeable. No sentence in the entire contract went unexamined by her. Whenever the seller challenged an item, she would consult with me and support my decision with full dedication. Because of her, I felt I had a voice that could communicate with the seller in an educated and powerful manner.

Her counsel proved invaluable to me as she walked me through this process. I highly recommend her to represent you. You will not be disappointed.

Dawnelle Park, DDS