Attorney Louis Friedman, CPA, joined Curtis Legal Group in 2004 after serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at E&J Gallo Winery for 25 years.

At Curtis Legal Group, Mr. Friedman's law practice emphasizes the areas of estate planning, finance, business organization and succession planning. He is a profound believer in giving his clients the most innovative solutions possible to their tax and succession questions.

His most important advice to family- owned or closely- held companies comes from his years of work in this field, and includes saving taxes, preserving family harmony through the transition, and creating the successful transition of the business to the next generation, leaving the company as a family asset or developing a comprehensive exit strategy.

Mr. Friedman received his B.S. from Arizona State University with Honors in 1960, his LLB from Loyola University, (Los Angeles) in 1964, and his LLM in Taxation from New York University in1967. He was admitted to the New York Bar in 1967 and the California bar in 1974. Prior to taking up the practice of law, he worked as a CPA for the accounting firms of Price Waterhouse and Deloitte.

He is admitted in good standing to all of the courts of California and New York, as well as being a member of the American Bar Association, Tax Section, the Stanislaus County Bar Association, and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

Mr. Friedman is a strong believer in being involved in his community. Some of his local positions have included the Modesto Rotary Club, Member and Past President; the Gallo Center for the Arts, where he has served as Director and Treasurer; the Sylvan Unified School District, where he has been Past Trustee and Chair; and the Stanislaus Business Forum Steering Committee, where he has done a number of presentations.