Jayne Kaplan is a graduate of the State University of New York at Binghampton, (1969 B.A.), and holds a Masters from the University of North Carolina (1972). Ms. Kaplan obtained her Juris Doctorate from the University of Wisconsin (1976).

Ms. Kaplan was in-house legal counsel at Bank of America from 1977 through 1988, where she handled documentation, operational, and litigation matters for Bank of America. From 1988 through 1990, she was with the firm of Sulmeyer, Kupetz, Baumann & Rothman, a major insolvency firm, where Ms. Kaplan added to her banking experience the representation of clients in the bankruptcy courts. From 1990 through 1999, Ms. Kaplan maintained her own offices. In 1999 she joined with our firm as an Of Counsel.

Ms. Kaplan has extensive experience in secured and unsecured lending transactions, with experience in complex legal issues, including mixed collateral issues, debt restructure and workout agreements, deeds in lieu of foreclosure, and secured and unsecured loan documentation. Ms. Kaplan further has extensive experience in representing clients in bankruptcy proceedings, including but not limited to, acquisition of businesses in bankruptcy, relief from stay proceedings, plan confirmations and objections, and bankruptcy financing. Further, Ms. Kaplan has litigated in state and federal courts in collection litigation, defense of lender liability and negotiable instrument cases, and she has extensive knowledge of provisional remedies. 

Jayne T. Kaplan


James Kilkowski is a 1969 graduate of Harvard University and a 1976 graduate of the University of Minnesota, with a doctorate in clinical psychology. Thereafter, Mr. Kilkowski received a juris doctorate in 1982 from University of California at Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law. He was admitted to the California State Bar in 1982.

Upon graduating from Boalt Hall, Mr. Kilkowski became an associate at Mitchell, Silberberg & Knupp where he remained until 1985. At the firm, his work was concentrated in business and real estate transactions, resolution of business disputes, and business litigation. Representative transactions included mergers and acquisitions, asset sales, securities law, real estate sales, financing and leasing, and secured transactions.

From 1985 to 1988, Mr. Kilkowski was a sole practitioner continuing to practice in the areas of business transactions and litigation.

In 1989, Mr. Kilkowski and Lee D. Williams formed Williams & Kilkowski. Since 1995 Mr. Kilkowski has been affiliated with Fischer, Zisblatt & Kiss, LLP in an Of Counsel relationship. Mr. Kilkowski litigates business matters in state and federal courts, in which he has extensive pre-trial and trial experience. Areas of practice include personal property security transactions, real property security transactions, lender liability, the representation of creditors in bankruptcy proceedings (including lien priorities, preferences and fraudulent transfers), entertainment disputes, and appellate practice including writ applications and full appeals. Mr. Kilkowski's pre-trial experience includes provisional remedies such as attachments and preliminary injunctions, motion practice, discovery, and trial preparation of document-intensive cases. His experience in post-trial matters includes the preparation of and objections to statements of decision, motions for new trial, motions to vacate judgment, the enforcement of judgments, and appellate procedure.

James Kilkowski is a member of the Panel of Arbitrators, American Arbitration Association, the State Bar of California (Real Estate and Business Sections), and the American Bar Association. Mr. Kilkowski was also licensed as a psychologist in California in 1977.

Mr. Kilkowski concentrates his practice in civil, business, and real estate law, having an emphasis in trial practice. 

James L. Kilkowski


Lee D. Williams 

Lee Williams is a 1973 graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, cum laude. Thereafter Mr. Williams received a juris doctorate from the University of California at Los Angeles School of Law. Mr. Williams was a member of the UCLA Law Review, extern clerk to the Honorable Joseph T. Sneed, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, member of the Board of Trustees, Children's Institute International, Vice-President, Treasurer of Children's Institute International, participant in the Public Counsel's Volunteer Legal Services Project. Mr. Williams is also a member of the California State Bar.

Mr. Williams has practiced almost 30 years as an attorney and businessman in the Los Angeles area. He has had extensive experience with small and medium sized companies in various industries, with particular concentration in entertainment and high technology fields with substantial international clientele, including market leaders from Australia, France and Hong Kong and many clients from other international territories.


Mr. Williams has a background in significant business litigation with his current emphasis on financial and transactional matters, primarily in the multimedia, entertainment and high technology industries. He has participated in the negotiation and documentation of significant corporate transactions, including mergers and management buyouts.