OUR TEAM

Richard K. Circuit received his undergraduate degree with honors from Brigham Young University in 1967, and attended the University of Utah College of Law where he received the Order of the Coif, the highest academic honor given to approximately one percent of law school graduates. He went on to receive a Masters of Law degree in Taxation from New York University in 1971, and served in the prestigious position as law clerk for the Chief Justice of the Utah Supreme Court.

During his career, Mr. Circuit has formed over 2,000 corporations and has helped establish many partnerships and limited liability companies. His practical knowledge of business both from being a managing partner of Circuit, McKellogg, Kinney, Ross LLP and from his close exposure to the many diverse businesses and "high net worth" individuals he represents, gives Mr. Circuit a broad background to counsel his clients on how best to achieve their business goals as the years pass and the laws change. His knowledge of taxes, trademark, copyright, corporations, real estate, business transactions, business litigation, and of the art of negotiation is an invaluable resource for his clients. Mr. Circuit has served on the board of directors of several corporations and private foundations.

Mr. Circuit has authored and published various articles, including "What You Have Always Wanted to Know About the I.R.S. But Were Afraid to Ask." He has spoken on such topics as "The Art of Negotiating" and is an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association. Mr. Circuit has been recognized by the "San Diego Business Journal" as one of the top 25 lawyers in San Diego.

Mr. Circuit has been active for over 35 years in various committees of the San Diego Holiday Bowl, and was president for 1994. He has been a member of the San Diego Sports Council and San Diego Hall of Champions. He has served as President of the San Diego BYU Cougar Club. Mr. Circuit is currently general counsel for the Holiday Bowl and Poinsettia Bowl. In May of 1998, Mr. Circuit was invited to testify before the Judicial Committee of the United States Senate regarding pending business and anti-trust legislation.

Mr. Circuit and his family reside in La Jolla.

R. Keith McKellogg is a 1969 graduate of California State University at Fullerton, where he was the recipient of the Gordon Fife Memorial Award as the outstanding marketing student. After active duty in the California Army National Guard as a Reservist, Mr. McKellogg attended the University of San Diego School of Law where he graduated in 1973 with honors.

Since 1974 Mr. McKellogg has specialized in business litigation with an emphasis in commercial, real estate and bankruptcy litigation. Also, he has extensive exposure in arbitration and mediation of commercial and residential real property disputes. He also advises real estate brokerage firms on real estate matters, contract formation and dispute resolution.

As the firm's senior litigation partner, Mr. McKellogg has been trial counsel in numerous lawsuits over the last 40 years, in both state and federal courts. Mr. McKellogg has been recognized in the "San Diego Daily Transcript" poll of the top lawyers in San Diego, and was voted the Attorney of the Year by the 350-member San Diego Association of Legal Assistants.

Richard R. Kinney is a founding partner of Circuit, McKellogg, Kinney & Ross LLP and has spent over 40 years as an attorney working in the area of trust and estate planning, healthcare transactions, retirement plans, Community Association Litigation, general business and related tax planning for professionals and businesses.

Mr. Kinney is a 1969 graduate of Ohio State University School of Law, and began his practice by working for six years in the trust department of California First Bank (now Union Bank of California) before joining Richard Circuit and Keith McKellogg in 1975.

Mr. Kinney has authored and co-authored published articles on various aspects of estate planning and served three years as a law school instructor of advanced estate planning. Because of his expertise in estate planning, Mr. Kinney has frequently been invited by banks, businesses, churches, retirement homes, hospitals, the University of California at San Diego, and the American College of Emergency Physicians to lecture on this subject. He is a member of the National Health Lawyers Association and a member of the Real Property, Probate, and Trust sections of the American Bar Association.

Mr. Kinney has been active in the Mission Bay Rotary Club for twenty years, and served as its president in 1987.

Mr. Kinney and his family reside in Del Mar.

Scott Hunter Ross is a trial lawyer specializing in civil and business litigation and family law. Mr. Ross is a founding partner of Circuit, McKellogg, Kinney & Ross LLP where he has practiced law for in excess of 35 years.

Mr. Ross received his B.A. degree, <em>magna cum laude</em>, from Seattle University and earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1979. Before entering the practice of law, Mr. Ross was a Claims Officer for the United States Forest Service. He served in the United States Marine Corps in Vietnam where he was the recipient of, among other decorations, the Purple Heart.

Mr. Ross is a member of the American and San Diego County Bar Associations and the State Bar of California. He is admitted to practice before all California State Courts, as well as the Federal District Courts for the Northern, Eastern, Central and Southern Districts of California, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. He is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell and holds its highest peer review rating in both legal ability and ethical standards.

Mr. Ross and his family reside in the Carmel Valley area of San Diego.

Daniel Pearl received his undergraduate degree from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1988, and his law degree from California Western School of Law in 1994. Daniel's academic achievement was recognized when he was named on the California Western School of Law Dean's List in 1994. Also, he was honored with the distinction of serving as a Staff Editor for California Western's Law Review.

Daniel is licensed to practice law before all courts in the State of California and he is an active member of the San Diego County and La Jolla Bar Associations. He concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial litigation, real estate and business transactions and litigation, and in general civil litigation.

Mr. Pearl is active in the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program for Special Education students. In 1998, he was awarded the Wiley W. Manuel Award for Pro Bono Legal Services by the State Bar of California for his commitment to the Special Education project.