News Releases

State Bar Seizes Gardena Practice for the Unauthorized Practice of Law

The State Bar of California seized the Gardena practice of George Y. Takahashi, doing business as American Legal Counseling, Advanced Legal Services, and American Horitsusodan, announced George Cardona, the State Bar Chief Trial Counsel today. The Office of Chief Trial Counsel (OCTC) received an interim ruling from a Los Angeles Superior Court after Takahashi engaged in the unauthorized practice of law (UPL) by providing legal services and holding himself out as an attorney. 

Takahashi is not and has never been entitled to practice law in the state of California. Nevertheless, on his website, he offers immigration, divorce, and bankruptcy legal advice to Japanese citizens in the United States, and others, as well as businesses expanding from Japan. None of the employees featured on Takahashi’s website offering an array of legal services are attorneys. 

“Unauthorized practice of law deceives its victims into paying for something they are not getting,” said Cardona. “Victims pay for services based on the belief that they are being provided by someone with the full breadth of legal knowledge and authority of a licensed attorney, when they are not. Moreover, they unknowingly put themselves at risk that the purported legal advice they receive will be incorrect, incomplete, or put them in further legal jeopardy.” 

OCTC has sent Takahashi two cease and desist notices related to his suspected UPL.  

In September 2022, OCTC received a complaint from Attorney Ryosuke Togi. Togi stated that Takahashi engaged in UPL when he represented one of Togi’s clients in a marital dissolution case. Togi stated that Takahashi gave the client legal advice on how to file a petition for divorce, how to divide the community property, how to proceed with discovery, and how to obtain a restraining order. Takahashi also told the client that his firm has handled over 370 divorce cases. In support of his complaint, Togi provided the email exchange between Takahashi and the client, which took place in March 2022. 

When speaking to OCTC investigators, Takahashi said he no longer works on immigration law. Takahashi also said that after the COVID-19 pandemic and due to his own declining health, he has “narrowed down his activities.” Takahashi’s website, however, continues to state that he practices immigration law and offers “legal consultations.” Takahashi has also recently been certified as a Legal Document Assistant and an immigration consultant.  

OCTC executed the court’s order at Takahashi’s Gardena office on August 31, seizing more than 70 boxes of client files. Clients or former clients of George Y. Takahashi—or any of his businesses—seeking the return of their files may contact the State Bar’s dedicated bilingual phone number at 213-765-1753. 

The State Bar has a unit dedicated to investigating and addressing the unauthorized practice of law. People who have been targeted by someone who is not licensed to practice law can file an unauthorized practice of law complaint with the State Bar. There is no cost, and U.S. citizenship is not required; the State Bar will not ask complainants about their citizenship or immigration status. The online complaint form is available in English, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese.  
 
As a warning to the public, the names of those who have received cease and desist notices are posted, by county, on the State Bar website. 

###

Follow the State Bar online
LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube

The State Bar of California's mission is to protect the public and includes the primary functions of licensing, regulation and discipline of attorneys; the advancement of the ethical and competent practice of law; and support of efforts for greater access to, and inclusion in, the legal system.