About

DENNIS M. SULLIVAN

Undergraduate Studies

Dennis M. Sullivan earned his Bachelor of Science and Commerce degree in Accounting and Economics from the University of Santa Clara. His academic achievements were recognized through numerous honors, including the Dirksen Academic Scholarship and the Crown Zellerbach Academic Scholarship. He was inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma, the national scholastic business fraternity, and Alpha Sigma Nu, the Jesuit national scholastic honor fraternity. His dedication to both academics and service was further reflected in his distinction as a Distinguished Military Graduate of the United States Army Reserve, and he was honored with the Santa Barbara Medal. He also earned recognition from Scabbard & Blade, the national scholastic military honor fraternity, and was listed in Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities.

Postgraduate Studies

Building on his strong academic foundation, Dennis M. Sullivan pursued advanced studies in public and private international law at the International School of Law in The Hague, Netherlands. He earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of California, Hastings College of Law, where his academic excellence was recognized with the Dean Snodgrass Scholarship for Outstanding Academic Achievement. He was elected to the Order of the Coif, placing in the top 10% of his class, and was a member of the Thurston Honors Society. He also served as both author and editorial board member of the Hastings Law Journal.

Professional Employment

Dennis M. Sullivan began his professional career as a Senior Accountant with Boitano & Sargent in Santa Clara, California, before being admitted to both the California and Federal Bar. He then served on active duty in the United States Army as a Captain in Military Intelligence/Armor, where he acted as both trial and defense counsel for the XVIII Airborne Corps. Following his military service, he worked as a Deputy District Attorney in Alameda County, California.

His legal credentials expanded to include admission to the United States Supreme Court and the United States Tax Court. He went on to become a partner at the firm of Sullivan, Nakahara, DuBois & Hove in Oakland, before establishing the Law Offices of Dennis M. Sullivan in San Francisco and Oakland.

Mr. Sullivan held a variety of judicial roles, including Judge Pro Tem of the Oakland-Piedmont Municipal Court and Court Commissioner Pro Tem for local and district courts in the Federal Republic of Germany. He served as a Court Arbitrator in the Alameda County and San Francisco Superior Courts and as a Commercial Arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association. His work with the California State Bar Court included roles as an Investigation Referee, Special Master, and Hearing Referee. He also served on the Executive Committee of the International Law Section of the State Bar of California.

Dennis M. Sullivan with the Consult General of Switzerland Ambassador Balz Abplanalp.

Law Practice – Private

In his private law practice, Dennis M. Sullivan serves as general counsel to a range of business and non-profit organizations, including corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies. His areas of focus include real estate transactions and litigation, mergers and acquisitions, and employment law. He also advises on international business and personal transactions, and maintains a civil and appellate practice in both state and federal courts.

Law Practice – Government

Dennis M. Sullivan serves as Legal Advisor to the Consulates General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Switzerland, and Brazil in San Francisco. He also acted as Special Counsel to the Office of the Commission of the European Union. His current practice includes representing and advising numerous agencies and instrumentalities of foreign governments in all aspects of public and private international law, including litigation in United States courts.

Instructor – Seminars and Continuing Education Classes

  • Drafting International Contracts
  • Foreign Bank Accounts and U.S. Tax Compliance
  • Bank Accounts and U.S. Tax Compliance
  • International Currency Transactions
  • International Estate Planning
  • Essential Commercial Lease Terms for International Entities
  • International Discovery Under the Hague Evidence Convention
  • Sovereign Immunity Under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act
  • Employment Issues Involving Foreign Governments and MFGOs;
  • US Jurisdiction Over Foreign Corporations
  • Force Majeure Clauses in Commercial Contracts
  • Piercing the LLC Veil in California
  • Exit Strategy for Closely-Held Businesses
  • Ethical Issues in Sale of Law Practice
  • Winding up of Administratively Dissolved Corporation

Practice areas

  • Business law
  • Corporate law
  • International law
  • Civil trial practice
  • Partnerships
  • Limited liability company law
  • Real estate
  • Real estate transactions
  • Litigation
  • International wills
  • Trust law
  • Trust litigation
  • International business law