Weldon U. Howell, Jr.
joehowell@hmglaw.com
(805) 962-0524 x17
Experience/Personal
Joe Howell has been a business and transactions lawyer in Santa Barbara since 1974. His clients include individuals and business entities whom he has represented for decades as well as start up and emerging growth companies. In recent years, a large part of Joe's practice has been devoted to the representation of individuals and entities engaged in merger, acquisition and the sale of business transactions. He often assists them in the transition of their business interests, whether to the client's next generation or to a private or public company buyer.
Joe also represents a broad array of local restaurants and retailers, technology companies and professionals/groups in the medical, legal and accounting fields. Given the breadth and depth of his relationships in the legal, business and professional communities of Santa Barbara, Joe brings a unique level of personal and professional experience to his clients. In addition to those clients for whom he has served as general counsel for years, Joe continues to add a select group of new clients, including both start up and seasoned business entities.
Joe began his career in 1973 as a Briefing Attorney (law clerk) at The Supreme Court of Texas. He moved to Santa Barbara in 1974, joined the firm of Schramm, Raddue and Seed (which became Schramm & Raddue) and practiced with that firm as a partner and as Managing Partner until forming Howell Moore & Gough LLP in 1996.
Joe and his wife Barbara drove through Santa Barbara on their honeymoon in 1973 and decided it was the place they wanted to live. They moved to Santa Barbara a year later. Barbara recently retired after serving as a teacher and education coordinator. Son Ben is a lawyer in Los Angeles and daughter Sarah is a teacher/tutor currently living in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Joe's outside activities include Board and leadership roles with a variety of community organizations, cycling, distance running and competing in marathons and triathlons. In 2007, Joe was inducted into the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table Hall of Fame as a Community Leader and was selected for the Santa Barbara News Press Lifetime Achievement Award. .
Education
University of Arizona (B.A. 1969)
The University of Texas School of Law (J.D. 1973)
Memberships-Legal
State Bar of Texas (admitted 1973);
State Bar of California (admitted 1974)-member Business Law Section
Barristers Club- President 1978
Santa Barbara County Bar Association- President 1994, Chair of Tax Section
Representative Transactions
See our Representative Transactions Page
Publications/Speaking Engagements
Ruminations on Res Judicata, 28 Southwestern Law Journal 355, 1974
Handling Conflicts of Interest in Organizing a New Business Venture, 1 CEB
California Business Law Practitioner No. 3, Fall, 1986
"The Buy-Sell Agreement: A Necessity for the Growing Business" Santa
Barbara Commerce August 1992
"Importance of Corporate Formalities" Santa Barbara Commerce March 1995
Business Buy-Sell Agreements, Chapter 1, CEB 1992, 2004, 2006 and 2008 editions
California Society of Certified Public Accountants (Channel Counties Chapter)- presentations and participation on panels
Central Coast MIT Forum- Moderator and Panelist
City Commerce Bank-Business Forum- Panelist
Montecito Bank & Trust- Business, Banking & Beyond-Co-Chair and Panelist
Community Activities/Positions:
Channel City Club - Board of Directors, Pro Bono Counsel
SB County Bar Association - Board of Directors; President 1994
SB County Board of Education - Board of Trustees, President 2001-02, 2006-07
SB Athletic Round Table - Board of Directors, President 1999-2000
SB Partners in Education - Board of Directors, President 2005 - 2006
SB Athletic Association - Board of Directors
Run for Research - Co-founder/participant of fund raising effort for Cancer Center
of Santa Barbara via Boston Marathon (1994, 1996 and 2004)
