soares conway

<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"></span><div><p style="font-size: 13.3333330154419px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="name" style="font-size: 12pt;">GEORGE H. SOARES</span> is a founding member and managing partner of Kahn, Soares & Conway, LLP, who regularly appears before the California State Legislature and various state and federal administrative agencies. During his career, George and his firm have been responsible for drafting and influencing thousands of legislative and regulatory proposals affecting a broad spectrum of interests. Of particular note was passage of the largest tax relief package ever for California agriculture, and creation of a landmark body of law that authorizes formation of state entities referred to as commissions that allow growers and handlers of agricultural commodities to expand markets, engage in public education, conduct production and marketing research, and numerous other activities.</span></p><p style="font-size: 13.3333330154419px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Before entering private practice, he served as principal consultant to the California State Assembly Committee on Agriculture. George earned his Juris Doctor Degree at the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law and is admitted to the California Bar, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California where he served as student body president and was named to "Who's Who Among American Universities and Colleges".</span></p><p style="font-size: 13.3333330154419px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">George is also a </span><b><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">partner in Environmental Solutions Group, LLC, an environmental consulting firm established by Kahn, Soares & Conway, LLP, and </span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Jim Wells, former state director of the Department of Pesticide Regulation</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">, to provide a full spectrum of technical and regulatory services relating to pesticides, air and water quality.</span></b></p><p style="font-size: 13.3333330154419px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">In addition, George and his wife Gloria own a dairy and farming operation in Hanford, California.</span></p><h5 style="font-size: 9pt; margin: 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Awards</span></h5><small style="font-size: 9pt; margin-bottom: 5px; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws presented by the California State University Board of Trustees</small><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px;" /><small style="font-size: 9pt; margin-bottom: 5px; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Honorary Lifetime Member, California Agricultural Aircraft Association</small><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px;" /><small style="font-size: 9pt; margin-bottom: 5px; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Honorary Lifetime Member, Western Crop Protection Association</small><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px;" /><small style="font-size: 9pt; margin-bottom: 5px; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Honorary State Degree, FFA</small><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px;" /><small style="font-size: 9pt; margin-bottom: 5px; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Alumnus of the Year, California Polytechnic State University College of Agriculture</small><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px;" /><small style="font-size: 9pt; margin-bottom: 5px; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Golden Bear Award for service to youth, California State Fair</small><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px;" /><small style="font-size: 9pt; margin-bottom: 5px; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Profile in Leaders, California Agricultural Leadership Program</small><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px;" /><small style="font-size: 9pt; margin-bottom: 5px; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Outstanding Service Award, American Crop Protection Association</small><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px;" /><small style="font-size: 9pt; margin-bottom: 5px; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Pioneer Award, California Association of Grower Gins</small><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px;" /><small style="font-size: 9pt; margin-bottom: 5px; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Hall of Fame, Hanford Joint Union High School</small><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px;" /><small style="font-size: 9pt; margin-bottom: 5px; font-family: Georgia, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Distinguished Service Award, California Cotton Ginning Industry</small><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> </span><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px;" /><h5 style="font-size: 9pt; margin: 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Appointments</span></h5><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><small style="font-size: 9pt; margin-bottom: 5px; font-family: Georgia, serif;">California State University Agricultural Advisory Committee, Chair</small><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px;" /><small style="font-size: 9pt; margin-bottom: 5px; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Cal Poly Foundation Board of Directors, Member</small><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px;" /><small style="font-size: 9pt; margin-bottom: 5px; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Cal Poly Presidents' Council, Member</small><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px;" /><small style="font-size: 9pt; margin-bottom: 5px; font-family: Georgia, serif;">San Joaquin College of Law Agricultural Advisory Board, Member</small><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px;" /><small style="font-size: 9pt; margin-bottom: 5px; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Western Fairs Association Blue Ribbon Foundation, Member</small><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px;" /><small style="font-size: 9pt; margin-bottom: 5px; font-family: Georgia, serif;">California Agricultural Leadership Program, Graduate</small><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px;"> </span><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px;" /></span><h5 style="font-size: 9pt; margin: 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Recognition</span></h5><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px;" /><small style="font-size: 9pt; margin-bottom: 5px; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><strong>Politics Magazine, November/December 2010, Top 100 Players in California politics today</strong>
"... Americans from coast to coast eat the California produce grown across the state by farmers that he represents in Sacramento."</small><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px;" /><small style="font-size: 9pt; margin-bottom: 5px; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><strong>Capitol Weekly, April 2010 Top 100 List (No. 9)</strong> "Soares is the premier agricultural lobbyist in California, and in a state with the nation's highest farm receipts, that's saying something. Soares is at or near the center of every substantive water discussion in the state."</small><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px;" /><small style="font-size: 9pt; margin-bottom: 5px; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><strong>Capitol Weekly, April 2009 Top 100 List (No. 18) of the most influential political players in California</strong> ("...political skill and influence transcend the position they hold...")</small><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px;" /><small style="font-size: 9pt; margin-bottom: 5px; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><strong>Los Angeles Times: Bumper Crop of Clout </strong>("...relies on his credibility and the relationships he cultivates to sell solutions that work for his clients as well as state officials...")</small><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px;" /></span><h5 style="font-size: 9pt; margin: 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">Presentations</span></h5><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><small style="font-size: 9pt; margin-bottom: 5px; font-family: Georgia, serif;">Commencement address, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California (1992) (2008)</small><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px;" /><br style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px;" /></span><p style="font-size: 13.3333330154419px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; font-family: Georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><b>CONTACT:</b>
<b>Sacramento Office</b>
<b>Telephone:</b> (916) 448-3826 <b>• Fax:</b> (916) 448-3850
<b><a href="mailto:gsoares@kscsacramento.com" style="position: relative; display: inline;">gsoares@kscsacramento.com</a></b></span></p><div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">=</span></div><div>
</div><div>http://www.ksclawyers.com/</div><div>
</div><div>are some of the clients<b> Kahn, Soares & Conway,</b> LLP represents.</div><div>
</div><div>Agusa, Inc.</div><div>
</div><div>AHDC, Inc.</div><div>
</div><div>Alliance of Western Milk Producers, Inc.</div><div>
</div><div>Ashwood Construction</div><div>Biagro Western Sales</div><div>BR Motorsports, Inc.</div><div>Brock's Chevron</div><div>
</div><div>California Agricultural Aircraft Association</div><div>California Apple Commission</div><div>California Asparagus Commission</div><div>California Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors</div><div>California Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers</div><div>California Authority of Racing Fairs</div><div>California Avocado Commission</div><div>California Biodiesel Alliance</div><div>California Citrus Mutual</div><div>California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association</div><div>California Cut Flower Commission</div><div>California Date Commission</div><div>California Grape and Tree Fruit League</div><div>California Grocers Association</div><div>California Kiwifruit Commission</div><div>California League of Food Processors</div><div>California Oncology</div><div>California Rice Commission</div><div>California Sheep Commission</div><div>California Strawberry Commission</div><div>California Walnut Commission</div><div>California Water Alliance</div><div>California Wheat Commission</div><div>CarMax Auto Superstores West Coast, Inc.</div><div>City of Kingsburg</div><div>City of Vernon - Department of Light and Power</div><div>Croplife America</div><div>De Boer Dairy</div><div>
</div><div>DG Bar Breeders</div><div>Dinuba Auto Center</div><div>
</div><div>Dresick Farms, Inc.</div><div>
</div><div>Ennis Homes</div><div>Far West Equipment Dealers Association</div><div><b>Friant Water Users </b>Authority</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Frisone Management</span> Company</div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Grimmius </span>Cattle Company</div><div>Hansen Ranches</div><div>
</div><div>Hodges Electric, Inc.</div><div>
</div><div>IGPS</div><div>Illinois Tool Works</div><div>JRW Group, Inc.</div><div>Local Agency Formation Commissions (LAFCO)</div><div>Lodi Woodbridge Winegrape Commission</div><div>Manteca Auto Center</div><div>National Biodiesel Board</div><div>Nisei Farmers League</div><div>Overland Stockyards</div><div>Razzari Ford</div><div>Regal Development Group, Inc.</div><div>
</div><div>Regency Investment Advisors, Inc.</div><div>Sacramento Children's Museum</div><div>Serrano Development, Inc.</div><div><font color="#ff0000">Syngenta</font></div><div>Tulare Ag Products</div><div>Valley Industrial Medical Group</div><div>VandenBerghe Properties</div><div>
</div><div>Warner & Pank, LLC</div><div>Western Agricultural Processors Association</div><div>Western Pistachio Association</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Western Plant Health Association</span></div><div>Western Fairs Association</div><div>Woodward Homes</div><div>
</div><div>June 23, 2011 10:15 am  •  By Seth Nidever snidever@HanfordSentinel.com</div><div>
</div><div>Tucked away on a quiet stretch of Douty Street, with its red brick building and old-fashioned signs, </div><div>the law firm Kahn, Soares & Conway looks like a sleepy little small-town establishment, a kind of mom-and-pop law office with maybe three attorneys and a secretary. That couldn't be further from the truth.</div><div>
</div><div>Kahn, Soares & Conway is one of the most influential law firms in the central San Joaquin Valley, ranked 12th out the 20 largest law offices in Kings, Fresno, Madera and Tulare counties, according to the Fresno Business Journal.</div><div>
</div><div>In fact, the firm is the only one on the list that isn't located in Fresno.</div><div>
</div><div>The company's secret weapon may be its <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">powerful lobbying wing, run out of its Sacramento office.</span> Having an office in Sacramento and having deep connections to both lawmakers and regulators makes the law firm stand out locally.</div><div>
</div><div>The mastermind behind the lobbying strategy is managing partner George Soares. Soares shuttles back and forth between Hanford and Sacramento, keeping a low profile. But Soares is said to be a major power broker in the state capital, influencing legislation and negotiating with regulators who have oversight over his clients - some of them the among the biggest farming and commercial interests in the Valley.</div><div>
</div><div>In April 2010, Sacramento-based <span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Capitol Weekly ranked Soares the ninth most powerful person in the state.</span></div><div>
</div><div><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">"Soares is the premier agricultural lobbyist in California, and in a state with the nation's highest farm receipts, that's saying something," the ranking stated. "<b>Soares is at or near the center of nearly every substantive <font color="#ff6666">water </font>discussion in the state."</b></span></div><div>
</div><div>"That's another list that doesn't affect me at all," Soares said. "It's complimentary, and I understand that, but we just try to do our job every day."</div><div>
</div><div>That job consists of normal litigation, like any other law firm. But it's the lobbying wing that makes it special. Instead of litigating, Soares and other attorneys at the firm sometimes just work to change the law, leading to repercussions both for their specific client and the whole industry.</div><div>
</div><div>"I think our Sacramento office has made us unique," said firm partner Rick Conway, who manages the Hanford office.</div><div>
</div><div>Soares, who was a founder of the law firm a few years before Conway was hired, said he deliberately decided on a three-part business model: litigation, lobbying and working with regulatory agencies. If one strategy doesn't work, they try another.</div><div>
</div><div>Having options other than straight-on litigation - often costly and interminable - has been effective, Soares said.</div><div>
</div><div>"As it turned out, our business plan is sound," Soares said. "When you start looking at population growth, you find the Valley is increasing rapidly. With that is coming the kind of interfacing that is raising challenges, and a lot of those come in multiple settings."</div><div>
</div><div>With 16 attorneys and a support staff of lobbyists, consultants and environmental analysts on board, don't expect the influence of Kahn, Soares & Conway to wane anytime soon.</div><div>
</div><div>"I feel very good about where we're at," Conway said.</div><div>
</div><div>The reporter can be reached at 583-2432.</div><div>
</div><div> </div><div>
</div><div></div></div><div>==</div></div>