Fred Whitaker
Managing Partner
“Having operated a business and been in-house counsel to a large three-generation family business, I tend to think and act more like an ‘owner’ than just an attorney. This gives me the unique ability to be an effective ‘outside general counsel’ to all types of privately-held businesses and high net worth individuals.”
Education
- BA (Political Science & History), University of California, Berkeley
- JD, Loyola Marymount University
Recognition
- Martindale-Hubbell® Law Directory’s highest AV rating
Mr. Whitaker joined Cummins & White, LLP as an associate in 1990. His practice focused on environmental insurance coverage and real estate matters. In 1993, Mr. Whitaker left Cummins & White and joined SC Fuels of Orange, California as Vice President/General Counsel, and later became Chief Operating Officer of their Northwest Division.
In 2000, Mr. Whitaker returned to Cummins & White as the partner in charge of its transactional practice and continues in this role today. As outside general counsel, his practice focuses on the needs of private business for entity formation and governance, mergers & acquisitions, tax, finance, commercial real estate, and estate/succession planning. Mr. Whitaker serves as Cummins & White’s managing partner.
Bar Admissions
- U.S. District Court (Central District of California)
Practice Areas
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Commercial Real Estate
- Risk Management & Employment
- Finance & Due Diligence
- Corporate Governance
- Estate & Tax Planning
Representative Clients
- SC Fuels
- Gourmet Trading
- Quality Plastering/Lakeview Professional
- Hanwha Solar Energy America/Solar Monkey
- Pacific Tank Lines
- Newport Coast Development, LLC
- Bankers Auto Acceptance Co./Time Finance
- Arnel Hopkins, LLC
- Wellington Foods
- Universal Electronics
- The Georgian Hotel
- Storm Industries
- Porto’s Bakery, Inc.
Leadership / Memberships
- State Bar of California
- City of Orange, Mayor Pro Tem
- Republican Party of Orange County, Chairman
- St. John’s Lutheran School in Orange, Chairman
- Santiago Canyon College Foundation, Vice President
- Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers of America (SIGMA)
- California Independent Oil Marketers
- Orange County Bar Association
- Community Foundation of Orange, Board Member
Charitable Interests & Community Service
Mr. Whitaker and his family reside in Old Towne Orange, California, where he is an active volunteer and participant in Little League, Boy Scouts, Kids Musical Theater, Orange Lutheran High School Music, Drama and Athletics.
Special Notes
Mr. Whitaker earned Honors in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley. He also graduated in the top 15% of his class at Loyola Marymount University and was installed as a member of St. Thomas More Law Honor Society.
