A Real Example of the Art of Law

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Boutique law firm Harris & Ruble has found a new use for its stand-alone office building, and it has nothing to do with litigation. Husband-and-wife team Marcella Ruble and Alan Harris, who bought the Hollywood building on Santa Monica Boulevard last year, have been converting its rotunda entrance into an art gallery. Harris & Ruble Gallery will host its art opening Nov. 6. The exhibit, “XII Apostles,” is a series of oil paintings by local artist Zhenya Gershman.

Ruble, an artist herself who has studio space in the new building, has done the bulk of the work converting the space and lining up exhibitions. She said the gallery was the law firm’s way of giving back to the community, though it hasn’t been easy.

“The pain hasn’t worn off from any of it right now,” she said with a laugh, “just putting it all together, the logistics of figuring out how to make it all function.”

It’s not the first time the firm has been involved in the arts. Five years ago, it sued on behalf of a client wanting to regain possession of a painting that some believe was by Leonardo da Vinci. The firm’s client won, and in January the painting sold at auction for $1.5 million.

Show of Force

James L. Johnston, chief executive of Los Angeles Windustrial, a piping and valve supply house in Long Beach, has a hard time saying no to his sister. So when Cherie Navarro, the founder of non-profit Military Children’s Charity Inc., asked him to help, Johnston, 37, did not decline.

The result is a large collection basket in the will-call area of his company’s offices and a soon-to-be blurb on its website. The pitch: donate Christmas toys for the children of American military personnel abroad.

“A lot of those families can’t afford presents,” Johnston said. “I’m sure their salaries are low and they’re having a hard time with (one or more of) the parents away.”

It’s not a stretch for Johnston to be aiding the military. His father, Lew Johnston, is a former U.S. Marine whose cousin, Rick Johnston, died in Vietnam. Johnston’s two grandfathers, Herbert Johnston and Carl Pekie, fought in World War II. And his 15-year-old nephew, Isaiah Navarro, is the son of a veteran of Iraq.

All of which is to say that Johnston feels something of a debt.

“I just went to college and majored in finance,” he said. “This is all I can do to help.”

Jumping Through Hoops

As a big Los Angeles Lakers fan, Patrick Soon-Shiong has long had a nice block of close-in seats for his family of four. But now that he bought Earvin “Magic” Johnson’s estimated 4.5 percent stake in the team, he gets even closer.

Soon-Shiong adds Johnson’s two floor seats, access to team practice sessions, and all the other bells and whistles of owning a stake in a National Basketball Association franchise. Soon-Shiong’s stock purchase was announced only last week, but he’s already working on ways his family’s young foundation can partner with the various philanthropies of the team and star players like Kobe Bryant, already a casual friend.

“I and my family are truly living the American dream,” said the 58-year-old immigrant biotech entrepreneur, whose more than $7 billion in net worth has for two years running earned him the title Wealthiest Angeleno by the Business Journal.

Staff reporters Alfred Lee, David Haldane and Deborah Crowe contributed to this column. Page 3 is compiled by editor Charles Crumpley. He can be reached at [email protected].

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