San Diego, CA Lawyers

Civil Litigation

16870 W Bernardo Dr #400, San Diego, CA 92127, USA

Mr. Schack received a degree in Economics from Rutgers College in 1978. In December of 1981, he received his Juris Doctorate from the University of San Diego School of Law (State Bar No. 99126). In 1985 he passed the California CPA exam (although he is not a C.P.A.) and received an LL.M in Taxation from the University of San Diego School of Law. He was employed by the former “big six” accounting firms of Arthur Andersen and Company (Los Angeles) and KPMG Peat Marwick (San Diego) for approximately four years. His client list included MGM, Wickes Furniture, Circus Circus, S.E. Rykoff, Ernest Borgnine, Santa Catalina Island Co., San Diego Hall of Champions, National Pen, etc. Since 1988, Mr. Schack has represented both consumers and businesses in numerous complex litigation lawsuits. He has orally argued before the Fourth Appellate District and Second Appellate District on at least five separate occasions. In one case in particular, the Fourth Appellate District - Division One, set aside approximately two hours for appellate discussion to analyze the antitrust jurisdiction of a Superior Court to hear an action under the Cartwright Act for price fixing against the cellular telephone carriers in light of the jurisdiction of the California Public Utilities Commission to approve cellular telephone rates. That appellate discussion resulted in the published opinion of Cellular Plus v. Superior Court, 14 Cal.App.4th 1224 (cert.denied July 1, 1993). This opinion has twice been the subject of articles in Competition - the Journal of the Antitrust and Trade Regulation Section of the State Bar of California. He also is a former adjunct professor at the University of San Diego.

Personal Injury Law

655 W Broadway, 940, San Diego, CA 92101

Mr. Oghassabian graduated from San Diego State University and went on to attend California Western School of Law. He is able to practice law throughout the state of California. Mr. Oghassabian focuses on personal injury and works alongside his team to provide his clients with a vast array of knowledge allowing them to recuperate while seeking the justice they deserve.

Family and Divorce Law

11440 W. Bernardo Ct, Ste. 300, San Diego, CA 92127

I am a founding parter at Shorb & Connor and make it a point to get to know every client that walks through our firms doors. We are a small firm and offer small firm personal service but have the technology and team attorney approach of the larger firms. Our goal is to help our clients, and what better way than to provide them with our entire firm's knowledge, not just their single attorney. I practice Family Law exclusively and have for many years., However, I have litigated countless cases and obtained sizable awards for my clients in cases ranging from Medical Malpractice, negligent loan servicing, and financial elder abuse to administrative appeals before the Office of Administrative Hearings. As an experienced family law attorney with extensive trial experience, I use that same tenacity I developed as a civil litigator and public defender to better the lives of my clients. Whether seeking divorce, dividing marital assets, or battling a messy child custody matter, I am always a tireless advocate for my clients and believe that getting to know every client and personally investing myself in their cases is what has led to my success.

Appellate Law

1660 Hotel Circle North, Ste. 701, San Diego, CA 92108

Anne L. Rauch, a Partner with Berding|Weil, is board certified as an appellate specialist by the California Board of Legal Specialization for the State Bar. Her work on appeals and writs has resulted in wins in a broad range of practice areas including construction defect claims, real property litigation, business and partnership disputes, contract claims, insurance coverage, corporate governance and breach of fiduciary duty claims, and anti-SLAPP motions and appeals. While building her appellate practice, Anne acquired expertise in all aspects of common interest development law while also successfully navigating multi-million dollar construction defect claims for community associations from inception and the initial defect investigation through settlement, trial, and to successful conclusion on appeal. With that broad range of experience in both trial and appellate courts, Anne's good work has resulted in many published decisions shaping the law of California, including the application of the attorney-client privilege to communications between Association's litigation counsel and homeowners, the constitutional right to a jury trial, and refining the application of California's anti-SLAPP statute to better protect Constitutional free speech and petitioning rights. Representative cases are listed below, to name a few published wins.

Civil Litigation

101 W Broadway suite 2000, San Diego, CA 92101, USA

Arianna Eguiluz handles a wide variety of matters for clients including construction, professional liability, and premises liability defense, with a particular emphasis on defending property owners, managers, subcontractors and real estate agents. Arianna represents businesses, insurance companies, and their insureds in all manners of complex disputes, including breach of contract claims, negligence, and third-party claims.

Personal Injury Law

2221 Camino del Rio S, San Diego, CA 92116, USA

Since 2005, Brad Nakase has protected the interest of the community and his clients. Brad Nakase has received AVVO's 2019 Client Choice Award. Additionally, AVVO and Justia has given Brad Nakase the highest rating. How do I know if I have a car accident case? After a car accident, many people wonder if their personal injury case has some substance. As a matter of fact, such doubts can only be cleared if the accident scenario is properly assessed and understood. Nonetheless, the key indicator that your personal injury accident can become a legal case is NEGLIGENCE. If you have been involved in an accident caused by a negligent driver, you should file a claim against them. And it’ll be nice to hire a personal injury lawyer to be your advocate.

Personal Injury Law

2445 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101, USA

For over 30 YEARS, attorney Brian C. Gonzalez has represented clients in numerous areas of civil litigation. His law firm focuses primarily on representation for individual and family plaintiffs in practice areas of motor vehicle accidents, catastrophic injuries, sports injuries resulting in traumatic brain injury, medical malpractice, wrongful death, trip and fall accidents, and dog bite incidents. He also acts as regional counsel for a large national corporation that operates high-end continuing care residential communities.

Securities Law

5060 Shoreham Place, 300, San Diego, CA 92122

Brian J. Robbins is a co-founder and the managing partner of Robbins LLP. He has committed his entire career to representing shareholders, employees, consumers, and small businesses in complex litigation. Mr. Robbins has prosecuted hundreds of cases across the country, often in leadership roles, and has achieved sizable monetary recoveries and corporate governance improvements on behalf of his clients. For his leadership and achievements, he has been recognized as a Super Lawyer every year since 2007 – many years ranking among the Top 50 Attorney in San Diego – and a Best Lawyer in America for Securities Litigation. Mr. Robbins’ achievements are proof positive that shareholder derivative actions are an important tool for keeping corporate management and fraud in check. His dedication to shareholder rights has helped propel Robbins LLP into a nationally recognized leader in shareholder rights litigation. As lead or co-lead counsel, Mr. Robbins has negotiated sweeping corporate governance reforms and numerous multimillion dollar settlements – including one of the largest securities fraud class action recoveries in San Diego’s history. Mr. Robbins received his Master of Laws in Securities and Financial Regulation from Georgetown University Law Center and his Juris Doctor from Vanderbilt Law School, where he served as research assistant to Professor Donald C. Langevoort, former Special Counsel for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in the Office of the General Counsel, and Professor Larry D. Soderquist, one of the most respected professors in the field of corporate and securities law. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Sociology in just two and one-half years from the University of California, Berkeley.

Labor Law

101 West Broadway, Suite 1500, San Diego, CA 92101

Charles Whitman is a Shareholder in Buchalter’s San Diego office. He is a member of the Litigation, Labor & Employment, and White Collar & Investigations practice groups. Mr. Whitman focuses his practice on representing employers and business in workplace law matters, business disputes, and government investigations. Mr. Whitman represents employers in all aspects of state and federal employment litigation, including wage and hour class and representative actions, Private Attorneys General Act (“PAGA”) litigation, single plaintiff wage and hour disputes, as well as federal and state discrimination, hostile work environment, bullying, sexual harassment wrongful termination, and retaliation cases. Mr. Whitman also advises employers on protecting proprietary trade secrets, drafting comprehensive employee handbooks, personnel policies, navigating the complicated array of state and federal leave laws, and employment-related agreements to ensure compliance with California and federal law. Additionally, he conducts workplace investigations and management training on a wide array of employment law matters. Further, Mr. Whitman defends companies facing government enforcement actions, administrative inquiries from state and federal agencies, and white-collar criminal proceedings. He also has previous experience litigating securities fraud class actions and other complex business litigation. Prior to joining Buchalter, Mr. Whitman worked for a national employment law firm and was a highly decorated judge advocate in the U.S. Marine Corps. In 2018, Mr. Whitman was awarded The Commandant’s Award for Excellence in Legal Assistance, as the top legal assistance attorney in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was appointed as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona and the Southern District of California, during which time he assisted federal law enforcement agencies during investigations, prosecuted cases occurring on Marine Corps property, prosecuted border crime cases, and tried cases in federal district court. As a trial defense counsel in the U.S. Marine Corps, Mr. Whitman, represented numerous Marines at courts-martial and administrative discharge trials. Between his time as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney and defense counsel, Mr. Whitman tried dozens administrative, bench, and jury trials to verdict—the vast majority of which he was the lead trial defense counsel. Most of Mr. Whitman’s cases involved serious felony level offenses. Mr. Whitman received the Navy Commendation Medal while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. In 2023, Mr. Whitman was recognized as a “Rising Star” in San Diego by Super Lawyers Magazine.

Family and Divorce Law

2121 Fifth Avenue, Suite 205, San Diego, CA 92101

Over the last fifteen years, Mr. Sunnen has worked to protect his client's rights both in and out of the courtroom and provides solutions to many challenging cases at a high level of professionalism. He specializes in both Family Law/Divorce and Bankruptcy Law. Mr. Sunnen is a member of the California State Bar and has been in private practice for over fifteen years, focusing on litigation in family court, federal court, tax court, bankruptcy court, and before various administrative agencies. Prior to his time in private practice, Mr. Sunnen was a clerk for Federal Magistrate David Noce in the Eighth Circuit. Mr. Sunnen graduated from law school at Washington University in St. Louis, where he was awarded "Best Brief" in Moot Court and was a three-year member of the Dean's List, recognizing academic excellence. Prior to his career as an attorney, Mr. Sunnen attended Washington University in St. Louis, where he graduated with a double major in Political Science and History and wrote an honors thesis. As a former Park Ranger, Mr. Sunnen has been, and is active in both the private and public sectors of the outdoor industry and has worked with many Fortune 500 companies to promote sustainable public lands appreciation, education and protection. Mr. Sunnen is also the former head of a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that he founded and operated for a three-year period; and currently serves on the board of directors of another 501(c)(3) organization.

Labor Law

2650 Camino Del Rio North, Suite 302, San Diego, CA 92108

Area of Practice: Employment Law David Mara is the founding member and president of Mara Law Firm, PC. Mr. Mara has devoted his many years of practice to representing employees in all aspects of California wage and hour law, including, but not limited to, class representation of employees seeking unpaid wages, unpaid overtime, unfair business practices, and meal and rest period violations. California Employment Attorney David Mara also specializes in representing injured civilians working abroad pursuant to a U.S. defense contract. Over the course of his career, Mr. Mara has obtained tens of millions of dollars on behalf of California and Defense Base Act workers. A long-standing member of Consumer Attorneys of California, Mr. Mara is on the shortlist of lawyers the organization selects in California to author briefs in support of workers in California Courts of Appeal and the California Supreme Court. Mr. Mara was co-counsel in the seminal California Supreme Court decision, Brinker Restaurant Corp. v. Superior Court, in which the Court articulated the standards on employee entitlements to and employer obligations for providing meal and rest breaks in California and the availability of class action treatment for those claims. In addition to his trial and appellate work on behalf of California workers, Mr. Mara is also on the cutting edge of shaping California laws, as he is frequently asked to review and offer counter proposals to laws affecting California workers proposed in the California legislature and Congress.

Immigration Law

2305 Historic Decatur Road, Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92106

Family and Divorce Law

11440 W Bernardo Ct #300, San Diego, CA 92127, USA

Dimitry is a passionate advocate with an unwavering commitment to his clients. His thorough representation ensures no stone is left unturned. Fighting for you as fiercely as he would for his own family, Dimitry recognizes the gravity of your life’s challenges and understands that there's no room for error. The outcomes and results are crucial, necessitating a representative whose dedication mirrors your own. His expertise spans the entire spectrum of Family Law. Dimitry adeptly handles divorce cases and subsequent matters, including child custody, child support, spousal support, financial distributions, restraining orders, and other complex issues emerging from the sensitive dynamics of life. He has extensive experience working with military personnel, offering a deep understanding of the unique challenges in military divorces. Dimitry has continued to pursue excellence is his dedicated trade by passing the certified specialist exam early.

Real Estate Law

5030 Camino De La Siesta, ste 350, San Diego, CA 92108

Area of Practice: Employment Discrimination/Wage Hour/Real Estate Litigation/Small Business Litigation Don has been a member of the California Bar Association and a civil litigation attorney since 1983. He served as an officer with the Highway Patrol Division of the Arizona Department of Public Safety for eight years. While there, Don began his undergraduate education. He later returned to school full time to complete his undergraduate education and pursue a legal career. Don earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona at Tucson in 1979 and received his Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law in San Diego in 1982. Don is also a veteran, having served in the United States Army from 1969 to 1971. Upon graduation and receiving his license from the State Bar of California, Don worked for General Electric for a period of time. He then began his independent practice as a civil litigation and insurance defense attorney in San Diego. Don's practice expanded from his initial work in construction defect, personal injury and litigation defense into a more general civil litigation practice representing both plaintiffs and defendants. He represents individuals and business entities, including sole proprietorships, general and limited partnerships, and corporate clients, before state and federal courts in a wide array of civil litigation such as business and corporate litigation; real estate litigation; domestic, labor and discrimination cases; contract litigation; and construction defect and mold litigation. He has successfully represented individuals and business entities in a wide array of administrative matters before municipal, county, state and federal agencies and boards as well as state and federal administrative courts, including matters relating to professional licensing and credentialing. During his extensive years of practice, Don has represented hundreds of individuals and business entities in simple and complex litigation in hearings and arbitrations and at trial. He has tried cases before state courts, United States District Courts, state and federal administrative courts, and administrative agencies throughout California. Don has argued cases before the 4th District Court of Appeal and United States Court of Appeal. Don is a member of the State Bar of California, the American Bar Association (ABA), the San Diego County Bar Association, and the Riverside County and Desert bar associations. He is also a member of the American Association for Justice (AAJ) and Consumer Attorneys of California. He has presented seminars on behalf of and before many professional organizations in various fields, including real estate and labor.

Civil Litigation

402 W Broadway suite 860, San Diego, CA 92101, USA

Ed Chapin is an accomplished trial lawyer. During his illustrious legal career, he has tried upwards of 100 cases in federal and state courts. Recent noteworthy trials in which Ed was the lead counsel include the GirlsDoPorn.com civil lawsuit, where 22 female plaintiffs across the U.S. alleged the website’s owners, operators and associated businesses exploited them after answering modeling advertisements on Craigslist. Ed and his team obtained a $20 million plus award after a 99-day bench trial in California Superior Court. The Court also granted plaintiffs all rights to their videos and issued an injunction that the defendants are prohibited from distributing the likenesses, images or videos of the plaintiffs. Midway through the trial, three individuals involved in the GirlsDoPorn operation were indicted by a federal grand jury for sex trafficking and other charges. All three individuals are in custody. As a result of this matter, Ed’s former firm received the National Law Journal’s 2021 award for best Human Rights Firm in the United States. In 2018, Ed obtained a $5.4 million jury verdict and award of attorney fees for Beth Burns, the winning women’s basketball coach in San Diego State University’s history. Ed’s litigation acumen in this public jury trial that focused on SDSU’s Title IX violations highlights how even the most powerful institutions can be made to take responsibility for the damage they cause to individual’s careers and overall well-being. Previously, Ed was lead counsel for the chemical manufacturer involved in the noteworthy toxic tort litigation featured in the Academy Award-winning movie The Erin Brockovich Story. This case involved over 4,000 plaintiffs who claimed personal injury and wrongful death attributed to exposure to toxins at three sites in southern and central California.

Workers Compensation Law

444 West C St suite 310, San Diego, CA 92101, USA

Mr. Overholt is the owner of the Law Office of Eric M. Overholt and represents injured workers and people who have suffered a personal injury whether it be a work injury or an injury while not on the job. Mr. Overholt represents individuals who have Workers’ Compensation injuries to their backs, neck, spine and brain. He has also taken cases to represent those who were injured on the job and have needed extensive surgical repair of their shoulders, as well as people who have been so badly injured that they have needed complete knee replacement on one or more knees. He has handled numerous catastrophic injury cases to obtain benefits for paraplegics, hemiplegics, quadriplegics, and those with severe brain injuries. Mr. Overholt has represented hundreds of people with a work related injury up to and through trial and he has won several Petitions for Reconsideration to obtain benefits for his clients.

Real Estate Law

750 B St #2900, San Diego, CA 92101, USA

Grant Puleo focuses his practice on a wide variety of real estate, finance and business transactions, and leads the firm’s Multifamily and Student Housing group. He has extensive experience in a broad array of commercial, multi-family and educational facility (student housing) real estate transactions, including acquisitions, development, construction, affordable housing, P3, syndication, dispositions and specialized leasing and financing of all product types throughout California and the United States. Mr. Puleo's finance experience includes both borrower and lender representation in the origination and workout of complicated debt and equity transactions, such as acquisition and construction financing, mezzanine financing and synthetic leasing transactions. He also represents clients in business matters involving the transfer of business assets and property and the formation and restructuring of joint ventures, private placements, opportunity funds and other business entities. Mr. Puleo is also a seasoned trial attorney, having tried over a dozen jury trials and several dozen binding arbitrations and mediations involving real estate, finance and business disputes, lis pendens, quiet title and partition actions, as well as risk management and litigation avoidance counseling. Mr. Puleo has also testified as an expert witness in trial, binding arbitration and in deposition. Mr. Puleo is an adjunct professor of law at California Western School of Law, where he lectures on commercial real estate transactions. He is a member of the Advisory Board of Endeavor Bank and serves as pro bono legal counsel for various non-profit clients. Mr. Puleo was recently honored as a Top 100 Leader in Law by The San Diego Business Journal.

Criminal Defense Law

105 West F St, Suite 306, San Diego, CA 92101

Gretchen von Helms is a Harvard educated lawyer who has practiced law for approximately 20 years. Since opening The Law Offices of Gretchen von Helms in 1996, she has handled numerous serious criminal cases, defending the accused. She is an experienced state and federal trial lawyer. The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization has certified Gretchen von Helms as a specialist in criminal law. Gretchen von Helms is a Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review AV Rated Attorney*, the highest peer recognition rating possible for an attorney. In 1998, she was selected as one of the top 20 lawyers under the age of 40 in California. She has authored many articles and is a lecturer on criminal defense issues. She has served as an instructor at San Diego State University and is Of Counsel for Silva, Chavez, Sepulveda & Castenada, a law firm located in Tijuana, Mexico and speaks Spanish. She is a legal analyst for local television shows and Court T.V., where she provides commentary on high profile criminal cases. In March 2009, she was featured in the San Diego County Bar Association Bar Report as a lawyer giving back to the community. Ms. von Helms is a highly respected litigator within the criminal justice community and has represented clients in federal cases in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

Immigration Law

4203 Genesee Ave #198, San Diego, CA 92117, USA

Igor Harris is from Yekaterinburg, Russia. Igor received a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University, an MA in international relations from the University of San Diego, and a law degree from California Western School of Law. Throughout his career, Igor worked as a line cook, videographer, process server, international program coordinator, and independent counsel for a quickly expanding southern California restaurant group. He continues to work with and represent a variety of businesses and artists from Southern California and beyond. Upon the conflict between Russian and Ukraine, Igor felt compelled to shift his focus to helping people from the post Soviet era to leave a precarious situation and find a new home here in the U.S. As an immigrant himself, Igor understands firsthand the importance of adequate legal representation in the complex and often times uncertain immigration process. On his time off, Igor can most likely be found surfing, recording music, or shredding the snowy slopes of a nearby mountain. Fluent in English and Russian.

Personal Injury Law

402 W. Broadway, Suite 860, San Diego, CA 92101

Throughout his years as a California personal injury lawyer, James P. Frantz has received numerous landmark verdicts, including the second largest in San Diego County’s history. He fights for the rights for clients who have been seriously harmed in accidents or due to another’s negligence. He has handed almost every type of injury claim and has experience as a skilled litigator as well as from being an arbitrator for the past three decades. Attorney Frantz has been listed in Super Lawyers® for eight consecutive years, and is one of the Best Lawyers in America® for six years. He is skilled at handling cases ranging from personal injury and negligence and major mass torts and class action lawsuits. Call the Frantz Law Group today for a free consultation with Mr. Frantz.

Civil Litigation

2650 CAMINO DEL RIO N, STE 205, San Diego, CA 92108

Jamie has spent nearly her entire legal career focused on wage and hour class action & PAGA representative action litigation, and as a result is experienced well beyond her years. As a senior level attorney with a plaintiff-side wage and hour law firm, Jamie has trained and supervised several attorneys in this area of law. She has drafted and argued on the appellate level, including being a primary participant in the drafting of an amicus brief on behalf of CAOC in Williams v. Superior Court. Given her experience as a seasoned class action litigator, Jamie handles high-level complex wage & hour cases for Crosner Legal.

Tax Law

16745 W Bernardo Dr suite 260, San Diego, CA 92127, USA

Janathan Allen is an experienced tax attorney and business lawyer who integrates business, legal, tax and accounting strategies to provide her clients with better answers to their questions and more informed strategies to leverage their opportunities. Most businesses have separate tax attorneys, business attorneys, CPAs and accountants, tax preparers and financial advisors. If you take the same problem to each professional, they will provide what they genuinely believe is the right and best answer. However, it will only be based upon their unique (and somewhat limited) perspective. The business attorney will have no idea how the solution they are recommending impacts business operations or your accounting systems. The financial planner has no idea how their recommendation may be impacted by interstate or international tax implications. This is the genuine value of the integrated approach Janathan Allen and Allen Barron take when they work with you as a client on any challenge or opportunity.

Labor Law

3160 Camino Del Rio South, Suite 207, San Diego, CA 92108

Area of Practice: Employment Law Jill Vecchi, a senior associate in Mara Law Firm, is a 2010 graduate of University of California, Riverside with a degree in Communications. She graduated in 2014 from Santa Clara University School of Law with a JD in 2014 and distinction in Mediation Theory and Practice. Ms. Vecchi joined the firm in 2015, specializing in the counseling and representation of employees in nearly every phase of California employment law, including, wage and hour class and representative actions, wrongful termination, discrimination, and sexual harassment. California Employment Attorney Jill Vecchi primary focus in the firm has been on the class representation at the trial and appellate level of workers throughout the state of California in their fight for fair and lawful wages and working conditions. During her tenure with the firm, Ms. Vecchi has recovered tens of millions of dollars for California workers in wage and hour class and representative actions.

Personal Injury Law

4455 Murphy Canyon Rd, San Diego, CA 92123, USA

John Bell's legal journey is distinguished by a profound transition from a seasoned insurance defense attorney to the founder of his own personal injury practice in San Diego, California. With over 41 years of experience, John is a skilled insurance defense and plaintiff litigation attorney, showcasing his depth of knowledge in both spheres. Licensed in both California and New York, he brings a bicoastal perspective to his practice. Leveraging his extensive experience and insider knowledge of insurance company tactics, John has uniquely positioned his firm to advocate for those injured due to negligence. His background, including significant roles at notable law firms and a robust educational foundation from St. John’s University School of Law, equips him with unparalleled expertise in navigating the complexities of personal injury law. This evolution reflects John's commitment to justice and his dedication to turning legal challenges into victories for his clients, marking a new chapter in personal injury advocacy.

Tax Law

16065 Falcon Crest Dr, San Diego, CA 92127, USA

Kathleen Agbayani is Of Counsel in the North American Tax Practice Group. She concentrates her practice on all aspects of federal tax controversies and tax compliance. She represents clients in all stages of proceedings before the Internal Revenue Service, including audits, appeals, collections, and litigation. She has extensive experience in advising individual clients and financial institutions on issues regarding the Internal Revenue Service’s Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program and Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures, foreign bank account reporting (FBAR) obligations, and the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA). Kathleen has represented hundreds of US taxpayers with undisclosed offshore bank accounts and assets. She has published articles regarding voluntary disclosures and speaks frequently on this topic. She also advises high net worth individuals on international tax planning and reporting. She also provides pro bono advice to many pro bono clients including the American University Spragens Tax Clinic – DC Tax Legal Assistance, American Bar Association Military Pro Bono Project, American Bar Association Adopt-A-Base Program, and Centros de los Migrante, Inc. She is a committee member of the Global Tax Practice Group Voluntary Disclosure Steering Committee. Kathleen joined Baker McKenzie's Washington, DC office after serving as an attorney-advisor for the Honorable Robert N. Armen, Jr., at the United States Tax Court.

Criminal Defense Law

1059 Tenth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101, USA

Lisa J. Damiani, named as a San Diego Super Lawyer since 2010, received her B.A. degree in 1983 from New York University and her J.D. degree in 1988 from California Western School of Law in San Diego. Ms. Damiani continued trying criminal cases and focused her civil practice on labor, employment and business litigation matters. Ms. Damiani also consults with her employer clients on lay-offs, terminations, severance agreements, misconduct, and other employment related issues to prevent potential litigation. Some of her corporate clients include Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc., Equity Management Inc. and Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP. Ms. Damiani’s criminal and civil trial experience is extensive. She has practiced in various jurisdictions, including California, Idaho and Oklahoma, the United States District Courts for the Northern, Central and Southern Districts of California, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and United States District Courts for the Districts of Colorado and Nevada.

Labor Law

3632 Cedarbrae Ln, San Diego, CA 92106, USA

Madison Alvarez is an Associate in Freeman Mathis & Gary, LLP's San Diego office. She is a member of the firm’s Tort & Catastrophic Loss, Labor & Employment Law and Commercial Litigation/Directors & Officers Practice Sections. She represents clients in a wide range of civil litigation matters, including personal injury defense, employment disputes, complex commercial litigation and homeowners association and real estate cases. Ms. Alvarez is experienced in managing all phases of civil litigation, from early case assessment and strategic planning through discovery, motion practice and trial preparation. Her work includes developing comprehensive case strategies, preparing detailed witness and evidence summaries and crafting persuasive legal arguments to position cases for favorable resolution, whether through settlement or in the courtroom. She prioritizes efficiency and clear communication to advance her clients’ objectives while minimizing risk and disruption. Ms. Alvarez earned her Juris Doctor from California Western School of Law. She also holds a Master of Arts in environment, culture and media with an emphasis on environmental communication from the University of Miami.

Civil Litigation

600 B St, Ste 1500, San Diego, CA 92101

shoecraftburton.com

Labor Law

9845 Erma Rd, San Diego, CA 92131, USA

Rene Potter is an attorney at PotterHandy – Employment Law Group, LLP, where she has dedicated her entire legal career to the representation of employees who have been discriminated or retaliated against, harassed, or otherwise denied their rights in the workplace. She received her B.A. in Psychology locally from California State University, San Marcos with a 4.0 before attending California Western School of Law on scholarship and earning her law degree, Magna Cum Laude, in 2014, winning oral argument competitions and receiving many honors and awards along the way. Ms. Potter has successfully litigated numerous cases, including: discrimination and harassment (involving race, gender, age, pregnancy, and others), sex harassment and assault in the workplace, retaliation, violations of medical leave law, disability discrimination in the workplace, wrongful termination, unfair business practices, and wage and hour (including unequal pay and PAGA).She is a member of NELA and CELA.

Labor Law

402 W Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101, USA

Since 2000, Ryan Blackstone-Gardner has practiced law in state, federal, bankruptcy and tribal courts in the areas of employment, business, intellectual property, and general civil litigation. He has extensive experience in every aspect of these areas of law, including all areas of discovery, mediation, law and motion, trial preparation and the trial of cases, as well as defending matters through binding arbitrations. The primary focus of Mr. Blackstone-Gardner’s current practice is the provision of wide-ranging legal services to employers, including publicly-traded and privately-owned businesses and public entities, defending businesses and helping them navigate against an array of legal claims involving wrongful termination, retaliation, harassment, discrimination, individual and class action wage and hour claims and claims brought under the Private Attorney General Act. He provides interactive counsel and training to clients regarding compliance with wage and hour laws, employee discipline, leaves of absence, and the creation and maintenance of company handbooks and policies to promote workplace cultures free of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation. Mr. Blackstone-Gardner also assists employers and businesses in responding to agency charges and investigations, including those conducted by the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission, Department of Fair Employment &Housing, Labor Workforce Development Agency, Division of Labor Standards Enforcement, Employment Development Department, Franchise Tax Board, Department of Labor, Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, and Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board. He also provides guidance to clients to ensure compliance with public contracting, the Brown Act, HIPAA, Stark and anti-kickback statutes. As a registered patent attorney before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Mr. Blackstone-Gardner represents clients in preparing and prosecuting provisional and non-provisional patent and trademark applications and represents clients in trademark infringement and cancellation proceedings. Outside of the law, Mr. Blackstone-Gardner is actively involved with the Immaculata Parish on the University of San Diego Campus and the Notre Dame Club of San Diego and enjoys playing golf and watching college football and basketball with his friends and family.

Workers Compensation Law

8880 Rio San Diego Dr ste 800, San Diego, CA 92108, USA

Area of Practice: Workers' Rights Law Ryan Stygar is the founder and CEO of Centurion Trial Attorneys, APC. Better known as “Attorney Ryan,” he is the most well-known worker’s rights lawyer in the country. Attorney Ryan has taken on some of the biggest corporations in the world, and through fierce advocacy, has secured millions of dollars in compensation for his clients. Attorney Ryan has earned the trust of millions of people on social media. His book,Get it in Writing: The Ultimate Guide to Your Rights at Work, has become the go-to resource for understanding employee rights in the United State. As a former firefighter, Attorney Ryan brings his passion for service, teamwork, and justice to every case. His blue-collar background makes him especially qualified to understand the challenges faced by people at work. From battling wildfires in California to fighting greedy corporations in court, Attorney Ryan has never backed down. Since founding Centurion Trial Attorneys, Attorney Ryan has led the charge to hold abusers accountable. From sexual harassment to discrimination, from wrongful termination to wage theft, Attorney Ryan and his team are ready to get justice for workers. Ryan was born and raised in San Diego, California. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from California Western School of Law. His research, Thinking Outside the Box: A Point-Based System of Reintegration for California’s Inmate Firefighters, was published in the California Western Law Review. Attorney Ryan’s research has been cited by state and local governments seeking to reform post-release employment outcomes for incarcerated persons—a key component to fighting crime and reducing instances of reoffending. Attorney Ryan is passionate about supporting the San Diego community. He regularly volunteers with Feeding San Diego, a non-profit dedicated to providing free, nutritious food to the community. Addressing food insecurity is one of Ryan’s most important goals in the city. Attorney Ryan is regularly featured in podcasts, news, and TV, where he advocates for workers’ rights. When he’s not fighting for workers rights, Attorney Ryan enjoys another kind of fight. As a competitive paintball player, he regularly competes in tournaments with Team Velocity Black. He’s been recognized as a leader on and off the field. Attorney Ryan has been featured on the award winning Play the Game Podcast, where he discussed the importance of mental resilience, diversity, positivity, and inclusion in the sport.

Civil Litigation

110 W A St, San Diego, CA 92101

Salim Khawaja is an attorney and the president of the Law Offices of Salim Khawaja, APC, a California-based law firm founded in 1993

Real Estate Law

3033 Fifth Ave suite 400, San Diego, CA 92103, USA

Schuyler Hoffman leads the residential real estate practice group at Hoffman Forde, a real estate practice group located in San Diego. He represents clients throughout Southern California, focusing on legal matters involving residential real estate disputes, real estate non-disclosures, homeowners’ association conflicts, landlord/tenant disagreements, delays and liens, and fraud claims. Mr. Hoffman has developed cost-effective solutions to complex real estate disputes and has extensive experience in mediation and arbitration in the presence of various institutions.

Civil Litigation

16236 San Dieguito Rd, Ste 2-10 #9318, San Diego, CA 92067

Mr. Ponist started his career as a Deputy District Attorney with the Marin County District Attorney?s Office, where he tried more than 25 misdemeanor and felony cases to verdict. Thereafter, he was the Associate General Counsel for Marcus & Millichap, one of the largest commercial real estate brokerage companies, where he handled a wide range of real estate matters. Mr. Ponist later was a Principal at Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy where he handled complex, high stakes commercial litigation. Prior to founding The Ponist Law Group, P.C., Mr. Ponist was a Partner at Peterson, Martin & Reynolds where he focused on real estate, construction and business litigation matters. Mr. Ponist represents clients in arbitration and litigation in a broad range of real estate and business disputes, including disputes concerning real estate sales and ownership, real estate brokerage, real estate development, construction and construction defect, title and boundary issues, commercial unlawful detainer and landlord-tenant issues as well as business contract and partnership disputes. He combines cost effective strategies and proven experience to achieve favorable settlements and winning results at arbitration and trial.

Civil Litigation

530 B Street, Suite 1310, San Diego, CA 92101

Experienced trial lawyer Stephen Pelletier recently formed Price Pelletier, LLP with longtime colleague and fellow litigator, Virginia Price. Concentrating his practice on business and tort defense litigation, he represents a diversity of high-profile clients, from international real estate firms to national retail chains. Handling cases in state and federal courts, he has extensive experience in all aspects of complex real estate litigation, including commercial lease litigation, shopping center and complex land development law, environmental, business, construction and general liability issues. As needed, Mr. Pelletier prepares each case to effectively represent clients through trial. His practice also focuses on representing corporate and individual clients in catastrophic injury matters, ranging from general negligence to complex product liability disputes for a range of clients, including distributors and dealers. Successfully defending major manufacturers, he has handled disputes involving a wide range of complex products, among them auto airbag deployment systems and transmission defect matters. Additionally, he has been involved with medical product liability matters ranging from medical catheters to veterinarian medical devices. With a reputation as a highly skilled litigator, he forcefully defends clients when disputes are unavoidable. Yet his extensive litigation background enables him to play a critical advisory role for his clients, helping them resolve issues to avoid situations and minimize risks that could lead to costly litigation.

Labor Law

402 W Broadway ste 2600, San Diego, CA 92101, USA

Area of Practice: Labor and Employment Law Vincent Paul Sorrentino obtained his Bachelor's of Science in Civil Engineering from UCLA, where he played club baseball, leading the nation in regular season stolen bases and placing top 10 in multiple other stats. After trying his hand at some low-level pro baseball, he started his professional career as an engineer in San Diego, California. Vinny found he wanted to be able to help people more than he could as an engineer, so with the top scholarship--The Justice Anthony Kennedy Scholarship--at California Western School of Law, Vinny went on to graduate a semester early as Magna Cum Laude in the top 8 of his class. While attending law school, Vinny received the highest grade in the class in approximately 30% of his classes, wrote for his school’s Law Review Journal, and appeared in trial competitions as well as Superior Court trials as a Certified Law Clerk where he interned ? Vinny has worked for a Federal Magistrate Judge in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California and for attorneys in various practices ranging from Patent Prosecution to Personal Injury Litigation. The bulk of Vinny's early legal career was spent at a large firm in San Diego doing Labor & Employment defense litigation. ? Vinny is a licensed attorney in California, Arizona, and Nebraska as well as with the United States Patent & Trademark Office. ? Vinny has been a part of leadership of multiple firms and practicing at a high level in all areas of civil litigation since founding Sorrentino & Associates PC

Personal Injury Law

402 W Broadway, Suite 860, San Diego, CA 92101

William Shinoff is a trial lawyer at the Frantz Law Group and specializes in litigating complex catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, sexual abuse, sexual assault and mass tort cases. Mr. Shinoff attributes his love and passion for the courtroom to his family roots in the legal profession. Prior to joining Frantz Law Group, Mr. Shinoff represented School Districts and Public Entities throughout Southern California at one of the premier Public Entity law firms in Southern California. During his nine years representing public entities, Mr. Shinoff litigated matters in both state and federal court throughout California. After nearly a decade of defense work, Mr. Shinoff decided to shift his practice and represent individuals to stand up for the rights and delivering justice for people in need. His unique defense background enables him to deal with large corporate entities and big insurance companies and navigate through the smoke and mirrors of insurance company Bureaucracy. Mr. Shinoff strives to take a hands on approach with his clients and makes sure they are completely satisfied and comforted throughout the litigation process. Mr. Shinoff began his undergraduate studies at the University of Miami, Florida and completed his education at the University of Victoria, British Columbia where he obtained a bachelor’s degree. Following university, he graduated cum laude from California Western School of Law where he was an associate editor on the Law Review Journal. He is admitted to practice law before the California State Courts, as well as the Central and Southern Districts of California.

Real Estate Law

12750 High Bluff Dr., Suite 250, San Diego, CA 92130

Thorough and creative with a knack for delivering insightful solutions, Steven has a wealth of experience and consistently produces successful results. He partners with his clients to better understand their situations and uses a creative, solutions-oriented approach to help structure their deals and navigate difficult situations. Steven's expertise with major projects spans the acquisition, development, leasing, licensing and sale of office, industrial and retail portfolios, power plants (both traditional and renewable energy sources) and mixed-use office/retail projects. In addition, he has negotiated master developer and merchant builder agreements as well as private party development agreements for retail shopping complexes and residential developments. His clients have included international firms and public companies, REITs, developers and private joint ventures, and he has played a key role supporting one of the largest nuclear power generating sites in the country.