Top best L Lawyers in Oakland | 2137 available

• (). • Extensive civil and criminal experience, including 18 jury trials, 1 court trial, 1 arbitration, 2 mediations, and more than 120 depositions with a substantial case management and supervisory background.. • Criminal defense attorney with significant misdemeanor and felony backgrounds, including three-strikes cases and other serious and violent offenses.. • Experience in state and federal courts.. • Personal injury and consumer protection attorney at two prominent plaintiff firms, including firm-sponsored participation at Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyers College.. • Civil cases include wrongful death, medical malpractice, police misconduct, and government torts, among others.. • Prior corporate litigation practice at prestigious international defense firm, including general civil litigation and white-collar.. • Member of the American Bar Association (ABA), Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles (CAALA), California Public Defenders Association (CPDA), California Appellate Defense Counsel (CADC), American Bar Association (ABA), and National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL).. PLEASE BE ADVISED CASE RESULTS ARE NOT GUARANTEED AND ANY RESULTS OR REVIEWS DESCRIBED OR OTHERWISE CONTAINED ON THIS SITE ARE NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENTATIVE OF ULTIMATE CASE OUTCOMES. YOU SHOULD CONSULT AN ATTORNEY FOR ADVICE REGARDING YOUR INDIVIDUAL SITUATION.

“Fighting for the Underdog”. The theme of my life has been a determination to fight for the underdog. My work is a natural extension of that theme and fulfills me every day. I value hard work above most other things in my life. I often find myself preoccupied with how to fix a client’s problem or how to fix ERISA on a larger scale. Helping clients with disabilities became a personal mission of mine after seeing my father, a disabled veteran, struggle to work and support his family while dealing with the consequences of debilitating medical conditions. I like to think I got from him my strong work ethic, compassion, and desire to serve. I also value taking advantage of every opportunity for personal growth and am always looking for a way to become a better person. Running a business and raising children in a busy city is all consuming, but I am as happy as I’ve ever been, and wouldn’t have it any other way. For fun and relaxation, I enjoy the ritual of Peloton or a hike in the mornings so that I can start work with a clear head and ready to face the challenges that may lie ahead. I also try to practice mindfulness throughout the day, which helps me stay calm in stressful situations. At the end of the day, I enjoy listening to music on Spotify, a book on Audible, or a podcast. In addition to fighting for my clients, I volunteer with the Federal Bar Association, the Legal Aid at Work Workers’ Rights Clinic, and the AIDS Legal Referral Panel. I hope to show my kids by example that giving to others is the best way to lead a life of fulfillment.

Wortham Briscoe is a litigation attorney. He specializes in actions involving personal injury and housing rights. Mr. Briscoe successfully litigated numerous cases involving negligence, wrongful death, elder and dependent adult abuse, discrimination, uninhabitable conditions, landlord retaliation, wrongful eviction, sexual assault, fraud, and unfair business practice.. Wortham is licensed to practice law in California. He is also an arbitrator with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s (FINRA) dispute resolution forum.

With a specialty in personal injury and employment law, I bring two and a half decades of hands-on trial experience to my work on behalf of my clients.   I also have a wealth of significant courtroom experience, and have successfully obtained both jury verdicts and substantial settlements on behalf of my clients.. I help our clients recover past and future losses for any injuries or discrimination they’ve sustained.  It might seem like your case is complicated because you have a pre-existing condition, chronic health challenges  or perhaps there could be an alternative cause.  I work hard to find the support when other attorneys might reject you because your case is too complicated or too difficult to prove.

Winston W. Moody is an Associate with Gwilliam Ivary Chiosso Cavalli & Brewer, APC. His practice focuses on all aspects of employment law, personal injury and civil litigation.. Winston earned his B.S.B.A. in economics at the University of West Florida. He earned his J.D. at the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law. During law school, Winston served as Gwilliam Ivary’s law clerk, representing plaintiffs in employment law matters. Prior to returning to Gwilliam Ivary, Winston represented plaintiffs in personal injury cases in the Sacramento area. He also worked as an Associate in the Civil Litigation Department at Mastagni Holstedt, APC in Sacramento, CA. Winston is licensed to practice law in California state courts.

Wilson Family Law advises clients in the following areas: dissolution of marriage, child custody and visitation, child support, spousal support, property characterization and division, marital settlement agreements, premarital agreements, and post-nuptial agreements. Adam litigates and negotiates settlements in the following counties: San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Marin.. After practicing at a number of respected Bay Area family law firms, Adam founded Wilson Family Law to provide quality representation tailored to each client's unique needs. He is skilled at reaching fair settlements in both collaborative and conflict-driven matters, and provides responsive, compassionate and effective counsel.. Adam obtained a degree in finance with honors from TCU in Fort Worth, Texas and earned his juris doctorate degree from UC College of the Law San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings). In his free time, Adam enjoys exploring Oakland and the surrounding Bay Area with his wife and two young daughters.

When you retain me as your attorney, the first thing you will notice is that I am a good attentive listener. As your case progresses you will find me to be a determined and persistent advocate on your behalf.. I offer my clients a superior alternative to the big personal injury firms who take on your case, never return your phone calls, settle quickly for a low amount, and then move on to the next case.. In 2015 and 2016, working with Sarah Lawrence, I have recovered personal injury settlements of $200,, $155,, $119,, $83,, $ 50, and more. I secured these settlements using time, training, effort, and intelligence.. Most importantly, however, I reach my results through zealous advocacy. My philosophy for each client is “never leave any money on the table.” However, I am attentive and responsive to my individual clients’ needs.

When you hire Stephen H. Cornet to represent your needs, you can be certain that he will conduct your case with professionalism, integrity, and the ultimate goal of seeing justice served. Stephen is a skilled litigator who is uniquely adept at handling multiple clients from across the country, while providing each case with the individual attention it deserves.. Concentrating in personal injury (with a focus on automobile cases), premises and product liability cases and construction litigation, Stephen has amassed a considerable amount of experience in the investigation of accidents and has spent substantial time in court advocating for his clients and holding insurance companies accountable. Although these areas of concentration require extensive preparation and ongoing negotiation, Stephen is a seasoned advocate and commits himself to seeing each case through to a successful conclusion.

When you are charged with a criminal offense, you need a strong, experienced, and committed advocate. It’s a role that Jo-Anna Nieves has assumed many times, with great success. Jo-Anna began her post-bar legal career at the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office, which gives Jo-Anna a rare perspective that she uses to support, advise, and defend you.. “I love criminal law. It’s captivating and I’m passionate about it,” -Jo-Anna Nieves. Jo-Anna is committed to mounting the best possible defense for what she calls “hard working, family-oriented, successful professionals who aren’t career criminals… some are falsely accused, others make a bad call like driving home after a couple glasses of wine at a work event.”. Jo-Anna was 20 years old when she graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in both Multinational Business and Finance. She went on to earn her J.D. from Florida State University in May 2009, where she was also a member of Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, Inc. Jo-Anna started her legal career by interning with the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office, where she gained experience in the arraignment of misdemeanor and domestic violence offenses, the prosecution of adult sexual assault crimes, and felony preliminary hearings. After Jo-Anna passed the California Bar, she continued her career at the Sacramento County DA’s Office. She gained experience in the misdemeanor trial unit, negotiating plea offers, arguing suppression motions, and prepping cases for trial. She also built a rapport with members of the legal community, and further developed her trial advocacy skills.. Two years later, she accepted a position as a trial attorney at a creditor’s rights law practice in Los Angeles, where she effectively litigated over 400 cases by reaching favorable resolutions for her clients by way of settlement prior to trial and maintaining a success rate of 95% for over 100 cases that went to trial.. In 2012, Jo-Anna started The Nieves Law Firm, APC, to help restore the reputation of those caught in California’s criminal justice system. Since opening her own office, she has successfully represented defendants charged with assault and battery, DUI, contempt, drug offenses, sexual assault and other sex crimes, robbery and other theft crimes, fraud, and domestic violence and other violent crimes. She also has an impressive track record in civil litigation matters such as civil harassment, domestic violence, workplace violence and elder abuse restraining orders.. Jo-Anna has served as a mock trial coach for El Centro Legal de la Raza’s Youth Law Academy and their Advisory Board for several years and is a member of the Earl Warren Inns of Court. Jo-Anna also taught at Stanford Law School since 2018 – educating future lawyers about Trial Advocacy. She currently serves as the Vice President of the Alameda County Bar Association (ACBA), and is admitted to practice before all courts of the State of California and Florida. She is also admitted for federal practice in the United States District Courts for the Northern, Eastern and Central Districts of California.

Welcome to my Avvo page. I'm a solo attorney in private practice. My primary areas of practices are land use and environmental law (especially the California Environmental Quality Act) and elections law, focusing on ballot measure. My primary focus is litigation, although I also represent clients in administrative processes. I primarily represent environmental and community groups. You may send me an e-mail to check whether your legal needs match what I can provide.. As you can tell from my biographical information, I didn't start off intending to be an attorney.  I went through college, graduate school and a post-doc intending to do genetics, and spent ten years doing so, first in academia and then as an industrial biotech researcher.  After being laid off and facing relocation to the midwest, I decided to switch careers instead.. I had gotten involved in local politics and served a short term on the Emeryville City Council.  That got me interested in government, and specifically environmental and land use regulations.  It was a short step from there into law school, and thence into my current practice.. My practice is oriented primarily towards representing environmental and community groups as plaintiffs in environmental and land use disputes.. I got into law intending to do environmental law only.  However, land use law is so connected with environmental law, especially in urban areas, that one can hardly do one without the other.  My electoral law work arose from helping environmental groups first draft, and then qualify ballot measures.. I have also done a few cases involving illegal or improper expenditure of public funds (Code of Civil Procedure Sect. 526a).  Such cases are not easy. They involve a lot of discovery and a full-blown bench trial, compared to most of my cases, which are petitions for a writ of mandate.  The latter usually don't involve much if any discovery and are briefed and then heard, usually with at most two or three hours of oral argument.

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Virginia is a partner in Wendel Rosen’s Trusts & Estates Practice Group. She focuses her practice on estate planning, trust administration, probate and elder law and mediating matters in her practice area. She has particular expertise in estate planning for LGBT families, as well as representation of individual and professional fiduciaries in the administration of living trusts, conservatorships of the person and estate and decedents’ estates.. A frequent author and speaker on estate planning related issues, including LGBT estate planning, powers of attorney, estate planning in the context of dissolutions, and end of life decisions, she has presented before a wide variety of legal, professional and private organizations.. She is a former Certified Family Law specialist and mediates matters in her areas of expertise and is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estates Lawyers.

Veronica Soto is an experienced criminal defense attorney serving as Of Counsel to Lamano Law Office. With over nine years of criminal law experience and six years as a civil litigator, she brings a wealth of knowledge and strategic insight to every case.. Ms. Soto began her legal career as a Public Defender with the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office, where she advocated for individuals facing serious criminal charges. She later transitioned to the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, serving as a city prosecutor for four years before moving to the general civil litigation unit, where she handled complex cases for six years. After two years as a contract attorney with Lamano Law, she officially joined the firm as Of Counsel.. With 20 trials to her credit in both criminal and civil courts, Ms. Soto is known for her exceptional client advocacy, strategic case management, and ability to secure case dismissals, favorable verdicts, and advantageous settlements.. In addition to criminal and civil litigation, Ms. Soto has experience in family law, assisting clients with divorce, child custody, and property disputes. She has also worked in immigration law, representing individuals in deportation proceedings and U.S. citizenship applications. Fluent in Spanish, she is committed to ensuring her clients understand their legal options every step of the way.. Ms. Soto earned her Juris Doctorate from Santa Clara University School of Law in 2002, where she served as an editor for the Computer and High Technology Law Journal and was the public relations coordinator for the Latin and Native American Law Students Association.. Outside of her legal practice, Ms. Soto enjoys hiking and spending time with her husband and two sons. Lamano Law Office is proud to have her as a valued member of our team.

Verleana D. Green is the founder and senior partner of her estate planning and probate law firm located in her home town of Oakland, California. She focuses her practice on the areas of estate planning, probate, trust administration, trust litigation and contract review and negotiation.. After graduating with a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Berkeley, Ms. Green earned her Juris Doctor from the University of San Francisco School of Law. Ms. Green received her Maters of Law in Taxation (LLM) in 2014. She was certified as a contract advisor by the National Football League Players Association since 2009.. Before opening her own law firm, Ms. Green gained valuable legal and business experience in several different positions. She focused on securities litigation as an associate at a major international law firm headquartered in San Francisco and spent time in the mutual funds contracts department at Charles Schwab. She also worked in the general counsel's office of Robert Half International Inc., helping to negotiate and draft sophisticated employment agreements.. Ms. Green stays abreast of the latest developments in her fields of legal practice through her memberships in a variety of professional organizations, including the State Bar of California, the Alameda County and Charles Houston bar associations, the Black Women Lawyers Association of Northern California and the University of San Francisco School of Law American Inn of Court. She is also active in the Students Rising Above college scholarship program.

Unmani Sarasvati is an experienced  family law attorney-mediator in Oakland, California.Sheuses mediation and Collaborative Law methods to facilitate theresolution of issues related to: divorce, child custody, child andspousal support, marital settlement agreements, and premaritalagreements.Because Unmani only takes non-adversarial cases anddoes not litigate, she is able to give all her clients timelyattention. Unmani's practice is that of a transactional attorney, not alitigator, which means she can anticipate the majority of her work andserve all her clients equally.Mediation Offices of Unmani Sarasvati is committed to:

TONG LAW is a full service law firm providing litigation and transactional legal services to individuals and businesses.. No matter too large, no issue too small; at TONG LAW, our approach to problem solving is to harmonize exceptional client representation with practical legal solutions. We handle a multitude of civil matters, and represent both English and Mandarin Chinese speaking clients.. Our primary areas of focus are employment law, entrepreneurial and startup business law, immigration law, and trademark and copyright law.. Consistent with our commitment to running a green business, we are proud to operate as a technology-driven, paperless office. Our web hosting is 100% wind powered, we utilize webcam video conferencing, and we recycle and use environmentally friendly products.Conveniently located in the historic Tribune Tower in beautiful Downtown Oakland, California, TONG LAW is easily accessible by various modes of eco-friendly transportation such as BART, bus, or bike.

The only reason I went to law school was to become a criminal defense attorney.  In 1999, I graduated from the University of San Francisco School of Law.  Everyday, for the last 20 years, I have proudly represented criminal defendants all over the Bay Area.

The Law Office of Jeffrey L. Kaloustian is a premier criminal defense and personal injury law firm conveniently located in downtown Oakland.  Attorney Kaloustian is a highly-skilled attorney and advocate that will protect your rights and interests with 110% of his commitment and legal expertise. A dedicated solo practitioner, Mr. Kaloustian approaches each case with full attention and enthusiasm, assuring you a high level of professionalism and client satisfaction.. The firm is guided by a powerful vision of delivering aggressive and compassionate representation and superior, personalized service to clients. Leaving no stone unturned, Jeffrey takes a tireless approach to defending you of criminal charges. Attorney Kaloustian will promptly and thoroughly  analyze all available evidence in your case. Jeffrey's "eagle eye" for spotting unlawful police practices and legal expertise can form the basis of challenging evidence in court and getting your charges dismissed or substantially reduced. To deliver stellar client service , accessibility and responsiveness are essential. Mr. Kaloustian takes time to listen to your side of the story and answer all of your questions, keeping you informed at every step of the case . As a client, you are always welcome to multiple meeting or phone conferences, at which he will explain your constitutional rights, all relevant laws, potential defenses and outcomes.. Attorney Kaloustian's medical background enables him to be an extremeley effective personal injury attorney. He is a former emergency medical technician (EMT), a highly skilled negotiator and knows how to take on insurance companies.. Originally from Massachusetts, Jeffrey received his JD degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law, where he served on the USF Law Review, co-chaired the Public Interest Law Foundation and received the prestigious Pursuit of Justice Award (2009). In addition to representing clients throughout California, Mr. Kaloustian's fight for justice includes human rights advocacy in northern and southern India, the Dominican Republic, and at the United Nations in Geneva.  Prior to opening his law practice, Mr. Kaloustian served as a Fellow at the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Dharamsala, India and co-founded the International Center for Mental Health and Human Rights. Jeffrey currently serves on the Board of Directors of Berkeley-based Human Rights Advocates.. Prior to studying law, Mr. Kaloustian spent several years as a professional ski patroller at Lake Tahoe's Squaw Valley USA and directed expedition-style mountain courses for the Colorado Outward Bound School. While leading these programs -- often in remote areas -- Mr. Kaloustian learned that diligent preparation, tenacity and skill result in success. Today, Mr. Kaloustian uses the same methodical approach to win cases for his clients. When not busy defending his clients, Jeffrey enjoys travel, music and exploring northern California's many wonderful outdoor and cultural attractions. An accomplished climber and ski mountaineer, Jeffrey also enjoys hiking, mountain biking, cultural exchanges and adventuring of all kinds.

The Law Office of Janice Cho is a client-oriented law firm specializing in helping individuals understand and resolve family law and immigration issues efficiently and effectively and with professionalism, integrity and compassion. Ms. Cho has been practicing law since 2004, with significant expertise in family law and immigration law. Ms. Cho earned her Bachelor’s Degree, with honors, from the University of Chicago. She later received her Juris Doctorate degree from Northwestern University School of Law. After law school, Ms. Cho began her career working exclusively in the area of family law and immigration law. She has supervised legal clinics, provided technical assistance to pro bono attorneys, provided trainings on family law and immigration law, and regularly volunteers in numerous capacities with the Court.. Ms. Cho understands that many of her family law clients are in crisis, need immediate high-quality representation that they can trust, or need to establish personal and financial security in the wake of family separation. She guides her clients through the nuances and complexities of family law and immigration law and offers each of her clients an individualized client-directed approach that addresses each client's specific objectives.. Her family law practice includes, but is not limited to marital dissolution, premarital agreements, post-marital agreements, divorce and separation; custody and parenting arrangements; child and spousal support; and valuation and division of community property assets and debts, including real estate, business interests, professional practices, personal property, retirement benefits and other investments.. Ms. Cho's immigration practice focuses on family-based petitions, VAWA's, U-Visas, and Naturalizations and Citizenship applications. She is dedicated to helping her clients in ways that large firms cannot by providing highly personalized and effective immigration solutions.

THE HARDEST WORKING ATTORNEY IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA!. "I am a firm believer that our criminal system, while the best in the world, makes every effort to get rid of cases by manipulating citizens into pleading guilty.  My job is to stop the government from doing so, but above all, my job is to protect my clients and the rights afforded to them by our Constitution!". When I take a case, I take it with one thing in mind: To win!  My goals are as follows:. To believe my client - they are my boss;. Know the case better than anyone else;. Research every issue, twice;. Prepare every case not for negotiation, but instead for trial;. Find passion in every case;. Always remain on the same page with my client - communication;. From the most serious felony case to a minor traffic offense, the philosophy  never changes.  By following this recipe, I believe every case can be won!. I have been in the criminal defense field for just over 16 years.  I have been licensed for 13 of those years.. My first job, during my first year in law school, began with the First District Apppellate Project.  Here, I was extensively trained on the in's and out's of writing successful appeal (Appellate Opening Brief).  How to look for issues on any case and how to put together a convincing argument.  I have since applied this knowledge and have handled at least 100, criminal and traffic, appeals with a great success rate!  I have also written and filed writs, both to the Appellate DIvision and the California Court of Appeals, on many of my cases.  I hope to one day get the right case in front of the Supremes.. After working at the First Appellate District, I worked at the California State Public Defenders Office.  I believe it is here where I truly learned about passion for your case.  The office focused on doing appeals for those convicted and sentenced to death.  I spend quite a bit of time on an inmate who killed three people.  It was this experience that taught me why it is that we (Criminal Defense Lawyers) do, what we do - always a topic of debate at the dinner table.. I left the appeals area to focus on being a trial lawyer.  I wanted to be on the trenches where the initial battle took place.  I ended up volunteering as an intern at the San Francisco Public Defenders Office.  After all I was raised in San Francisco and knew the streets pretty well.  Here, I interned with several Deputy Public Defenders and wrote countless Motions to Suppress, 995 motions as well as researched countless legal issues for the deputies.  I also assisted in trial work from start to finish.  The main lesson I got from working at the SFPD was, the cold reality of how the system, at the trial level really works.  It is nothing like what you see on TV.. My last employment as an intern was at the Alameda County Public Defenders Office.  Here I was assigned many duties including the initial intake of the accused. Again, I gained great courtroom experience and extensive training on all aspects of a criminal case, but the biggest lesson here was caring about the people you defend!  They were not files or numbers, as many of the Judges and Prosecutors saw them.  They were people wanting to be heard, and whether you like it or not this is what OUR Constitution affords them.. After passing the bar, I began working as at the Santa Cruz Public Defender's Office.  I worked here for a total of two years and conducted at least 18 jury trials with a high success rate (I think I lost two).  I received in-office weekly training pertaining to all aspects of a handling a criminal case. I was also sent for training at the Western Trial Advocacy Institute (run by Gerry Spence and considered to be the top trial school in the country) in Wyoming for  an extensive week long trial work training.  I left the Santa Cruz Public Defender's Office feeling confident that I now possessed all the tools necessary to competently and aggressively represent private clients.. After leaving the Public Defender positions, I opened several offices and have been in private practice ever since.  Every day, and in every case, I use the knowledge acquired at my previous jobs as well as the knowledge acquired I acquire on a daily basis. I continue to improve my skills and knowledge by attending countless seminars on every issue you can think of.  I am one of a handful of Attorneys trained in the performance of Field Sobriety Testing approved by the National Highway and Traffic Administration.  I never stop learning, and if I did I would retire immediately since I would be doing a great disservice to my clients.  I consider my self one of the lucky few who loves what I do.  I love the daily challenge; I love the fight; I love winning; but most importantly, I love helping people.. Feel free to visit my website for further information on my office and how we can help!  We have a vast amount of knowledge and experience in all aspects of a criminal, DUI, Traffic, or DMV case.  You can also call me directly.

Tarik R. Habbas is an associate with Habbas and Associates. His practice focuses on all aspects of Employment Law. Tarik earned a B.A. in Political Science from Santa Clara University. In 2016, he received his Juris Doctor from Santa Clara University School of Law. During Law School, Tarik work for Gwilliam Ivary as a Law Clerk. He also worked for the Workers' Rights Clinic at the Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center.. After graduating law school, Tarik worked for Gwilliam Ivary as a Law Clerk and became an associate attorney at the firm in May 2017. He is currently working at Habbas & Associates, but continues to serve as co-counsel with Gwilliam Ivary in employment matters.

Tanya's dedication to serving small and mid-sized businesses and artists is purely personal. Many of her closest family and friends are entrepreneurs and/or artists. She’s seen first-hand the frustration they endure when they need legal advice, but don’t know where to look or can’t afford it. Or even worse, she’s seen the mistakes they make when they desperately needed legal advice but didn’t know it. Tanya draws on those experiences to help her clients avoid legal pitfalls and plan/strategize for the future.

Steven Kazan is one of the nation’s preeminent and most experienced asbestos litigation attorneys. For the past 44 years, he and the law firm he founded have represented hundreds of injured workers suffering from asbestos-related mesothelioma in some of the most high-profile cases in history, against Johns-Manville, Fibreboard, Johnson & Johnson, and others.. Steven’s groundbreaking work has helped victims and their families redress the wrongs done to them, and his work has prompted changes in asbestos law that benefit victims. He is also active in helping to improve workplaces through education and legislative advocacy.. In 1994, Steven and his firm established the Kazan McClain Partners Foundation Inc. to support institutions that fight for the little guy and provide funding for mesothelioma research. To date, the foundation has given out more than $20 million in grant money to help make a difference in people’s lives. The foundation worked with University of Chicago researchers to fund pleural mesothelioma research, which was presented at the International Mesothelioma Interest Group conference in May 2018. The foundation also supports thoracic cancer programs at UCSF and Stanford.. In recent years, Steven has shifted his focus from trying cases to advising on the bankruptcy reorganization of asbestos companies and the management of asbestos bankruptcy trust funds. About 50 corporations have set up asbestos trust funds to remain viable in the face of massive liability for toxic asbestos exposure.. Steven has won numerous citations and awards for his pioneering asbestos litigation work. He has been named to Super Lawyers and made the Best Lawyers list 10 times; the U.S. Chamber of Commerce selected his firm as a Top Plaintiffs’ Firm for Asbestos Litigation. In 2017, Steven received the prestigious Consumer Attorneys of California Edward I. Pollock Award “in recognition of many years of dedication, outstanding efforts and effectiveness on behalf of the causes and ideals” of consumer attorneys.

Stephen Sommers has been practicing in the area of labor and employment law for over ten years.  He focuses on representing employees who have been wronged in some way by their employers.  He has represented hundreds of clients, from top executives to employees who clean the floors.  Mr. Sommers also has successfully litigated several employment focused class action lawsuits.  Most recently, Mr. Sommers and his associates settled a class action law suit for employees of a single  IHOP franchise for $650,000.. Stephen Sommers currently represents employees in cases involving sexual harassment, disability discrimination, failure to properly pay employees, wrongful termination, family medical leave rights, pregnancy rights, retaliation, employment contracts and severance, and age discrimination.. Stephen Sommers also works with SEIU Local 1021 by being lead negotiator on the union's behalf for collective bargaining agreements with area municipalities.. Stephen Sommers has been twice selected by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star.  Not coincidentally, each of Stephen Sommers' associates eligible has also been selected by Super Lawyers as Rising Stars.  Every year of eligibility, Mr. Sommers has been selected as a Super Lawyer, which is a process that reviews a mix of case success and other factors.. Stephen Sommers has been actively engaged with the AIDS Legal Referal Panel for ten years.  He has been selected for the Hero Award each of the ten years and was Attorney of the Year in 2008.. Before attending law school, Stephen Sommers worked as a union organizer for seven years, mainly in the rural southeastern United States.  Stephen Sommers also was the Southwest Pennsylvania Director of Citizen Action, where he led campaigns to strengthen Pennsyvania's environmental laws.. Stephen Sommers was a Peace Corps volunteer in Chad, Africa.  He was a water santiation volunteer in the village of Mao, which sits atop a sand dune in the Sahara desert.

Spencer C. Young is an employment, civil rights and personal injury litigation attorney. The majority of his practice is dedicated to representing employees in employment disputes and individuals in select personal injury cases. He also counsels employers and businesses in employment, contract breach and commercial litigation matters.. Personal Background & Undergraduate Education. Spencer was born in Berkeley, California and raised in nearby Piedmont. He graduated with honors from Piedmont High School in June, 1994. He attended Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana from 1994 to 1998. He worked for a small law firm in New Orleans in 1996. He also attended Cambridge University in Cambridge, England, and London School of Economics (LSE) in London, England in the spring of 1997. He worked for Edward, Fail, Bradshaw & Waterson in London while studying at LSE. Spencer graduated from Tulane with honors and a Bachelor of Arts from Newton College, including a double major in political science and philosophy, in May, 1998.. Early Work Experience and Professional Education. From July, 1998 to December, 1999, Spencer was a paralegal in the labor and employment department of Morgan, Lewis and Bockius, LLP in New York City. In 2000, he was a paralegal in the compliance department of ING Bank and a bartender at the Thirsty Scholar on 2nd Avenue in Manhattan.. Spencer moved back to the East Bay in December, 2000. He was a paralegal in the environmental section at Sedgwick, Detert, Moran & Arnold, LLP (currently Sedgwick, LLP) in San Francisco from January, 2001 to August, 2001.. Spencer attended Golden Gate University School of Law from fall 2001 to spring 2004. He studied business at GGU’s Ageno School of Business from fall 2002 to spring 2004. While studying at GGU, Spencer worked for Aids Legal Referral Panel, GGU’s Environmental Law and Justice Clinic, Federal Magistrate Judge Maria Elena-James, and her husband, Commissioner Newton J. Lam.. Spencer graduated with a Juris Doctor and a Masters of Business Administration in May, 2004. He was the first person at GGU to graduate with a joint J.D./M.B.A. in only three years. He graduated with honors in both programs, and was awarded “Outstanding Student” by Judge James and GGU Honors Lawyering Program faculty and staff in 2004.. Associations and Licensed Attorney Work Experience. Spencer passed the California State Bar Exam in 2005. He immediately joined the San Francisco Trial Lawyers’ Association, the National Lawyers’ Guild, California Employment Lawyers’ Association, National Employment Lawyers’ Association, and was admitted to practice in Northern District Federal Court.. During Spencer’s employment with the Law Office of Mary Dryovage in 2005, Spencer represented federal employees in front of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Merit Systems Protection Board, and co-chaired a discrimination trial in front of Chief Justice Patel in Northern District Federal Court. In January, 2006, Spencer opened his private practice in Oakland, California, where he remains to this day.. Over the past decade, Spencer has represented hundreds of clients in California State Courts, Northern District Federal Court, the California Department of Labor Standards Enforcement, the California Fair Employment and Housing Commission, the California Public Employees Relations Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board. He is currently an active member of the California State Bar Association, California State Bar Labor & Employment Section, Alameda-Contra Costa Trial Lawyers’ Association, and California Employment Lawyers’ Association. He also attends local Trial Lawyers’ College events and is on the leadership of Success Link, an Oakland chapter of Business Networking International.. Spencer has ten years of experience litigating wrongful termination, discrimination, retaliation, whistleblower claims, wage and hour disputes, premises liability, vehicle accidents, contract breach, and other labor, employment and commercial cases. His legal experience and law practice management skills date back to 1996. In 2011, Spencer was a speaker at the California Employment Lawyers’ Association panel for work and life balance.. In his spare time, Spencer enjoys traveling, cooking, fishing, camping, hunting and practicing martial arts. He completed a six year yoga, mediation and martial arts program with his teacher in Berkeley, California and Phu Reua, Thailand in November, 2010. Spencer applies the fundamental principles of warriorship – loyalty and selfless service – to his clients and their causes throughout California. He is widely considered a “polite bulldog” that achieves “spectacular” results. He has a long list of thrilled clients who have posted their reviews on Yelp and Avvo.