Top best L Lawyers in Walnut Creek | 781 available

Dirk Manoukian is an attorney with strong ties to both California and Nevada, and a deep commitment to obtaining the best possible results for each and every client he has the privilege to represent. Dirk’s legal acumen is complemented by a competitiveness honed as a High School All-American wrestler from Nevada who went on to San Jose State University to wrestle and play football. Dirk’s roots in the Bay Area go back to the 1960’s when his father was a member of the original 1960 Oakland Raiders.. In 1991, Dirk graduated in the top of his class from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, and accepted a position as a Deputy District Attorney for the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office. From 1991 to 2005, Dirk prosecuted and supervised the prosecution of thousands of criminal cases. He personally tried over 100 jury trials ranging from misdemeanor crimes to lengthy death penalty homicide trials.. During his career as a government prosecutor, Dirk handled thousands of negotiations with other lawyers, judges, and special interest and advocacy groups. He has extensive experience evaluating and negotiating serious, complicated and often emotional matters. During his career, he developed substantial knowledge and skill in the procedural and substantive operations of the civil and criminal justice system and local law enforcement agencies, and has extensive experience in dealing with state and federal law enforcement agencies such as the Department of Justice, the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement, and NCIS and CID divisions of the Department of Defense.. Dirk has been an instructor for private attorneys and government agencies and has also instructed at local police academies, as well as state agencies such as the California Highway Patrol and the California Narcotic Officer’s Association. Additionally, Dirk has conducted symposiums for private attorneys on jury selection and jury trial tactics through the Contra Costa Bar Association. He has also authored a variety of training materials regarding procedural and substantive areas of law.. Dirk Manoukian is licensed to practice law in both California and Nevada and regularly appears in state and federal court in both of those states.

Derek Ewin has a wealth of Criminal Law experience including more than thirteen years in County Prosecutors’ Offices.  Eleven of those years Mr. Ewin worked as a Deputy District Attorney in Contra Costa County.   As a Deputy DA, Mr. Ewin prosecuted thousands of cases, including but not limited to:  Robbery, Homicide, Drunk Driving/DUI, Possession, Possession for Sale and Sale of Illegal Drugs, Three Strikes, Theft, Burglary, Auto Theft, Domestic Violence, Assault with Deadly Weapon, Illegal Firearms, Vandalism, Sex Crimes, Stalking, Gang cases, Arson and Drive By Shootings.  At the DA's Office, Mr. Ewin worked in several divisions including Misdemeanors, Felony Trial Team, Calendar, Juvenile, Felony Filing, Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault, Preliminary Hearings and Homicide/Gangs.  As a Criminal Defense Attorney, Mr. Ewin has handled numerous cases in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area.  He has successfully defended misdemeanor, felony and drunk driving cases.. Mr. Ewin’s extensive experience includes Jury Trials, Court Trials, Preliminary Hearings, Motions to Suppress, Motions to Dismiss, Discovery Motions, Pre-trial Negotiations, Plea Bargaining, Sentencing Hearings, Probation Violation Hearings, Investigations, Mental Defenses, Victim Representation, DMV License Suspension Hearings and Post Conviction Reductions and Dismissals.  He has also lectured in criminal law, legal updates and constitutional law to various local police agencies.   In law school, Mr. Ewin focused on Criminal Law and Trial Practice.  He tutored legal writing and competed in the National Moot Court competition.. Mr. Ewin has a reputation of integrity, honesty and skill with local prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges and court staff.  Mr. Ewin works tirelessly to help his clients get their lives back in order and to get them free of the Criminal Justice System.  Clients and Former Clients continually call and write to tell Mr. Ewin how his representation of them has changed their lives for the better.Mr. Ewin was born and raised in the East Bay, where he continues to reside with his family.  He is an avid dirt bike rider, wake-boarder, shooter and outdoorsman.  He is also involved as a teacher at his local church.

David Simon attended UC Davis, majoring in both International Relations and Economics and graduated with honors from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He started his career as a litigator at one of the most prestigious law firms in the country, suing insurance companies and intellectual property infringers for hundreds of millions of dollars.. He then left Heller Ehrman to work as the General Counsel of an airline company. While there, he supervised and managed outside counsel, and he learned how frustrating it is to be the Client seeking solutions and only hearing about obstacles from the attorneys. Clients don't want to hear about what they can't do; they want to hear how to achieve their goals. It's the attorney's job to figure out solutions.. After leaving the airline company, he went to work as an Assistant District Attorney. As a prosecutor, he appeared in court nearly every day, and brought hundreds of criminals to justice.. It is with a drive for excellence, and a passion to help solve people's legal problems that we at Simon Law work hard to be Your Legal Team.

David primarily represents closely held businesses and their owners. His clients look to him to act as general counsel since it is unnecessary for most businesses to have a full time attorney on staff. David works with clients to resolve general business issues, whether it involves drafting and negotiating contracts, general business advice or litigation. On the corporate side, David handles general corporate matters, formation/dissolution, contract drafting and review, and merger and acquisition transactions among others. On the commercial real estate side, David handles buy/sell transactions, leasing and real estate litigation. David has represented clients directly in numerous general civil litigation matters.

David J. Brillant, founder of Brillant Law Firm in Walnut Creek, California, is one of the Bay Area’s rising stars. Super lawyers consistently recognizes David as one of the top up-an-coming lawyers in Northern California, and one of the few who excel in the subspecialty of trust and estate litigation. Unlike many trust and estate lawyers who mainly are “estate planners,” David started as a complex civil litigator, handling litigation matters ranging from construction to business disputes to tax matters against the Internal Revenue Service and the California Franchise Tax Board.. Over the years, David has represented numerous trustees, helping them administer trusts ranging from the routine to the complex. While the vast majority of David’s work focuses on all aspects of trust and estate matters, he continues to handle business, real estate and tax matters for his clients. In addition to trust and estate litigation, David performs estate planning, trust administration and probate services for clients.. David believes in clear communication and straight talk when it comes to advising his clients. He has a wide range of clients in various facets, including construction, manufacturing, real estate, retail, and professional services. David distinguishes himself from his competitors by learning how each of his clients operate their business and advising them based on his experience and knowledge. Over the years, David has advised clients ranging from small, family owned businesses to publicly traded corporations.

David Ginn advises members of the construction industry on public works, commercial and residential construction projects. His cases involve design and construction agreements, surety and insurance issues, bid protests, project management, project close-out, and claims involving defective construction, false and fraudulent claims, mechanic’s liens, payment and performance bonds, stop payment notices, additional work, disruption, resequencing, construtive acceleration, Eichleay formula claims, delays, and other impacts, CalTrans Standard Specifications, AIA contracts, and Federal Acquisition Regulations. Mr. Ginn also litigates real estate transactional disputes, partition actions, quiet title cases, commercial leasing disputes, disclosures associated with real estate sales transactions, partnership disputes, investor claims, limited liability company disputes, partnership windup and dissolution, landlord/tenant issues, evictions, breach of contract, condemnation, and eminent domain.  Mr. Ginn acts as lead litigation counsel in mediations, arbitrations, court and jury trials.  He is an adjuct professor with Diablo Valley College, teaching a course in Legal Aspects of the Construction Industry.

Daniel practices criminal defense in Contra Costa and surrounding counties. Daniel routinely defends the accused against all criminal charges including driving under the influence of drug and alcohol, domestic violence, child abuse and molestation, rape and sexual assault, robbery, and white-collar offenses.  Daniel is a relentless litigator and is at home within a courtroom.  Atop Daniel's prioritise is client care.  You can be assured that Daniel will be in communication at all times throughout your case.  You can call him anytime and a response will always be garnered.  Daniel takes pride in making his clients feel that your case is as important to him as it is to you.  Please call Daniel when your situation is tough and you need a calming voice to guide you through a rough patch.

Dan O'Malley (Judge Ret.) was born and raised in the East Bay. He comes from a family of eleven, all of whom settled in the Bay Area. His practice focuses on Criminal Defense, including White Collar crime and Cal OSHA defense, Government Relations and Personal Injury. He also specializes in Mediation and Arbitration of complex and simple civil actions. He has litigated, mediated, presided over and supervised thousands of cases in these areas. Dan grew up in Contra Costa County, attended De La Salle High School and local college. He has been practicing law for the past 22 years, both as a Litigator and a Judge. Many of his family members are involved in the practice of law. His father, Bill O'Malley was the elected District Attorney, a Superior Court Judge and a Public Defender. His sister Nancy is the Chief Assistant District Attorney for Alameda County. His wife, Judge MaryAnn O'Malley is a former Deputy District Attorney and now a Judge with the Contra Costa County Superior Court. The couple was recently featured in Diablo Magazine as one of the East Bays' Power Couples.. As a Deputy District Attorney, Dan's assignments included the following: Homicide trial lawyer, Three Strikes trial lawyer, Juvenile trial lawyer as well as supervisor, Felony trial team lawyer, Misdemeanor and Felony charging deputy, Misdemeanor trial deputy as well as Supervisor, Law and Motion lawyer, Homicide Watch Search Warrant lawyer, Preliminary Hearing lawyer and supervisor, Special Operations (White Collar Crime, Civil Litigation, Environmental Crime, Consumer Fraud, Cal Osha Violations). As a Deputy District Attorney, Dan was regarded as a fierce trial lawyer. He tried many hundreds of cases including close to one hundred jury trials. He also evaluated and supervised thousands of cases, both criminal and civil. As a Judge, Department 13 (Dan's Department) presided over many civil and criminal trials. He personally mediated and settled hundreds of civil and criminal cases. He attended many educational classes with the California Judges Association as well as the Administrative Office of the Courts, California Judicial Education and Research, and the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution (Pepperdine University). In 2005 he was one of nineteen appointed to the California Judges Association Ethics Committee.. Dan was an instructor for the California District Attorneys Association statewide homicide investigators as well as local investigators. He annually taught Coping with Defenses in Homicide Cases, Evidence and Direct and Cross Examination as well as being published in the CDAA manual. Dan was Senior Instructor for the Los Medanos Criminal Justice Training Center (Police Academy) from 1988-2000. His topics included Laws of Arrest, Criminal Law, Laws of Evidence, Search and Seizure, Homicide, Crimes of Property and Persons, Miranda and Police Ethics. Dan was also an Instructor at Los Medanos, Diablo Valley and Contra Costa Colleges in the areas of civil and criminal law. Currently, he teaches Statewide Police Officers in the Institute of Criminal Investigation in Sacramento California.. In March 2000, Dan O'Malley was elected Judge of the Superior Court in Contra Costa County. Judge O'Malley's assignments included Supervising Judge of the Pittsburg Branch, Trial and Law and Motion, Proposition 36 Drug Court Supervisor. Dan then transferred to the Martinez Branch where he became the Criminal Calendar Supervisor. He handled all felony Dan's duties and accomplishments include Supervising Judge of the Pittsburg Branch of the Superior Court, Proposition 36 Supervisor, Trial and Law and Motion Judge, Criminal Felony Calendar and Trial Judge for the Martinez Branch and Civil Calendar and Trial Judge in Martinez. Judge O'Malley was a well respected by his colleagues on the bench as well as the litigants. He was honored by Recovery Happens for his outstanding work in helping litigants struggle through the Prop 36 and Drug Court litigation. Dan's extensive and unique experience has made him an invaluable representative for his clients. He understands the value of his client's cases. His credibility with Judges, Civil Litigators and Prosecutors affords his clients the best opportunity for justice. He is completely committed to giving the best representation to his clients.

Christopher Schneider is one of the founding partners of Dorband & Schneider. He passed the California Bar Exam in 2008 and has been practicing primarily in the areas of estate planning and taxation.. Chris was born and raised in the East Bay, graduated from Acalanes High School in 1999 and completed his Bachelor’s from St. Mary’s College in 2003. After graduation he worked for Scott Valley Bank in Walnut Creek as a credit analyst while completing his MBA in finance at St. Mary’s.. Chris attended law school at Golden Gate University where he concentrated in the area of taxation. In 2010, he completed his Masters of Law degree in Taxation. He is one of only 6 attorneys in Contra Costa County that is a certified specialist in Estate Planning and Taxation. Chris is an avid landscape photographer as well as a licensed private pilot.. Today, most of Chris' time outside the office is spent with his wife Jennifer, his son Joseph and daughter Jacqueline.

Brian Shaffer is a litigation shareholder in Miller Starr Regalia’s Walnut Creek office.  Brian has significant experience litigating cases in federal and state courts.  His practice focuses on real estate litigation and complex commercial litigation matters, ranging from commercial lease disputes, eminent domain, broker liability litigation, non-disclosure disputes, title insurance and escrow matters, quiet title actions, easement disputes, lender liability, complex construction litigation, and general business litigation.  His clients include real estate developers, outdoor advertising companies, property owners, title insurance companies, financial institutions, and real estate brokers, among others.. Brian focuses on handling each case in a cost-efficient manner designed to obtain results consistent with each client’s business and legal needs.. Brian also contributes to Miller & Starr, California Real Estate, 4th Edition.

Brandon Lee Spivack began his legal career in California in 2013 after receiving his LL.M. from the nationally recognized Heckerling Graduate Program in Estate Planning and Tax. As an associate attorney at Gresham Savage Nolan &Tilden, Brandon had many opportunities to learn and expand his expertise beyond estate planning because of the support of his colleagues. Brandon learned the intricacies of proper business planning from his experienced colleagues in the business and tax departments. Other attorneys and staff in the real estate department taught Brandon how to confront challenging title issues that can arise during a probate or trust administration. His mentor and boss in the estate planning department demonstrated to Brandon how to pragmatically approach common and uncommon planning issues. Before leaving Gresham Savage, Brandon gained the knowledge and confidence to become a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Law by the California State Bar, Board of Legal Specialization.. In 2018, Brandon moved his family to Walnut Creek to pursue an opportunity with one of California’s most reputable estate planning firms, Hartog Baer & Hand. As an associate in the planning department, Brandon spent most of his time handling tax issues for clients with significant wealth. He worked with clients to prepare Private Letter Ruling requests; devise and execute estate freezes; draft and file IRS Forms 706, 709, and 1041; and review business structures for tax planning opportunities. Brandon strengthened his skills as a tax attorney through the unique opportunities he received at HBH.. In both Northern California and Southern California, Brandon has had the privilege of working with charitable organizations and philanthropic clients to facilitate lifetime and testamentary gifting. He has worked closely with various Community Foundations to create Donor Advised Funds; draft charitable trusts; review pledge agreements, and establish charitable organizations. Brandon advises clients on entity governance, including mandatory reporting and compliance procedures to ensure charitable organizations maintain their good standing and tax-exempt status with the state and the federal government.. In 2019 and 2020, Brandon was recognized by his peers as a Rising Star. This award is given to 2.5 percent of attorneys below the age of 40 in California.

Born and raised in the East Bay Area, I knew I wanted to be an attorney from an early age.  I have been hooked on the advocacy aspect of litigation from my first experiences working in law offices as early as 2004.  I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to do what I love daily. My favorite part of my job is earning my client's trust and building strong relationships with them.  My clients find comfort knowing that I will be there to assist them through what may be the most difficult period of their life.  I am a father of two young boys and hope to teach them that with focus and hard work, anything is achievable.

Bio“Every day I think about where I’m from and how it has felt in my own life to have people care, so I am committed to helping people from all walks of life receive justice for their injuries.”. Mark Venardi, the senior founding member of the Venardi Zurada Law firm, was born in 1962 in Seattle, Washington but was raised in Peoria, Illinois; a Midwest blue-collar town in a hardworking Italian family of 3 boys. After high school Mark followed his passion for service and the sea and enlisted in the United States Coast Guard, where he proudly served our country from 1980 to 1985.. Life at SeaDuring his military career at sea, Mark was assigned an incredible variety of challenging tours. From working on a sea-going tug performing search and rescue and marine law enforcement to sailing the Eastern seaboard in boats ranging from 37 to 205 feet. His early years were spent sailing from the Grand Banks to the Windward Passage on the famed Coast Guard Cutter Tamaroa, the Cutter that later performed the rescue in the movie “The Perfect Storm.” From the Tamaroa he then sailed the seas of Southeast Alaska aboard the Coast Guard cutter Planetree, a 180-buoy tender, a tour that also included a round trip voyage from Alaska to Hawaii. Mark’s final year in the Coast Guard was spent back in search and rescue at Group Seattle and it is from there that he received an honorable discharge in 1985 from the USCG as an E-5.. Law SchoolAfter serving our country and a short stint on an oil platform, Mark decided to pursue a career in law. He earned a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California at Berkeley in 1991 and his JD from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 1994. During law school, Mark was the Co-Chairperson of the Moot Court Competition Committee, a recipient of the Snodgrass Competition Outstanding Oral Argument Award, a member of the University of San Francisco Maritime Law Review, and served as a Judicial Extern to the Honorable Charles Legge, United States District Court Northern District of California. Mark was admitted to the California Bar in December 1994.. CareerAfter graduating law school Mark worked as an associate at Cox Wootton, Griffin & Hansen before joining Haight, Gardner, Holland & Knight in 1998. Mark made partner at the end of his 6th year of practice at Holland & Knight LLP, a multinational law firm with over 1,000 attorneys. In his first years of practice, one of the managing partners regularly shared his short mantra, “Be somebody.” Those words stuck with Mark and while he loved his early years of practice, he found himself wanting to do more. In 2004 he struck out on his own, deciding to serve people instead of corporations. Even with the huge move to the other side, there was no hiccup in Mark’s rapid rise to the top, and he has been serving members of the community with compassion and dogged determination ever since.. Areas of PracticeAuto AccidentsMotorcycle AccidentsBoating AccidentsTrucking AccidentsPersonal InjuryWrongful DeathMaritime Personal InjuryEmployment LawHarassmentDiscriminationWhistleblower Protection CasesRetaliationWage and HourSeverance AgreementsEmployment AgreementsExecutive CompensationInsurance Bad FaithSelect Commercial and Intellectual Property Disputes on Contingency Fee. Honors and AwardsNorthern California Superlawyers, 2009-2024National Trial Lawyers Top 100, 2013-2023Best Attorneys in California, 2012-20232023 California Top 100 Verdicts“AV” rating from Martindale-Hubbell, 2001-2024Top 10 Best of the Best Attorneys for Personal Injury, 2022America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigator, Northern California, 2017, 2021Lawyer of Distinction, Personal Injury Law, 202010 Best Attorneys as Published By the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys, 2019National Trial Lawyers Top 25 Brain Injury Trial Lawyers, 2019Million and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Lifetime Member since 2007America’s Top 100 Attorneys Lifetime AchievementRecipient, Outstanding Oral Argument Award, Snodgrass Competition, 1993. RecognitionsMark is one of the select few graduates of Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyer’s College, the most demanding and prestigious trial lawyer program in the country.. National Trial Lawyers, an invitation-only organization has recognized Mark as a Top 100 Trial Attorney from 2013-2024, in 2012 and 2013 his peers recognized him as one of the Best Attorneys in California as featured in the San Francisco Chronicle and the Wall Street Journal. From 2009-2024 Super Lawyers magazine selected and recognized Mark with the prestigious Super Lawyers award for Northern California (only the top 5 percent of attorneys are selected).. From 2004-2024, his peers have awarded him with a Martindale Hubbell “AV” Preeminent Rating.. Throughout his career, Mark has also tried multiple cases to verdict and received multiple verdicts more than $1,000,000, entitling him to be a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an organization made up of less than 1 percent of US lawyers.. What Drives HimWhen you ask Mark where he gets his drive from, he is quick to cite the example of his mother who was struck with illness at an early age and has lived her life without complaint. Her strength is one of the reasons he believes in being self-disciplined, dedicated, and above all positive. Mark is passionate about caring for people and does much of what he does to ensure that he will create a legacy of working for justice. Mark knows that the people who seek his counsel are living through the worst times of their lives, and it matters to him that those he helps have faith in him and know he can be trusted. Mark will take risks for you, he will fight for you, and he won’t give up until you are satisfied.. Mark is most proud of how he has helped clients in need, his friendships, the dedication he and his employees have to each other, and his family. Together, they enjoy anything waterborne including power boating, surfing, sailing, wake surfing, wakeboarding, fishing, and scuba diving. They also love camping, road biking, mountain biking, and his most competitive sport of all, Scrabble, which he regularly (and happily) loses to his wife, Shelley, who has lit his way for over 30 years.. Bar AdmissionsCalifornia, 1994All State Courts within CaliforniaU.S. Court of Appeals 9th CircuitU.S. District Court Northern District of CaliforniaU.S. District Court Central District of CaliforniaU.S. District Court Southern District of CaliforniaMark has also litigated cases “pro hac vice” or as a guest attorney in New Hampshire, Arizona, Minnesota, Washington, Oregon, and Hawaii.. EducationGerry Spence’s Trial Lawyers College, studied trial skills over a 5 year period and graduated from the Trial Lawyers College in August, 2013Pepperdine University, Strauss Institute for Dispute Resolution, became a certified mediator upon completion of required coursework in 2012University of San Francisco, patent law class. Earned an A in class.University of California, Hastings College of the Law, San Francisco, CaliforniaJ.D. – 1994Honors: Snodgrass Award for Best Oral ArgumentHonors: Chairman, Moot Court Competition CommitteeLaw Review: University of San Francisco Maritime Law Review, Member, 1994University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CaliforniaB.A. – 1991Major: Political Science. Published WorksAuthor, “To Arbitrate or Not”, Silicon Valley Business Weekly, 2001. Classes/SeminarsSpeaker, “A Primer on Maritime Law”, Young Barristers’ Division Admiralty Committee, 1995“Investigating Personal Injury Claims”, California Association of Private Investigators, 1996“California Lawyer Roundtable Discussion on Employment Law”, 2002“Employment Related Records in California”, Lorman Education Services, 2003“Employment Related Records in California”, Lorman Education Services, 2004. Professional Associations and MembershipsConsumer Attorneys of CaliforniaAmerican Association of JusticeSan Francisco Trial Lawyers AssociationNational Employment Lawyers AssociationCalifornia Employment Lawyers AssociationContra Costa County Bar Association, Board Member Employment Law Section 2011, 2012, 2013American Bar Associations, MemberState Bar of California, Member. Past Employment PositionsCox Wootton, Griffin & Hansen LLP, Associate 1994-1998Haight, Gardner Holland & Knight LLP, Associate 1998-2000Holland & Knight LLP, Partner 2001-2004. VeteranUnited States Coast Guard, 1980-1985

Bay Venture Law is a boutique business law practice that focuses on the business of innovation.. We provide general counsel and transaction services to privately held emerging growth and middle market companies, with a special focus on introducing disruptive technologies into established industries.. John Camozzi holds an MBA in International Management (Banking), and has been rated by his peers as AV Preeminent® and a Super Lawyer®.. John‘s diverse legal experience in the business of innovation allows him to efficiently and effectively work with the client’s internal resources and outside professional teams to develop a scalable result oriented approach that fits each client’s unique needs at their unique stage of the business and product life cycles.. John also works in partnering privately held growth and middle market technology companies with larger public and privately held regional, national and multi-national operating companies to implement and commercialize disruptive technologies through licensing and special purpose joint ventures.  In some of these matters, John also serves as the technology partner representative on management and audit committees, and as private general counsel in solving the broad range of operational legal issues that arise from the technology implementation model, including developing new markets, vendor and supply chain management, human resource safety and management, permitting and compliance, governmental audits, and legislative solutions.

Bay Area attorney practicing family law, dedicated to individualized representation with compassion.

A seasoned attorney, litigator, and consultant. I am an expert in software licensing, product monetization, and open source software issues. I help companies, both large and small, protect and license their intellectual property.. I've held several different positions in my career: prosecutor, software engineer, staff attorney and general counsel. I have helped start up companies stay out of trouble with the SEC, won jury trials, and reported a security breach in bar exam software to the State Bar of California. My passions are to help bring excellent products to market, zealous advocacy, and quality teamwork. If you would like to talk, please email me at or call my Google voice number at.

Audrey provides legal advice to businesses in employment matters, real estate disputes, and corporate litigation matters. Audrey’s clients span a broad range of industries including medical and health care services, food and beverage, manufacturing, professional services, technology and real estate.. Audrey provides practical advice to companies in navigating complicated State and Federal employment laws in personnel decisions. Audrey also defends businesses in employee lawsuits and appears in State and Federal courts, mediation and private arbitrations.. Audrey has represented companies in matters involving compliance with disability and medical leave laws, including issues surrounding reasonable accommodations for physically or mentally disabled employees; discrimination and harassment claims (based on sex, race, age, religion, disability and medical condition); wrongful termination; employee discipline; employee privacy; wage and hour claims; layoffs, reductions in force, and severance; founder disputes; theft of trade secrets and proprietary information; anti-raiding claims; compensation and commissions; severance; contract claims; as well as employment related torts including defamation, negligence, intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress, fraud and misrepresentation.. Audrey’s corporate litigation work has included disputes arising out of the buyout of owners or dissolution of businesses; representation of multi-billion dollar companies in contract disputes; defending publicly traded homebuilders in complex multi-plaintiff residential construction claims; and handling disputes relating to land sale acquisitions.. Audrey has served on the Contra Costa Bar Association’s Board of Directors, its Executive Committee, and was the CCCBA's 2012 President.. Audrey has been active in the Contra Costa Bar Association, initiating the CCCBA’s first public service fellowship through partnering with Equal Justice Works, whose fellows have provided service in Contra Costa to stop predatory lending on the elderly, as well as providing legal assistance to low-income disabled persons living with mental illnesses. Audrey has served on the Bar Association’s boards of the Employment Law section and the Women’s Section and served on the charitable contributions and board nomiating committees.  Audrey has also served as Chair of the Judicial Nominations Committee and Past President of the Women’s Section.. Audrey has been involved in a number of community activities over the years including Walnut Creek Fountain for Youth and East Bay Leadership Foundation. Audrey has provided pro bono work for the Contra Costa Food Bank, HomeAid, Diablo Ballet, Markum Arboretum, and the Napa Valley Symphony, to name a few.

Attorney Uma Subramanian is a family court lawyer with a passion for justice. With more than 25 years of experience in legal practice, I will be on your side to resolve your case during your time of conflict resolution, mediation and justice. I have maintained my law practice since 1993.. I provide complete legal representation in the areas of family law including divorce/separation/annulment, child custody, child support, spousal support, assets/debts division, restraining orders, etc. I engage in meaningful and respectful negotiation for successful and amicable settlement of the case.. Every client is extremely important to me and I strive to get the best possible results to my clients in their best interests. I understand the difficulties of my clients when facing a legal problem and I diligently work with my clients in representing them to achieve the best possible outcome for them. I have dealt with most difficult cases diligently with integrity. I am committed to excellence and effective diligent representation.. I am a member of the State Bar of California, the American Bar Association, the Contra Costa County Bar Association and the Alameda County Bar Association.

Attorney Larry Cook has been a partner at Casper, Meadows, Schwartz & Cook for more than 30 years. As a skilled trial lawyer, Attorney Cook regularly represents clients in severe personal injury cases. He is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell®, the highest rating obtainable for ethical standards and legal ability by a prestigious rating organization.. Practice Areas. Attorney Cook has represented clients in a wide variety of catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases resulting from medical malpractice, elder abuse, construction accidents, automobile accidents, products liability, spinal cord injuries, and more. He has been successful both at trial and in settlement negotiation.. Memberships & Associations. In the Bay Area legal community, Attorney Cook has been recognized as a leader in both litigation and in his contributions to the local bar association and other trial lawyers associations. He is a past President of both the Contra Costa Barristers Association and the Contra Costa County Bar Association. In addition, Attorney Cook is a former board member of the Contra Costa County Legal Services Foundation, now Bay Area Legal Aid. The superior court regularly appoints him to act as a settlement mentor and discovery facilitator in civil cases. He is proud to represent the injured and their loved ones.

Attorney John R. Larson enjoys helping clients through difficult times.  He understands that taking on a legal matter is an important responsibility that starts with listening to the client, hearing the client's goals, then carefully investigating and examining the facts of the particular case to determine a course of action.  Mr. Larson has experience solving legal problems for clients in a variety of practice areas: real estate, business, family law, criminal law, and employment-related matters.. In his spare time, Mr. Larson enjoys spending time with his children, gardening, playing golf, or working on projects around his home.  He knows that time is a precious commodity so it is important to use time to get projects done efficiently to get superior results. Attention to detail is the key.  This is also how Mr. Larson approaches each client's case, every time.. Contact Attorney John R. Larson directly using the tools here on today for a free consultation.

Attorney James Fishel took the California Bar Exam in February of 1990 and passed on his first attempt. James was admitted to the California Bar in July 1990. In 1990, James established his practice in Northern California. James enjoys helping individuals and small businesses solve their legal problems and challenges.. James loves "techie" stuff. He designed and set up the computer network for his office. He even laid all the CAT-6 cable. He picks his own routers and switches. He has written several computer programs designed to make the office more efficient.. James Fishel is a current member of the following organizations; The California Bar, The Contra Costa County Bar Association, District of Columbia Bar Association and the Florida Bar Association.. James Fishel has over 25 years experience practicing law. James Fishel has the goal of providing his clients with the support and guidance they need in the often complicated and emotional challenges of broad array legal issues and challenges.. James loves being an attorney and he really enjoys helping people solve complicated and difficult legal problems. He tries to be a very friendly and comfortable person. His style reflects his personality. Instead of working in a fancy and intimidating high rise, James chooses to work in a small business that he shares with a Home Health Care Agency. His office is not pretentious. He likes to make his clients feel relaxed and at ease when coming to his office. If he is not appearing in court for the day, you will often find him in his office blue jeans or sometimes even shorts instead of a suit. His goal is to make the process of finding solutions as painless as possible.

At the Law Offices of Christopher Varnell, we handle all types of criminal cases from DUIs to homicides. Our office has a reputation of being intelligent, skilled, and prepared in the courtroom, which has led to success both in trial and in negotiating settlements which were beneficial to our clients.. Choosing the right lawyer is extremely important. You need someone who is honest, who is respected by the opposition and the court, and most importantly will fight for you. At the Law Offices of Christopher Varnell we will use our experience and relationships to the client's advantage, and will always place you first.. EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE. DUI: Drunk Driving As an experienced DUI attorney, Christopher Varnell has defended hundreds of DUI clients at both the misdemeanor and felony level, including those charged with Vehicular Manslaughter and Second Degree Murder. He has a proven record of success in having charges dismissed, reduced, or obtaining not guilty verdicts for clients after a jury trial.. White Collar Crimes: Fraud, Embezzlement, Identity Theft At the Law Office Of Christopher Varnell, we defend clients charged with fraud, identity theft, embezzlement, and other white collar crimes. We routinely obtain strong results both in trial and in settlement.. Violent Crimes: Murder & Manslaughter, Domestic Violence, Sex Offenses Violent crimes are considered the most serious crimes and carry the harshest penalties. Christopher Varnell has successfully negotiated plea agreements of reduced charges when appropriate, and has also had many acquittals after jury trial for his clients charged with violent crimes.. Juvenile Defense Being charged with a crime as a juvenile can result in significant consequences. It is important to speak with an attorney that has a proven track record of success in defending juvenile clients. Christopher Varnell has defended hundreds of juveniles resulting in negotiated pleas and jury verdicts that were advantageous to his clients.. Please contact us for a free, private consultation with a Walnut Creek Criminal Lawyer. All communications are protected by the attorney-client privilege.

At Golden Gate Law Group we are committed to representing your rights and are unwilling to rest until we have secured the best possible solution for you. We approach every case with great care and attention and serve our clients with expertise and compassion. We will work tirelessly to help you receive all of your medical expenses, wage loss AND pain and suffering if you were injured in an accident or slip and fall.

As the attorney at The Law Office of Daniel L. DuRee, Mr. DuRee understands the importance of estate and incapacity planning for clients of all ages. He provides dedicated estate planning and trust administration services to people and families in the Larkspur, Marin County, Mountain View, San Francisco and Walnut Creek, California, areas. If they cannot make it to one of his office locations, Mr. DuRee will arrange to meet with clients at the hospital, their homes or their places of employment.. In 2004, Mr. DuRee earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Los Angeles. He went on to receive a Juris Doctor from the University of California Hastings College of the Law.. Working to understand their legal issues, as well as their complex and unique family dynamics, Mr. DuRee helps his clients create plans that accomplish their goals and carry out their final wishes. Guiding people through the estate planning process, he explains how living trusts, wills and other estate planning documents can be used to protect and pass on their assets, as well as ensure their needs will be met in the event of physical or mental incapacity. Mr. DuRee also aids people with trust amendments and guides them through the probate process to help minimize government interference and address their tax liabilities.. Staying active in the legal community, Mr. DuRee is a member of the Contra Costa County Bar Association’s Estate Planning & Probate Section and the California Lawyers Association’s Trust and Estates Section. Sharing his knowledge of estate law-related topics with others, he has had articles included in the Martinez News-Gazette, the Clayton Pioneer, the East Bay Times and the San Jose Mercury News, among other publications.

As managing partner of Foundation Patents, I am a registered patent attorney who helps creative people realize their dreams.  My first love is working with inventors to craft their innovations into effective patents.  I focus on comprehensive specifications, illustrative figures and broad claims that capture the genius of an invention while covering all conceivable embodiments. I enjoy the back-and-forth process of figure and claim drafting with my clients, and I make a point of always being available to help ease the process from idea to issued patent.. I received my Bachelor’s at Princeton University and completed my physics course work at San Francisco State University.  I received my J.D. with Honors from the University of Oregon School of Law.  At Oregon, I received a Certificate in Intellectual Property for my course work in patent infringement.. In patent prosecution, I focus on mechanical apparatus devices, chemical compositions and computer-implemented method patents.  I represent businesses in patent litigation matters, copyright, trademark and trade secret infringement suits in both state and federal courts.  I perform U.S. and international trademark registrations, conduct trademark searches and draft freedom-to-operate opinions.  I counsel and prosecute U.S. patent and trademark applications for scientists, inventors, business people, artists and designers of all types.