Spotlight on North Bay law firm managing partners

He has tried cases throughout the state, with an emphasis on representing health care providers, including  special assignments in Oregon and Hawaii. A member of the California State Bar since 1974, he is also admitted to all four Federal District Courts, as well as the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. His practice focuses on medical malpractice defense, employment law, licensing agency defense and representing entertainment venues. For the last five years, Mr. Curley has been listed in Super Lawyers for California.Alan Brayton

Brayton Purcell222 Rush Landing Rd., Novato 94945, braytonlaw.com, 415-898-1555

[caption id="attachment_30579" align="alignleft" width="108"] Alan Brayton[/caption]

Alan Brayton is a founding and senior partner at the 36-attorney firm Brayton Purcell in Novato. He received a B.S. in economics from the United States Air Force Academy and a master’s in finance from the University of California, Los Angeles. His J.D is from University of California, Berkeley in 1976.

The Northern California native was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force after his time in the Air Force Academy in Colorado. He spent the next 12 years on active duty, including seven years as a Judge Advocate before coming to private practice in Novato.

He is a member of the American Association for Justice, the American Trial Lawyers Association, the Marin County Bar Association, is a master in the American Inns of Court and a member of Lawyer Friends of Wine. He has been named a Northern California Super Lawyer.

John MackieCarle, Mackie, Power & Ross100 B St., #400, Santa Rosa 95401, cmprlaw.com, 707-526-4200

[caption id="attachment_50176" align="alignleft" width="146"] John Mackie[/caption]

John Mackie is managing partner at Carle, Mackie, Power & Ross, where he specializes in wine and food law, mergers and acquisitions, finance and lending, business organization, and real estate development. He has a B.A. from Claremont McKenna College, and he obtained his J.D. from Boalt Hall, University of California, Berkeley in 1973.

He began his law career in public service, at San Francisco’s Department of City Planning. He later worked for the Association of Bay Area Governments and served in the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research. Before switching to private practice, he was the Deputy Secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing for the State of California.

In 1990, he established a food and wine practice at the San Francisco-based law firm Bronson, Bronson & McKinnon, and in 1998 helped found Carle, Mackie, Power & Ross. He is a founding board member and president of the Sonoma County Food and Wine Center, a founding trustee and secretary of The Oliver Ranch Foundation, a founding board member of the North Bay Angels, a trustee of Sonoma Academy and a former board member of many local organizations, including the Sonoma Humane Society and the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts. He has also been named a Northern California Super Lawyer.Clay ClementClement, Fitzpatrick & Kenworthy3333 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa 95403, ckflaw.com, 707-523-1181

[caption id="attachment_69763" align="alignright" width="180"] Clay Clement[/caption]

Clay Clement is a business trial lawyer and managing partner for Clement, Fitzpatrick & Kenworthy. His practice is largely devoted to real estate litigation, including property tax, broker liability, eminent domain, partnership and other business disputes involving real property.

He has handled major property tax cases throughout California involving oil, gas, geothermal and refinery properties. He has also handled escrow and title insurance disputes, contract cases and many cases involving the wine industry. He has tried over 125 cases before state courts in 18 California counties, federal district and bankruptcy courts and before arbitrators, assessment appeals boards and state administrative agencies.

Mr. Clement is an honors graduate of the University of the Pacific and received his law degree from Boalt Hall School of Law at UC Berkeley.  In addition to his practice, he has taught real estate and litigation subjects at Kennedy Law School, Sonoma State University, Santa Rosa Junior College and the Hastings College of Law Business Litigation Institute.

Mr. Clement is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, two organizations where membership is available only by invitation and only to the most capable and experienced trial counsel.

Mr. Clement’s biography has appeared in Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in American Law.  He is listed in Best Lawyers in America, and has been named a Northern California Super Lawyer in every year the list has been published, starting in 2004 when he was named one of the top 100 lawyers in Northern California.Cynthia SmithCoombs & Dunlap1211 Division St., Napa 94559, coombslaw.com, 707-252-9100

[caption id="attachment_69764" align="alignleft" width="180"] Cynthia Smith[/caption]

Cynthia Smith is the managing partner of Coombs & Dunlap, LLP. Ms. Smith concentrates her practice on employment and business law, advising employers and employees regarding employment, business and contractual issues and representing them in related litigation. She also provides pro bono legal counseling to a number of Napa County nonprofit organizations.

Ms. Smith provides employers with a full range of employment advice, including employment agreements, severance agreements, employee handbooks, executive compensation, disciplinary and termination issues, anti-harassment training, wage and hour issues and consulting agreements. She advises businesses regarding entity selection and formation, royalty agreements, asset purchase agreements, shareholder agreements, stock purchase agreements and protection of intellectual property. She has represented clients in state and federal court, as well as in private arbitration, in breach of contract, wrongful termination, retaliation, wage and hour, trademark infringement, harassment, discrimination and unfair competition actions.

Ms. Smith received her B.A. in art history, with distinction, from Stanford University, and her J.D. from the University of California at Davis, where she earned membership in the Order of the Coif. At Davis, Ms. Smith received the Sacramento County Bar Association Business Law Section Scholarship and the Deborah J. Frick Memorial Scholarship.

Ms. Smith is a member of the St. Helena Unified School District Board of Trustees and a former Board Member of St. Helena Skatepark, Inc. and Acorn Soupe. She continues to volunteer with the St. Helena Public Schools Foundation and has coached NYSL soccer for four years.Scott Gerien

Dickenson, Peatman & Fogarty50 Old Courthouse Sq., #200, Santa Rosa 95404, dpf-law.com, 707-524-7000

[caption id="attachment_69765" align="alignleft" width="180"] Scott Gerien[/caption]

Scott Gerien heads Dickenson, Peatman & Fogarty’s Intellectual Property Department and has been practicing in the areas of trademark, copyright and unfair competition law since his first case in 1996. His experience covers all aspects of these areas of law, including practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office counseling on protection, licensing and acquisition of intellectual property, and enforcement and litigation in state and federal court.  He has represented clients in over 250 administrative proceedings in the USPTO and has filed and prosecuted in excess of 1,500 trademark applications.  

Mr. Gerien manages both the domestic and international trademark portfolios of several high profile companies, and also acts as the U.S. trademark associate for numerous foreign entities.

In 2006--2009 Scott was identified by Trademark Insider as one of the top fifty trademark filers in the U.S. based on total number of trademark applications filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. In 2009, Wine Industry Business Journal also named him one of the top wine lawyers in Northern California and described him as “one of the most knowledgeable wine trademark-protection attorneys in the nation and the world.”

In 2013, Mr. Gerien was selected as a recommended expert by World Trademark Review 1000 – The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals, which also noted “[h]e is hailed as the ‘the go-to guy’ for trademark prosecution in the wine industry.”

Katherine OhlandtFarella Braun + Martel899 Adams St., St. Helena 94574, fbm.com, 707-967-4000

[caption id="attachment_30591" align="alignleft" width="108"] Katherine Ohlandt[/caption]

Katherine Ohlandt is a partner in Farella Braun + Martel’s Family Wealth Group and heads the firm’s Wine Country office in St. Helena. Her areas of practice include complex trust and estate matters, including the development and implementation of estate plans, wealth-transfer strategies, business-succession planning and long-range gift plans.

Ms. Ohlandt has extensive experience with transition planning for families with closely held businesses and real property holdings, including families with wineries, vineyards, wine-related businesses, restaurant and hospitality businesses, and retail establishments.

She is a certified specialist in estate planning, trust and probate law (State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization) and is a trained mediator on trust and estate matters. She has been named to the list of Northern California Super Lawyers from 2004 to 2012.

Ms. Ohlandt obtained her J.D. from the University of Texas, Austin and her B.A. from Stanford University.

Peter Kleinbrodt

Freitas, McCarthy, McMahon & Keating1108 Fifth Ave., San Rafael 94901, freitaslaw.com, 415-456-7500

[caption id="attachment_69766" align="alignright" width="180"] Peter Kleinbrodt[/caption]

Peter Kleinbrodt is the managing partner of Freitas, McCarthy & Keating and has represented clients for over 20 years in Marin County, both as a trial and transactional attorney. Prior to moving to the Bay Area, Mr. Kleinbrodt practiced entertainment law for a studio in Los Angeles and international law in Hong Kong.

He obtained his B.A. from the University of California at Los Angeles with high honors as a double major in psychology and sociology and his J.D. from the University of La Verne.

Mr. Kleinbrodt has served as judge pro tempore, commissioner, and arbitrator, as well as serving on numerous settlement panels in and for the Superior Court for the State of California, County of Marin. He has contributed as an author and lecturer in the area of real property law and volunteered in various youth organizations.

He is a member of the Marin County Bar Association, having served as its chair for the insurance and entertainment committees, as well as various committees for the State Bar of California, including the Litigation Section, Real Property Section, Business Section, the Rules and Procedures Committee and the Committee on the Administration of Justice.John FriedemannFriedemann Goldberg420 Aviation Blvd., Santa Rosa 95403, frigolaw.com, 707-543-4900

[caption id="attachment_69767" align="alignleft" width="170"] John Friedemann[/caption]

John Friedemann is the managing partner of Friedemann Goldberg  and practices in the areas of banking, business and entertainment law. He received his B.A. in English literature from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1981, but his undergraduate studies focused on business management. He worked in banking for several years, and then opted to pursue a law degree, which he obtained from University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law.

In 1990, Mr. Friedemann became a partner in the Los Angeles offices of a national law firm, but soon left to create his own law firm. He has represented financial institutions for more than 25 years and has been in-house counsel, general counsel, and outside counsel to banks, advising them in all facets of lending, deposit operations, human resources and employment law, treasury department operations, regulatory compliance, correspondent banking services, special assets and insurance products and coverage. He is an experienced trial lawyer and has expertise in matters involving fraud.

Mr. Friedemann has been named “Super Lawyer” by Super Lawyers magazine. This publication annually identifies the top 5 percent of California attorneys, as voted by their peers. He is as a frequent speaker, teacher, and lecturer on banking and business law at Sonoma State University, University of Southern California Law Center, Loyola Law School and Empire College of Law.Dave GawGaw Van Male1000 Main St., Napa 94559, gawvanmale.com, 707-252-9000

[caption id="attachment_69768" align="alignright" width="180"] Dave Gaw[/caption]

Dave Gaw is the senior partner and co-founder of Gaw Van Male, established in the Napa Valley in 1972, currently with 22 attorneys.  Although he has always focused his practice on estate planning, over the last 10 years his practice has shifted dramatically,  working closely with a client’s other trusted advisors, alongside the firm’s 10 other estate planners, to achieve client goals. 

He regularly speaks on this law and his firm’s approach to other professionals across the State of California and the nation.  In addition to his significant wine-related clientele, Mr. Gaw maintains a statewide and national client base, drafting over 5,000 estate plans and providing legal solutions to ensure a client’s generational succession planning.  He is a contributing author to California Trust Administration (2d ed Cal CEB 2001) and related CEB Action Guides.

Gaw Van Male has also grown, with offices in Solano and San Bernardino counties.  Mr. Gaw is both a certified specialist in probate, estate planning, and trust law, and a certified elder law attorney.  He  has  drafted over 5,000 estate plans and is a contributing author to California Trust Administration (2d ed Cal CEB 2001) and related CEB Action Guides.Michael CarlsonGeary, Shea, O’Donnell, Grattan & Mitchell37 Old Courthouse Sq., Santa Rosa 95404, gsoglaw.com, 707-545-1660

[caption id="attachment_69769" align="alignleft" width="150"] Michael Carlson[/caption]

Michael Carlson is a shareholder and managing partner for Geary, Shea, O’Donnell, Grattan & Mitchell, where his practice focuses on counseling businesses, from start-ups to well-established, which includes wineries, growers and vineyard managers. Areas of practice include business, commercial and real estate transactions and disputes, as well as employment matters.

He joined the firm in 1996, after obtaining his J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law. He received his B.A. from Southern Methodist University in Dallas in 1992.

He is a member of the State Bar of California, the Sonoma County Bar Association and the Richard Sangster Inn of Court.Andrew GiacominiHanson Bridgett80 E. Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Larkspur 94939, hansonbridgett.com, 415-925-8400

[caption id="attachment_69770" align="alignright" width="180"] Andrew Giacomini[/caption]

Andrew Giacomini is managing partner for Hanson Bridgett, overseeing all of the firms’ five locations in San Francisco, Larkspur, Sacramento, Silicon Valley and the East Bay.

Practice areas include litigation, construction, real estate, government ethics, business and financing. He was elected Hanson Bridgett’s managing partner in 2001. He serves as general counsel to clients in a wide array of complex business transactions in the areas of real estate, construction, business formation, and financing. He is also an experienced trial attorney whose litigation practice includes commercial, real estate, and construction disputes.

He is currently the president of Legal Aid of Marin, has served as a board member of the San Francisco Bar Association and was recently appointed to the Executive Committee of the Bay Area Council. Mr. Giacomini also helped initiate the firm’s participation in the San Francisco School Volunteers Allies for Education program, where he was a former board member.

He is a member of the Bar Association of San Francisco, Marin County Bar Association, President of Legal Aid of Marin, and a board member and chair of the government relations committee of the Bay Area Council.

He received his B.A. from San Francisco State University and his J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 1991.

Jessica KarnerKeegin Harrison Schoppert Smith & Karner1000 Fourth St., San Rafael 94901, keeginharrsion.com, 415-456-4000

Jessica Karner is a partner and member of the management committee of Keegin Harrison.  She is an AV  Preeminent-rated transactional attorney specializing in mergers and acquisitions; corporate, partnership and LLC matters; general business matters; and securities and intellectual property law.  She also acts as outside general counsel for Bay Area clients in a variety of industries.

Ms. Karner joined Keegin Harrison as an associate in 2000 and became a partner of the firm in 2007.  She previously practiced corporate law and civil litigation at Folger Levin & Kahn LLP in San Francisco.

She  obtained her B.A., with highest honors, from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1991, and her J.D. from the University of California, Boalt Hall School of Law, in 1995.  She graduated law school Order of the Coif, and was editor-in-chief of the California Law Review. 

Ms. Karner served as president of the Marin County Bar Association in 2012.  In addition to her involvement in the Bar Association, she currently is a member of the executive committee of the American Inns of Court, Richard M. Sangster Chapter. Bill ArnoneMerrill, Arnone & Jones3554 Round Barn Blvd., #303, Santa Rosa 95403, majlaw.com, 707-528-2882

[caption id="attachment_69771" align="alignleft" width="180"] Bill Arnone[/caption]

Bill Arnone is the managing partner at Merrill, Arnone & Jones, LLP, where his practice focuses on representing public agencies such as fire districts, health care districts, recreation and parks districts and destination marketing organizations.  He provides counseling to the firm’s public and private clients in matters ranging from employment and commercial transactions to open meeting laws and complex litigation.

Mr. Arnone obtained his J.D. from Hastings College of the Law in 1979.  As an undergraduate, he attended the University of California at Davis, where he graduated with honors in 1976, receiving a B.A. with dual majors in political science and rhetoric.

Mr. Arnone started his career with a boutique high tech law firm in Palo Alto. There,  he focused on litigation and representing leading technology firms in intellectual property disputes.

In 1987, Mr. Arnone moved to Sonoma County where he became one of the founders of Merrill, Arnone & Jones, LLP. Both Mr. Arnone and his firm received the highest rating for ethical standards and legal ability from Martindale-Hubbell, a leading peer review rating agency. He has also served in leadership positions with a number of civic organizations, including the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce, the Santa Rosa Housing Authority, the Santa Rosa Redevelopment Agency and the Rotary Club of Windsor.Anne HernandezMullen & Filippi3700 Old Redwood Hwy., #108, Santa Rosa 95403, mulfil.com, 707-542-4600

[caption id="attachment_69772" align="alignleft" width="180"] Anne Hernandez[/caption]

Anne Hernandez is senior managing partner for Mullen & Filippi’s Santa Rosa office. The firm, with offices in Eureka, Napa and Ukiah, specializes in workers compensation and employment law.

Ms. Hernandez attended State University of New York, Oswego, for her B.A, and Loyola Law School in Los Angeles for her J.D. She was a public defender for the County of Los Angeles from 1983 to 1988 and is a member of California State Bar Association, the Diablo Valley Industrial Claims Association  education chairperson and the San Francisco Industrial Claims Association. James ParrinelloNielsen, Merksamer, Parrinello, Mueller & Naylor2350 Kerner Blvd., San Rafael 94901, nmgovlaw.com, 415-389-6800

[caption id="attachment_69773" align="alignleft" width="180"] James Parrinello[/caption]

James Parrinello is the senior litigation partner and a member or the management committee at Nielsen, Merksamer, Parrinello, Mueller & Naylor. He has represented clients in regulatory, constitutional and government law, including complex litigation, arguing successfully before the U.S. and California supreme courts for 25 years.

His areas of practice include the constitutionality of government regulations, legality of state and local initiatives and referenda, voting rights and reapportionment, rent control and property rights.

He attended University of San Francisco for both his undergraduate degree as well his J.D. He is a member of the Litigation and Government Litigation Sections of the American Bar Association and has also been a governor’s appointee to the California Commission on Ballot Initiatives and has served on the faculty of the Hastings College of Trial and Appellate Advocacy.Michael WattersO’Brien Watters & Davis3510 Unocal Pl., #200, Santa Rosa 95403, obrienlaw.com, 707-545-7010

[caption id="attachment_69774" align="alignright" width="180"] Michael Watters[/caption]

Michael Watters is the senior litigation partner and the administrative partner at O’Brien Watters & Davis, specializing in trial work involving civil litigation, business litigation, employment litigation, family law and insurance defense, including professional liability, alternative dispute resolution and defending professional licenses.

He attended University of California, Berkeley, and received a B.S. in business administration, then earned an MBA from the Haas School of Business. Following that, he served as a U.S. Marine Corps officer from 1969 to 1971, with tours in Vietnam and Okinawa, and received a Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V.”

After his tours ended, he attended Hastings College of Law and received his J.D. in 1974. He then became an associate with Spridgen, Barrett, Achor, Luckhardt, Anderson, James & Zeigler, where he became partner in 1982.

He helped found O’Brien Watters & Davis when Spridgen, Barrett disbanded in 1982.

He is a member of the State Bar of California and the Sonoma County, Marin County, Napa County and American Bar Associations, and has been an arbitrator for the Sonoma, Marin and Napa County superior courts since 1979 and has been Superior and Municipal Court judge pro tem.

Mr. Watters was also a mediator and arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association and is currently a member of Association for Conflict Resolution. Over the years, Mr. Watters has participated as a panelist in a number of MCLE programs (recently focusing on the subject of depositions), has been on the faculty of Empire College School of Law, and helps teach litigation courses at USF Law School. Mr. Watters has been selected to Super Lawyers for Northern California.

James SellParton Sell Rhoades750 Lindaro St., #145, San Rafael 94901, partonsell.com, 415-258-9700

James Sell has served as general counsel to a number of Bay Area contractors, subcontractors and suppliers in hundreds of construction matters and disputes. His experience includes contract formation; defective plans and specifications; change orders, extra work and differing site conditions; and numerous other areas of construction law.

Projects have included highways, roads, streets, bridges, dams, pipelines, concrete structures, treatment plants, wine caves, foundations, prisons, schools, multistory buildings, rough and fine grading for residential, commercial and public projects, structures, and demolition.

He also defends clients in many other types of civil litigation including real property law: commercial landlord-tenant; lease drafting and negotiations; quiet title & adverse possession; lot line & other neighbor disputes; premises liability; real estate agent and broker errors and omissions; commercial litigation, alleged misappropriation of trade secret.

He is admitted to practice in the northern, eastern and southern district courts of California, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, and serves as an arbitrator with California's Public Works Contract Arbitration Program.  He is also a member of the American Bar Association: Construction and Torts and Insurance Practice Sections, and the Marin County Bar Association -- Construction Law Division.Leslie Perry Perry, Johnson, Anderson, Miller & Moskowitz438 First St., Santa Rosa 95401, perrylaw.net, 707-525-8800

[caption id="attachment_69775" align="alignright" width="180"] Leslie Perry[/caption]

In 1997 Leslie Perry and fellow partners John Johnson and Michael Miller were the founding members of Perry, Johnson, Anderson, Miller & Moskowitz LLP. Today the full service law firm consists of 23 attorneys including 10 partners.

Mr. Perry has practiced in Sonoma County since 1974, where he focuses in the areas of land use, real estate and business law.  He has significant experience with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance and litigation.  Mr. Perry has represented clients in court and before various administrative and planning agencies in many of Sonoma County’s significant CEQA matters.  He also handles land use matters at the appellate level including three CEQA related reported decisions.

After attending the University of Nevada, Reno for two years, Mr. Perry received a B.S. from the University of California, Davis. He obtained his J.D. from Davis as well in 1974.  Mr. Perry is admitted to practice in California, 9th District Federal Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court.

Mr. Perry was formerly a member of the Audubon Canyon Ranch Board of Directors; Sonoma County Planning Commissioner 1986-1995, Chairman 1987 and 1992; a member of the Board of Directors of Burbank Housing Development Corporation;  a member of the Board of Directors of the Sonoma County Fair (past president);  and a member of the Sonoma County Volunteer Center Board of Directors (past president).David FeingoldRagghianti Freitas874 Fourth St., San Rafael 94901, rflaw.com, 415-453-9433

[caption id="attachment_69776" align="alignright" width="180"] David Feingold[/caption]

Dave Feingold has been in practice since 1986. The majority of his practice is devoted to representing community associations and homeowners in construction and real estate related issues. He also serves as a mediator for dispute resolution. Practice areas include common interest developments, construction and construction defect, real estate and mediation and arbitration.

Mr. Feingold served on the Board of Directors of the Marin County Bar Association for several years, and led the 800 member association as its president in 2003. In 2009, Mr. Feingold was named as a Northern California Super Lawyer.

He graduated from San Francisco State University, summa cum laude, in 1983, and obtained his J.D. from the University of California, Hastings’ College of Law in 1986.Glenn SmithSmith Dollar PC404 Mendocino Ave., 2nd fl., Santa Rosa 95401, smithdollar.com, 707-522-1100

[caption id="attachment_69777" align="alignleft" width="180"] Glenn Smith[/caption]

Glenn Smith is a founding partner of Smith Dollar and has been practicing law for over 30 years.  Currently, he is the managing partner of the Santa Rosa office of Smith Dollar and actively represents Sonoma County and North Bay clients in business, real estate and commercial litigation matters.  Mr. Smith is also a licensed California Real Estate Broker. He is active in many community and charitable organizations and is a former president of the Sonoma County Bar Association.

Over the past year, Smith Dollar has grown substantially and now has offices in Santa Rosa, Southern California, Florida and Texas.  Although Smith Dollar has a strong national presence representing banks, thrifts and mortgage lenders both defensively in lender liability litigation and offensively in recovering losses, it also handles matters across a wide spectrum of industries for clients in the North Bay.Gregory SpauldingSpaulding McCullough & Tansil90 S. E St., #200, Santa Rosa 95404,  smlaw.com, 707-524-1900 

[caption id="attachment_69778" align="alignleft" width="170"] Gregory Spaulding[/caption]

Gregory Spaulding is a managing partner at Spaulding McCullough & Tansil LLP.  The firm has 17 lawyers practicing in the areas of business matters, litigation, estate planning, employment, insurance coverage, personal injury, real estate, intellectual property, construction, and environmental law.

He attended Marquette University for his B.A. and Southwestern School of Law for his J.D.

Mr. Spaulding began as an associate for Achor and Miller, became a partner with Achor, Miller & Spaulding, and formed his own firm in 1992. In 2011, Mr. Spaulding was presented with the Amicus Curiae (Friend of the Court) Award by the Judges of the Sonoma County Superior Court, the highest honor the court can give an attorney.

He has extensive experience representing business owners, individuals, trustees and beneficiaries, contractors, public and private entities, hospitals and doctors in a wide variety of litigation matters. 

He is a member of the Sonoma County Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and Association of Defense Council of Northern California. He serves on the board of directors for MOVES, a non-profit agency geared toward reducing violence; the Sonoma County Bar Association; and is President of the Board of Directors of Legal Aid of Sonoma County.Michael VasquezVasquez, Estrada & Conway1000 Fourth St., San Rafael 94901, vandelaw.com, 415-453-0555

[caption id="attachment_50184" align="alignleft" width="144"] Michael Vasquez[/caption]

Michael Vasquez has practiced law in California since 1984. Before establishing Vasquez Estrada & Conway LLP, he was a partner in the San Francisco office of Hinshaw & Culbertson, a 300 attorney, national law firm based in Chicago. Prior to joining Hinshaw & Culbertson, Mike was a partner in the San Francisco firm of Long & Levit. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in sociology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, in 1981, and his J.D. from the University of San Francisco in 1984. He is admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in California.

He has defended asbestos-related personal injury suits since 1991. In addition to his products liability practice, he has defended dentists, doctors, lawyers, real estate agents and brokers in professional negligence suits. He has also defended non-asbestos products liability, personal injury and premises liability cases; he has prosecuted personal injury actions on behalf of plaintiffs. Mr. Vasquez has arbitrated and mediated numerous matters, and has tried more than 23 cases to juries, including seven trials to verdict.

He is a member of the American Bar Association, the Marin County Bar Association, the Bar Association of San Francisco, the Defense Research Institute and the La Raza Lawyers Association.