Attorneys

Brian Affrunti's practice focuses on business and intellectual property litigation in both federal and state courts, including disputes arising from contract, defamation, copyright and trademark infringement, unfair competition, and misappropriation of trade secrets. 

Ms. Ahuja has extensive experience in motion practice, arbitrations, and administrative hearings.

Manuela Albuquerque is the firm's Director of Complex Public Litigation.  She combines wide-ranging expertise across the full spectrum of public law issues with significant litigation experience before state and federal trial and appellate courts.

A skilled litigator, Ms. Anneet has achieved excellent results for clients in state and federal court, as well as in administrative proceedings. She represents public and private employers in a wide range of matters including class actions, wrongful termination, discrimination and harassment litigation, pension litigation, unfair labor practice disputes, arbitrations, disciplinary appeals, and appellate matters.

Ms. Barnhill regularly counsels clients on land use, zoning, permitting, municipal law, and environmental compliance matters.

Michael Bell counsels and represents life, accident, health, and disability insurers in coverage, bad faith, and ERISA benefits litigation. 

Michael Bernacchi has engaged in civil litigation and trials in state and federal courts for over fifteen years. 

Ms. Biggs has special expertise in the complex process of incorporating new cities.  She has represented the proponents of incorporation in their successful effort to create the cities of Laguna Woods in 1999, Goleta in 2001, and Wildomar in 2008.

Ms. Billups' experience includes extensive law and motion practice, all aspects of discovery, advising on various employment matters, and conducting workplace investigations. 

A member of the firm since 1954, Mr. Bradshaw has over fifty years' experience advising the firm's corporate and business clients in a full spectrum of business-related legal matters.

Susanne Meyer Brown's practice focuses on transactional matters with an emphasis on affordable housing, redevelopment, land use, and real estate law for public agencies and private entities.  Ms. Brown has more than 20 years real estate experience, as a businessperson since 1990 and as an attorney since 1997. 

Mr. Brown has extensive experience advising clients and litigating in land use, zoning and planning, the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"), real property entitlements, police power, municipal taxation, Brown Act, Public Records Act, code enforcement, intergovernmental relations, grand juries, elections, initiatives, and referenda.

Mr. Buchman has extensive background in public, corporate, business, and real estate matters, acquired from years of experience representing and advising clients in bankruptcy matters, eminent domain, real estate and title litigation, purchase and sale transactions, financing transactions, probate and estate planning, tort litigation, collection actions, contract disputes, and election litigation.
 

Mr. Burke engages in a general corporate and business practice, providing representation to large and small businesses and financial institutions.

Megan Burke provides litigation and advisory services to cities, counties, redevelopment agencies, special districts, and other public entities.

Joseph Byrne advises private sector companies on a variety of legal issues, including corporate matters, contracts, licensing agreements, general litigation, real estate, and employment.  He also serves as general counsel to a number of small companies.

Ms. Castella specializes in public law litigation at both the trial court and appellate court levels, and has extensive experience litigating cases on behalf of public and private entities.

Al Ceran has devoted his 31 years in the practice of law to complex civil litigation.  Mr. Ceran has tried in excess of 30 cases, many of them to juries, and handled numerous appeals. 

Ms. Coleman has defended officials and individuals in over 20 civil jury trials in federal and state courts throughout California, with very successful results. These trials include claims of wrongful death, negligence, failure to summon medical care, and various other tort and constitutional issues. 

Ms. Cowan's diverse practice encompasses complex commercial litigation on behalf of life, health and disability insurers, as well as defense of agents/brokers and religious organizations. 

Tom Curry's practice focuses on all aspects of public agency law with an emphasis on complex land use matters.

Douglas W. Dal Cielo specializes in general business litigation and transactional law. 

Mr. Davis serves as a Deputy City Attorney for the cities of Camarillo and Industry, and assists numerous other Southland cities with land use and public law matters, particularly regulations implicating federal and state rights of freedom of speech and expression. 

Timothy Davis is a partner in Burke, Williams & Sorensen's Silicon Valley office and is Chair of the firm's Labor and Employment Law practice group.

Barbra W. Diallo represents public and private sector management clients, including cities, counties, corporations, small businesses, non-profit entities, educational entities, and special districts. 

Ms. DuCaine advises management on complex areas of labor law and provides technical assistance and expertise on collective bargaining, dispute resolution, and contract administration. 

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Richard Fannan has represented employers in a wide variety of actions and has successfully defended employers in discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination claims in federal and state courts. 

Carol Jean Fogleman is a partner in the Inland Empire office of Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP, specializing in judicial foreclosures and issues related to special districts.

Mr. Frank is a partner in Burke, Williams & Sorensen's Los Angeles office and is Chair of the firm's Litigation Practice Group.

Mr. Galante represents employers in a variety of employment-related claims, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, and wrongful termination. 

Mr. Gale successfully representes private companies and public entities in numerous general litigation matters.

Mr. Gillinger's practice focuses on all areas of labor and employment law as well as litigation matters.  He has significant experience litigating and resolving disputes involving claims of wrongful termination, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and wage and hour violations.

Mr. Ginter has represented public and private employers in a wide variety of employment cases; including claims regarding discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and whistleblower actions.

Ms. Graeler's practice includes the representation of private and public clients in complex cases, including commercial litigation and employment matters.

Kristina Doan Gruenberg works on a wide-range of correctional litigation cases involving constitutional and state tort law claims in both federal and state courts.

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Mr. Hamblet has successfully represented corporate clients and public entities in both state and federal courts in numerous trials, mediations, and depositions and practiced in the areas of civil rights, constitutional law, employment law employer, litigation & appeals, state, local & municipal law, business & commercial law, contracts, products liability law, bankruptcy, preference & fraudulent transfer litigation, and collection law.

Raymond Hane has successfully tried over thirty cases to verdict, including employment discrimination and harassment claims, product liability claims, and complex commercial disputes. 

Ralph Hanson's professional experience includes over twenty-nine years devoted to the representation of municipalities, redevelopment agencies, and special districts in Southern California.

Ms. Harris' practice includes litigation and advisory services to cities, counties, redevelopment agencies, special districts, and other public entities, with an emphasis on land use, inverse condemnation, eminent domain, and mandamus actions. 

Ms. Herget has extensive experience in insurance coverage, insurance fraud, insurance bad faith litigation, and employment litigation. 

Ms. Hoyt has extensive experience in public and environmental law, representing clients in a wide variety of matters ranging from complex litigation to advisory work.

Thomas Jex is a partner with the firm and serves as the City Attorney for the City of Wildomar.  He also provides special counsel services for the Jurupa Unified School District.

Ms. Johnson-Hartwell defends private and public employers in a wide array of employment disputes involving claims of discrimination, harassment and retaliation, wage and hour, unfair competition, breach of contract, and other employment-related issues.

A highly respected statewide authority on public sector labor and employment law, Mr. Kay is a creative, intelligent, and accomplished negotiator.  Using a combination of legal knowledge, interest/criteria based skills, and more than 35 years of practical problem-solving experience, he has successfully resolved complex disputes and negotiated hundreds of collective bargaining agreements for public agencies. 

Michelle provides legal representation for cities, redevelopment agencies and other public agencies as city attorney and special counsel. 

Keiko J. Kojima's practice includes a broad range of litigation matters, including insurance coverage disputes, bad faith liability actions, and contractual disputes. 

Mr. Kosla defends corrections authorities against alleged breaches of constitutional rights, such as deliberate indifference claims under the Eighth Amendment and exercise of religion claims under the First Amendment and RLUIPA. 

Ms. Kurihara works on a wide range of issues related to general municipal law.  Her practice focuses on providing advisory services to cities, special districts, and other public entities.

Ms. Kyle de Bautista's practice focuses on insurance bad faith litigation, ERISA litigation, and other first-party insurance defense matters. 

Mr. Langhammer’s customary fields of practice are litigating and counseling in all aspects of employment, discrimination, harassment and retaliation, business and commercial transactions, corporate and business organizations, nonprofit and charitable organizations, and family law. 

Melodie Larsen is a skilled attorney whose broad litigation and employment practice includes both public and private clients. 

David Laufer has engaged in civil litigation (trials and appeals) in state and federal courts for forty-three years. 

Dr. Lipton is a Chair of the firm's Education Law Practice Group. His practice is focused on representing all types of public and private schools and colleges, but also encompasses a wide range of civil litigation areas including mental health, employment, insurance, real estate, and general business litigation.

Mr. Maguire counsels and represents life, health, and disability insurers in trial and appellate matters.

Rafael Mandelman practices in the areas of land use, real estate, affordable housing, and redevelopment law.

Anthony McClaren has extensive experience representing public and private sector clients in labor and employment law matters. 

Mr. McEwen is responsible for supervising code enforcement efforts for Burke’s municipal clients.  Mr. McEwen also advises municipal clients throughout the state on issues related to medical marijuana.

John E. McOsker has been a litigator and legal advisor, primarily in the healthcare, manufacturing, retail, and aviation industries since 1993. 

Joseph Montes serves as the City Attorney for the City of Alhambra, General Counsel to the Alhambra Redevelopment Agency, City Attorney for the City of Moorpark, General Counsel to the Moorpark Redevelopment Agency, City Attorney for the City of Santa Clarita, General Counsel to the Santa Clarita Redevelopment Agency, Assistant General Counsel to the Rosemead Community Development Commission, and Assistant City Attorney for the City of Rosemead. 

Mr. Mulkerin's practice includes litigation and commercial matters for public and private entities in a wide variety of subject matters. 

Mr. Murphy focuses his practice on the areas of land use and development, redevelopment and economic issues, and public contract and prevailing wage law. 

Karen Murphy represents a broad range of local government agencies with an emphasis on redevelopment, affordable housing, land use and planning and real estate. 

Carl Newton received his B.S. degree in business administration from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1955, served a tour of duty in the U.S. Navy, and then returned to obtain his J.D. degree from Loyola Law School in 1962. 

Ms. Novotny has almost 30 years of experience as an attorney representing cities, special districts, school districts, and community college districts in public agency labor relations, employment law, public agency access law, public employee rights law, and education law.

Ms. Park has a wide-ranging litigation practice which includes representing clients in FEHA, Title VII, ADA, wrongful termination, wage and hour, due process and civil rights cases. 

Mr. Pierik is the City Attorney for the City of Camarillo, the City Attorney for the City of Atascadero, and the Assistant City Attorney for the City of Santa Clarita. 

Jerry Ramiza's practice emphasizes real estate transactional, land use, and public/private partnership development matters.

Ms. Richman is a partner with Burke who has focused her legal practice on the representation of cities and redevelopment agencies.  Ms. Richman is the City Attorney for the City of Rosemead and the City of Arvin and Assistant City Attorney for the Cities of Alhambra and Santa Clarita.

Monica Sanchez has represented and advised employers on matters involving numerous federal and state law claims, including discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, defamation, whistleblower violations, freedom of speech, and association. 

Ms. Shea is an experienced civil litigator and her practice includes the areas of bad faith insurance law, Employee Retirement Income Security Act ("ERISA") litigation, employment law, construction defect, and business litigation.

Mr. Silvey participates in and helps conduct public meetings, reviews and negotiates contracts, including funding contracts with organizations such as the MTA and Caltrans, monitors DBE Programs, and oversees environmental work and permitting activities.

Mr. Slyngstad's practice involves the relationships between employers and employees, businesses and contracting parties, and lawyers and clients.

Ms. Sommer focuses on labor relations, employment, education, and other public law matters. 

Mr. Sozio's practice focuses primarily on eminent domain and related land-use litigation.

M. Carol Stevens is one of the leading legal practitioners in the field of public employment law.  She is frequently invited to deliver keynote addresses at conferences and statewide training programs. 

Benjamin L. Stock is an accomplished litigator in both state and federal courts.  His litigation and transactional practice emphasizes municipal law, eminent domain, land use, and construction law. 

Katy Suttorp has represented and counseled a wide range of employers, including private entities, municipalities, school districts, community college districts, and special districts in numerous matters.

Since admission to the State Bar of California in 1960, he has continuously been engaged in the practice of law, specializing in the representation of public agencies.

Albert Tong has represented private and publicly-traded companies in a broad range of complex civil litigation matters, including insurance and reinsurance, securities, employment, intellectual property, antitrust, Proposition 65, and franchise disputes.

Ms. Trainer has represented and advised employers on matters involving numerous federal and state law claims, including discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, labor negotiations, wage and hour, freedom of speech and association, HIPAA, and privacy. 

Mr. Tyson is currently the City Attorney for the City of Rolling Hills Estates.  For fifteen years, Mr. Tyson has litigated cases in all courts in California, with an emphasis in representing public agencies. 

Ms. Vadon advises City Councils, Commissions, and Governing Boards of public agencies on legal requirements including matters relating to the Brown Act, Conflict of Interest Laws (Fair Political Practices Act), Public Records Act, land use, planning, and zoning matters, as well as environmental matters. 

Eric S. Vail, a Partner of Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP, is Chair of the firm’s forty-one member Public Law Practice Group and serves on the firm’s Management Committee. 

Ms. Vasquez's practice focuses on defending employers in employment matters involving allegations of discrimination and harassment. 

Erica L. Vega serves as the Assistant City Attorney for Temple City and Deputy City Attorney for the cities of Wildomar and Hemet.

Donald (Dino) A. Velez has over 20 years of litigation experience representing public entities, and over 10 years experience representing and advising public school districts and community colleges on labor, employment, and personnel matters; board issues; charter schools; student issues; and litigation. 

Mr. Velyvis provides wide-ranging expertise and unique problem solving skills and advice to a diverse body of municipal and public agency clients in administrative proceedings and before state and federal trial and appellate courts.

Mr. Visick provides advisory, transactional, and litigation services related to general municipal issues to cities, counties, and other public agencies in the Bay Area. 

Emily Wada's practice includes the representation of public and private entity clients in a wide array of complex litigation matters. 

Mr. Welsh is Burke, Williams & Sorensen's Managing Partner and Chairperson of the Management Committee.  He has served in these positions since 1996 and is a regular presenter and commentator at continuing education law forums and law practice management conferences. 

Mr. Wrosch has worked on a wide-range of cases involving constitutional and state law claims.  He conducted discovery, prepared motions to dismiss and summary judgment motions, deposed numerous individuals, and made numerous court appearances on behalf of officers. 
 

Neil Yeager specializes in complex real estate, business, and finance transactions for both private and public clients, including business acquisitions, commercial, office and retail leasing, and municipal finance.

John R. Yeh has been practicing law in California since 1991.  He specializes in representing and advising school districts in charter school, labor and employment, and litigation matters. 
 

Mr. Young's practice is concentrated on storm water, drinking water and solid waste legal issues, environmental analysis and compliance, and Homeland Security legal issues.