Elise Bonine is an associate in Burke’s Public Law and Litigation groups. She has experience in both criminal and civil litigation, as well as in both federal and state courts.
Elise’s experience includes mass tort, class action, commercial litigation and criminal prosecution. Prior to joining Burke, Elise gained experience at a well-known and respected plaintiff-side firm in the Bay area as well as at the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office.
During her tenure as an Assistant District Attorney, Elise specialized in prosecuting domestic violence offenses. She successfully indicted more than a dozen felony cases, negotiated felony and misdemeanor plea agreements, argued in front of the Appellate Division, conducted hundreds of investigations, and litigated almost five hundred cases to resolution.
While attending Columbia Law School, Elise worked at the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals prosecuting individuals who committed war crimes during the ethnic cleansing in the former Yugoslavia. She also assisted asylum seekers through her externship with the Legal Aid Society as well as volunteer work with the International Refugee Assistance Project. As a member of the Advanced Mediation Clinic, she mediated a wide variety of issues ranging from alleged violations of the Equal Employment Opportunities Act to housing conflicts. She conducted trainings for the United Nations, Judicial Ethics Committee, and for new mediators.
Outside of the office, Elise is passionate about animal rescue and enjoys running with her Australian Shepherd, reading science fiction novels, and solo travel.
Karen Lee is an associate in Burke’s Los Angeles office and a member of Burke’s Litigation practice group. Karen’s areas of practice include public entity defense, premises liability, dangerous condition of public property, and general tort litigation.
Prior to joining Burke, Karen worked at an established medical malpractice defense firm, where she represented a prominent university in a multitude of lawsuits involving Title IX claims, regulatory issues, and intentional tort allegations. Karen also served as second-chair trial counsel in a case of alleged medical malpractice, in which the jury rendered a unanimous defense verdict.
Karen is experienced in cases involving large teams of lawyers, including high-value litigation combined with internal and government investigations. Karen has experience in all phases of civil litigation, including motion practice, appearing in court for oral argument, all aspects of discovery, and preparing for trial. Karen has worked in a variety of different practice areas, including family law, immigration, workers’ compensation, and business litigation.
During law school, Karen was a staff member of the Loyola of Los Angeles International and Comparative Law Review. Karen was a part of the Law Review’s Inter-American Court of Human Rights Project, where she created comprehensive summaries of judgments rendered by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. Karen also volunteered as an advisor for the Dorsey High School Teen Court and as a mentor for the Young Lawyers Program.
Karen graduated cum laude with a B.A. in Art History and a minor in Political Science from the University of California, Irvine.
Daniel C. Oren is an associate in Burke’s Litigation and Eminent Domain/Inverse Condemnation Practice Groups. He has extensive experience defending individuals and entities in various litigation matters in both federal and state court.
Daniel’s litigation experience includes civil rights, insurance coverage, commercial litigation, mass torts, products liability, and professional liability. Prior to joining Burke, Daniel defended public and quasi-public entities in construction litigation arising from publicly-bid, large-scale infrastructure projects.
Daniel has managed cases through pre-litigation and pre-trial phases, including conducting internal investigations, drafting responsive pleadings and discovery, conducting and defending fact and expert witness depositions, responding to subpoenas, negotiating and obtaining favorable settlements, and drafting dispositive motions. Daniel has brought several cases to the eve of trial within the past year, ultimately settling out of court or prevailing on motions for summary judgment.
Daniel also performs significant pro bono work, having represented indigent clients in Immigration Court.
While attending law school, Daniel served as an extern for Honorable William H. Alsup at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, where he gained valuable experience drafting orders, conducting legal research, and assisting the judge during courtroom proceedings.
Outside of the office, Daniel enjoys technical rock climbing throughout the Sierra Nevada and gravel biking in Marin.Rachel Balchum is a senior associate in Burke’s Labor and Employment Law Practice Group. Rachel represents public and private employers and individuals in employment disputes, including in the areas of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and wage and hour. She provides preventative counseling regarding employment practices, including COVID-19 issues, as well.
In addition, Rachel represents clients in trust and estate, financial elder abuse, and business litigation.
During law school, Rachel served as a legal extern at the United Nations Development Programme in Guatemala.
Richard Shreiba is an Associate in Burke’s Orange County office where he provides advice and council to public and private entities on labor and employment matters. Richard is experienced in providing employers with practical solutions to every-day personnel related issues, as well as representing employers throughout the various stages of litigation in both state and federal courts.
Richard’s experience includes assisting employers throughout the employee discipline process, preparing workplace policies and handbooks, preparing executive employment agreements, advising employers with leave related issues, guiding employers throughout the interactive process for workplace disability accommodations, and presenting workplace trainings.
Richard has represented public entities at various different levels of government, and private entities that varied from small regional businesses to large national enterprises.
During law school, Richard clerked for multiple public entities. Richard’s experience and passion for serving public and non-profit entities enables him to provide exceptional service and creative solutions for his clients.
Richard’s first career as a manager in the financial services industry enables him to provide employers with practical strategies and creative alternatives to solving employment personnel issues while simultaneously complying with state and federal employment laws.
During his free time, Richard loves to enjoy the outdoors and catching a baseball game whenever possible. He enjoys spending time at the beach, Angel stadium, and hiking state and national parks with his family.
Gail Kavanagh’s commercial litigation practice includes real estate title and contract disputes; eminent domain; commercial landlord-tenant matters; commercial tort actions; employment contract, discrimination and harassment actions; and trademark, copyright and trade secrets protection.
John has written widely on cutting-edge issues involving charter school law, including a definitive treatment of "Understanding Dependent Charters," Charter Schools and Collective Bargaining: The Unholy Alliance, and “Charter Schools and Collective Bargaining, Implications for Authorizing Agencies,” (California Schools, Winter 2011) a work that was cited in the Hastings Law Journal (Chen, J. “California Charter School Teachers: Flexibility in the Classroom, Vulnerability as an Employee,” 67 Hastings L.J. 1733 (2016).) He has also written on "Land Use: The New Arena In The Struggle Between Independence and Accountability For Charter Schools."
Other Areas John also practices in the areas of personnel and employment law, with a focus on school district labor relations and personnel, including discrimination claims before the DFEH and EEOC. He has also compiled a successful record representing school districts in arbitration hearings and unfair practice claims before PERB. He also advises school districts and other educational institutions on contracting issues, student matters, and accreditation. John has also been certified as an Interest Based Bargaining trainer, and speaks frequently before industry associations on charter school and school district personnel legal issues.Joseph Buchman maintains a diverse litigation and transactional practice, acts as general counsel to Montebello Land & Water Co., a mutual benefit non-profit water company, and as counsel to the Los Angeles Unified School District School Construction Bond Citizens' Oversight Committee.
Joseph 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.
On April 8, 2024, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) issued a Final Rule for the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), which requires local government websites and mobile apps to comply...
The U.S. Supreme Court has again expanded the circumstances in which property owners and developers may present inverse condemnation (takings) challenges to cities’ and counties’ land use decisions. In Sheetz...
Public officials, like many Americans, use social media to communicate. The First Amendment of the United States Constitution prohibits governments and public officials from abridging a person’s freedom of speech....
The Builder’s Remedy is a provision of the Housing Accountability Act (HAA), which limits the ability to condition or deny qualifying housing development projects in jurisdictions that have not adopted...
Justin A. Tamayo, Associate (lead author); Denise S. Bazzano, Partner and Thomas D. Jex , Partner (co-authors) The Court of Appeal held that a city’s code could not provide for...
On October 11, 2023, Governor Newsom signed AB 1633 into law, which became effective January 1, 2024. At its core, AB 1633 expands the Housing Accountability Act (Government Code Section...
Los Angeles, CA – A Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP Law Enforcement Defense Litigation team has been distinguished in the 2024 edition of the Daily Journal’s ‘Top Verdicts’ supplement for...
Assembly Bill 1490 (“AB 1490”) was signed into law on October 11, 2023, and is intended to facilitate the adaptive reuse of existing buildings as well as residential conversion of...
Assembly Bill 1218 (“AB 1218”) became effective on January 1, 2024, and expands the “no net loss” provisions in the Housing Crisis Act of 2019 (“HCA”) that prohibit cities from...
On October 11, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill 821 (“AB 821”) to allow a development project to move forward in a timely manner where the project...
Super Lawyers, an affiliate of Thomson Reuters, has named eight Burke attorneys to its 2024 editions of Rising Stars for California. Maxwell A. Blum, Colleen L. Cleary, Craig A. Kisylia,...
On October 11, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bills (“AB”) 976, 1033, and 1332 into law. All three bills are effective January 1, 2024, and affect how cities and counties...
On October 11, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill (“SB”) 4 into law. SB 4, effective January 1, 2024, adds Section 65913.16 to the Government Code, which limits the ability...
On October 8, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill (“AB”) 965 into law. AB 965, which is effective January 1, 2024, affects how local agencies must process broadband permit applications....
In 2023, Governor Newsom signed into law several bills that will affect California employers starting January 1, 2024. Below is a brief summary of those laws: Reproductive Leave Loss (SB...
SB 684 requires a local agency to ministerially approve, without discretionary review or a hearing, a parcel map or a tentative and final map for a housing development project that...
On October 8, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill (“AB”) 1637 into law. AB 1637 requires all cities and counties, including charter cities, to transition all public-facing websites, employee websites,...
On October 8, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill (“AB”) 1638 into law. AB 1638, effective January 1, 2025, requires local agencies that provide emergency response services—such as police, fire, or...
On October 8, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill (“AB”) 557 into law. AB 557 amends sections of the Brown Act which already allow legislative bodies to meet by teleconference...
Summary On October 11, 2023, Governor Newsom signed into law Senate Bill 423 (“SB 423”), which expands and strengthens Senate Bill 35 (2017) (“SB 35”). Specifically, SB 423 amends Government...
On June 15, 2023, new regulations to implement Senate Bill (SB) 1439 were adopted by the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC). As some readers may recall, SB 1439 became effective...
A Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP Litigation team representing the City of Los Angeles and LAPD officer Brandon Purece secured a high profile defense jury verdict in a Los Angeles...
On September 23, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill (“AB”) 994 into law. AB 994, effective January 1, 2024, imposes new requirements on how and when law enforcement agencies may...
Congratulations to Burke Litigation Associate Fraser D. Muir for his two-year pro bono staff attorney service to the Berkeley Law Public Law Center, where Fraser has had a piloting role...
Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP is pleased to announce that the following firm attorneys have been named to the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers in America: Brenda Aguilar-Guerrero, Eminent Domain...
Authored by partners Thomas D. Jex and Denise S. Bazzano and summer associate Mihir Karode. In Lucas v. City of Pomona, the Court of Appeal, Second District, recently held that...
On June 29, 2023 Governor Newsom signed into law Senate Bill 329 (“SB 329”) which increases the maximum amount of salary that council members may receive. This legislation was intended...
For 2023, Burke is serving as an Aluminum Sponsor of ‘Women in Construction’, a Bay Area Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association partner. WIC Bay Area provides educational,...
Los Angeles – Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP is pleased to announce that the following attorneys have joined the firm’s Construction Law practice: Kevin P. McCarthy, Bryce D. Carroll, Craig A....
The main takeaway from this Ninth Circuit decision is that employers must treat employees seeking short-term military leave in the same manner as employees on other types of short-term leaves...
Burke Employment Law & Litigation partners Susan V. Arduengo, AWI-CH, and Cherl L. Johnson-Hartwell, AWI-CH, present the two-part Burke Legal Trends on demand webinar 'Workplace Harassment and Discrimination'. HR professionals...
SB 403 proposes to amend the Unruh Civil Rights Act, Education Code, and FEHA to add caste as a protected category and, in turn, to prohibit discrimination based upon caste. ...
Recent California Supreme Court Opinion Emphasizes that Design Immunity May, But Does Not Always, Apply in Failure to Warn Dangerous Conditions Cases Main Takeaway: Regardless of whether a condition was...
Must in-lieu fees paid by a developer as a condition of project approval be repaid by the city if it has not timely adopted the five-year findings required by the...
On September 8, 2022, the Governor signed SB 1186 (The Medicinal Cannabis Patients’ Right of Access Act), which would prohibit a local jurisdiction from adopting or enforcing any regulations that...
AB 1949 adds Section 12945.7 to the Government Code to require certain California employers, including public sector employers, provide for bereavement leave. Prior to January 1, 2023, the California Family...
Labor and Employment Litigation partner and trial attorney Elisabeth A. Frater was named to the Los Angeles Business Journal's "Leaders of Influence 2023 - Minority Attorneys" special supplement. The professionals...
Senate Bill 1439 will make substantial changes to the Levine Act, primarily in the area of local governmental officials’ ability to accept campaign donations from both parties and participants in...
AB 1751 extends the COVID-19 protections set forth in Labor Code Sections 3212.86-88) until January 1, 2024. More specifically, the new law extends the Workers’ Compensation rebuttable presumption that an...
AB 1041, the California legislature amended Government Code section 12945.2 (California Family Rights Act (CFRA)) and Labor Code section 245.5 (Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014) to expand the...
On September 27, 2022, California Senate Bill (“SB”) 1162 was signed into law. SB 1162, effective January 1, 2023, imposes new requirements on public and private employers pertaining to pay...
SB 6, also known as the Middle Class Housing Act of 2022, deems a housing development project allowable in commercial zones without the need for rezoning. The bill goes into...
SB 1214 goes into effect on January 1, 2023, and adds Section 65103.5 to the Government Code. The purpose of the bill is to require a local planning agency to...
SB 1192 now allows Architectural & Engineer Consultants, including landscape architectural, environmental, and land surveying services, construction project management professionals, to substitute securities as an alternative to retention through use...
AB 2173 permanently limits public agencies to withholding only 5% in retention from a general contractor’s public works contract. Previously, Public Contract Code sections 7201 and 10261’s 5% limit on...
Los Angeles – A Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP litigation team won a unanimous defense verdict after a nine-day jury trial in Duffy v. City of Los Angeles (BC675781) in...
The Brown Act (Government Code section 54957.5(b)) currently requires that writings that are public records and distributed to all, or a majority of the members of the governing board relating...
On January 1, 2023, new legislation will take effect which recodifies and reorganizes the provisions of the California Public Records Act. The new legislation states that it is not intended...
AB 2011, “the Affordable Housing and High Road Jobs Act of 2022,” goes into effect July 1, 2023. The bill allows for ministerial, by-right approval of qualifying: (1) 100% affordable...
AB 2234 adds two new sections to the Government Code (§§ 65913.3, 65913.3.5) relating to “Post-entitlement Phase Permits.” Under existing law, the Permit Streamlining Act (“PSA”), establishes time limits within...
Assembly Bill 1857 was recently enacted into law. Under California’s Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989, local agencies disposing of solid waste were required to divert 50% of solid waste...
Governor Newsom recently signed new legislation amending state laws designed to limit the amount of organic waste being sent to landfills in the state. This legislation has implications for local...
This year Governor Gavin Newsom signed two bills, SB 896 and AB 211, to increase State and local government efforts to combat wildfires. SB 896 SB 896 protects communities from...
AB 2094 & AB 1743 AB 2094 and AB 1743 amend Government Code section 65400 requirements pertaining to the annual progress report (“APR”), which provide, among other things, that a...
Burke Labor & Employment partner Daphne M. Anneet has been named to the Los Angeles Business Journal's 'Leaders of Influence - Labor and Employment Attorneys' roster for 2022. Those practitioners...
Los Angeles, CA – Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP is pleased to announce that, effective January 1, 2023, the following firm members have been elevated to equity partners: Brenda Aguilar-Guerrero,...
The California legislature passed and the Governor signed two bills, SB-897 and AB-2221, that both relate to local permitting of accessory dwelling units (ADUs). These two bills make substantial revisions...
AB 2449 amends the Brown Act to provide an additional procedure for members of legislative bodies to attend public meetings remotely. It will become effective on January 1, 2023. Under...
In a landmark move to address housing costs and greenhouse gas emissions, Governor Newsom has signed AB 2097 prohibiting a public agency from imposing or enforcing minimum parking requirements on...
SB 1100 amends the Brown Act to add a new section 54957.95, which authorizes an additional procedure for a legislative body to remove a disruptive individual from a public meeting. ...
On Thursday, August 11, 2022, the California Supreme Court issued an opinion regarding the applicability of the definition of “tax” in Article XIIIC of the California Constitution, as revised in...
In Garnier v. O’Connor-Ratcliffe, the 9th Circuit held that two defendant public school district board members violated the First Amendment rights of the plaintiffs by blocking them on the Twitter...
Pacific Grove, CA — At a special meeting held on June 29, the Pacific Grove City Council voted to retain Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP, designating Burke Public Law partners...
Los Angeles, CA – On June 15, 2022, in an 11-1 verdict, a Los Angeles Superior Court jury found City of Pasadena not liable for disability discrimination and retaliation claims...
Oakland, CA– Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP is pleased to announce that Brenda Aguilar-Guerrero has joined the firm’s Eminent Domain and Inverse Condemnation practice group as a partner. Aguilar-Guerrero has...
It is with profound sadness that we inform you of the passing of our friend and colleague Jim Wulfsberg on Saturday, May 28 after a brief illness. Jim was a...
On October 13 and 14, 2022, three Burke attorneys will be presenting at the 22nd Annual Northern California Eminent Domain Conference at the Hilton Union Square, San Francisco. Alan Sozio...
Burke associate Robert Theiring was featured as the NLD Member Spotlight in For the Record published by the San Diego County Bar Association on March 15, 2022.
Los Angeles – The Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP Insurance Litigation team has prevailed on behalf of client Lincoln Benefit Life Company in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals by...
Los Angeles – Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP is pleased to announce that the following firm members have been elevated to equity partners: Mark J. Austin, Thomas D. Jex, Kevin D....
Los Angeles – Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP is pleased to announce that the following firm associates have been elevated to income partners: Maxwell A. Blum, Eli J. Flushman, Kristin...
Generally, cities may object to Public Records Act requests if they are overbroad and thus “unduly burdensome.” (See Cal. First Amend. Coalition v. Superior Court (1998) 67 Cal.App.4th 159, 166.) ...
Burke partners Charles Abbott and Michael Nebenzahl won a California 2nd District Court decision to uphold a motion for summary judgment for the City of Beverly Hills. In a published...
This bill will provide some relief to local jurisdictions facing the challenges of meeting requirements imposed by SB 1383 to address short-lived climate pollutants such as black carbon, fluorinated gases,...
Best Lawyers and U.S. News & World Report has included Burke in its 2022 Tier 2 rankings of Land Use and Zoning law firms. The land use and environmental review...
Burke partner Mark Austin won a California 2nd District Court of Appeal decision on behalf of the City of Torrance involving the adequacy of the City's police pursuit policy. The...
The legislature recently adopted Assembly Bill 602, which imposes new requirements on public agencies concerning impact fees on development projects. AB 602 will take effect in two stages. Beginning on...
Governor Newsom recently signed Senate Bill 60 into law. This legislation authorizes cities and counties to set higher monetary penalties than would otherwise be legally permissible for violations of a...
In Sierra Watch v. Placer County et al., the court held when public agencies distribute written materials relating to an open session agenda item less than 72 hours prior to...
To help safeguard our colleagues, clients and guests, we are encouraging clients to avoid visiting our offices at this time. If you find a visit is absolutely needed, please take a...
Burke partner, Timothy L. Davis spoke with the American Bar Association about police union contracts and reform. He mentions Graham v. Connor, the 1989 U.S. Supreme Court opinion that set rules...
Are franchise fees charged by local public agencies to private refuse-hauling companies illegal taxes under Propositions 218 and 26? Last week, the First District Court of Appeal ruled that unless...
To our clients and the communities we serve, On behalf of the entire Burke family, we extend our heartfelt thoughts and concerns to everyone as we navigate the unprecedented and...
by Nora Wetzel A class action complaint, Fuentes v. Sunshine Behavioral Health Group, was filed yesterday, stating a claim for violation of the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”), in addition...
In Burke’s ongoing effort to keep employers updated on resources for addressing concerns about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the workplace, the EEOC issued brief guidance, which focuses on the interplay...
Los Angeles, June 20, 2019 – With an already significant presence throughout California, Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP, announces the launch of an Intellectual Property (IP) practice group with the...
In a case of first impression in the country, Lincoln Benefit established that the Dallals had fraudulently procured long-term care benefits for 12 years. The federal jury unanimously awarded $619,290.49...
Alan Sozio recently represented a joint powers authority against the landowner of a multi-unit apartment building in a part-take condemnation action. Following an 8-day trial, the jury awarded only 15%...
Burke, Williams & Sorensen is pleased to announce that trial attorney Gregory B. Thomas has joined our Oakland office as a Partner. Greg litigates complex cases in government tort liability,...
Congratulations to the Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project for its EIR/EIS Winning Outstanding Environmental Analysis Document by the Association of Environmental Professionals! Burke is pleased to have worked on the...
Benjamin Stock will become the new city attorney after the City Council unanimously approved an agreement with of Burke, Williams & Sorensen. Read media coverage here.
Los Angeles, January 11, 2017: Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP, announced that it has named 3 new owners from its partnership ranks, effective January 1, 2017. The new owners are...
Los Angeles, September 28, 2017 – With the recent devastation from this month's hurricanes in Texas, Florida, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico, Burke attorneys and employees rallied together...
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