Litchfield Appeals & Appellate Lawyers

I am an Appellate Law Specialist certified by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization and I spearhead my firm’s Appeals and Writs group. I have handled appeals and writs in anti-SLAPP, civil-rights, commercial-litigation, employment, ERISA, family-law, personal-injury, probate, real estate and trust cases. I have briefed and orally argued writs and appeals before all manner of appellate courts, from the California Court of Appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. I have also successfully settled multiple cases in appellate mediation. As judicial clerk for both state and federal appellate courts, I have reviewed and analyzed literally hundreds of...

Getting her start in the trenches as a legal aid attorney, Erika has years of experience in seeking justice for employees and consumers against unfair practices. She has fought off debt collectors, obtained justice for wrongfully terminated employees, and untangled thorny credit reporting issues. She has taken on local government for refusing proper restroom access to transgender people. In 2015, she even had a federal court declare a state's garnishment statute unconstitutional for violating the rights of low-income debtors.

Whether your case is just starting, or whether you are up on appeal, Erika has the experience and...

Erik Christensen litigates, and provides counsel on, corporate and employment issues in California and the District of Columbia. His experience includes working as a senior associate at top-ranked global law firms, including Littler Mendelson and Greenberg Traurig. Before this, Erik externed at the California Supreme Court and the First District Court of Appeal, two of the most prestigious opportunities provided to law students in California. Erik also served as a law clerk for the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Victim Impact Program (sometimes referred to as the “Special Victims Unit.”) His experience includes years of service with the 101st Airborne’s...

Matthew Barhoma is the founder of Barhoma Law P.C., a California Criminal Defense and Appeals law firm. Mr. Barhoma has been an advocate and analyst in various forms of the media addressing important issues confronting the criminally accused. He has been a legal analyst for numerous media outlets including, Fox News, ABC, CNN, Forbes, Associated Press, CourtTV and Law and Crime and more, regarding high profile cases around the country. Mr. Barhoma is frequently quoted in print media such as the Wall Street Journal, Yahoo News, People and more. Mr. Barhoma received his B.A. from University of California, Irvine, and his...

Jerod Gunsberg is the founder and lead attorney of the Law Offices of Jerod Gunsberg. He is a seasoned criminal law defense attorney, representing clients in all California state and federal criminal matters. He focuses his practice on many different types of criminal cases, including misdemeanors, violent offenses, complex narcotics, white collar crime, medical marijuana defense, sex crimes, elder abuse, computer crime and juvenile criminal issues. Mr. Gunsberg spent the early part of his career in the entertainment industry and even owning his own independent record label for a time. When he decided to follow his life long dream...

David E. Mastagni is a partner with the law firm of Mastagni Holstedt, APC, who specializes in labor and employment law representation of public safety employees, including trial and appellate litigation in California and federal courts. In particular, he handles complex civil, class action and collective action litigation, claims arising out of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the U.S. and California Constitutions, the California Public Records Act (CPRA), the Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights (POBR), the California Labor Code, the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act, and other statutes protecting the rights of employees.
Among his other legal activities, David is an...

I represent a wide range of clients in civil appeals and in writ proceedings, including business owners, property owners, insurers, employers, public entities, film finance lenders, film producers, bankruptcy creditors, and trademark holders. I also regularly provide assistance to trial counsel in proposing jury instructions and verdict forms and drafting dispositive motions and oppositions—all with a keen eye toward helping trial counsel to preserve the record for any future appeal.

Steven Brunolli works in the appellate department at one of San Diego's oldest firms, Higgs, Fletcher & Mack. Steven is an accomplished appellate attorney with a passion for writing and a keen eye for detail. He has brought and defended writs and appeals in diverse areas of the law, including Family Law, Probate, Business Law, and Employment Law. Some of those matters have resulted in published decisions from the California Courts of Appeal. Appellate law requires a certain skillset and an entirely different knowledge of procedure than litigation in the trial courts. As such, trial attorneys often refer appeals...

Attorney Mugridge is a State Bar Certified Criminal Law Specialist. He is personally fluent in Spanish. He has been listed as a California SuperLawyer in Criminal Law since 2009. Mr. Mugridge was selected to the "Top 100 Criminal Lawyers" in America by the National Criminal Lawyers Association for 2014. Formerly a research attorney for Presiding Justice George Brown (dec.) of the 5th Dist Court of Appeals, Homicide (including Death Penalty defense) is his primary focus.

Jeffrey Lewis has been practicing law in Southern California since 1996. Mr. Lewis' current practice is limited to handling civil and criminal appellate proceedings as well as select business litigation matters in courts throughout Southern California. Mr. Lewis is a certified appellate specialist by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization. California attorneys who are certified as specialists have taken and passed a written examination in their specialty field, demonstrated a high level of experience in the specialty field, fulfilled ongoing education requirements and been favorably evaluated by other attorneys and judges familiar with their...

Spolin Law P.C.’s founder, Aaron Spolin, is a former prosecutor and award-winning criminal appeals attorney. He has achieved successful outcomes on hundreds of criminal cases, including numerous dismissals of major felony cases; non-criminal resolutions to complex fraud and insurance fraud defense cases; successful appellate outcomes from various appellate courts; and multiple not-guilty jury verdicts at trial. Innocent Spolin Law clients wrongfully accused of murder and other serious crimes are now free because of his work. Aaron is the recipient of various awards for his advocacy, including the American College of Trial Lawyer’s Medal for Excellence in Oral Advocacy as well as...

For nearly 25 years, Sa'id Vakili has represented businesses and individuals in litigation matters involving complex business and contract disputes, business torts, direct and derivative shareholder disputes, intellectual property disputes, and all forms of employment claims. He has also handled a variety of serious injury tort claims including those arising under maritime and aviation law. Mr. Vakili is admitted in California, New York, New Jersey and Washington, D.C. and has handled cases in various other jurisdictions such as Florida, Nevada, Ohio, South Dakota, and Virginia through associations with local law firms in those locations. Mr. Vakili has also served...

Attorney Michael McKneely with Michael McKneely, Criminal Defense Lawyer is a compassionate and dedicated litigator who provides criminal defense for good people in central California and in federal courts across the country. He puts his extensive experience to work in difficult cases involving cutting edge technology and the most complex legal issues at the forefront of criminal law.

Phil Israels graduated from the University of California at Berkeley where he studied Economics. He then attended the University of San Francisco, School of Law, where he received the American Jurisprudence Award. After graduating in 1975, he worked for the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office for four years as a prosecutor. In 1979, he decided to work as a criminal defense attorney. He is now a Board Certified Specialist in the field of Criminal Law During his tenure as a defense lawyer, he has successfully defended his clients against a wide range of criminal charges, including drunk driving, domestic violence, sexual related...

Boris has devoted himself to a career in criminal defense and fighting for the rights of the accused—a passion that grew from his experience being erroneously arrested at age thirteen due to a misidentification. This experience left him intimately aware of the kind of anxiety and fear a criminal accusation causes in one's life. Bringing this memory to the courtroom and negotiating table alike, Boris quickly gained a reputation as a fearless and zealous advocate for his clients who fights with integrity and compassion every step of the way.

Smart & Aggressive Criminal Defense. Experienced in representing individuals accused of crimes...

Konstantine "Kosta" Demiris is a partner at the law firm of Demiris & Moore, located in the heart of downtown Walnut Creek, in the center of Contra Costa County. His practice focuses on litigation involving elder abuse (financial and physical), will and trust litigation, conservatorships, guardianships, HOA's, and appeals. Kosta is actively involved in the Contra Costa County legal community. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Contra Costa County Bar Association's Elder Law Section. He serves as court-appointed counsel in Conservatorship cases in Contra Costa County. Kosta is dedicated to helping...

Joseph F. Klatt is a veteran California litigator with demonstrated expertise representing individual and institutional clients in complex civil litigation matters. He is skilled in handling all facets of litigation, including initiating and planning a case, managing discovery, drafting dispositive motions and briefs, conducting depositions, trying and resolving cases, handling complex writs and appeals, and negotiating significant settlements in high stakes cases. He is recognized for handling complex, unique, and troublesome cases, providing innovative litigation strategies, looking at legal issues from multiple and unorthodox angles, and cost-effectively achieving his clients’ objectives.

Joseph was the Valedictorian of his law school...

I represent clients with Products Liability, Appeals & Appellate, Consumer Law, Lemon Law, Elder Abuse, and Unfair Debt Collection disputes. I am dedicated to aggressive advocacy for California consumers facing deceptive or predatory business actions.

With nearly 30 years of trial and appellate experience, I have brought justice to thousands of clients. I have the knowledge, skill and insight needed to fight against unfair and dishonest practices. I am committed to zealously pursuing the best possible outcomes for my clients.

Ron Funk, a seasoned attorney of over 25 years, graduated from Brigham Young University’s J. Reuben Clark Law School in 1996. His legal journey began with an undergraduate degree in English and a minor in family science, initially unaware of the profound impact this education would have on his trajectory in law. The dividends of his English degree manifested swiftly, winning him the Best Brief award in the first-year moot court competition. This success continued throughout law school, culminating in the prestigious Jack Welch award in his third year. Commencing as a law clerk, Ron drafted appellate briefs for a plaintiff’s personal...

Court Admissions:

United States District Court, Central District of California, May 30, 2007
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, October 26, 2009
United States District Court, Southern District of California, November 16, 2009
United States Tax Court, November 19, 2009
United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, January 10, 2010
United States District Court, Eastern District of California, June 3, 2010
United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, July 13, 2010
United States Court of International Trade, January 2, 2014
United States Court of Appeals For The Federal Circuit, June 30, 2015
United States Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals, May 3, 2017
United States...

For more than twenty five years I have represented investors and consumers in class-action litigation, focusing primarily on federal civil appeals. I have briefed and argued appeals before all but two of the thirteen federal circuits, and was intimately involved in briefing the merits in three cases before the United States Supreme Court. My pro bono work has included writing and filing amicus curiae briefs on behalf of religious organizations and faith leaders opposing discrimination and supporting religious liberty and equal rights for all.

Admitted to the California Bar in 2001, I aggressively advocate for clients with Civil Rights, Employment, Constitutional, Personal Injury and General Civil law needs. I represent individuals, business and government entities in the State of California, the 9th Circuit, U.S. Supreme Court, as well as U.S. District Courts throughout California.

I am an accomplished attorney with proven results including settlement, trial and appellate cases. With innovative and effective litigation strategies, I aggressively pursue justice for my clients. I am dedicated to outstanding service and representation focused on the best possible outcomes.

Visit my website for more information and to see recent cases....

Attorney Zein Obagi and friend Seth Stodder founded Obagi Law Group. P.C. in 2013, having worked previously with Allen Matkins LLP and Jones Bell LLP. Attorney Obagi focuses on several areas of the law, in particular litigation, debt collection, and bad faith insurance cases. A graduate of the University of Southern California, Gould School of Law, Attorney Obagi is admitted to practice law in California and in the U.S. District Court for the Central and Southern Districts of California. For your no-cost case evaluation to discuss your issue with the firm, call Attorney Obagi today at (310)...

David M. Boertje, Esq., has dedicated his professional life to defending those accused of crimes and has personally handled hundreds of criminal cases. Mr. Boertje is experienced in handling all misdemeanor and felony cases including DUI defense, domestic violence, theft crimes, white collar crimes, drug crimes, probation violations, violent crimes, strike cases, and murder. Mr. Boertje has obtained successful results for many of his clients including case dismissals, not guilty verdicts, reduced charges, and favorable plea bargains. Mr. Boertje has received some very impressive results for his clients.

Mr. Boertje received his Juris Doctor degree at the University of San...

I am responsible for all matters handled by my office. Paralegals, law clerks and associates may be utilized in appropriate situations, but the buck stops with me. Intentionally remaining small has enabled me to continue to provide unparalleled personal attention and confidentiality. My clients are the reason I am here, and I work hard for the best results possible. I am honored by the trust placed in me, and strive to maintain it at the highest level. You are entitled to understand the law applicable to your matter and the options available, as well as my best advice. I have...

I am proud to be one of a handful of attorneys in the state of California to have been awarded an award for 40 consecutive years as a “Certified Specialist by the State Bar of California” in criminal law. From citizens to Hollywood celebrities, my ability to successfully represent a wide range of clients has contributed to my achieving an “AV” rating* endorsed by my peers and judges in the legal profession.

Ms. Russell was raised in Northern California and attended California State University, Fresno as a member of the Smittcamp Family Honors College. She competed for four years as a member of the Fresno State Mock Trial team, completing over one hundred trials and winning numerous awards for her performance as a student attorney and witness. She graduated in 2012 with her B.A. in Political Science, cum laude and her B.S. in Criminology, cum laude and with department honors. She received her J.D. from the University of Southern California, Gould School of Law in 2015.

During law school, Ms. Russell served as...

Van Dyke & Associates, APLC is a boutique probate litigation law firm providing sophisticated legal services to clients nationwide facing complex trust, estate and related tax matters in State or Federal Courts in the Southern California area. The firm is based in San Diego, CA and appears regularly in courts throughout California.

Ms. Benedict is an appellate attorney in California and in federal courts. Ms. Benedict additionally provides legal writing services for fellow attorneys.

Ms. Benedict's litigation background included both defense and plaintiff representation. As a defense attorney, Ms. Benedict had a good working relationship with several insurance carriers advocating for their insureds in automobile liability, premise liability, and business liability matters. As a plaintiff's attorney, she was passionate about fighting for the rights of cyclists and motorists who sustained injuries in accidents. Working on both the plaintiff's side and the defense side provided Ms. Benedict with a unique objective view of...

Mr. Kleven is a member of the State Bar of California, and also a member of the U.S. District Court, Southern District of California. Prior to opening his own practice in 2013, Mr. Kleven was an associate attorney at Baughman & Associates. Mr. Kleven's practice focuses on criminal defense and immigration law. Mr. Kleven earned his law degree from California Western School of Law in San Diego. He also earned a bachelor’s degree in international politics from Brigham Young University.

A skilled attorney with litigation, appellate, and transactional experience in areas such as real property, contracts, business and corporate governance, business entity formation, and bankruptcy. Currently counsels Common Interest Developments on a wide range of matters, including operational issues, corporate governance, interpretation of governing documents, corporate matters, dispute resolution, litigation, and general transactional matters. Obtained very favorable outcomes for clients as both plaintiffs and as defendants, and is also one of the few attorneys knowledgeable of the unique issues surrounding homeowner associations as bankruptcy creditors. Obtained Juris Doctor degree from Pepperdine University School of Law. Licensed to practice...

Floyd J Fernandez is founder and managing attorney of Pacifica Legal Services. His breadth of experience in this field has included individual visa applications, family-based and employer-based, non-immigrant work, travel, and study visas (both domestic adjustment of status and consular applications), deportation defense and appellate work (before BIA, AAO, U.S. 9th & 7th Circuits, and U.S. Supreme Court). My clientele has included individuals both from within all of Southern California, several other U.S. states, and several additional nations.

He has strong writing and research skills from his work in appellate law along with a rich cultural experience...

Jarod Bona's practice is focused on antitrust, business litigation, appellate, real estate, and challenges to government conduct. He practiced at DLA Piper and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher for a dozen years before starting his own firm. He also clerked for Judge James B. Loken of the Federal Court of Appeals for the Eight Circuit. Mr. Bona won a bench trial, as first chair, for a client involving fraud claims and up to US$2.5 million at stake. In 2012, Mr. Bona played a major role in achieving summary judgment and a Federal Trade Commission dismissal with no action for his...

Phyllis Voisenat, Esq. is an attorney and counselor at law. You can retain her as your attorney to handle your case from start to finish, or you can hire her for limited matters. She can be retained for matters from Sacramento to San Jose, pertaining to fraud, real estate, contracts, business formation, operations.

Ilona Antonyan is a Founding Partner of Antonyan Miranda, a litigation trial attorney, and a Certified Family Law Specialist. Ms. Antonyan became the youngest person in California to become a Certified Family Law Specialist, after achieving the rigorous requirements in only five years of practice.

Having immigrated to the United States in 1992 as an Armenian refugee, Ms. Antonyan is fluent in English, Russian, and Spanish, and is collaterally licensed as a real estate broker, and also obtained Series 7 and 66 securities licenses. Ms. Antonyan focuses her practice exclusively on family law matters, specializing in high-net worth cases and those...

RECENT JURY AND COURT TRIAL SUCCESSES*
Domestic Violence: Penal Code 242, 243, 243, 273.5 + Great Bodily Injury enhancement: Not guilty on all Four counts. Client walked.
DUI Jury Trial--Hung Jury: .18, running red light: hung jury 4-12, case dismissed.
0.01 DUI Probation (court trial),
0.05 DUI-THC, Opiates, gore point violation, drifting: Hung Jury 6-6 case dismissed,
.22 DUI Hung Jury 6-6 case dismissed,
.20 DUI Hung Jury 11-1 case dismissed,
.20 DUI Stipulated Acquittal;...

Aaron R. Gott focuses on challenges to government conduct, business and competition litigation, and appeals.

Samuel R. Walker is a trusted attorney with a great reputation in and around Los Angeles County and Orange County. He handles Family Law, Estate Planning, Civil Litigation and Appellate matters. Walker Law Corporation will handle your legal matter with individualized attention and if a contested trial is necessary vigorously represent your legal interests. At Walker Law Corporation, we are committed to obtaining the best possible resolution for every client. We will ensure that you legal interests are represented in a compassionate, efficient and effective manner. We will deliver positive results. We have many satisfied clients and can provide references upon...

Michael Semanchik is the Managing Attorney at Semanchik Law Group. He comes to the team with nearly a decade of experience working for the California Innocence Project (CIP). Michael began as a student at CIP while in law school and found himself as a staff attorney several years later. In 2013, California Lawyer Magazine named him Attorney of the Year for his work on the Brian Banks case. Several months after receiving the award, he embarked on a 712 mile walk to deliver clemency petitions to Governor Brown for 12 innocent clients.

In the fall of 2013,...