Blackhawk Lawyers

Colby Dean LaVelle II proudly manages LaVelle Law Offices with the personal attention of a boutique law firm but with the resources of larger law firms. An honored graduate of Santa Clara University of Law, Mr. LaVelle has dedicated his career to the pursuit of justice. He began his legal career working for the San Francisco District Attorney's Office. Following his success litigating criminal matters, Mr. LaVelle started the LaVelle Law Offices. Now with eight locations across California, The LaVelle Law Offices is an incarnation of Mr. LaVelle's desire to serve the public, as he...

James H. (Jim) Gulseth was born and attended high school in Devils Lake, North Dakota and graduated with an A.B. degree from the University of California at Berkeley. Jim earned his JD degree at the University of California Hastings School of Law in San Francisco and is admitted to practice in the State of California and before the Federal District Court, Northern District of California, and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. He is a member of the Corporations, Business Transactions, Securities and Tax and Intellectual Property Sections of the State Bar of California. Jim’s reported cases include...

Spojmie Nasiri, principal attorney, is a first generation immigrant herself who understands through personal experience how difficult and emotionally draining American immigration process can be. Mrs. Nasiri’s education, community involvement and associations reflect her outstanding dedication in the area of immigration law. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of California, Davis and her Juris Doctorate from Golden Gate University, School of Law. Mrs. Nasiri is a member of the California State Bar and is admitted to practice before the California Supreme Court and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California....

J.R. Richards' practice focuses on developing long term client relationships representing their interests in both transactional matters and in civil litigation. He represents both plaintiffs and defendants primarily in real estate and business disputes and has successfully litigated cases through dispositive motion, trial and settlement in state and federal courts. J.R. prepares each case to achieve a favorable judgment by trial or before trial, and when in the best interest of the client leverages a favorable settlement. Community Involvement: * Coach/Manager for Pre-K/K softball team the Purple Puppies 2016. * Coach/Manager for the Danville...

I am an accomplished Business, Employment, Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice, Arbitration & Mediation attorney. I represent plaintiffs and defendants throughout the East Bay, in a vast array of civil litigation matters.

With 40 years of experience I have an excellent track record both in mediation and in the courtroom. I am dedicated to obtaining the best possible outcomes for your legal disputes. Contact me today for a free consultation.

My work history has been focused in the area of family law and judgment enforcement for family law cases.

Prior to becoming an attorney in 2004, I obtained my paralegal certificate in 1979, established American Process & Courier Service in 1991. I have a broad range of experience including family law, civil litigation, probate, bankruptcy and estate planning.

I now focus on assisting self-represented litigants with document preparation services in family law and uncontested probate matters as well as enforcement of judgments.

Kent P. Tierney has been practicing law for over 20 years. He specializes in the areas of Family Law, Real Estate, Civil Litigation, and Business Law. Mr. Tierney formed what is now Tierney Law Group in 2012 following more than 15 years of practice with several Bay Area law firms specializing in Civil Litigation. Mr. Tierney brings his unique personal experiences to the representation of his clients and is known for his no nonsense approach to cases. Mr. Tierney’s clients often compliment him for his straightforward demeanor and candid review of cases. His strengths are his knowledge of the law,...

Indy Colbath is a licensed California attorney who has focused the entirety of her legal career on family law issues, including: divorce, annulment, child custody, child support, spousal support, property division, and domestic violence restraining orders. Indy has a breadth of courtroom experience she relies upon when assessing her clients’ family law matters, as well as strong relationships with the local legal community and bench. Indy has effectively represented her clients in an array of complex family law litigation, many of which involving high net worth individuals. Even though Indy has a passion for courtroom advocacy, she understands that every...

Lynn Gorelick has been an attorney for over 34 years. Attorney Lynn Gorelick is the Immediate Past President of the California DUI Lawyers Association. This is the only and most well respected legal organization for California Lawyers specializing in DUI defense. Ms. Gorelick has been a member of this organization since its inception and has served on the Board of Directors for over 15 years. She is committed to the protection your rights.

Ms. Gorelick is a Faculty and Sustaining member of the National College of DUI Defense. She has been a featured speaker at the...

You’ve spent your life building your wealth. And no matter how large or how modest – protecting your assets matters. Ivette Santaella understands that estate planning may seem daunting. You might feel uncomfortable talking about what happens after death. Or maybe you’re worried that you don’t understand the laws well enough. Santaella Law Group, APC is here to guide you through your concerns and make estate planning easy. Ivette has more than 30 years of experience talking her clients through their goals, translating and helping them navigate the law, and working with them to come up with a solid plan for...

I’ve been an attorney for going on 20 years in the greater bay area of California. When you call me, you will talk to me directly. You won’t get assigned to a paralegal or another attorney. I have a passion for practicing law and helping my clients to the best of my ability. I like talking to people and getting to the heart of the matter through direct and clear talk.

Sam graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting in 2008 and his Juris Doctor from UNLV in 2011. He went on to receive a Masters of Law (LL.M.) in Taxation from Georgetown University in 2012. Sam’s practice includes estate planning, asset protection, trust administration, probate, guardianship, and business organization. Sam has established a strong reputation within the Las Vegas legal community for his expertise and provides continuing legal education courses in his areas of practice. Sam is fluent in Spanish and is licensed in both Nevada and Utah and is a member of the Southern...

Mr. Rabin Nabizadeh is a staunch, single minded advocate with years of experience and a proven track record in both Federal and State courts. He has represented individuals in cases ranging from Misdemeanor DUI, Theft and Domestic Violence cases to serious felonies including Grand Theft, Burglary, Sex Crimes and even Murder. While defending these clients, Mr. Nabizadeh achieved the remarkable success that Summit Defense demands from their attorneys.

Michael J. Young is an Estate, Probate and Asset Protection Attorney in Walnut Creek, CA. Mr. Young helps his clients plan for not only "What Happens if You Die", but for "What Happens If You Don't Die And Become Ill and Need Care." He helps his clients in the design of their estate plans, to protect their assets for their senior care and to also provide a legacy for their loved ones.

Mr. Young, who has been in practice for over forty years, gives workshops every month in Walnut Creek on basic estate planning and advanced estate planning. The basic...

Stephen G. Opperwall has 40 years of experience representing clients in civil lawsuits.

In 1997, Mr. Opperwall was first designated a Certified Specialist in Creditors' Rights, a specialist designation that has been earned by only 8 attorneys in California.

In 2007, Mr. Opperwall was also named to the list of Super Lawyers of Northern California, a list that is reserved for the top 5% of attorneys.

Mr. Opperwall has been named to the Multi Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an exclusive group of attorneys who have recovered $2,000,000 or more for at least one client, something which Mr. Opperwall has done...

I represent individuals and small to medium sized businesses in bankruptcy, foreclosure defense and debt consolidation matters. For individuals, I represent clients in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy proceedings, including adversary proceedings, including 2nd home mortgage lien stripping, redemption of vehicles and student loan reductions. For businesses, I provide services related to the winding down of a business, board and management consultations and bankruptcy debt consolidation in Chapter 11. In conjunction with my bankruptcy practice, I also provide estate planning, probate and trust administration representation. The best way to avoid probate is to plan properly by drafting...

I am a divorce attorney mediator. I have created a divorce mediation program that can help you reach an agreement in as little as 90 days. After years spent in courtrooms, two truths became undeniable: getting divorced in court is too expensive and getting divorced in court takes too long. Between the cost and the time involved, most clients are disheartened and dissatisfied with the process. I knew there had to be a better way. Divorce is hard enough without adding years of expensive courtroom battles. Committed to helping separating couples find closure fast, I undertook divorce mediation training and...

Private Practice in real estate and business law for 40 years. Court and private mediator for 25 years. AV Rated and Northern California Super Lawyer.

Boutique DUI Defense law firm. Ms. Morell only handles DUI cases for court and DMV representation for over 25 years. She is a DUI Defense Expert. You deserve an Expert DUI Attorney. Please call her for a free review of your case.

My law practice focuses on representing injury and death victims and their families. Many of my cases have involved personal injury, car accidents, accidental death, wrongful death, truck accidents, big-rig accidents, motorcycle accidents, products liability, defective products, dog bites, nursing home injuries, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, and dangerous property. I have been highly successful in favorably resolving my clients' cases and obtaining monetary compensation for my clients for over 22 years. My clients have suffered catastrophic injuries, death of a family member, serious injuries requiring hospitalization or surgery and many other types of injuries including coma, brain injuries, quadriplegia, triplegia, loss of...

Robert L. (Bob) Taylor was born near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and attended high school in Berkeley, California. Bob graduated Phi Beta Kappa and with high honors from the University of California at Berkeley in 1982 with an A.B. degree in Economics. Bob graduated from the Boalt Hall School of Law (UC Berkeley) in 1985, where he was a member of the California Law Review. In 1985, he was admitted to practice in the State of California and before the Federal District Court, Northern District of California, and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. He has since also been admitted...

Jenny Tiu received her B.S. degree in Physiological Science from UCLA. During her undergraduate studies, she was a research assistant at UCLA for both spinal cord injury and atherosclerosis research. Ms. Tiu then earned her J.D. degree at Golden Gate University School of Law with an emphasis in Public Interest Law. During law school, she interned for the San Francisco City Attorney's Office in the Juvenile Dependency Unit. She then went on to intern for the Solano County Alternate Public Defender's Office in the Juvenile Dependency Unit and later in the Misdemeanor Unit. After being...

Sabi Mand is a zealous advocate for his clients. He works vigorously to provide effective representation and results for his clients. Sabi has worked for several Bay Area law firms handling all aspects of Family Law before starting his own practice. He has also worked as a mediator for over 15 years, and helps clients resolve their disputes amicably. Sabi has volunteered as an attorney for the Alameda County Superior Court, Family Law Division. He has very refined negotiation and interpersonal communication skills. He has been a coach and judge for the UC Hastings negotiation team. In addition, Sabi has had the...

I spent nearly 25 years as a state court prosecutor. The majority of those years were served in Alameda County, and a few years were served in Santa Clara County. I specialized in high profile, complex felony prosecutions. I was the trial prosecutor in the case of People v. Madison, Merel, and Cazares. The case involved the prosecution of three men for the murder of Gwen Araujo, a transgender, teenaged girl from Newark, California. The famous case became the subject of a Lifetime Network movie called, "A Girl Like Me."

There is no aspect of the...

Mr. Johnson has been practicing law for over 27 years. He has been a partner in The Law Office of Johnson & Johnson since 1998. The Law Office of Johnson & Johnson defends clients in matters related to Criminal Defense; Juvenile Dependency; Driving Under the Influence; Juvenile Delinquency, Civil Rights Litigation and related matters. Mr. Johnson and the attorneys at The Law Office of Johnson & Johnson are committed to their clients and their clients' circumstances.

Mr. Johnson has personally conducted well over 100 jury trials in courts throughout the state and federal court. He has engaged...

Alia Khan practices Bankruptcy Law in Alameda County, Contra Costa County, San Joaquin County and Stanislaus County. Our firm has a 100% discharge rate for Chapter 7 cases. Alia went to New College of California School of Law, where her legal education focused on helping and representing people who are being taken advantage of by larger banks and institutions. She was admitted to the State Bar of California in June 2007 and has been practicing since. Alia is also admitted to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Northern District of California, Eastern District of California and Central District of California....

Ms. Johns is a civil trial lawyer who has tried more than one hundred cases to verdict. She is the managing partner for Hillary Johns, Trial Lawyer which maintains offices in Beverly Hills, the Bay Area and New York City. She graduated from Occidental College in 1990 and Golden Gate University School of Law in 1993 where she graduated with Dean’s List and class honors. She is licensed to practice law in California, the California Southern, Central and Northern U.S. Federal District Courts, the District of Columbia, Montana, New York, and the New York Eastern and Southern U.S....

Karen S. Fenchel

Professional Biography

Karen Fenchel is a sole practitioner in Walnut Creek, CA. She is a Certified Family Law Specialist and has focused on all areas of family law. Her practice is settlement oriented and includes both family law mediation and collaborative law. Karen has a strong commitment to helping clients resolve issues without going to court. She utilizes her training in both mediation and collaborative practice to assist families in crisis and help them gain control of their lives. Through mediation, collaborative process and negotiated settlements, she works toward equitable solutions that consider the...

Richard is a USPTO Registered Patent Attorney who loves helping creative people realize their dreams. Rich received his BA from Princeton University, then completed his Physics coursework at San Francisco State University. Rich received his J.D. with Honors & Certified in Intellectual Property from the University of Oregon School of Law. Rich has practiced in patent prosecution, patent litigation and military law, having served as an Army JAG Corps Captain stateside and overseas. Many lawyers call themselves "i.p. lawyers," but few are truly Registered with the USPTO, licensed to secure you your patent or ® Trademark. Look...

In my early years as a financial planner, I realized that estate planning was an often-overlooked area of planning not only by clients but by their financial advisors. The reason I became an attorney was to help people make sure that their wishes are carried out during incapacity and after death. I had seen too many people impacted by the lack of estate planning or poor estate planning. I did not want to see the government or the courts take control of a person's property in a way that was not consistent with the person's wishes and intent. I am passionate...

Helen has provided quality mediation services in Alameda, Contra Costa and Solano counties since 1993. Her process permits private , effective resolution of legal disputes.

Megan Burns fights for justice on behalf of her clients whether they are charged with a crime or seeking recovery after being injured through no fault of their own. While Ms. Burns has successfully negotiated hundreds of cases, she is also an aggressive and experienced trial attorney. With over ten years of litigation experience in private practice and as deputy public defender in San Francisco and Solano Counties, Ms. Burns possesses the skills necessary to secure the best outcome for her clients. In her criminal defense practice, Ms. Burns has worked on nearly every type of criminal case imaginable...

Attorney John Fetto was born in New York, and received his Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in Philosophy from the University of California, Los Angeles. He then went on to earn his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of California, Hastings, where he specialized in trial advocacy. Mr. Fetto is a member of the Consumer Attorneys of California, the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, and the Contra Costa Trial Lawyers Association. It did not take Attorney Fetto long to realize that his passion was personal injury law, and he has been representing clients for 26 years. During this time,...

Like many attorneys, before opening her own law firm, Ms. Lungu was a highly accomplished businesswoman, in various areas of management and areas of specialty. Additionally, she has a mediation and conciliation practice spanning almost two decades in California. Her unique abilities to make high level communication a safe and comfortable experience facilitated the transition to law and a career in mediation and dispute resolution. Part of her strength is in her keen awareness of the importance of each individual's particular needs and the need for individualized solutions. She provides individually tailored estate and business plans to all clients after...

Mehlman Law Group is an East Bay (Walnut Creek, CA) real estate, business, and civil litigation law firm. We practice in all San Francisco Bay Area state and federal courts. I believe all clients should have access to high-quality legal services. Many of my clients see me as their "in-house" counsel or trusted personal legal advisor. For legal advice or representation, contact me at (925) 935-3575 or steven@mehlmanlawgroup.com for a free consultation. I have thirty years of experience representing small businesses and individuals. I consult with, provide guidance to, and refer clients to other professionals, including real estate and mortgage brokers, accountants,...

Hello. My name is Carol Ferreyra and I am the founder and owner of Ferreyra Law Group. I am a California Family Law attorney who has been practicing exclusively Family Law since 2003. I am also a Certified Family Law Specialist, accredited by the State Bar of California Board of Special Legalization.

I am devoted to helping my clients resolve their legal issues in the manner that is best suited for them in the most cost effective manner.

"I am a dedicated professional committed to ensuring that you receive the finest legal services available." Robert D. Rodriguez operates a full service law firm located in Modesto and Walnut Creek, California. The Law Office of Robert D. Rodriguez has been providing a broad range of high quality legal services to a wide range of clients, including both businesses and individuals, throughout the greater San Joaquin Valley Area. The Law Office of Robert D. Rodriguez is currently providing the same level of service to the San Francisco East Bay Area. If you...