Blackhawk Lawyers

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...

Stephen offers experienced business and legal counseling to individuals and corporations throughout the Bay Area, including: (1) Business litigation and dispute resolution services involving misappropriation of trade secrets, non-compete/solicitation agreements, mechanics lien and payment bond claims, commercial leases, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraudulent misrepresentation and unfair, unlawful or fraudulent business practices (Bus. & Prof. C. sec. 17200); (2) Construction contracting; (3) Intellectual Property licensing and distribution; and (4) E-commerce, website terms of use, privacy policies and data protection and security.

Hannah Sargent received her undergraduate degree from University of California Los Angeles and graduated from University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. While in school, she spent time clerking for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in San Jose. She is a former military officer, company commander, two-time Iraq war veteran and decorated AH-64D Apache Helicopter pilot. She is currently the principal attorney at Sargent Law Office, where she practices litigation, business and commercial law, and estate planning, and she lives in Castro Valley with her family. Between her time working and being with her family, she enjoys...

Joseph A. Motta was born and raised in the East Bay. He attended St. Mary’s College and graduated in 1984. He graduated from McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento in 1987. Joe’s legal career started as a Deputy District Attorney in Contra Costa County; from 1988 to 2004. There, he handled thousands of cases. He was a trial attorney on every team including Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, and Homicide. He supervised the Misdemeanor, Domestic Violence, and Sexual Assault Teams; as a supervisor, he maintained his own load of serious cases. As a deputy D.A., Joe prosecuted a number of high...

I am a former police officer and deputy district attorney in Contra Costa County. I received my Bachelor's Degree from California State University Sacramento and a Juris Doctor from John F. Kennedy University, School of Law. As principal attorney of this firm, I guide the firm’s staff and manage major cases and matters on behalf of individual and business clients. I have tried numerous cases to verdict and have appeared before the California Court of Appeal, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal. Our firm practices real estate, labor and employment, and business litigation. Our firm also drafts wills, trust...

Mr. Poulin is experienced in the areas of real estate, business, and construction litigation. He has trial experience in both state and Federal court, and has experience in all aspects of dispute resolution. Mr. Poulin has successfully represented clients in broker disputes, foreclosures, neighbor disputes, title insurance coverage, fraud, breach of contract, breach of lease and landlord-tenant issues. Real estate issues include construction defect cases, damages on behalf of contractors, subcontractors, architects and engineers in mechanic's liens, stop notice, payment and performance bond actions. Prior to joining The Williams Firm, Mr. Poulin was an associate at the law...

OLIVER GREENWOOD is the principal of the Law Offices of Oliver Greenwood in Pleasant Hill. He is the author of chapters 1, 4, 12, 16, and 17 in the CEB Guardianship Handbook. Mr. Greenwood received his B.A. degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and his J.D. from Golden Gate University in San Francisco. A frequent speaker regarding probate matters and a member of the Judicial Council's Probate & Mental Health Advisory Committee. Mr. Greenwood is also a contributing author to CEB's conservatorship and powers of attorney and health care directives books. Mr. Greenwood's areas of practice include conservatorships, guardianships,...

Oakland Bankruptcy Attorney

Thomas C. Knowles, an attorney with The Van Blois Law Firm in Oakland, California, helps clients address Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff situations. He also helps clients with Personal Injury - Products: Plaintiff and Personal Injury - Medical Malpractice: Plaintiff concerns.

Tim Knowles is an experienced trial lawyer in cases involving mechanical engineering, construction and medicine. He was a defense lawyer that represented Ford Motor Company early in his career. He has the knowledge and experience to represent persons injured by auto defects including crushed roofs, defective tires, seat belts and airbags.

As a lifelong sailor, sailing the Atlantic and Pacific...

Melanie is a distinguished advocate for those who have been wronged or exploited, earning the moniker "the people's attorney." Her unwavering dedication to justice fuels her tireless representation of individuals from all walks of life—consumers, employees, business owners, private members, and homeowners. If you have suffered harm due to the dishonest or unlawful actions of others, Melanie stands ready to champion your cause to restore what you've lost. While on a different life and career path, fate stepped in and the legal profession found Melanie. After overcoming her own legal challenges, largely due to an attorney's advocacy, she felt called to...

Areas of Expertise

Business advice and counseling
Contract drafting and review
Corporate structure and transactions
Licensing and regulation
Employment and labor negotiation
Insurance coverage and claims handling
Education

B.A., Colgate University, 1991
Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude
J.D., University of Wisconsin Law School, 1994

Martin is an experienced business attorney who facilitates transactions while minimizing the risks and pitfalls facing his clients. Martin takes a “can-do” approach to legal problems that focuses on crafting deals through an integrative and value creating process rather than conflict.

Immigration & Nationality Law Certified Specialist by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization practicing U.S. Immigration and Nationality law with an emphasis on Asylum, Family Immigration and Naturalization since 1999 in San Francisco (SF) Bay Area. Member of 1) American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) NorCal and its Advisory Council as SF US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) Co-Liaison & AILA USCIS Field Operations Committee , 2) Iranian American Bar Association NorCal Chapter and its Advisory Board Member and 3) Jewish Community Relations Council's Public Policy Committee. Formerly served as AILA NorCal Liaison to SF Custom & Border...

Edward focuses on trial work in the stateand federal courts. He has tried state and federal cases involving insurance fraud, various commercial disputes, insurance bad-faith, sexual harassment, and wrongful termination. Prior to founding the firm, he held positions with law firms in the United States and in the Middle East.

He is graduate with honors from Claremont McKenna College and USC Law School.

We practice family law exclusively because we like helping people with legal issues that affect them personally. We handle our cases collaboratively, so you always benefit from the best of our expertise, skills, and experience. We're settlement oriented but trial ready.

Eric Morton is a Carlsbad and Oakland, California business and intellectual property attorney. Eric has been an attorney for more than 30 years. He provides a full range of business law and intellectual property services. His clients' businesses successfully benefit from his knowledge and professionalism and avoid unnecessary legal disputes, protect their intellectual property assets, and comply with laws that govern licensing, trademarks, regulations, and other business practices. Serving San Diego County and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Katie became an attorney because she enjoys providing a voice for people dealing with significant issues affecting their lives. Katie provides effective and aggressive representation while maintaining compassion with her clients. She understands that many clients are going through a difficult time in their lives and ensures that each of her clients is well informed and well represented.

Katie has experience litigating cases in both State and Federal court. She is admitted to practice in the state of California and the United States Federal Court for the Northern District of California. She has experience representing clients in all types of personal...

As founder of the Anthoor Law Group, APC, Swampa Anthoor guides Fremont residents through the estate planning process. She has law licenses in both India and California, and can assist with legal concerns involving both jurisdictions. Her firm also provides legal representation in matters of family law and business law. Attorney Anthoor is a member of the California State Bar and Bar Council of India. In addition to English, she can aid clients in Malayalam, Hindi and Tamil. To learn more, please contact her firm today and receive a free consultation

Ed Casey was born in Palo Alto, California in 1960. Mr. Casey received his A.B. from U.C. Berkeley in 1982. In 1985, he received his J.D. degree from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. He was admitted to the California bar and the United States District Court in 1986. Mr. Casey has been practicing law in the Bay Area for 30 years. In that time, he has tried cases in all of the Bay Area counties, as well as Los Angeles County. He has written articles and lectured on Legal Ethics, Premises Liability, Liability of Property...

Autumn HajMohammad is a California native. She completed her B.A. in Public Policy at California State University, Bakersfield, while working for a State Senator. She went on to earn her Juris Doctor at the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento. She graduated with honors and was granted membership into the prestigious Traynor Honor Society. Prior to opening her own firm, Ms. HajMohammad worked for the Kern County Public Defender's Office where she defended clients charged with misdemeanors and felonies. She also successfully represented clients convicted of homicide and sex offenses seeking habeas relief. Now accepting...

Anne M. Whatley has been practicing family law for over 20 years, and has experience in all aspects, including divorce, custody, support, pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements, domestic violence, and any other family law issue.

Founder of The Walia Law Firm, Harjot "Ginny" Walia has handled numerous cases throughout the criminal courts of the greater San Francisco Bay Area. San Francisco criminal defense attorney, Harjot "Ginny" Walia, has achieved a very high level of success in a relatively short period of time. The firm has reached great heights due to Ms. Walia’s extensive jury trial record, brilliant mind, competitive attitude and a willingness to fight for her clients. She has handled hundreds of criminal cases as a San Francisco Public Defender and in private practice. Federal criminal defense attorney, Ginny Walia has commented as an...

I was fortunate. Despite never finishing high school or college, I was able – albeit with a lot of hard work – to gain admission to, and to excel at, one of the finest law schools in the country: U.C. Berkeley’s School of Law. While I was there, I was privileged to be an editor for the California Law Review and a Member of the Moot Court Board, advising on brief writing and appellate advocacy for other students. After I left law school, in my early years of practice, I taught legal writing and appellate advocacy at University of California,...

Attorney with over 30 years of experience representing clients in Divorce and Family Law matters. Certified Specialist in Family Law, certified by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. My practice includes representation in all areas of divorce and family law, including child custody; child visitation; child support; spousal support ; division of community property (including high value assets); annulment; paternity; and drafting marital settlement agreements. I am also available to provide limited scope representation or consultation for self-represent parties. Representing clients throughout Contra Costa and Alameda Counties.