El Cerrito Lawyers

Former prosecutor, combat veteran (USCG), complex dispute resolution, competitive business litigation, depositions, trials, law and motion, appeals.

Who am I? Why do I do this? What are you getting when you hire me and my staff? Am I any good at this lawyer stuff? Will I win? Those are all good questions; and I even have answers for some of them.

I started the firm in the mid 1990’s after the Savings and Loan implosion killed commercial real estate for about five years.

In 1978, I got my California real estate license, and two years later, my broker’s license. In 1993, I was awarded the nationally recognized CCIM designation by the Commercial Investment...

Bryan Kemnitzer is a partner at Kemnitzer, Barron, and Krieg, LLP. He received a B.A. from Stanford University in 1972 and a J.D. from McGeorge School of Law (University of the Pacific) in 1975. Bryan was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1975. He has been a civil litigator for more than 30 years and has tried numerous jury cases to judgment. He has served as an arbitrator, and as a Judge-Pro-Tem.

For more than 30 years, his practice has been focused on representing consumers, with an emphasis on the auto industry. Bryan has been involved not only in...

I'm the CEO & Managing Attorney at Tenant Law Group, PC, a San Francisco-based law firm dedicated to justice for California renters. We help California tenants who have been harassed or forced to endure uninhabitable living conditions recover money for their losses. We represent tenants in disputes with landlords arising out of illegal evictions from rent-controlled apartments, harassment, defective conditions and repair issues, rodent and other pest infestations, floods, and fires. Law Firm 500 recognized Tenant Law Group as the 22nd fastest growing law firm in the United States in 2019 (the firm’s first year of eligibility)...

I am the principal of the Law Offices of James O'Neil, where I focus on delivering top-notch estate planning and estate administration services. While attending law school, I externed for the Honorable A. James Robertson II at the San Francisco Superior Court, was a member of the USF Law Review and the Intellectual Property Bulletin, won the Cali Award for the Secured Real Estate Transactions class as well as awards in trial advocacy competitions, and a was published author. After gaining valuable experience working in various law firms from 2009 to 2019, I decided to establish my own practice, the...

Since 2007 our office has been dedicated to representing San Francisco and Sacramento area employees and victims of serious injuries in a wide range of employment, wrongful termination and injury cases. Individual approach to each client and each injury or employment case is what distinguishes us from other attorneys, as we recognize that each case is as different as each person who has been either injured or aggrieved by their employer.

Ernest C. Brown, ESQ, PE is highly experienced in construction contracts, negotiation, claims preparation, construction litigation, mechanic’s liens, bid protests, public works law and insurance coverage. He has resolved more than 2,500 construction disputes, including complex mediations, arbitrations, litigation, court trials, jury trials, DRB's and other innovative ADR approaches. He is a graduate of MIT in Civil and Environmental Engineering and earned a MS Construction Management and JD from the University of California, Berkeley. He also did graduate coursework at Harvard Law School in International Law. He is a senior construction lawyer and licensed civil engineer. Mr. Brown has...

For over 30 years, Mr. Sparer has successfully represented individuals and businesses in litigation involving securities, contract, insurance, real estate, probate, and trust matters. Sparer Law Group (SLG), Mr. Sparer has obtained over $200 million in settlements, judgments, and recoveries on behalf of securities investors. Mr. Sparer also leads an SLG team that has successfully defended financial professionals and investment funds under investigation by the SEC, FINRA, and the California Department of Business Oversight.

SLG regularly helps resolve sensitive and confidential family disputes involving claims of elder abuse or financial misconduct. In the process, Mr. Sparer has successfully...

As an experienced General Counsel with two stints at late-stage growth companies, Ronak Ray leads all legal matters for maturing businesses. He supported TaskUs’ board as corporate secretary and 18,000 people globally while managing to close a $500 million transaction with Blackstone before joining another scaling technology company at Pantheon as their General Counsel. Most recently, Ronak was appointed as Executive Managing Director of modCounsel to support growth companies for concierge in-house legal services from early stage to publicly listed businesses.

With more than 40 years of legal experience, Andrew Schwartz has handled countless cases for clients ranging from serious injuries and personal injury to product liability law at Casper, Meadows, Schwartz & Cook. A 1975 graduate from the University of San Francisco School of Law, Mr. Schwartz has been admitted to the Federal and California Bars and the U.S. Supreme Court. Throughout his legal career, he’s achieved numerous multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements for injured clients, including a $5.6 million jury verdict that was considered one of the top 100 jury verdicts in California in 2017. In addition to holding memberships...

Porrino Law PC operates under the guidance of principal Dominic H. Porrino, who entered law practice with the intention of protecting the assets and safety of citizens by helping them negotiate the complexities of the California legal system. The competitive spirit that prompted him to play lacrosse and rugby in his youth now drives development of strategies to protect the best interests of his clients.

Mr. Porrino, an attorney whose practice encompasses legal separation, divorce, child custody and support, estate planning and other civil matters, obtained his law degree from Golden Gate University School of Law and was admitted to the...

Mr. Light firmly believes in the power of empathy and humanity. His strength of empathy and unique personal experience with tragedy has allowed him to connect with clients who’ve suffered their own profound losses. Mr. Light is honored to represent and advocate for individuals and families suffering from the universe of challenges that inherently follow a traumatic brain injury.

Nobody expects or can anticipate what follows a brain injury, even a “mild” trauma. Growing up, Mr. Light was reminded on a daily basis of the strength, determination, love, patience and understanding necessary to endure the aftermath of a life-altering event....

The Law Office of Glicel Sumagaysay handles employment matters as follows: *Federal employee, public entity employee, and private employee representation in the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC"), federal court, Department of Fair Housing and Employment (“DFEH”), and state courts; *Claims include wrongful termination; retaliation; discrimination on the basis of disability, race, gender, and other protected statuses; *wage and hour matters with the Department of Labor Standards and Enforcement (“DLSE”) and courts; *small business employer compliance with California and federal law.

Anthony Franceschi is California estate planning attorney who focuses his practice on assisting seniors and their families prepare for the future. Including empowering seniors with strategic estate plans and drafting customized wills that honor clients’ final wishes, During law school, Tony was an intern for the Sacramento County District Attorney’s office, where he handled misdemeanors, traffic, and juvenile detention hearings. Before coming to MacFarlane Legal, Tony represented clients with Social Security Disability/SSI and personal injury cases.

John Gutierrez manages Bailey & Galyen’s California office. He has 15 years’ experience litigating cases involving personal injuries, premises liability, and insurance claims.

John is a native of Biloxi, Mississippi. He obtained his law degree from Georgetown University. Prior to that, he received an undergraduate degree from Brown University and a master’s degree from the University of California at Berkeley.

John has litigated a number of nationwide class action cases involving defective computers, vehicles, and building materials. In those cases, he helped consumers obtain multi-million dollar settlements. He also has extensive experience in construction litigation and real estate disputes.

Mr. Gutierrez is admitted...

Trust Litigation Attorney The Law Office of Malachowski and Associates provides trust dispute litigation services to clients in California Superior Courts and the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. Mark Malachowski is a member of the Supreme Court of the United States Bar. We recognize that lives and fortunes hang in the balance when a client seeks our legal services, and we work closely with you to develop an individually designed action plan to achieve your goals. Mark Malachowski has a Juris Doctorate in Law and Master’s and Bachelor's Degrees in Science. Mark Malachowski...

Founded in 2000, The Law Office of Christine Troy provides high quality legal services to all clients. Christine Troy is an experienced attorney, practicing exclusively in the area of Immigration and Naturalization Law, with a special emphasis on green cards through employment and marriage/family and work visas. Ms. Troy provides personalized and responsive service to each of her clients to ensure each client is satisfied with the quality of legal work and attention received. Ms Troy was admitted to the California State Bar in December 1999. She is admitted to practice before the California Supreme Court and the Federal Ninth Circuit...

Mr. Luna holds Bachelor of Science degrees in both Management and Marketing from San Francisco State University and went to the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, where he graduated with honors and was appointed a member of the Traynor Honor Society. In addition, Mr. Luna received a coveted Witkin Award for studies conducted in International Banking.

After graduating from law school, Mr. Luna worked in a boutique civil litigation and general practice firm in Fresno, CA and then went on to work with a couple of different Workers' Compensation firms in the Bay Area (doing both applicants and...

Mr. Tormey has over 20 years of experience in product development, marketing and intellectual property protection. As a company startup veteran, Mr. Tormey brings a unique perspective on the value of intellectual property to a small and growing business. As such, he also speaks to entrepreneurs and business executives on how to protect and leverage IP assets. Mr. Tormey is the author of the "Startup Guide to Intellectual Property." As a patent attorney, Mr. Tormey has drafted over 100 patent applications covering software, electronics, wireless, radio, mobile applications, encryption and automation controls. Besides intellectual property law, ...

The Law Offices Of Jeffrey B. Kahn, P.C. are uniquely qualified in tax. Is the IRS breathing down your neck and sending you intimidating notices and telephone calls? Are you having tax problems? Is the IRS filing liens, garnishing your wages, levying assets, and devastating your financial and personal life? IRS tax debts require immediate action. Don’t put off dealing with tax debts; inaction could be very expensive. Instead, consider professional IRS help. The Law Offices of Jeffrey B. Kahn, P.C. are uniquely qualified in tax, probate, trust, and business law. We can provide responsive, proactive...

Senior managing shareholder Michael Baum has successfully led the national law firm of Wisner Baum through thousands of major cases against some of the largest companies in the world. Since opening its doors in 1973, the firm has earned more than $4 billion in verdicts and settlements for clients. Under Michael’s leadership, Wisner Baum has cultivated a reputation as staunch advocates that can be counted on to aggressively litigate cases to obtain the maximum results for their clients. Call Wisner Baum today to schedule a free consultation with Attorney Baum.

Local Estate Elder Law Planning Attorney
Long term Pleasant Hill resident, Jeffrey Hall, didn’t follow the traditional path to the practice of law. Indeed, attorney Hall grew up in central Los Angeles, and in a time when there was no expectation that he would attend college; and law school was simply not an option. However, after completing his bachelor’s degree in Economics from Saint Mary’s College, he volunteered with the Air Force in 1981 and served for 9 years, both reserve and active. Upon returning to California, he and his wife made Pleasant Hill their home and have...

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.

I am also a Certified Public Accountant and have been doing tax work in the Bay Area for 30 years. I specialize in helping people and businesses pay as few taxes as possible without getting audited. In the estate planning area I help people preserve their property for their families and pay as few estate taxes as possible. I also am the Probate Doctor who can help fix impossible situations when estates are stuck in the quagmire of California Probate.

Bruce Napell has specialized in representing franchisees for over 18 years, delivering dedicated legal services and results to franchisees and business throughout California and nationwide. Mr. Napell is a certified specialist in franchise and distribution law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. He is a member of the State Bar’s Franchise and Distribution Law Committee, and served as the Committee’s Chairman in 2011-2012. He is also currently Vice-Chairman of the State Bar’s Franchise and Distribution Law Advisory Committee, which writes and grades the certified specialist exam, and will become the chairman in October 2016.

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.

For 38 years has represented catastrophically injured persons throughout Northern California. Workers' compensation, industrial accidents, death claims, orthopedic injuries, amputations, CRPS, TBI, PTSD. The Goforth & Lucas Law Partnership helps injured workers level the playing field against insurance carriers and their army of lawyers.

Zachary Rayo brings experience, efficiency and empathy to estate planning. Mr. Rayo’s approach is people-centered. He recognizes that the legal needs and special issues differ from client to client, that each person is unique, with unique needs that must be met with efficiency, active listening and care. Mr. Rayo knows the importance of social responsibility which manifests not only in ethical decisions and practices but also in involvement in socially important causes.

Business and International Experience
Wayne started in Auckland New Zealand, graduating after completing a challenging combined Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws in just 4 years, achieving top marks at his law school at Auckland University made up of 11,000 students where he was elected Student President in a landslide victory in his last year. Then recruited by a leading Merchant Bank, MARAC Corporation, Wayne moved to Citibank before becoming the founding Company Secretary for New Zealand's first publicly listed Investment Bank, founding Company Secretary for NZ’s first publicly listed Venture Capital company and a Director of a...

Dawn is a highly experienced litigator and trial lawyer with extensive knowledge and skill in litigating personal injury and wrongful death cases. She has 24 years of experience successfully resolving personal injury claims in her client’s favor. Dawn founded The Hassell Law Group in 1999 and has practiced personal injury law in California for the past 24 years. She holds an undefeated record at trial and in arbitration on behalf of her clients. She served as a distinguished Member of the Board of Directors of The San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association from 2002-2012. Dawn has used her extensive negotiation and litigation experience...

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...

Charlie has extensive litigation and trial experience, having litigated countless contested hearings and various jury trials. Although Charlie practices all areas of family law, his practice now focuses on complex and high-asset dissolutions, many of which require collaboration with business counsel, estate planning counsel, and/or criminal counsel. Charlie practices in all Bay Area Counties, including but not limited to San Francisco County, San Mateo County, Santa Clara County, and Alameda County. Charlie believes that no two family law cases are alike and that each case requires a clear understanding of his client’s needs and ultimate goals in order to achieve...

Mr. Merchant is an experienced tenant lawyer who focuses on actions for wrongful eviction, landlord harassment, failure to repair, and dangerous conditions that lead to serious injuries. Mr. Merchant has been repeatedly recognized as a Northern California “Rising Star” by SuperLawyers Magazine. Mr. Merchant has helped secure millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for his clients. Mr. Merchant graduated from Stanford Law School, where he assisted tenants at the East Palo Alto Community Legal Services Housing Clinic. Mr. Merchant then worked as a litigator at Morrison & Foerster LLP, where he received a pro bono award for his representation...

Michael Stephenson is the Founder and Senior Attorney at Bay Area Bicycle Law. His practice areas include bicycle-accident claims, bicycle-accident litigation, negotiation, settlement, business planning, and trial work. Michael, a skilled cyclist himself, excels at proving liability and damages for injured cyclists. He is dedicated to providing aggressive representation to achieve the best possible outcomes for his clients.

Michael has been recognized as one of the 10 Best Personal Injury Attorneys in California by the American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys. He has also been honored as a member of the National Trial Lawyers’ prestigious Top 40 Under 40, Million Dollar...

My practice is divided between general litigation matters and my technology practice. I spend most of my day in court, so please don't hesitate to leave me a message.

The Law Offices of Douglas Horngrad and Sam O’Keefe have been a preeminent criminal defense firm since 1989, trying cases in the nine Bay Area counties and beyond. Mr. Horngrad is renowned as one of the top criminal defense lawyers in the San Francisco Bay Area, widely respected among judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys thanks to his forty four years of experience in state and federal court. Mr. Horngrad is on the cutting edge of criminal law, utilizing novel legal theory and thorough investigation, and is known for his responsiveness, discretion, around-the-clock availability, and total devotion to clients. Mr. Horngrad began...