Orick Civil Rights Lawyers

I am the Managing Partner and Founder of Rise Law Firm.

I have two degrees from Harvard, having graduated with magna cum laude honors from Harvard College in 2003 and Harvard Law School in 2007.

Upon law school graduation, I was hired by O’Melveny & Myers, the largest law firm in Los Angeles and a globally recognized legal powerhouse that has trained some of America’s most prominent lawyers, judges, politicians and business leaders. I spent 4 years at O’Melveny – and during that time I worked tirelessly as outside counsel representing corporations such as Univision, Participant Media, and the International Olympic...

From 1987 to 1990, he was a staff attorney at Westside Legal Services, in Santa Monica, California where he was the lead trial lawyer representing lower income families and individuals who could not afford a lawyer. In 1990, DeSimone founded the cutting edge civil rights law firm Schonbrun & DeSimone. Later known as Schonbrun DeSimone Seplow Harris & Hoffman, the firm established a reputation as one of the most prestigious civil and employment rights law firms in the State of California and in the entire country.

After twenty-five years as a partner, Jim decided to carve out his own path by...

Kenneth Chike Odiwe is a skilled attorney with extensive experience in Civil Rights and Personal Injury litigation. He primarily focuses on representing clients in Civil Rights cases. Some of the areas of expertise he covers include: Police Misconduct: Mr. Odiwe is well-versed in handling cases related to police brutality, excessive force, officer-involved shootings, and custodial deaths. He also specializes in cases involving restraint asphyxia, positional asphyxia, excessive tasing, baton strikes, beanbag shotgun use, and 40mm rubber rounds. Medical Care: Chike Odiwe has a deep understanding of cases that involve inadequate or denied medical care, as well as interference with familial relationships. He...

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...

Melody Trujillo is a graduate of McGeorge School of Law who brings to her clients 28 years of legal practice. She and her partner have successfully litigated thousands of cases in Southern California. Ms. Trujillo practices primarily in Family Law representing clients in Hemet, Riverside, San Bernardino, Victorville and all of the San Diego Courts. She is dedicated to her clients. The attorneys and paralegals at Trujillo & Trujillo, APLC are all caring individuals who put their client's needs as paramount. Each paralegal has at minimum a paralegal certificate and an Associate Degree. The...

I am an accomplished California attorney. I represent employees and tenants in a broad range of Employment, Landlord-Tenant and Civil Rights matters.

Dedicated to exceptional advocacy, I am diligent in fighting for the rights of my clients. I am genuine, experienced, and committed to justice.

I am also active in the community, currently volunteering at both Centro Legal and the Western Service Workers Association where I provide pro bono assistance to low-wage workers.

Joseph L. Richardson leads the Racial & Economic Justice practice at McCune Law Group. This practice group is designed to be a voice for the community; it is intentionally and uniquely positioned to bring actions against entities and institutions whose policies disproportionately harm people of color in the workplace and the consumer/small business marketplace. The group encompasses areas including employment, civil rights, and consumer and small business class actions. Joe graduated from the University of Redlands and Northwestern University School of Law. In addition to litigation, Mr. Richardson also leads the department in advocacy – partnering with leaders (business, community, political,...

Free Consultation & Support Trial attorney Peter Goldstein graduated from the University of Southern California with a bachelor's degree in 1977, and then earned his juris doctor from Whittier School of Law in 1985 with honors. He and his family live in Las Vegas but maintain a residence in Culver City, California. Peter has tried over 80 trials including over 30 jury trials, and is familiar with the judges, mediators and arbitrators in Southern Nevada and Southern California. His practice areas include personal injury, car accidents, bicycle accidents, motorcycle accidents, premises liability, police misconduct and...

Based in Los Angeles (now Beverly Hills and near Santa Monica), employment and business trial lawyer Jeffrey W. Cowan has an "AV î Preeminent" rating from Martindale-Hubbell. From 2007 through 2021, Mr. Cowan was named a "Southern California Super Lawyer". Professional Experience. Mr. Cowan specializes in employment and business litigation. He represents plaintiffs and defendants, and has recovered many millions of dollars for his clients (and also saved millions for his defendant clients). He also successfully sued Donald Trump's golf club. Learn more at http://www.cowan-law.com/results.php. Mr. Cowan earned his B.A. (cum laude) from Cornell...

The attorneys at Lessem, Newstat & Tooson will fight for you. Rated 10/10 Attorney J. Tooson and his partner Jeremy Lessem have both been honored by CA Super Lawyers and have handled over 10,000 complex criminal matters and received millions in civil settlements and verdicts. Attorney J. Tooson is a legal analyst for ABC 7 and People Magazine. Attorney J. Tooson and Jeremy Lessem have also been featured in several prominent publications for their legal work including ; The Los Angeles Times, and New York Times. The Lessem, Newstat & Tooson team is dedicated to helping good people in tough...

Charles “Chuck” Piccuta is a founding partner of the Piccuta Law Group, LLP and has practiced law for more than forty years. He attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois on a full-ride athletic scholarship for football and graduated with highest honors with a major in Political Science. He then attended Northwestern University, School of Law in Chicago on an academic scholarship. He was a member of the prestigious Northwestern University Law Review and earned his law degree in 1972 graduating with honors.

After graduating from law school, Chuck made the decision to serve his country and proudly joined the U.S. Navy...

Mr. Lewis’ main area of practice is civil litigation. He has litigated diverse subject areas such as First Amendment Rights, Americans with Disabilities Act, Fair Employment and Housing Act, wage laws, trade secrets, contracts, securities laws and real property laws, as well as many others. Mr. Lewis’s central area of practice involves business and employment related issues and real estate matters. Mr. Lewis also represents clients regarding homeowner's association disputes.

Mr. Lewis is also a trainer in areas of employment law for organizations with an emphasis on prevention. He has taught hundreds of courses in subject areas that include sexual harassment...

Brian is a National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 Attorney and was selected as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers. Brian represents severely injured plaintiffs in cases involving personal injury, product liability, medical malpractice and elder abuse. Brian represents clients throughout the State of California including the counties of Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino, Lake, Marin, Solano and San Francisco.

The Applegate Law Office focuses on efficient, effective representation. I provide my clients with exactly the help that they need. I founded the Applegate Law Office in June 2009. I have been practicing law in California since 2003, and I have spent most of those years practicing law in the North Bay. As an attorney for years in Santa Rosa and a former prosecutor in Ukiah and Willits, I am familiar with Sonoma and Mendocino County courts. My office, centrally located in Santa Rosa, serves all of the North Bay – Mendocino, Sonoma, Lake, Napa, and Marin counties.

A personal injury...

When individuals or businesses are involved in any form of litigation, they want an attorney who offers face-to-face contact and provides valuable legal services at competitive and reasonable costs. The Law Offices of Frank S. Moore, APC in San Francisco and Healdsburg, California, has attorneys on staff and "of counsel" that are committed and dedicated to clients and have extensive experience in the following areas of practice: • Business Litigation • Appeals and Writs • Federal and White Collar Criminal Defense • Wrongful Death • Personal Injury • Civil Rights • Disability...

Christopher Whang is a Civil Litigator representing clients in a wide range of litigation matters, particularly commercial landlord-tenant issues, contract disputes, bankruptcy, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) claims. Most notably, Christopher has worked with several, high-profile, Fortune 500 companies in the Bay Area in various litigation matters. Christopher has extensive experience in the full spectrum of litigation, including pre-lawsuit investigations, drafting pleadings, conducting discovery, taking and defending depositions, performing legal research, motion practice, trial preparation, negotiations, and client interaction. Prior to becoming a Civil Litigator, Christopher worked at various Public Defender offices all across the Bay Area and Sacramento....

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...

Dwight Ritter is a trial attorney at Ritter & Associates in San Diego, California. He holds degrees from Indiana University Law School and the London School of Economics. He is also licensed in California, Arizona, Indiana, and the Island of Guam, as an expert on maritime law. Having built his reputation on personal attention to detail, Dwight strives to create a personal relationship with his clients. With a specialization in personal injury, Dwight is prepared to handle cases that involve wrongful death, sexual harassment, auto accidents, and civil rights claims. In addition, he has earned the title of Master Trial...

Adam Stoddard is a partner in the firm and has represented developers, general contractors and their insurance companies specializing in the representation of businesses and individuals in complex construction defect litigation, contract, and fraud-based disputes. This included representation ranging from Fortune 500 companies, to national builders and to individual board members of non-profit corporations through the initial investigation, pre-litigation process, and trial. Adam also worked for a prominent plaintiff's law firm representing homeowner's associations in complex construction defect cases. This provided Adam with a practical approach to critically evaluate construction defect claims and implement effective resolution strategies through mediation and settlement...

I received my JD from UC Hastings in 1976. I went on to work for the Orange County Public Defender's office from 1979-1986. After that I was partner at Earley & Baruch until 1992. Then I ventured out on my own and have continued to practicing law.

During my many decades of successful personal injury, employment law, business litigation and civil rights law practice, I have achieved a stellar firm-wide win rate in more than 200 trials, scores of impressive civil case victories and millions of dollars won for clients in negotiated settlements and in court.

Combined with these special...

I am a trial attorney serving clients across all of California state wide.

I work to protect the rights of the people in our community.

Often I represent the David in the fight against Goliath. Many of my clients have been people injured and who are up against large insurance companies.

Insurance companies only care about one thing – profits. They profit by paying less to injured people.

I fight insurance companies that delay and deny rightful claims.

Don’t get less than you deserve. Get in touch with me today to discuss your case and receive free legal advice.

Though he began his career practicing Entertainment Law in Los Angeles, Mr. Fink and his wife traded the glamour of Hollywood for the San Jose area' s charms. That early exposure to big city, high-pressure civil cases has served him well, particularly when dealing with the complex issues involved in contemporary employment cases. Mr. Fink is a partner in Mesirow & Fink, a small but energetic and creative law firm founded in 1976. Mr. Fink is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley's Boalt Hall, and he has six times been selected by San Jose Magazine as one of the...

The first 15 years of my legal career were spent as an investigator for the in-house law firm of a major nationwide non-profit organization. I managed up to 20 other investigators on complex, often high-profile, civil, criminal and tax litigation. In the 1980's I attended law school and settled in Visalia California, were I was a partner in a law firm focusing was on criminal and civil litigation in state and federal courts. I successfully obtained a LIFE verdict in a double homicide death penalty case. I handled many appeals for criminal defendants on an appointed independent basis for the...

Since starting Varlack Legal Services in 2009, I have been on the front lines of litigation as a trial attorney. Valuable experience in the courtroom was gained as a member of the Alameda County Bar’s CAAP program and Lawyer Referral Service. These programs helped me grow my practice as a young attorney while allowing me to grow as a litigator. As a graduate of Howard Law School, I chose to become “a social engineer” rather than a “parasite on society.” After law school, I served on the Charles Houston Bar Association’s Board of Directors, as membership...

Scott R. Ames has been a practicing employment law attorney in Los Angeles for over 25 years. Through dedication, rigorous investigation, and comprehensive knowledge of California employment law, Mr. Ames has won over one hundred million dollars for his clients through settlements and trial verdicts. He has been instrumental in helping people obtain justice for wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, trade secret disputes, wage and hour issues, and other forms of employee mistreatment. For several years, Mr. Ames has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Attorneys in Southern California by SuperLawyers and Los Angeles Magazines. Free consultations are offered...

Too often, workers are mistreated by their employers. It is important to retain a Los Angeles employment attorney who understands how crucial it is that justice is secured in discrimination and unpaid wage disputes between employers and employees. James A. De Sario is an attorney at the Nourmand Law Firm who has successfully handled cases in the areas of employment discrimination, wage and hour, and personal injury. He takes great satisfaction from advocating on behalf of workers because he comes from a working class background.

Mr. De Sario is dedicated to securing justice and compensation for people wronged by an employer,...

Aaron Clefton is the Managing Partner of Rein & Clefton. He is dedicated to advancing the civil and economic rights of persons with disabilities and all people who are vulnerable or impoverished. Aaron is lead counsel on all ADA cases for Rein & Clefton. He has over 17 years working in the field of disability rights, 5 years of that as an attorney. He has received Martindale-Hubbell’s highest peer honor of “AV-Preeminent” in 2021, given to attorneys “who are ranked at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal expertise, communication skills, and ethical standards by their peers.” That same year...

At Manly, Stewart & Finaldi, we strive to deliver you the most comprehensive and excellent legal counsel possible. With over 13 years of experience, senior attorney Saul Wolf focuses on advocating on behalf of survivors of childhood sexual abuse and sexual assault, applying every possible resource to successfully represent these victims in their civil claims. His extensive practice includes all state and federal civil litigation at both the trial and appellate levels.

Attorney Wolf has dedicated his entire career to empowering his clients and giving a voice to those whose voice has gone unheard. He is one of the few...

In the last seventeen years, Law Offices of Joseph Salama has helped companies and individuals navigate successfully through the legal system. For some, this meant going before a jury, whether in federal or state court, or before an administrative law judge. For some, it meant getting out of the case as quickly and painlessly as possible. For some, it meant putting the right knowledge, documents, and systems in place to minimize the risk of litigation. But for all of them, it meant listening, understanding, and then making the commitment to meet their needs such that they could begin to outsource...

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.

Daniel Horowitz is Contra Costa County's "Top 100 Trial Lawyer". Daniel is an active community member serving on the Lafayette Crime Prevention Commission and a strong supporter of LPIE, Generations in Jazz and the Acalanes and local sports programs. His law group, Lawyers in Lafayette is a community law firm handling all types of cases "in house" or assisting in a referral to the best attorney for your needs. Daniel Horowitz and his legal team have exceptional qualifications in targeted areas. His group of affiliated attorneys includes a licensed physician who practices as a lawyer, a licensed...

Ms. Janeen Steel has 21 years of advocating on behalf of students with disabilities. She uses a variety of approaches to fight for justice for students. Having a learning disability herself, which was not diagnosed until she was 27 years old, she knows the struggle those with learning disabilities must experience in order to obtain an education. While at UCLA Law School, Ms. Steel founded Learning Rights and obtained an Echoing Green Fellowship in 1999 to start fighting for the rights of students with disabilities living in poverty. In 2005, Learning Rights Law Center was launched as a...

Mike attended law school on a merit-based scholarship and graduated with honors. Since joining the firm in January 2001, Mike’s practice has been dedicated solely to representing plaintiffs. Mike specializes in litigating serious injury and wrongful death cases. He has extensive experience handling cases involving personal injury, product liability, automotive defect/crashworthiness, medical malpractice, elder abuse, civil rights, fire claims, insurance bad faith as well as government entity liability. Mike’s practice also focuses on representing property owners, both residential and commercial, in construction defect matters. He has successfully represented hundreds of homeowners and businesses in Northern California seeking recovery for defective...

As a partner with San Francisco's Rukin Hyland & Riggin LLP, Peter Rukin represents Bay Area clients in a wide array of complex litigation matters, including employment, wage and hour, and business disputes. Mr. Rukin has built a reputation as a thoughtful and strong advocate for his clients, whatever their disputes may be. Mr. Rukin specializes in complex litigation, with a focus on wage and hour and equal employment opportunity claims. Since 2003, as class counsel he has recovered tens of millions of dollars on behalf of thousands of California employees and consumers. Peter also represents clients with respect...

Melanie is a fierce advocate of those whose legally protected rights have been violated, especially as it relates to violations in the workplace and the service industry as a result of Covid-19 policies. She has teamed up with a network of gifted California attorneys to combine efforts in the fight to sustain our constitutional rights in the wake of the pandemic. 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 become a lawyer herself. Her experience as...

Scott Cole is the founder and principal attorney at Cole & Van Note, one of California's best-known and most highly-respected employment and consumer rights class action law firms. He is a graduate of the University of San Francisco School of Law (1992), and San Francisco State University (B.A., Speech Communications; 1989). He is a member of the California State Bar and the State Bar’s Labor and Employment Law Section, is admitted to practice before all California federal courts (including the 6th and 9th Circuit Court of Appeals), has prosecuted cases in numerous states including New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida,...

Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law: I provide a complete range of estate planning, elder law, probate, trust administration, veterans pension and Medi-Cal eligibility services. I work with clients to create and implement an estate plan specifically designed with them in mind, including their family, their business, their property and their personal wishes. This includes preparation of Durable Powers of Attorney for Health Care and Durable Powers of Attorney for Asset Management. Family Law: I have over 30 years of experience in family law. Besides being a highly trained, experienced and knowledgeable family lawyer, I am personally and professionally sensitive to the concerns...

Mr. Rager is committed to holding entities accountable for their actions. By doing so, it discourages future bad actions, resulting in further litigation, and burdening society as a whole. Mr. Rager’s trial record against the largest corporations and insurance companies speaks for itself. His last 7-figure trial verdict was in 2015. In the last two decades. he has achieved several multimillion dollar verdicts.