Sonoma Civil Rights Lawyers

Human / Civil Rights Attorney working with clients in the public and private spheres for over 25 years in over 75 countries. Significant experience serving non-profits in the public health and international development spheres assisting refugees, asylum seekers, and those suffering from various forms of trauma. Particular focus on LGBTQ and non-binary clients with legal / personal concerns related to gender expression and its effects and helping spearhead international initiatives addressing the same.

Current Director of the Gamelan Council - Asia-Pacific Public Health, Microfinance, and Development Center. Previous experience includes working as a primary care clinician / rural health officer for...

My clients receive an aggressive defense that only years of courtroom experience can deliver. No matter how challenging a client's case is, they can rest assured they have a powerful ally on their side. Increasingly individuals and businesses find themselves in contact with government agencies like the FBI or IRS. The consequences can be devastating, personally, professionally and financially. The government can and does form the wrong impression of targets and subjects. Correcting the government's impression requires an attorney’s involvement. Successful , self-made people have accomplished much on their own. Unfortunately, many of these useful business...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Aaron J. Lodge received his BA degree and first graduate work in math. He taught math at both the high school and college level for nearly 10 years, before changing careers and going to law school. Mr. Lodge now has a general practice law firm, where he focuses on family law, mediation, civil rights, and is now affiliated with other larger firms for personal injury and other areas of law. Mr. Lodge is highly dedicated to his clients, is very personable, and excellent in both litigation (in court), and in mediation.

At Abronson Law Offices, we take the time to understand each unique situation presented to us by a client in need of assistance. We make certain that our clients understand their options and can make informed decisions regarding the progress of their case. Together with our clients, we work toward the best result available, whether through trial or settlement, arbitration or mediation, litigation or dialogue. We strive to be approachable to our clients, and seek to make them comfortable in entrusting us with their legal needs. What really distinguishes our firm is the ease with which our clients...

Christopher C. Phillips was born in Sacramento and raised in Glen Ellen, CA (the heart of Sonoma Valley). Growing up, Chris was always a good student, but was consumed with Baseball. Following his dream, Chris attended Santa Rosa Junior College and then Texas Tech University to play Baseball. After graduating with an Exercise and Sports Science degree from Texas Tech, Chris decided he had just about reached the end of the line as far as baseball was concerned, so he refocused his goals and decided on Law School. After Graduating from University of Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, Chris clerked for,...

Attorney Gustavo Magaña is a personal injury and civil rights attorney who was born in San Jose California and has been a Bay Area native his entire life. After working for prominent firms in the Bay Area, Mr. Magaña decided to open the Law Office of Gustavo Magaña to provide better service to his community. Mr. Magaña’s unique background and experience allows him to provide his clients with distinctive representation and personal service. Mr. Magaña attended Santa Clara University for both his undergraduate and law school education. Mr. Magaña graduated from Santa Clara undergraduate school with a Bachelors degree in Political Science...

I have represented clients in employment matters since 1988. This includes cases in State Court, Federal Court, the Civil Service Commission, the California State Personnel Board, and private arbitrations pursuant to arbitration agreements. We are very proud of our success rate, in handling these cases for employees.

Criminal defense attorney John D. Fitzpatrick fiercely defends the constitutional rights of his clients in courts throughout the state, protecting them from racial profiling, excessive force, mass incarceration, and the prison industrial complex. He has repeatedly won dismissals of all charges, earned the release of numerous clients from custody, and negotiated the most favorable terms for his clients.* John aggressively represents his clients from Arraignment through all phases of trial and will not rest until the case is dismissed or they are fully acquitted. He knows firsthand the effects that any conviction or incarceration can have on his clients and their...