Claimed Lawyer ProfileSocial Media
Claribel Palacios Maduena
Alameda, CA Attorney with 15 years of experience
Immigration
Loyola Law School, Los Angeles
Ms. Madueña is an expert immigration lawyer in the Bay Area handling a wide range of immigration matters, including complex cases with criminal issues. The bulk of her practice focuses on family-based immigration and removal defense. She has successfully argued for the release of clients in immigration detention, and has obtained Adjustment of Status, Asylum, and Cancellation of Removal for her clients against the government in Immigration Court. Ms. Madueña has also obtained Lawful Permanent Residency, Asylum, Naturalization, NACARA, and Waivers before the immigration office. Notably, when she was a first-year associate, Ms. Madueña presented a complex criminal and...
Claimed Lawyer ProfileSocial MediaResponsive Law
Jeremy Lester Olsan
Santa Rosa, CA Attorney with 33 years of experience
Business, IP and Real Estate
University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law
JEREMY OLSAN is the principal of Olsan Law, Inc. From 2008 until 2020 Jeremy was a partner at the Perry law firm. He practices in the areas of real estate transactions, business and non-profit entity formation, finance, and governance, mergers, acquisitions, and sales, business contracts and transactions, as well as construction transactions, commercial property leasing, mortgage and finance law, and land use law.
An AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated attorney* since 2013, Jeremy has also been repeatedly recognized by his peers as a Northern California Super Lawyer®. In 2016, the California State Bar Board of Trustees appointed Jeremy to...
Claimed Lawyer ProfileBlawg SearchSocial Media
Gene Takagi
San Francisco, CA Attorney with 23 years of experience
Gene Takagi is the managing attorney of NEO Law Group, contributing publisher of the Nonprofit Law Blog, and a part-time lecturer at Columbia University. At NEO, Gene has represented over 800 nonprofit organizations on corporate, tax, and charitable trust law matters. Gene is a popular writer on nonprofit legal topics and has been published by The New York Times, The Nonprofit Quarterly, The Chronicle of Philanthropy, The Nonprofit Times, Taxation of Exempts, EO Tax Journal, and ALI-ABA. He is also a popular speaker who has presented at conferences for Independent Sector, BoardSource, NAAG/National Association of State Charity Officials, CalNonprofits, the...
Claimed Lawyer ProfileSocial Media
Erik J Christensen
San Francisco, CA Lawyer with 8 years of experience
Appeals, Business and Employment
University of California College of the Law, San Francisco and University of California - Irvine
Erik Christensen litigates, and provides counsel on, corporate and employment issues in California and the District of Columbia. His experience includes working as a senior associate at top-ranked global law firms, including Littler Mendelson and Greenberg Traurig.
Before this, Erik externed at the California Supreme Court and the First District Court of Appeal, two of the most prestigious opportunities provided to law students in California. Erik also served as a law clerk for the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Victim Impact Program (sometimes referred to as the “Special Victims Unit.”) His experience includes years of service with the 101st Airborne’s...
Claimed Lawyer ProfileSocial Media
Daniel H Rose
San Francisco, CA Lawyer with 40 years of experience
Free ConsultationInsurance Claims
UC Hastings COL
Mr. Rose is dedicated to providing the best legal representation for injured victims and their families in a compassionate, efficient and effective manner. He is a passionate advocate for his clients and resolves most cases in a matter of months, rather than years. He is most widely known as one of the leading bicycle lawyers, pedestrian lawyers, and motorcycle accident lawyers in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Mr. Rose also serves as a Mediator of claims throughout California.
Claimed Lawyer ProfileSocial Media
Ian M. Cooper
Oakland, CA Lawyer with 32 years of experience
Free ConsultationWorkers' Comp
University of San Francisco School of Law
Representing injured workers exclusively since 1995.
Claimed Lawyer ProfileSocial Media
Robin D. Gross
San Francisco, CA Lawyer with 26 years of experience
Communications, Entertainment & Sports, IP and Trademarks
Santa Clara University School of Law
Claimed Lawyer ProfileQ&ASocial Media
Timothy V. Kassouni
Sacramento, CA Attorney with 35 years of experience
Appeals, Business and Real Estate
Loyola Law School, Los Angeles
Sacramento attorney Timothy Kassouni founded Kassouni Law on the belief that property rights and personal freedom are intertwined. He passionately considers it his duty and mission to rigorously defend property rights against government and private abuse. Mr. Kassouni has many years of experience litigating against private and public entities at all levels of court, including the United States Supreme Court, the California Supreme Court, the California Court of Appeal, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to name a few. His litigation expertise in land use, appeals, business, and property rights law has led to legal victories and the setting...
Claimed Lawyer ProfileQ&ASocial Media
Ivette Santaella
San Ramon, CA Attorney with 35 years of experience
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...
Claimed Lawyer ProfileSocial Media
Shawn Dhillon
Sacramento, CA Attorney with 12 years of experience
Free ConsultationArbitration & Mediation, Business and Real Estate
Western State University College of Law
Shawn Dhillon is an experienced real estate attorney and the founder of Real Estate Law Corporation™. Shawn specializes in both real estate litigation and real estate transactional matters.
He has drafted and negotiated over $500 million in commercial real estate transactions all over California. His work includes complex real estate purchase and sale transactions, new developments, ground leases, and commercial leases with local, regional, and national companies, including several Fortune 500 Companies. Shawn regularly counsels owners of retail shopping centers, shopping malls, office buildings, industrial buildings, apartment complexes, self-storage facilities, hotels, gasoline service stations, as well as...
Claimed Lawyer ProfileSocial Media
Stephen R. Jaffe
San Francisco, CA Attorney with 54 years of experience
Free ConsultationArbitration & Mediation and Employment
Wayne State University Law School
Claimed Lawyer ProfileSocial Media
David Emilio Mastagni
Sacramento, CA Attorney with 26 years of experience
Free ConsultationAdministrative, Appeals and Employment
UC Berkeley School of Law, Boalt Hall
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...
Claimed Lawyer ProfileQ&ASocial Media
Tracy P. Jonson
San Carlos, CA Attorney
Free ConsultationBusiness
Abraham Lincoln University, School of Law
I am Tracy Jonson, an attorney with a broad range of experience in the legal field. My practice includes providing legal advice and representation to high-net-worth individuals on various issues, including high-conflict child custody, child and spousal support, domestic violence, and both straightforward and complex property and financial matters. I have a successful track record in litigating cases that involve international child custody disputes and complex multinational business issues.
My background is extensive, covering business and civil litigation, civil rights, personal injury, criminal defense, and family law. This diverse experience offers me a comprehensive perspective in my current practice. My previous...
Claimed Lawyer ProfileSocial Media
Matthew Ronald Eason
Sacramento, CA Attorney with 32 years of experience
Free ConsultationWorkers' Comp
McGeorge School of Law Univ of the Pacific
Established in 1996, Eason & Tambornini, A Law Corporation, is a personal injury and workers’ compensation law firm. We fight for the rights of those injured in accidents throughout Sacramento. Our personal injury practice covers various cases, including motor vehicle accidents (car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle), premises liability (slip and fall, dog bites), medical malpractice, and wrongful death. Moreover, we handle all workers’ compensation claims, leveraging our knowledge to help injured workers obtain their entitled benefits.
Eason & Tambornini, A Law Corporation, stands out as a top choice for legal representation in personal injury and workers’ compensation cases due to its unique...
Claimed Lawyer Profile
Christopher Parkhurst
Sacramento, CA Attorney with 25 years of experience
Free ConsultationWhite Collar Crime
University of California College of the Law, San Francisco
Mr. Parkhurst earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco. He graduated from U.C. Davis with a B.A. in International Relations and a minor in Education. He became licensed to practice law in 1999. A skilled negotiator and private criminal practitioner, Mr, Parkhurst has defended hundreds of clients charged with crimes from misdemeanors to serious felonies in more than 30 of California's 58 counties. He is licensed to practice in all State courts and the United States District Court Northern and Eastern districts of California. He has obtained dismissals...
Claimed Lawyer ProfileSocial Media
Mr. Michael J. Wise
Sacramento, CA Attorney with 30 years of experience
Free ConsultationWhite Collar Crime
University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law
Michael Wise brings 30 years of criminal trial experience to the Courtroom. He has served as both a prosecutor and defense attorney. In that capacity, Mr. Wise has earned the respect of the local bench, law enforcement and prosecutors throughout northern California. Having secured several acquittals on a variety of cases, including homicide, sexual assault, rape, fraud, assault, domestic violence and others, Mr. Wise is regarded as the premier criminal defense attorney in Sacramento and Northern California.
Mr. Wise is frequently invited to speak as a guest commentator on television. Likewise, he frequently teaches Advanced Officer...
Claimed Lawyer ProfileSocial Media
Hasan Abdullah
Fremont, CA Attorney with 17 years of experience
Free ConsultationImmigration
Santa Clara University School of Law
Hasan Abdullah was born in Toronto, Canada, and has been living in the United States since 2000. He received his Juris Doctorate (JD) degree from Santa Clara University (SCU) School of Law, and has held membership in the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) since 2008.
In 2005, while studying at SCU, he interned at their community law center and focused on family-based immigration, VAWA petitions, political asylum, and criminal victim (U-Visa) cases.
Since 2008, he joined a full-service immigration law firm for nearly seven years, and was quickly promoted to manage and train the staff of attorneys and paralegals. While practicing he...
Claimed Lawyer ProfileQ&ABlawg SearchSocial MediaResponsive Law
Stanley Dale Radtke
San Leandro, CA Lawyer with 17 years of experience
Appeals and Immigration
University of San Francisco School of Law
Claimed Lawyer ProfileSocial Media
Gerald F. Batchelder
Fremont, CA Lawyer with 48 years of experience
Free ConsultationWorkers' Comp
Santa Clara Univ School of Law
Mr. Batchelder is certified by the Board of Legal Specialization of the State Bar of California, as a Specialist in Workers Compensation Law. For more than a decade, he has frequently served as a Workers Compensation Judge Pro Tem. He has served as a member of the Education Committee of the California Applicants Attorneys Association, putting together educational programs in workers compensation law for California attorneys.
He was admitted to the California Bar in December 1976, and is a member of the bar of the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and...
Claimed Lawyer ProfileSocial Media
Laura M Mazza
San Mateo, CA Attorney with 16 years of experience
(650) 378-1472
Bain Mazza & Debski LLP
951 Mariner's Island Blvd. Ste. 300
San Mateo, CA 94404
Free ConsultationEmployment
University of California College of the Law, San Francisco
Laura received her undergraduate degree in 2003 from Colby College in Waterville, Maine, graduating Summa Cum Laude and with distinction in her major (English). After graduation, Laura went on to work as a paralegal at Latham & Watkins, LLP, in their Silicon Valley offices and later attended U.C. Hastings College of the Law, graduating with her J.D. in 2008. While at Hastings, Laura was the Executive Articles Editor of the Hastings Women's Law Journal and recipient of the Roger J. Traynor Student Writing Competition Award for her Note "On the Steps of the Mosque: the Legal Rights of Non-Marital Children...
Claimed Lawyer ProfileSocial Media
Peter Lawrence Cianchetta
Elk Grove, CA Attorney with 23 years of experience
Free ConsultationBankruptcy
Lincoln Law School
I want to be your attorney. My philosophy is that people have problems and my office is here to help them. We all have been there, in need of some kind of help and it really does not matter how you ended up needing help, the main thing is helping with your problem. I graduated with Honors from Golden Gate University with a BS in Accounting and Graduated 10th in my class at Lincoln Law School. Prior to going to Law School, I started working for a landscaping company in high school, and a roofing company after graduation. I joined...
Claimed Lawyer ProfileSocial Media
James Gulseth
Pleasanton, CA Attorney with 51 years of experience
Business, IP, Patents and Real Estate
UC Hastings COL
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...
Claimed Lawyer ProfileSocial Media
Alex Megeredchian
San Francisco, CA Attorney with 12 years of experience
Free ConsultationBankruptcy and Business
Loyola Law School, Los Angeles
Alex Megeredchian is the founder and president of Megeredchian Law, a rapidly growing California law firm. At the age of 18, Alex litigated his own disputed liability auto accident case and won. His passion for the American judicial system drove him to earn his law degree from Loyola Law School and gain admittance to the state bar. Shortly thereafter, Alex founded Megeredchian Law, where he helps injured California accident victims earn just compensation.
Megeredchian Law strives to offer exceptional client service. You can call and speak to your personal injury attorney 24/7, 365 days of the year. You'll be provided...
Claimed Lawyer ProfileQ&A
Joseph J Wiseman
Davis, CA Lawyer with 42 years of experience
White Collar Crime
University of Oregon School of Law
I have over 35 years experience as a federal criminal trial and appellate lawyer, which gives me a unique perspective on what works and does not work with defending serious, complex federal charges. I prepare each case for trial, since a good result is only attainable if the lawyer is prepared and willing to go to trial. I have experience defending clients against complex wire and health care fraud, tax, securities, and environmental crimes and related civil actions.
Claimed Lawyer ProfileSocial Media
Mahal Rufina Montoya Billingsley
San Leandro, CA Lawyer with 10 years of experience
Arbitration & Mediation
University of Iowa
Mahal is a family law attorney based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She began her practice in 2014, having spent the previous fourteen years as a law clerk, educator, and paralegal specialist for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Her law practice integrates her passion for civil rights and her love for community.
Mahal was born in Vallejo, and after a series of family tragedies enrolled herself in the tenth grade at Oakland Technical High School. She was legally emancipated as a minor the following spring. These childhood experiences inspired her to become an attorney and...
Claimed Lawyer ProfileSocial Media
Thomas Edward McKeever
San Francisco, CA Attorney with 30 years of experience
(415) 797-7250
1 Sansome Street, 35th Floor
PMB #2450,
San Francisco, CA 94104
Business
Stanford Law School
Solving business problems from a legal perspective for technology companies.
I have served as a trusted advisor to boards and C-suites in private and public companies for more than 15 years including more than 9 years at Actuate Corporation (NASDAQ:BIRT) as its SVP, GC, Chief Compliance Officer and Corporate Development until the sale of Actuate to OpenText, Inc in 2015.
I have particular expertise with M&A, governance, managing litigation and operational process and policy improvement. A consistent strong performer, I was a securities litigator at Wilson Sonsini and Heller Ehrman and a law clerk at the Federal District Court for the...
Claimed Lawyer ProfileSocial MediaResponsive Law
Chad O. Dorr
Santa Rosa, CA Attorney with 12 years of experience
Business
University of California, Berkeley School of Law
Chad practices Business Law and Estate Planning. In his business practice, he represents sole proprietors, partnerships, LLCs and corporations (for-profit and nonprofit) across a broad spectrum of industries. He takes particular pride in assisting families with their estate planning needs to execute their wishes for the next generation.
Prior to joining the Perry, Johnson, anderson, Miller & Moskowitz LLP, Chad was an associate in the Washington, D.C., office of Jones Day, where he was a part of the firm's international trade and national security practice. In that role, he advised U.S. and foreign corporations on a...
Claimed Lawyer ProfileQ&ASocial Media
Mario Tafur
San Francisco, CA Attorney
Free ConsultationJames E. Rogers College of Law, University of Arizona
I have built a career and a reputation by advocating for the rights of the accused. At Bulldog Law, my team and I have defended thousands of clients throughout the United States in various criminal cases across both state and federal courts, encompassing trials and appeals. Additionally, we manage personal injury and cryptocurrency cases.
My lawyers and I have been described as "bulldogs" for our tenacious and successful representation in legal proceedings. We vigorously defend our clients, fully aware of the high stakes and our potential to significantly impact their lives.
Claimed Lawyer ProfileSocial Media
Myron Moskovitz
Piedmont, CA Lawyer with 60 years of experience
Appeals
University of California, Berkeley School of Law
California Civil Appeals, State & Federal
Myron Moskovitz served as law clerk to Justice Raymond E. Peters of the California Supreme Court. He is the author of Winning An Appeal (Carolina Academic Press, 4th ed.) and Moskovitz On Appeal (LexisNexis, 2015). He has handled and consulted on many appeals, both in state and federal courts. Although appellate courts reverse in civil cases only about 20% of the time, he has won reversals in more than 70% of his civil cases in which he represented appellants.
He is Professor of Law Emeritus...
Claimed Lawyer ProfileSocial Media
Nicole M Jaffee
Santa Rosa, CA Lawyer with 17 years of experience
Consumer, Employment and Products Liability
University of California, Berkeley School of Law
Ms. Jaffee’s main area of practice is civil litigation. She represents clients in a wide range of matters, including personal injury, medical and dental malpractice, real estate, premises liability, employment and general business litigation.
She joined Perry, Johnson, Anderson, Miller & Moskowitz in September 2016. Prior to joining the firm, she worked as a civil litigation attorney in the San Francisco Bay Area, including as a litigation associate in the San Francisco office of a multi-national law firm.
During law school, Ms. Jaffee interned with the State Bar of California and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
Ms. Jaffee obtained her...
Claimed Lawyer ProfileQ&ASocial Media
Sally J. Elkington
Oakland, CA Lawyer with 35 years of experience
(510) 465-0404
409 13th street, 10th Floor
The Historic Tribune Tower
Oakland, CA 94612
Free ConsultationBankruptcy
New College School of Law of California
Sally is now retired and living in Palm Springs. She is keeping her license active to allow her to do Pro Bono work with local Bar Associations.
Claimed Lawyer ProfileSocial Media
Bryan Jeffrey Schwartz
Oakland, CA Attorney with 25 years of experience
Free ConsultationAppeals and Employment
University of California, Berkeley School of Law
Bryan Schwartz is an Oakland, California-based attorney dedicated to helping employees protect their rights in the workplace. He has fought prohibited discrimination, retaliation, and harassment, obtained reasonable accommodations for disabled employees, vindicated whistleblowers' rights, and ensured that corporations pay workers all wages they are owed. He has successfully litigated individual and class action complaints nationwide, helping to recover millions of dollars for thousands of employees, forcing corporations and Government agencies to change their practices and punish wrongdoers.
Bryan Schwartz is also one of the few Bay Area-based attorneys with extensive experience representing Federal employees in their unique Merit Systems...
Claimed Lawyer ProfileSocial MediaResponsive Law
Clayton Thomas Robertson
Oakland, CA Attorney with 21 years of experience
Free ConsultationWhite Collar Crime
UCLA School of Law
As a former Deputy District Attorney and Deputy Public Defender who has litigated thousands of cases, including misdemeanors and felonies, I know how to fight for you. My background includes adult and juvenile cases, as well as serious and violent felonies and three-strikes cases.
I am also an experienced civil litigator with a corporate and white-collar litigation background at a prestigious "big law" firm who switched sides to sue corporations and other entities (including insurance companies, police departments, governments, and others) on behalf of individuals to obtain justice for my clients.
As a result, I have seen firsthand how corporations and...
Claimed Lawyer ProfileQ&ASocial Media
Colby LaVelle
Fairfield, CA Lawyer
Free ConsultationBankruptcy
Santa Clara University School of Law
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...
Claimed Lawyer ProfileSocial Media
Leslie C. Leone
Mill Valley, CA Lawyer with 26 years of experience
Free ConsultationEmployment
Golden Gate University School of Law
Leslie Leone, principal attorney at Leone Law Firm, is the best California personal injury attorney and employment attorney to help you deal with unreasonable insurance companies and unfair employers so that you can obtain the justice and compensation you deserve.
Leslie Leone began her legal career as a staff attorney for the Teamsters Union and also worked for the Operating Engineer's Union. As a Union attorney she negotiated contracts and grievances for hundreds of Union members. She is also a San Francisco native who attended UC Berkeley and Golden Gate University Law School.
Call Leone Law Firm for a FREE consultation...
Claimed Lawyer ProfileSocial Media
Antone F. Johnson
Berkeley, CA Attorney with 28 years of experience
Free ConsultationBusiness, Communications, Entertainment & Sports and Securities
Columbia Law School
For 24 years, Antone Johnson has served as lawyer, advisor, executive and advocate for emerging growth technology/digital media ventures, founders and investors in a diverse range of business and intellectual property matters. Raised in Menlo Park and Palo Alto, California, suffused with Silicon Valley's unique culture of innovation, he came of age professionally during the Internet explosion of the late 1990s, an entrepreneurial crucible of unprecedented wealth and job creation, reinvention of countless industries, and related venture capital and Wall Street dealmaking. Antone was fortunate to have a ringside seat at major Los Angeles and Silicon Valley law firms, followed...
Claimed Lawyer ProfileSocial Media
Michael Mortimer
San Francisco, CA Attorney with 32 years of experience
P.O. Box 2342
San Francisco, CA 94126
IP
Univ of Oregon School of Law
Former prosecutor, combat veteran (USCG), complex dispute resolution, competitive business litigation, depositions, trials, law and motion, appeals.
Claimed Lawyer ProfileQ&A
Peter James Chambers
San Rafael, CA Attorney with 7 years of experience
Free ConsultationWhite Collar Crime
Brooklyn Law School
Based in Marin County, CA, Peter Chambers proudly defends his clients against their government. Mr. Chambers is at the vanguard of criminal defense law, regularly leveraging the latest legal and technological tools to improve his clients' situation. Never afraid of taking a case to trial, Mr. Chambers takes greater pride in the number of cases dismissed before ever reaching the jury.
Before swapping coasts and counsel tables, Mr. Chambers served as an Assistant District Attorney at the Kings County District Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn, NY, prosecuting cases from attempted murder to petty theft. He is a graduate of Brooklyn Law School,...
Claimed Lawyer ProfileSocial Media
Diana Maier
San Rafael, CA Lawyer with 27 years of experience
1000 4th Street
San Rafael, CA 94901
Free ConsultationEmployment
Stanford Law School
Diana is a recognized expert in employment and privacy law, as well as a trained workplace investigator, executive coach, and mediator.
Diana is certified by the International Association of Privacy Professionals in both European Union and U.S. Data Privacy. Diana has received mediation training from The Center for Understanding In Conflict, and was also trained by, and serves as an empaneled mediator for, The Northern District Court of California. In addition she mediates privately and as a member of the Contra Costa County Superior Court and the San Mateo County Bar Association. Diana completed over 100 hours of...
Claimed Lawyer ProfileBlawg SearchSocial Media
Michael J. Hassen
Walnut Creek, CA Lawyer with 38 years of experience
Antitrust, Appeals and Business
University of California, Berkeley School of Law
Michael Hassen's litigation practice spans over 30 years and emphasizes general business and commercial litigation, including class action defense and matters involving intellectual property and unfair competition.