Independence Lawyers

Van Dyke & Associates, APLC is a boutique probate litigation law firm providing sophisticated legal services to clients nationwide facing complex trust, estate and related tax matters in State or Federal Courts in the Southern California area. The firm is based in San Diego, CA and appears regularly in courts throughout California.

With over six years of working in tax law under his belt, Mitchell Smith has represented clients in the U.S. Tax Court where he resolved numerous tax controversies at the audit and appellate levels of the IRS. He has also negotiated favorable settlements of high-dollar-tax deficiencies as well as secured tax-exempt status for new organizations and advised existing exempt organizations. At Zecca Ross & Smith Law Firm P.C., Mitchell Smith continues to excel in his career. His expertise extends to real estate taxation, federal and state worker classification reviews, foreign bank account disclosures and collection matters including Offers in Compromise and...

Certified by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization in Family Law, Ms. Bickford practices exclusively in the area of family law helping clients with divorce and separation in San Diego. Ms. Bickford is a graduate of California Western School of Law where she received honorable recognition for outstanding achievement in the areas of community property, taxation and civil procedure, as well as a West Publishing Award in recognition of her overall outstanding scholastic accomplishment. Ms. Bickford received her Bachelor of Science from Miami University, with a dual major in Systems Analysis and Mathematics. San Diego divorce attorney Nancy...

I am an accomplished California attorney, representing clients with Government, Environmental, Natural Resources and Land Use matters. I have over 30 years of experience with a broad array of federal, state and local issues. I bring knowledgeable and skilled advocacy to effectively and efficiently meet your legal needs. A recipient of CalCIMA's Spirit of the Industry Award, I am also listed among The Best Lawyers in America and Northern California Super Lawyers.

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...

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.

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.

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...

Robert B. Kaplan is an accomplished California Bankruptcy, Business, and Real Estate Law attorney with an emphasis on creditors' rights and bankruptcy related cases. Focused on results, Bob has been providing rigorous and uncompromising legal representation for over 40 years.

Bob is a Co-Managing Partner at Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell, a firm listed on American Lawyer's AmLaw 200. A highly skilled and knowledgeable attorney, he is ready to assist you in accomplishing your legal objectives.

Matthew Kenefick has an extensive law practice which includes litigation, real estate and compliance matters. Mr. Kenefick represents a variety of industries including manufacturers, financial institutions, retailers, real estate developers, wineries and the hotel industry, among others.

I am an accomplished ADA Compliance & Defense attorney. With a practice encompassing over 30 years, I am dedicated to providing exceptional service and legal representation. I am a member of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers and on the Advisory Board of Directors of the Advanced Commercial Leasing Institute, Georgetown University Law Center. I also serve as Chair of JMBM's ADA Compliance & Defense Group and am the author of the ADA Compliance & Defense Blog. My transactional practice includes leasing, lease administration for developers and tenants, acquisition and sales, portfolio management, regulation of real property use and development,...

I am an accomplished California Bankruptcy and Business law attorney. My areas of expertise include a broad range of insolvency matters for creditors.

I provide extensive experience and knowledge, focused on maximizing benefits and minimizing losses. With a long history of successful results, I am dedicated to innovative and practical solutions for your bankruptcy and insolvency problems.

I have been honored with recognition as a Northern California Super Lawyer, Best Lawyers of America, and an AV Rating from Martindale-Hubbell.

Visit my website for more information and to see representative cases.

John Runfola is a highly experienced and effective criminal defense attorney. His cases have at times drawn international attention, and he has succeeded in winning favorable results for clients both at trial and through skillful pre-trial work. He is listed in Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers and has earned the highest rating from the national lawyer registry Martindale Hubbell. Prior to starting his own practice, Mr. Runfola served as a Public Defender in San Francisco, where he gained invaluable courtroom experience. He is a seasoned trial lawyer, yet is equally adept at the behind-the-scenes work that often proves critical to a...

L. Randolph Harris is a partner in JMBM's San Francisco office who works with a broad array of privately held companies and their owners on business and tax matters. Randy advises clients with regard to business transition, taxable and tax deferred mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, restructuring, integrated tax planning, federal and state tax controversy resolution, and real estate transactions. Randy's experience includes counseling mature companies on operations, business transactions and mergers and acquisitions and counseling emerging and growth companies on business organization, financing and operations. He advises on income tax planning for individuals, partnerships and corporations and also advises...

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

Taylor Burras is a Labor and Employment attorney. Her practice focuses on the hospitality and insurance industries.

Taylor has experience counseling and litigating on behalf of employers in matters relating to discrimination, harassment and wrongful termination, reduction in workforce, hiring, leaves of absence, and wage and hour issues. She has also handled matters before the Employment Development Department (EDD), Department of Labor Standards Enforcement, Department of Fair Employment and Housing, and the National Labor Relations Board. Taylor has successfully represented hotels, resorts and restaurants in numerous general and employment litigation matters. In the insurance industry, she has defended large insurance companies...

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...

Jon Welner is a leading practitioner of environmental law in California. His broad and deep experience over twenty years enables him to solve regulatory problems for clients in virtually every area of environmental practice, including air, water, hazardous materials, hazardous waste, consumer products, traditional and renewable energy, and natural resources. Jon helps clients make sense of the “alphabet soup” of state and federal environmental regulatory agencies in order to achieve their business objectives. He regularly represents clients in court to defend their interests and achieve their goals.

Jon has a robust land use practice and assists clients to successfully navigate the...

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...

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...

Professional Life: California State Bar member, Asaph Abrams represents individuals, families and businesses in obtaining federal bankruptcy protection. He has filed over 650 successful bankruptcy cases in San Diego and has been co-chair of the San Diego County Bar's Bankruptcy Law Section. He has parted ways with the large law firm sector to focus personally on clients in need. He offers sliding-scale rates to make bankruptcy an affordable solution for all San Diegans. Asaph volunteers and is active in the legal community through the San Diego County Bar Association and the National Association of Consumer...

Mr. O'Connell leads a small firm of professionals specializing in real estate issues, business, corporations, limited liability companies, estates, and trust administration. He has more than 30 years of experience in these areas and is fully equipped to advise clients regarding their options and risks in these troubling economic times.

Mr. O'Connell speaks frequently at continuing education seminars on topic including the emerging issues in limited liability companies and legal ethics.

Mr. O'Connell served in the U.S. Army Security Agency from 1968 to 1972, serving in Turkey and Germany.

Dave is a former federal prosecutor and seasoned plaintiffs trial lawyer that has dedicated his career to helping ordinary people get through extraordinary circumstances. Dave has obtained over $75 million dollars for his clients in just the past few years through outstanding settlements and verdicts in difficult cases involving wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, premises liability, and fraud. Dave has been recognized by his San Diego peers as a Super Lawyer, Outstanding Trial Lawyer, and Distinguished Alumni of the University of San Diego School of Law.

Dave has had remarkable success as a trial lawyer representing plaintiffs who have been injured. Dave...

The LAW OFFICES OF SOTERA L. ANDERSON is dedicated exclusively to serving the lemon law needs of California residents.

Our goal is two-fold: to obtain the best outcome for you as quick as possible and to provide a stellar customer experience. We understand that in today’s society, especially in California, you need reliable transportation to live – to get to work, to take care of children and elderly parents, to run to the grocery store. This is why we strive to resolve cases as quickly as possible to lessen the disruption in your life.

Before protecting consumers,...

The mission of the attorneys at The Sullivan Law Firm, APC, is to counsel clients in finding common sense solutions to complex family and bankruptcy legal problems by providing a full spectrum of legal services. Attorney Michelle Sullivan, CLS-F, is a specialist in counseling clients regarding divorce, mediation, collaboration, adoptions, prenuptual agreements, and other legal issues. Located in Rancho Bernardo, a neighborhood of north San Diego, our family law and bankruptcy practice especially caters to residents of San Diego and North County.

Chapman Law Group, A.P.C. handles personal injury law, real estate and business counseling, and general litigation and appeals in state and federal courts. Attorney David Chapman is a Certified Mediator. The firm serves clients throughout Marin County, the greater San Francisco Bay Area, and Northern California. Mr. Chapman represents seriously injured victims in cases involving auto accidents, wrongful death, catastrophic injury – including brain and spine injuries - dog bites, slip & fall, medical malpractice, and elder abuse. Mr. Chapman’s real estate practice handles cases involving nondisclosure, fraud, easement and boundary issues, HOA & landlord /...

Cate Eranthe is a California-licensed attorney admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Northern District with over 20 years of complex discovery and litigation experience. Ms. Eranthe has handled chapter 7 and 13 bankruptcies from initial filing through discharge. A San Francisco native she provides practical strategies and advises on different approaches to achieve your best outcomes.

We counsel and represent consumer debtors and small businesses in bankruptcy. Our goal is to assist our clients in moving from financial overwhelm to financial empowerment.

We also counsel ways to manage student loans and resolve...

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,...

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...

Tax Attorney Shawn Spaulding has dedicated his professional career to protecting the rights of taxpayers. After spending several tax seasons working in the legal department of the largest tax preparation company in the United States Shawn went on to pursue his LL.M (Master of Laws Degree) in Taxation at the University Of San Diego School Of Law. While completing the advanced tax program Shawn provided tax resolution services to the underserved community through the school’s clinic.

Shawn has accomplished high marks throughout his academic career graduating with honors in both his Bachelors (BSBA) and Juris Doctor (Law Degree) programs. He continued...

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 am a successful criminal lawyer and DUI attorney with over 28 years of experience in the courtroom and experience as a former law enforcement police officer. I am proud to represent those individuals prosecuted by governmental agencies and accused of crimes.

I have been an active member of the California State Bar since 1990 and have been admitted to practice in the United States District Court Southern District of California since 1991. I received my Juris Doctorate Law Degree from the University of San Diego School of Law (USD) in 1990 and graduated from San Diego State University in 1986...

As an attorney and financier with over three decades of experience, I have been advising companies on various aspects of real estate transactions. My work includes forming legal entities, establishing joint ventures, handling property acquisitions and sales, conducting due diligence, managing land use planning and entitlements, ensuring environmental compliance, and dealing with both secured and unsecured financing. Additionally, I am well-versed in construction contracts, litigation, and arbitration. I am transaction-oriented and have significant experience in handling a broad spectrum of commercial contracts. My skills include reviewing, drafting, and negotiating joint venture agreements, development agreements, construction contracts, public utility agreements, vendor agreements,...

For over twenty years I have focused my entire legal practice on exclusively representing employees in a wide variety of employment matters, including wrongful terminations, unpaid wages, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, defamation and severance negotiations. I handle all lawsuits on a contingency fee basis, meaning that I do not charge a fee in a litigation if I do not secure a recovery on behalf of my client. I have advocated on behalf of several hundred employees in State and Federal Court and have completed nearly twenty trials.

Mr. Kronenberg's practice focuses on: - Catastrophic Injury: including representing people who consumed food allergens or pathogens, as well as workers who used defectively designed or manufactured food processing equipment, victims of traumatic brain injury, spinal cord trauma, nerve damage, and severe orthopedic injuries arising from construction accidents, industrial accidents, dangerous premises, auto accidents, wrongful death, governmental or public entity liability, and professional negligence. Mr. Kronenberg has more than a decade of experience litigating personal injury and product liability cases from their inception through trial and appeal. - Consumer Protection: litigating class action claims arising from...

Heidi Machen has been an attorney since 1996 when she graduated from University of California Hastings College of the Law and passed the California Bar Exam. Prior to hanging her shingle as a sole practitioner in 2008, representing clients in matters of employment and regulatory law, Ms. Machen served in various policy and executive positions in local and Bay Area government.

Among her extracurricular activities, she is an avid cyclist, a Vegan cook, an amateur oil painter, has been known to contribute to theatrical productions on or off stage, and to participate in Democratic party doings. She...