San Diego’s Top Attorneys
Alexis Gutierrez and Jessica Sizemore are among San Diego’s Top Attorneys in 2019
Top Attorneys — 2019
William Eigner is a partner at Procopio, who has represented venture capitalists, angel capitalists and security firms. He has also represented a high-technology company in its sale to a well known Silicon Valley firm. He has structured the formation of an energy services company, represented the majority shareholders of a retailer in forcing the buyout of a minority partner. He has advised distributors in a dispute with their suppliers, assisted a catering company in a brand licensing transaction and joint venture. Eigner is a director of EvoNexus, a board member of FHOOSH Inc., a former trustee of La Jolla Country Day School and a past member of the Headmaster’s Advisory Council at the Bishop’s School. He is a trustee emeritus of the San Diego Police Foundation and a director and corporate secretary of the San Diego Venture Group. He has been recognized as a Super Lawyer as well as a Best Attorney by SD METRO Magazine. He is a graduate of Stanford University.
Jessica Sizemore is a partner at Gomez Trial Attorneys who is a passionate advocate for those who have been injured by the wrongful acts of others. She has secured over $50 million in jury verdicts and settlements. She joined Gomez Trial Attorneys in 2007 as a paralegal and decided to attend law school to further advance her legal skills and ability to represent her clients. She returned to Gomez each summer as a law clerk while attending the University of Arizona Law School. She became a full-time attorney in 2011. In law school, she was a writer for the Arizona Law Review, fundraising chair for the Law Women’s Association and a volunteer for the Wills for Heroes program. In 2010, she was named Volunteer Student of the Year by the Southern Arizona Volunteer Lawyer’s Program. She lived in both Saipan and Hawaii as a child before moving to the San Fernando Valley. Sizemore has a bachelor’s degree in finance from San Diego State University. She is a member of the Consumer Attorneys of San Diego, Lawyers Club and the San Diego County Bar Association. She has been awarded the Outstanding Trial Lawyer award by the Consumer Attorneys in both 2017 and 2018 and named to Super Lawyers Magazine Rising Star for San Diego in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Ronson J. Shamoun is the owner of RJS Law, San Diego’s leading tax law firm. His firm has a sterling reputation among all taxing entities for being steadfast advocates for its clients. Through his sizable portfolio of commercial real estate and business investments, he has developed a keen sensibility for the legal needs of business owners and investors alike. He is able to provide practical legal advice to individuals seeking tax and business services, or to persons considering business or real estate transactions. Shamoun has been honored by many different organizations including the University of San Diego Law School’s Distinguished Alumni award. In 2013, and every year sense he has received the prestigious AV Preeminent rating from Martindale Hubbell, an award which recognizes an attorney’s excellence in legal ability and ethical practice. He teaches a Tax and Penalties class at the USD Law School. Completion of the course is required for the Master of Laws in Taxation Degree. RJS Law has been recognized as one of San Diego’s Most Admired Companies by SD METRO Magazine. He holds three degrees from the University of San Diego, a B.A. undergraduate degree in accounting, a law degree and a master’s of law degree in taxation.
Gayle M. Blatt’s legal practice is focused on complex and class action litigation. She is head of Casey/Gerry’s complex litigation practice group, handling high profile, multi-million dollar cases. Earning a reputation nationwide for her skills and expertise, she has been appointed to prominent leadership roles in litigation related to global chip maker Intel for security flaws and technology giant Apple Inc. for device performance issues. She has served on the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee overseeing the nationwide class action litigation related to the massive data breaches revealed by Yahoo Inc. She has worked closely with firm partner David S. Casey Jr., to help pursue litigation targeting the German auto maker VW over the diesel emissions scandal, the largest in consumer class action history. Their work supported more than $11 billion in settlements. She also worked with Casey on the Fiat Chrysler diesel emissions litigation. She serves on the board of trustees for California Western School of Law and is on the board of the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center. Blatt is a three-time winner of the Consumer Attorneys of San Diego’s Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award and is consistently ranked in Best Lawyers of America. She is a graduate of Hofstra University and California Western School of Law.
Kevan McLaughlin created his law firm at the height of the 2007-08 recession and successfully grew the practice at a time when many attorneys struggled to obtain quality work. Attributes to this feat include his drive, a keen understanding of tax litigation and controversy law and his adherence to three guiding values: personal service, a concentrated practice and a commitment to his clients. McLaughlin Legal advises individuals, families and businesses in tax and estate planning matters (including drafting wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and more.) He also has extensive practice in both civil and criminal tax litigation. He is well-versed in the IRS Tax Preparer penalties code, injunctions, criminal investigations and ethics counseling. He is also a top expert in CPA Licensing Defense including California Board of Accountancy and Public Company Accounting Oversight Board investigations and IRS Office of Professional Responsibility disciplinary cases. After earning his undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado he moved to San Francisco to attend the Golden Gate School of Law. He then moved to San Diego to attend the Graduate Tax Law Program at the University of San Diego where he earned his Master of Laws in Taxation.
Anne Wenger has become one of the top estate planning law attorneys in San Diego. Having started at McLaughlin Legal just a few short years ago, she now leads the firm’s Estate and Tax Planning division, and also represents clients before all federal, state and local agencies. She expertly advises clients concerning their fundamental estate plans as well as assists her clients in evaluating and implementing various tax strategies to help protect and preserve their assets. While attending Gonzaga University School of Law, she worked for the County Public Defender and later at University Legal Assistance, a clinic providing services to low-income members of the community. Wenger teaches an upper- level estate planning and tax course at San Diego State University, as well as in its Executive Program for those studying to become Certified Financial Planners. She is a member of the board of directors of the Foundation of the San Diego Boys and Girls Club of Greater San Diego. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame and a Master of Law degree in taxation from the University of San Diego School of Law Graduate Tax Program.
Danielle Humphries is an equity partner at Hahn Loeser Law. Her accomplishments reflect her life- long commitment to leadership, advocacy and compassion for others. They are integrated into her daily activities, from outstanding firm leadership, to the mentorship she provides her colleagues. She volunteers her time on various boards within the San Diego community, most specifically, Promses2Kids. While she serves as an active board member, she also volunteers as the chair of the Philanthropy Committee, which serves the diverse needs of more than 3,000 San Diego foster children. She has also been a driving force in Hahn Loeser’s continued support of the San Diego Museum of Art, most recently through its sponsorship of the museum’s free admission program for youth aged 17 and under in San Diego County. Humphries has earned “Best of the Bar,” a top attorney in the category of Estate Planning/Probate and Trust/Tax, and San Diego Super Lawyer ‘ Rising Star designation. She holds both a J.D., and LL.M. from the University of San Diego School of Law.
Alexis Gutierrez is a partner at Higgs Fletcher & Mack, a respected and well-respected litigator, an active participant in the community, and a true force within San Diego’s legal community. For over 20 years, he has successfully provided business and employment counseling and complex commercial litigation to public and private entities, as well as nonprofit organizations. His extensive trial experience covers a wide variety of complex cases in federal and state courts, and before numerous administrative agencies including the Department of Fair Employment and Housing, the Equal Employment Commission and the Division of Labor Standards, the California Labor Commissioner and the National Labor Relations Board. He has litigated numerous business disputes to verdict, including those brought by entities, individuals and class plaintiffs. He currently chairs Higgs Fletcher & Mack’s Litigation Department in addition to serving on the firm’s executive and management committee. He serves on the board of directors for United Way of San Diego, and on the board of directors for the San Diego North Economic Development Council. He obtained a defense verdict on behalf of Groupe Zadiac Aerospace, defeated certification of 11 sub-class wage and hour class against Hilton Carlsbad Resort and Spa, and Hilton Garden Inn. He obtained a de-certification of 120,000 member-class in Hale v. Sharp Healthcare, and defeated certification of 80,000 member class in Terrazas v. Memorial Health Services. He hold his B.S. from Cal Poly and his J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law.
Earl Pott is a shareholder with Klinedinst PC whose practice is focused on white-collar criminal defense cases, among them professional licensing litigation, professional liability defense, vehicular manslaughter, sexual assault, vehicular manslaughter, fraud and embezzlement. He has substantial experience in matters involving criminal securities fraud, false claims, and political corruption, and has defended professional licenses before the medical, nursing, and psychology boards. Pott has served as a guest judge and commentator at trial advocacy seminars at California Western School of Law and the California Public Defenders Association’s Annual Trial Skills Workshop, and has taught for the National Institute for Trial Advocacy.
Leah Strickland Leah Strickland, a partner at Solomon Ward Seidenwurm & Smith LLP, is a skilled litigator with a practice encompassing business and employment litigation and intellectual property disputes. She advises individuals and businesses in resolving disputes prior to the start of litigation and represents clients after litigation has begun in both federal and state court actions. For the past nine years, Strickland has served as a member of the San Diego County Bar Association Intellectual Property Section, working to advance the development of intellectual property laws. She also is active in the Association of Business Trial Lawyers, San Diego chapter.
Robin Wofford a partner at Wilson Turner Kosmo, is a leading litigator in business and employment law who is making strides to diversify the legal industry by creating more opportunities for minority and women-owned law firms throughout the country. Wilson Turner Kosmo is the largest certified women-owned law firm in San Diego. She is showing companies that diversity and inclusion is key to their success. With more than 30 years of trial experience, Wofford has resolved a myriad of disputes for employers regarding wage and hour class actions, wrongful termination, discrimination, sexual harassment and trade secret disputes. She has effectively defended both wage and hour as well as consumer class actions and numerous appeals before the Ninth Circuit and various state appellate courts.
Andrea N. Myers is a partner at Seltzer Caplan with a very successful litigation career at one of San Diego’s most prestigious law firms. She has settled several multi-million dollar disputes, involving business fraud, trust administration and real property claims. In both state and federal court, she represents clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to private commercial entities in complex business disputes, employment litigation and professional liability defense. She leads the firm’s Marketing Committee and is responsible for promoting the firm’s growth. Additionally, she oversees Associate Training which focuses on the skills that young attorneys need for successful careers. Her philanthropic activities include the Junior League of San Diego, the San Diego Bowl Game Association’s “Red Coat” Committee and serves on the board of the Urban Discovery Academy. Myers holds a B.A. in economics and government from Claremont McKenna College and a J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law.
Robert Shields is a partner at Wilson Turner Kosmo who has represented automotive, motorcycle, automotive component parts and industrial equipment manufacturers in high-stakes lawsuits for nearly 20 years. He is also devoted to celebrating and helping provide services to San Diego’s diverse special needs community. Since 2000, his team has taken approximately 3,500 cases to resolution. Shields primarily represents national and international manufacturers who have either been sued for damages in catastrophic injuries or in litigation involving breach of warranty claims based on the Song-Beverly and Magnuson-Moss Warranty (also known as the “lemon law”) acts and consumer fraud statutes.
Bill Hunter is a principal at Fish & Richardson who is a leading patent attorney with significant experience advising individuals, start-up companies, universities, research institutes and technology and manufacturing companies. With a company’s patent portfolio often its largest and most important asset, Hunter’s role is critical to his clients’ successes. His practice incorporates many facets of patent law including patent prosecution and counseling, patent strategy and analysis, development and management of patent portfolios, patent opinions, due diligence investigations, and post-grant proceedings. Hunter participates in Fish’ annual “Patent Lab,” which trains the firm’s newly-hired attorneys and technical specialists across its 10 U.S. offices in best practices for patent prosecution.
Shawn Hagerty is a partner at Best Best & Krieger LLP, a national leader at the intersection of land use planning and water quality. Across the state, he ensures water quality standards are crafted and executed in a fair yet aggressive and effective manner. He strategically helps cities, counties and special districts maintain clean water systems devoid of stormwater pollution. Hagerty also bridges the efforts of public agencies and private developers to comply with state and federal water regulations, including the Clean Water and Safe Drinking Water acts. Recently, he worked with the Port of San Diego on a two- year, multi-organization effort to implement water quality measures across the Port’s diverse maritime operations.
Lauri Stock After serving seven years as a U.S. Navy officer, Lauri Stock began her legal career with the San Diego City Attorney’s Office, first as a deputy city attorney and later as a police legal adviser. Her extensive prosecutorial trial experience was a natural segue into family law. After having her own family practice for more than 20 years, Stock joined Solomon Ward Seidenwurm & Smith LLP in 2012. She brought a wealth of knowledge into her practice in the areas of divorce, dissolution and legal separation, child custody and visitation, child and spousal or partner support, adoption and mediation. She is an experienced mediator, serving as a settlement Family Court judge (pro tem) and appointed minor’s counsel.
Meryl Maneker, a partner at Wilson Turner Kosmo, works to protect businesses in high-stakes class actions, primarily in the employment and consumer protection fields. With more than 30 years of experience, Maneker coordinates the firm’s class action practice group, both handling and overseeing many of its cases, but also educating its 30-plus attorneys about current litigation and legislative measures that impact this area of the law. Maneker has successfully defended businesses of all sizes, and from a broad spectrum of industries, in wage-and-hour class actions in both state and federal court. Her work has helped clients fight allegations of misclassification, failure to provide meal breaks and lack of expense reimbursement, among other claims.
