Education

Law School/Year: University of San Diego, 1979

College/Year: UC Davis and University of Barcelona, 1977

Bar Admissions

California (all courts); Southern, Central, Northern Districts of California; 9th Circuit Court of Appeals; U.S. Supreme Court

Practice Areas

Alternative Dispute Resolution, Business Litigation, Civil Litigation, Labor, Personal Injury & Property Damage

Major Cases

Representation of executives in complex employment negotiations, including Sarbanes Oxley issues; Defense of an owner of a franchise system in complex trial; representation of a business in trial against another business engaged in insurance fraud/arson; representation in trial of purchaser of commercial property against agents for breach of fiduciary duty; representation of class in disability access case; prosecution of cross-burning/civil rights violations; prosecutions of arms and technology smugglers; prosecution of murder for hire, etc.

Professional Background

Represented architects and engineers in claims of design malpractice (two years); Assistant United States Attorney (five years); complex civil litigation and trial partner with Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves and Savitch LLP for 13 years; complex civil litigation and trial partner with Sandler, Lasry, Laube, Byer & Valdez LLP for the past six years. Also Adjunct Professor/Faculty for USD School of Law and the National Institute of Trial Advocacy (past 20 years).

Professional Affiliations

American, California, San Diego Bar Associations; ATLA; CASD; NITA; California Women Lawyers; Lawyer Representative to 9th Circuit; Master, American Inns of Court; Member, Board of Directors, California Appellate Project; Former Delegate to the State Bar; Former member Equal Justice Committee for the U.S. District Court; Former member, Civil Justice Reform Act Committee; Former member of Board of Directors with San Diego Inn of Court (five years).

Personal Affiliations

Member, USD School of Law Alumni Board of Directors; Co-Founder/Co-Director of S.L. Scholarship Foundation; Former Member and Officer of Board of The Institute for Effective Education; Former Chair, Public Affairs Committee, Mental Health Association; Volunteer: Women's Resource Fair, Therapy Dogs International, Canine Companions for Independence, Habitat for Humanity