MEMBERS ROBERT K. PHILLIPS

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1 Phillips, Spallas & Angstadt LLP is an AV-rated, civil litigation firm specializing in products, premises, employment, landlord-tenant, environmental, commercial, pharmaceutical malpractice, construction, auto/um, and bad faith cases. With fully staffed offices in San Francisco, Las Vegas and Los Angeles, the firm possesses a thorough knowledge of the unique rules, judiciary and plaintiffs bar of most state and federal venues in California and Nevada. This knowledge is a product of not only the highly qualified local attorneys staffing each office, but also the vast trial experience accumulated by the attorneys of Phillips, Spallas & Angstadt LLP. The firm tries numerous cases each year, and has acted as national coordinating counsel for products liability litigation and as assigned lead defense counsel for Proposition 65 environmental litigation. Phillips, Spallas & Angstadt LLP is proud of a client base which expects timely reporting, reasonable billing, and consistently excellent results. Representative clients include, The Gap, Inc., Cincinnati Insurance, Pizza Hut, Inc., KFC, Taco Bell Corp., The Neiman Marcus Group, Inc., American International Group, First Financial Insurance Company, Fireman s Fund Insurance Company, Sears, Williams- Sonoma, Dynacraft Industries, Golden Gate Fields, Penn America Insurance, Liberty Mutual Insurance, Unitrin Insurance, and Atlas Insurance. The firm values the attorney-client relationship and provides seminars, research and additional resources to clients without charge. Further, we are proud that our firm has been registered by the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency as a minority-owned business. Our identification number in the MBDA Phoenix database is Confirmation of our minority business designation can be obtained by contacting the Minority Business Development Agency through their San Francisco regional office at (415) , or you may visit its website at ROBERT K. PHILLIPS MEMBERS Robert K. Phillips is a veteran of over 100 trials. As defense counsel, Mr. Phillips has obtained a defense verdict in over 90% of his jury trials. In the 10% of jury trials in which a defense verdict was not rendered, the ultimate award was less than his clients' settlement offer prior to trial. Mr. Phillips has successfully tried all cases in which he has represented plaintiffs; obtaining millions of dollars for his clients including awards of punitive damages. Mr. Phillips' trials have involved allegations of wrongful death, product liability, construction defect, negligent security, insurance bad faith, breach of contract (employment, real estate, transactional), premises liability, trade secret infringement, real estate fraud, wrongful eviction, professional errors and omissions, rent control violations and food borne illness. He has also served as national coordinating counsel in Proposition 65 litigation and successfully prosecuted claims of patent and trademark infringement. In recognition of his litigation experience, Mr. Phillips has received commendation from the United States Department of Justice and has been a frequent guest on the nationally syndicated program, Legal Incite. He has frequently lectured at local universities and presently serves as arbitrator and mediator for both the San Francisco County Superior and Municipal Courts. Mr. Phillips also presently serves as a Marin County Commissioner. Mr. Phillips is admitted to practice in California, Nevada and Indiana and is a member of the California Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the International Bar Association. His published opinions include: Creditors Collection Service v. Hanzell Vineyards, Ltd., 5 Cal. App. 4th Supp. 1 (1992); State Farm Fire and Casualty Company v. Yu Kiyo, Ltd., et al., 870 Fed. Supp. 292 (1994); Edwards v. A.L. Lease & Co., (1st Dist., Div. 5) 46 Cal. App. 4th 1029 (1996); Wilson v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 72 Cal. 1

2 App. 4th 382 (1999); Moore v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., 111 Cal. App. 4th 472 (2003); Sanchez v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. et al, 221 P.3d 1276 (2009). Mr. Phillips received his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1985 and his Masters of Law degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science in He also received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Arizona and a Masters degree in Theology from Boston University. Mr. Phillips was Associate Professor of Business Law and Political Science at the American College of London for two years. GREGORY L. SPALLAS Gregory L. Spallas was admitted to the California Bar in 1987 after receiving his Juris Doctorate degree with honors from the Syracuse University College of Law, Syracuse, New York in While earning his degree, Mr. Spallas clerked for the Honorable Howard G. Munson, Chief Justice, United States District Court for the Northern District of New York and the New York Attorney General s Office. Prior to receiving his J.D. degree, Mr. Spallas attended the University of Wisconsin, receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1982 with dual majors in International Relations and History. Since his admission to the California Bar, Mr. Spallas has gained extensive experience in the field of civil litigation, with a special emphasis on employment related litigation, including the defense of claims premised upon sexual harassment, discrimination, Americans with Disabilities Act violations, wrongful termination, Labor Code 132(a) claims and wage and hour issues. In addition to numerous mediations and arbitrations, Mr. Spallas has successfully tried numerous cases to jury verdicts in both state and federal court, many of which involved multi-million dollar claims. Mr. Spallas also provides counseling services to many employers and has drafted and provided advice regarding employment manuals and other workplace policy and procedure guidelines. Mr. Spallas also has an extensive background in the defense of environmental claims, including actions based upon asbestos, silica and Proposition 65 violations. Mr. Spallas has successfully defended commercial entities from all parts of the country in mass tort litigation in California courts, in both serious physical injury and/or wrongful death claims allegedly due to exposure to toxic materials. Mr. Spallas also has years of experience in the defense of personal injury actions, including premises liability, automobile and intentional tort claims. Mr. Spallas is a member of the American and the San Francisco Bar Associations and is admitted to practice in all State and Federal District Courts in California and the United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Mr. Spallas also serves as an arbitrator for the San Francisco and Santa Clara County Courts. TODD A. ANGSTADT Todd A. Angstadt graduated cum laude from the University of San Francisco in 1993, where he earned his Juris Doctor degree. While at the U.S.F. School of Law, Mr. Angstadt clerked for the National Labor Relations Board. Prior to earning his J.D., Mr. Angstadt earned dual degrees in education and the fine arts from Wichita State University. For well over a decade, Mr. Angstadt s practice has emphasized premises liability and product liability in both State and Federal Courts. Mr. Angstadt has tried numerous cases to verdict and is a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel, an invitation only, peer-reviewed organization limited to approximately 2,500 members worldwide. Mr. Angstadt co-authored The Erosion of the Peculiar Risk Doctrine, San Francisco Barrister s Law Journal (August 1996) and The End of Constitutional Blackmail, International Association of Defense Counsel Newsletter (November 2000). In addition, Mr. Angstadt achieved a favorable judgment in the published decision of State Farm Fire & Casualty Company v. Yukiyo, Ltd., 870 F. Supp. 292 (1994). Mr. Angstadt has served as a Judge Pro Tem in Alameda County. He has volunteered for the San Francisco AIDS Legal Referral Panel and Oakland s Lawyers in the Library Program. Mr. Angstadt is 2

3 licensed to practice in all State and Federal District Courts in California and is a member of several local and national professional organizations. KATHERINE A. MUNTER Katherine A. Munter graduated in 1992 from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, where she was an editor of Comm/Ent, Hastings Journal of Communications and Entertainment Law. Ms. Munter received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English and French Literature from Stanford University in Prior to attending law school, Ms. Munter served as a Trial Clerk for the Judges for the United States Tax Court in Washington D.C. from 1987 through With over 15 years experience in the field, Ms. Munter s practice focuses on insurance coverage and business litigation, providing advice on liability and property claims including environmental, products, technology, intellectual property, commercial disputes, construction, and employment. She also has significant experience handling bad faith claims and disputes between insurers. In addition, Ms. Munter has experience defending agents and brokers and has assisted insurer clients in drafting policy language and working with the California Department of Insurance. Ms. Munter has trial and appellate experience in state and federal courts throughout California, and extensive experience representing insurers and insureds in mediation and arbitration. Ms. Munter regularly provides clients with in-house seminars and training on coverage, bad faith and employment issues. Ms. Munter is a former member of the Edward J. McFetridge American Inn of Court and an active member of the San Francisco and California Bar Associations. Appointed by Mayor Gavin Newsom in January, 2005, Ms. Munter currently serves on the City s Commission on the Status of Women and is the Commission s immediate past President. A native San Franciscan, Ms. Munter is active in a number of civic and community organizations, including the Telegraph Hill Neighborhood Center and Catholic Charities. BRENDA H. ENTZMINGER Brenda H. Entzminger received her Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, in During law school, Ms. Entzminger was a judicial intern for San Francisco Superior Court Judge John E. Munter and worked as a law clerk for antitrust attorney Francis O. Scarpulla. Ms. Entzminger participated in UC Hastings Trial Advocacy Program. Prior to law school, Ms. Entzminger obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from San Francisco State University in She is a member of the American Bar Association, the San Francisco Bar Association and the National Association of Women Lawyers. She is admitted to practice in the State of California, the United States District Court for the Northern District and Eastern District of California, the United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, the State of Nevada and the United States District Court for the District of Nevada. Brenda H. Entzminger currently practices in the areas of employment and tort litigation defense, including premises liability and product defect actions. Licensed in California and Nevada, Ms. Entzminger manages the firm's Las Vegas office, while continuing to serve client needs in Northern California as well. Ms. Entzminger specializes in the litigation defense of retail establishments and products manufacturers and distributors. Having obtained numerous defense judgments, favorable settlements, favorable arbitration results and dispositive motion rulings on behalf of the firm s clients, Ms. Entzminger has taken cases to trial and successfully argued a Writ of Mandamus before the Nevada Supreme Court. In arguing the Writ to the Supreme Court, Ms. Entzminger obtained an Order reversing a liability finding her against her client and likewise obtained a favorable opinion pertaining to business owners obligations in preserving evidence. Also, she has obtained several federal published opinions favorable to defendants seeking removal to federal court. Her published opinions include: Fee v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., No , 2006 U.S. Dist. WL (D. Nev. Nov. 2, 2006); Gilliard v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., No , U.S. Dist WL (D. Nev. May 16, 2007); Mack v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., No , U.S. Dist WL (D. Nev. Feb. 11, 2008); Lopez v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., No , U.S. Dist WL (D. Nev. Jan. 7, 2008); Sanchez v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. et al, 221 P.3d 1276 (2009). 3

4 BRADLEY J. JAMESON Bradley Jameson, a partner in the San Francisco office of Phillips, Spallas & Angstadt, practices in the firm s real estate and commercial litigation groups. Mr. Jameson has extensive experience representing parties in a wide range of cases including personal injury, real property, and landlord-tenant matters. Mr. Jameson is a member of the real property section of the Bar Association of San Francisco as well as the Napa County Bar Association. Additionally, Mr. Jameson is approved as a Judge Pro Tem for the San Francisco County Superior Court and periodically offers his services, pro-bono, for clients of Napa County Legal Aid. In his spare time, Mr. Jameson sits on the board of several non-profit organizations, including Leadership Napa Valley, the goal of which is to involve, inform and inspire leaders in order to strengthen the community where he lives with his wife and three children. ELISA RHEIN MARCALETTI Elisa Rhein Marcaletti joined the firm in October Her practice focuses on litigation defense in the areas of real property, landlord-tenant, premises liability, and personal injury disputes. While at the firm, Ms. Marcaletti has handled a wide variety of cases, including wrongful evictions, fire losses, landslides, mold and toxic exposure matters, neighbor disputes, lot line and easement issues, construction defect matters, and catastrophic injury cases. Ms. Marcaletti has successfully negotiated various settlements in high exposure cases, including wrongful death actions and multi-million dollar property matters, obtained favorable rulings on dispositive and other law and motion matters, and obtained favorable arbitration judgments and rulings before the San Francisco Rent Stabilization and Arbitration Board. Additionally, Ms. Marcaletti s arguments before the California Court of Appeal resulted in favorable decisions for the firm s clients. Ms. Marcaletti attended the University of San Francisco School of Law, where she served as the Associate Editor of the Maritime Law Journal, participated in the Investigations Clinic and earned the CALI Award for Excellence in Real Estate Secured Transactions. She received her Juris Doctorate degree in May of Prior to attending law school, Ms. Marcaletti received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with a Minor in Women s Studies from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, in Ms. Marcaletti is a member of the American Bar Association, the Bar Association of San Francisco, the National Association of Women Lawyers, and the St. Thomas More Society. She is admitted to practice in the State of California. JAMES L. GHIDELLA SENIOR COUNSEL Senior Counsel James L. Ghidella received his Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology in 1969 from University of California, Berkeley and his Juris Doctor degree from San Francisco Law School in He was admitted to practice law in California and the United States District Court for the Northern District of California in For twenty years, Mr. Ghidella actively engaged in civil litigation as Trial Attorney and Acting Chief Trial Attorney for the Alameda Contra Costa Transit District, as Managing Attorney for the Zurich Companies, and as Trial Attorney III for the California State Automobile Association. In 1998, Mr. Ghidella associated with former California Attorney General, John Van de Kamp, in directing the Thoroughbred Owners of California, a legislatively mandated bargaining agent for thoroughbred horse owners in California. Mr. Ghidella was certificated in mediation by Pepperdine University in 1993, and has maintained an active mediation practice that has involved virtually all major liability insurance carriers and such entities as 4

5 Chevron, Century Theaters, City of Oakland, City of Berkeley, the Oakland Alameda County Coliseum and Contra Costa County. Mr. Ghidella is an active thoroughbred horse owner and breeder and has also served as a licensed official at various California racetracks. He is also co-founder and a corporate officer of the Maggiora Baking Company. CARON L. STAPLETON Caron L. Stapleton s practice focuses on litigation and advice in a variety of complex insurance coverage matters. She brings over 15 years of experience to the table. Her practice includes insurance coverage and bad faith disputes in the areas of habitability, environmental, construction, products, intellectual property, officers and directors liability, and health. Her practice also includes assisting clients in drafting policy language and reviewing insurance-related legislation. Ms. Stapleton also regularly represents clients in appeals and mediations. While Ms. Stapleton s clients are generally insurance companies, she has also represented heath care benefit plans, large corporate policyholders, as well as brokers and agents. In addition to her work in insurance coverage litigation and advice, Ms. Stapleton has extensive experience handling general commercial litigation matters. Ms. Stapleton also heads the firm s nonprofit practice, which specializes in incorporating nonprofit charitable organizations and obtaining tax exemption status from the Internal Revenue Service and California Franchise Tax Board. Ms. Stapleton is admitted to practice before all courts in the State of California and the Northern and Eastern Districts of California. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from the University of Washington in She earned her Juris Doctorate from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, in 1987, where she received an American Jurisprudence award in insurance law. She was also the publishing editor for Comment/Ent, Hastings Journal of Communications and Entertainment Law. Prior to attending law school, Ms. Stapleton worked for the United States Consumer Protection Commission and the Washington State Attorney General. In addition to her legal practice, Ms. Stapleton is active in a number of civic and community organizations. She is a director of the Shining Star Foundation/Star Academy, a nonprofit school serving children with special needs. She is also an officer and co-founder of a nonprofit corporation dedicated to promoting emerging early childhood education methods, and she co-founded It Takes a Village, SEPTA, a special education parent-teacher association that collaborates with schools to resolve special education issues. MICHAEL R. HALVORSEN ASSOCIATES Michael R. Halvorsen received his Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of California at Santa Barbara in He attended the University of San Francisco School of Law where he received the Best Oral Argument Award from the Moot Court Board, was the Executive Articles Editor of the Maritime Law Journal, a pupil in the U.S.F. Inns of Court, Quarter-Finalist in the Judge John R. Brown Moot Court Competition in New Orleans, and Finalist in the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association s Mock Trial Competition. He authored Citation and Precedent: A Practitioner s Guide to Citation and Precedent Value of Opinions Published in AMC under the Ninth, Fifth, Eleventh, and Second Circuit s Rules, 199 U.S.F. MLJ 199. Thereafter, he was invited to be the first student to ever address the biannual Pacific-Admiralty Conference. During the summer of his second year in law school, he clerked for a national firm where he focused on the defense of manufacturers in product liability litigation. He received his Juris Doctor degree in May of Mr. Halvorsen joined the firm upon passing the California State Bar in November His practice focuses primarily on litigation in the areas of real property, landlord-tenant, fraudulent non-disclosures, 5

6 breach of fiduciary duty, and commercial disputes. In November 2005, he moved to Los Angeles where he expanded his practice to include product liability litigation for clients including Ford Motor Company, Whirlpool Corporation, and General Motors. He rejoined Phillips, Spallas & Angstadt LLP to open the firm s Los Angeles office where he handles a variety of litigation matters throughout California in the areas of real property, landlord-tenant, consumer warranty, product liability, and insurance defense. Mr. Halvorsen is a member of the California State Bar, American Bar Association, Association of Southern California Defense Counsel, U.S.F. Inns of Court, and the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is admitted in the United States District Courts for the Northern, Central, and Southern Districts of California. CANDICE A. MULLINGS Candice Alana Mullings received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a minor in Philosophy from the University of Michigan. During her undergraduate studies, she was a member of the Track and Field team and honored as an All-American Scholar Athlete. Ms. Mullings obtained her Juris Doctor from the University of Southern California. She received honors grades in various courses including Constitutional Law, Counseling the Start-Up Company, Criminal Law, Property, Pre-Trial Advocacy, and Sports Law. She participated in the Moot Court honors program, and served as Vice President of the Black Law Student Association. As the sole student representative to the Student Behavioral Appeals Panel, she made recommendations to the Provost regarding studentsubmitted appeals. While in law school, she provided pro bono services to underprivileged clients. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Mullings gained oral and written advocacy experience in a variety of areas including high-exposure public entity matters, tort claims, and civil rights actions. She currently practices in the areas of premises liability, personal injury, and intellectual property. BRANDON P. SMITH Brandon P. Smith obtained his Juris Doctor from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in Prior to law school, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a concentration in Creative Writing from the University of Toledo in He was also awarded his Masters in English Literature from the University of Toledo in 2002 and subsequently taught English at the University. While attending law school, Mr. Smith was awarded the 2006 Moot Court s Best Brief award and participated in the University of Pittsburgh s Trial Advocacy Program. He served as Research Editor and Topics Editor for the Journal of Technology Law and Policy. He also served as a Senior Editor of the recognized Web-based legal news and research service, JURIST. Mr. Smith currently practices in the area of tort litigation defense, specializing in the areas of premises liability and products liability. He is admitted to practice in the State of Nevada and the United States Court for the District of Nevada. SHIVANI SUTARIA Shivani Sutaria received her Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law in While earning her law degree, Ms. Sutaria served as a judicial extern for the Department of Labor Office of Administrative Law Judges and as a law clerk at Rudy, Exelrod & Zieff, the California Office of the Attorney General, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). While in law school, Ms. Sutaria was the Symposium Editor ( ) and the Articles Editor ( ) of Journal of Law & Social Challenges. She also participated in the Civil Mediation Clinic through which she mediated San Francisco County Small Claims Court cases and represented employees at EEOC mediations and California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement wage and hour conferences. Ms. Sutaria received the ABA-BNA Award for Excellence in the Study of Labor and Employment Law in 2006, the CALI 6

7 Excellence for the Future Award in Advanced Labor and Employment Law in Spring 2005, and the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Legal Research & Writing in Spring Prior to law school, Ms. Sutaria worked as the Communications Coordinator and Grants Manager at Equal Rights Advocates from 2000 to From 1999 to 2000, she served as an Amnesty International Ralph J. Bunche Human Rights Research Fellow through which she worked at the Center for Gender and Refugee Studies at the University California, Hastings College of the Law. Ms. Sutaria earned a Master of Arts degree in Sociology from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from University of California, San Diego. Ms. Sutaria primarily practices in the area of employment law. She is a member of the American Bar Association and is admitted to practice in the state of California. WILLIAM R. CARLSON William R. Carlson graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1998, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with a specialization in Business. Mr. Carlson attended the University of San Francisco School of Law where he graduated Cum Laude in May of He received American Jurisprudence Awards in Torts and Cyberspace Law during law school and an Outstanding Volunteer in Public Service Award from the San Francisco Bar Association for work with the Homeless Advocacy Program in Mr. Carlson has been licensed since 2003 and currently practices in the areas of landlord-tenant, premises liability, personal injury and real property law. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Carlson practiced both civil and criminal law, including trying several cases to verdict. KIA E. MYERS Kia E. Myers received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Law and Society from the University of California, Santa Barbara, in Subsequently, Ms. Myers attended Golden Gate University School of Law. She received her Juris Doctor in December Prior to attending law school, Ms. Myers served as a police officer for the City of San Mateo, from 1996 to 1999, and the City of Menlo Park from 1999 to In addition, while working for the City of Menlo Park, Ms. Myers was a member of the Hostage Negotiation Team. Ms. Myers currently practices in the area of employment law. She is admitted to practice in the State of California. JESSICA STUART PLINER Jessica Stuart Pliner graduated from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 2004 where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Law and Society. As a UC Capitol Scholar, Ms. Pliner served as an intern for Governor Schwarzenegger in the Governor s Communications Department. Ms. Pliner subsequently earned her Juris Doctor from Golden Gate University School of Law, where she received the Masud Mehran Endowed Fellowship for her demonstrated entrepreneurial spirit and initiative. Ms. Pliner competed on the Mock Trial team in the 2007 Association of Trial Lawyers of America competition in Los Angeles and worked during law school as a research assistant and teaching assistant. Ms. Pliner achieved a CALI award for excellence in Remedies and a Witkin award for academic excellence in Intellectual Property Litigation. Ms. Pliner currently practices in the areas of landlord-tenant, premises liability, personal injury, and insurance coverage. Ms. Pliner is a member of the American Bar Association and the San Francisco Bar Association. She is admitted to practice in the State of California, as well as the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. 7

8 Prior to entering the legal profession, Ms. Pliner had a career as a concert promoter, artist manager and the owner/manager of an independent record label with a dozen domestic and international releases. PATRICK J. CONNOLLY Patrick J. Connolly graduated magna cum laude from Dickinson College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Spanish and was selected for membership in Phi Beta Kappa. During college, he studied at the Universidad de Malaga and interned at a law firm in Malaga, Spain. Mr. Connolly received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, where he served as Associate Editor for the Pittsburgh Tax Review. During law school, Mr. Connolly was awarded the International & Comparative Law Certificate from the Center for International Legal Education at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. He also studied international and comparative law at the Summer Law Institute of the Universidad de Guanajuato School of Law in Mexico and had an externship with a Mexican federal court judge. Mr. Connolly is admitted to practice in the State of California and is a member of the Bar Association of San Francisco and the American Bar Association. He currently litigates in various areas of law, including landlord-tenant, premises liability, personal injury, and real property law. KENDRA E. MCGEE Kendra E. McGee received her Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, in During law school, Ms. McGee served as a judicial intern for the Honorable Judge Bernard Zimmerman at the United States District Court for Northern California. She also interned at the Chief Counsel s Office at the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement in San Francisco. Ms. McGee served as an active member of Hastings International and Comparative Law Review, as well as a contributing writer to The Transnational Law Blog. Ms. McGee obtained her Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts degrees in Diplomacy and International Relations from Seton Hall University. Prior to law school, she worked in New York City for a Fortune 500 finance company in its High-Net-Worth Division. Ms. McGee currently practices in the areas of tort litigation defense. She is admitted to practice in State of California, as well as the Northern District of California, and is a member of the American Bar Association. A. J. SHARP A. J. Sharp earned his Juris Doctor degree from the Northwestern University School of Law in During law school, Mr. Sharp was the Julius H. Miner Moot Court Champion and served as an Associate Editor of the Law Review. Prior to law school, Mr. Sharp earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with High Honors in political science from the University of Cincinnati, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Mr. Sharp also earned a Master of Arts degree in political science from Michigan State University and a Master of Arts degree in political science and political theory from UCLA. Mr. Sharp previously worked as an associate in the Los Angeles office of Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker, chiefly working in securities and employment litigation. Mr. Sharp currently practices in the areas of employment and tort litigation defense, including premises liability and products liability actions. He is a member of the American Bar Association and is admitted to practice in the State of California, as well as the United States District Court for the Central District of California, the State of Nevada and the United States District Court for the District of Nevada. 8

9 ANNA C. GEHRIGER Anna C. Gehriger earned her Juris Doctorate from the University of California at Davis (King Hall) in She was the recipient of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship, which is awarded annually to two students who demonstrate commitment to the public interest. While earning her law degree, Ms. Gehriger participated in King Hall's Immigration Clinic and Civil Rights Clinic. She also completed summer internships at Bay Area Legal Aid and Equal Rights Advocates. She was a 2004 recipient of a California Bar Foundation's public interest award. For three years prior to attending law school, Ms. Gehriger was the Executive Assistant at San Francisco public interest law firm, Equal Rights Advocates, which inspired her to pursue her law degree. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology cum laude from Georgetown University. Prior to joining our firm, Ms. Gehriger worked for three years as a civil litigator at Callahan Thompson Sherman & Caudill LLP in San Francisco. Ms. Gehriger has experience in the areas of premises liability, professional liability (including psychologist/therapist), personal injury, landlord/tenant, real estate, construction defect litigation, and, employment law. In June 2009, Ms. Gehriger became a LEED Accredited Professional ("LEED AP"). LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The LEED rating system which is administered by the Green Building Certification Institute was developed to encourage green building practices. To become a LEED AP, one must demonstrate a thorough understanding of green building techniques, the LEED Green Building Rating System, and the certification process. Ms. Gehriger is interested in all aspects of the growing green and sustainable building movement, ranging from building design and effect on occupants, to helping to resolve potential legal disputes concerning the LEED rating system. Ms. Gehriger is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council's Northern California Chapter ( which promotes and advocates for green building. For more general information about green building techniques and the LEED rating systems for the built environment, please visit Ms. Gehriger is licensed to practice in the California Sate Court and United States District Court for the Northern and Central Districts of California. She is a member of the San Francisco Bar Association and the San Francisco La Raza Lawyers Association. In addition to English, Ms. Gehriger speaks Spanish, German, and Swiss-German. LINCOLN TRAN Lincoln Tran received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Law & Society and Communication Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara in As an undergraduate, he was selected to be a member of the Regents and Chancellors' Scholars Society, and he served as an intern to the Santa Barbara County Public Defender's Office. Thereafter, Mr. Tran received his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 2009, where he served as a judicial extern for the Honorable Judge Peter J. Busch of the Superior Court of San Francisco, Law & Motion Division. While attending law school, Mr. Tran also served as a teaching advisor, Academic Chair of the Asian Pacific American Law Students' Association, and he participated in the Legal Aid Society, Workers' Rights Clinic where free and accurate legal advice was given to low-income, working individuals. Mr. Tran currently practices in the areas of tort litigation defense, including premises liability and products liability actions. Prior to joining the firm, he was an associate with Hinshaw & Culbertson, LLP, practicing in professional liability defense and insurance coverage litigation matters. He also clerked for Prindle, Decker, & Amaro, LLP, a civil defense firm specializing in tort litigation, specifically asbestos and other toxic exposures. Mr. Tran has experience in a variety of other areas including employment litigation, mass tort claims, and breach of fiduciary duty. Mr. Tran is a member of the American Bar Association and is admitted to practice in the State of California, as well as the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. 9

10 CARLA VASQUES DOS SANTOS-MOORE Carla Vasques dos Santos-Moore received her Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of São Paulo School of Law in December of 2002 in São Paulo, Brazil. While earning her high school diploma, Ms. Vasques dos Santos-Moore also obtained an Associate of Arts in Music degree (Classical piano) in During law school, Ms. Vasques dos Santos-Moore worked as a teaching assistant for four out of the five years of her law school education. Ms. Vasques dos Santos-Moore was also an intern to a State criminal prosecutor. Subsequently, Ms. Vasques dos Santos-Moore served as an intern to a Federal civil prosecutor working before Federal appellate courts in São Paulo. In her fifth year of law school, Ms. Vasques dos Santos-Moore was awarded a full-time scientific research scholarship from The State of São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) to work on an original dissertation in the field of public international law. The completion of this research project coincided with her graduation from law school. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Vasques dos Santos-Moore worked with boutique firms and solo practitioners in the areas of civil and business litigation, family law, employment law, and criminal appeals. Ms. Vasques dos Santos-Moore currently practices in the area of tort litigation defense. She is admitted to practice in the State of California, as well as the State of São Paulo, Brazil. ANDREA M. REYNA JOSEPH M. CLARK ANNE E. PIERONI Anne Pieroni s practice with the firm focuses on tort litigation defense, including premises liability and product defect actions serving client needs in the firm s Las Vegas office. Her past legal practice has focused on defense of civil and commercial litigation matters for local, national and international companies, including intellectual property, personal injury, premises liability, product defects, toxic torts, gaming, bad faith, errors and admissions, insurance subrogation, construction defect, real property, and bankruptcy. She is also experienced in corporate formation and advisement, commercial lease/purchase agreements, gaming compliance, contract negotiation and drafting, and consultation of foreign clients. She maintains extensive trial, mediation, arbitration and appellate experience in both state and federal courts. She is admitted to practice in the state of Nevada, the state of Idaho, the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada, the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho, the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado and U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Ms. Pieroni earned her B.A. in Political Science, cum laude, from Michigan State University, and her Juris Doctorate from Rutgers School of Law. She is an alumna of Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Sigma Pi national honor societies, as well as Golden Key international honor society, She is knowledgeable in Italian, Spanish and German. Ms. Pieroni s previous experience and background includes her position as inhouse counsel for a media/technology company managing a national federal litigation docket of intellectual property matters, and clerking for the State of New Jersey Attorney General s Office - Division of Gaming Enforcement, as well as the Honorable Gloria M. Burns, U.S. Bankruptcy Court - District of New Jersey. She is additionally a contributing editor to the Trento Project Directive for the European Union, regarding environmental pollution tort liability; and past visiting legal linguist/scholar at Karl Franzens University in Graz, Austria. Ms. Pieroni is also an active volunteer in her community as a participant in Clark County, Nevada s pro bono program, as well as volunteer for the local affiliate for Children s Miracle Network. Her activities have earned her the Clark County Pro Bono Honor Award, and the Rutgers Pro Bono Publico Award. 10