Clayton Lawyers

Melanie is a distinguished advocate for those who have been wronged or exploited, earning the moniker "the people's attorney." Her unwavering dedication to justice fuels her tireless representation of individuals from all walks of life—consumers, employees, business owners, private members, and homeowners. If you have suffered harm due to the dishonest or unlawful actions of others, Melanie stands ready to champion your cause to restore what you've lost. While on a different life and career path, fate stepped in and the legal profession found Melanie. After overcoming her own legal challenges, largely due to an attorney's advocacy, she felt called to...

Robin M. Birnbaum practices exclusively family law, having done so since 2010. Robin’s experience as a mediator, litigator and Minor’s Counsel gives her a unique perspective into the practice of family law and she is able to offer creative and strategic solutions to address the most challenging and complex family law matters, including child custody, domestic violence and support.

Robin is a Certified Family Law Specialist, having been certified by the State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization in July 2016. Robin is currently serving on the Executive Committee of the State Bar of California, Family Law Section...

The Law Office of David Reagan represents clients in Alameda County, Contra Costa County, and throughout the San Francisco Bay Area in clean criminal records. Mr. Reagan helps people obtain expungements, seal arrest records, and reduce felonies to misdemeanors. These services are provided at affordable rates with reliable communication.

Visit www.ponlaw.com for comprehensive information about Poniatowski Leding Parikh Law Corp. and Mark D. Poniatowski.

Hannah Sargent received her undergraduate degree from University of California Los Angeles and graduated from University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. While in school, she spent time clerking for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in San Jose. She is a former military officer, company commander, two-time Iraq war veteran and decorated AH-64D Apache Helicopter pilot. She is currently the principal attorney at Sargent Law Office, where she practices litigation, business and commercial law, and estate planning, and she lives in Castro Valley with her family. Between her time working and being with her family, she enjoys...

Specializing exclusively in criminal law, Joseph and this team of attorneys have represented thousands of criminal defendants facing serious felony charges. He has extensive experience defending MMJ collectives, cooperatives, cultivators, and caregivers facing criminal charges for helping patients. Joseph Tully has over fifteen years experience practicing criminal law in California and has been certified as a Criminal Law Specialist by the California Board of Legal Specialization. In addition, Mr. Tully has been recognized by The National Trial Lawyers as a Top 100 Trial Lawyer in both 2013 and 2014. From Shasta to Oakland to Los Angeles,...

Stephen offers experienced business and legal counseling to individuals and corporations throughout the Bay Area, including: (1) Business litigation and dispute resolution services involving misappropriation of trade secrets, non-compete/solicitation agreements, mechanics lien and payment bond claims, commercial leases, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraudulent misrepresentation and unfair, unlawful or fraudulent business practices (Bus. & Prof. C. sec. 17200); (2) Construction contracting; (3) Intellectual Property licensing and distribution; and (4) E-commerce, website terms of use, privacy policies and data protection and security.

Areas of Expertise

Business advice and counseling
Contract drafting and review
Corporate structure and transactions
Licensing and regulation
Employment and labor negotiation
Insurance coverage and claims handling
Education

B.A., Colgate University, 1991
Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude
J.D., University of Wisconsin Law School, 1994

Martin is an experienced business attorney who facilitates transactions while minimizing the risks and pitfalls facing his clients. Martin takes a “can-do” approach to legal problems that focuses on crafting deals through an integrative and value creating process rather than conflict.

Like many attorneys, before opening her own law firm, Ms. Lungu was a highly accomplished businesswoman, in various areas of management and areas of specialty. Additionally, she has a mediation and conciliation practice spanning almost two decades in California. Her unique abilities to make high level communication a safe and comfortable experience facilitated the transition to law and a career in mediation and dispute resolution. Part of her strength is in her keen awareness of the importance of each individual's particular needs and the need for individualized solutions. She provides individually tailored estate and business plans to all clients after...

Shahrad Milanfar is a Trial Attorney and Mediator who has focused his career on serious personal injury, automotive, asbestos and other types of product liability, transportation/ trucking, and habitability cases. Since the beginning of his career, Shahrad has worked on catastrophic injury cases such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), serious orthopedic injuries, including quadriplegia and paraplegia.

Shahrad gained his trial and courtroom experience while working with the district attorney’s office and as a civil trial attorney. He has handled cases form inception to verdict as the primary trial attorney. Over the past 20+ years, Shahrad has managed serious personal injury and...

OLIVER GREENWOOD is the principal of the Law Offices of Oliver Greenwood in Pleasant Hill. He is the author of chapters 1, 4, 12, 16, and 17 in the CEB Guardianship Handbook. Mr. Greenwood received his B.A. degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and his J.D. from Golden Gate University in San Francisco. A frequent speaker regarding probate matters and a member of the Judicial Council's Probate & Mental Health Advisory Committee. Mr. Greenwood is also a contributing author to CEB's conservatorship and powers of attorney and health care directives books. Mr. Greenwood's areas of practice include conservatorships, guardianships,...

I am a former police officer and deputy district attorney in Contra Costa County. I received my Bachelor's Degree from California State University Sacramento and a Juris Doctor from John F. Kennedy University, School of Law. As principal attorney of this firm, I guide the firm’s staff and manage major cases and matters on behalf of individual and business clients. I have tried numerous cases to verdict and have appeared before the California Court of Appeal, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal. Our firm practices real estate, labor and employment, and business litigation. Our firm also drafts wills, trust...

For more than 30 years, Mike Appel has devoted his practice exclusively to personal injury and wrongful death cases. He represents clients throughout California, both in State and Federal courts. Born and raised in Redondo Beach, Mike attended St. Mary’s College of California, Moraga, California, where he majored in English. He was an editor of the college’s literary magazine, "The Phoenix." He also played rugby for the Gaels, and was a member of the team that went on the first annual rugby tour of the East Coast. Mike received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1970. At graduation he also received...

Attorney Adam M. Carlson is managing partner at Casper, Meadows, Schwartz & Cook. While he is skilled in various areas of law, he focuses the majority of his practice handling cases related to wrongful death, civil rights, and personal injury. He believes that tailoring each case to each client’s needs is key to providing aggressive and compassionate legal representation.

Before joining the firm, Carlson served as an intake assistant for our team, where he was responsible for fielding calls from potential clients. It was at this time that Carlson decided he wanted to do more. He found that he was passionate...

Mr. Cross is an expert in the field of criminal law. Mr. Cross will fight more aggressively than anyone to bring you the best outcome possible. He passionately cares about defending his clients and does everything within his power to help them. Having attended the University of California, Berkeley for Undergraduate studies, he received a B.A. in Legal Studies. He subsequently attended the prestigious San Francisco Law School to receive his J.D. He is a member of many associations, including the State Bar Association, the Alameda County Car Association, the San Mateo County Bar Association and the Delta Theta Phi...

Mr. Poulin is experienced in the areas of real estate, business, and construction litigation. He has trial experience in both state and Federal court, and has experience in all aspects of dispute resolution. Mr. Poulin has successfully represented clients in broker disputes, foreclosures, neighbor disputes, title insurance coverage, fraud, breach of contract, breach of lease and landlord-tenant issues. Real estate issues include construction defect cases, damages on behalf of contractors, subcontractors, architects and engineers in mechanic's liens, stop notice, payment and performance bond actions. Prior to joining The Williams Firm, Mr. Poulin was an associate at the law...

In my early years as a financial planner, I realized that estate planning was an often-overlooked area of planning not only by clients but by their financial advisors. The reason I became an attorney was to help people make sure that their wishes are carried out during incapacity and after death. I had seen too many people impacted by the lack of estate planning or poor estate planning. I did not want to see the government or the courts take control of a person's property in a way that was not consistent with the person's wishes and intent. I am passionate...

MANJULA MARTIN is a criminal defense attorney at Lamano Law Office. Prior to her work with LLO, she clerked for the San Francisco District Attorney’s office where she worked on domestic violence cases, sexual assault crimes, and felony preliminary hearings. She received the Cali Excellence Award for Criminal Litigation in 2008 and helped draft a presentation that was used at an international conference on identifying and combatting Human Trafficking. It was during this tenure that she realized that her true passion in helping people.

Ms. Martin went on to represent low-income women seeking to leave abusive situations in...

Richard is a USPTO Registered Patent Attorney who loves helping creative people realize their dreams. Rich received his BA from Princeton University, then completed his Physics coursework at San Francisco State University. Rich received his J.D. with Honors & Certified in Intellectual Property from the University of Oregon School of Law. Rich has practiced in patent prosecution, patent litigation and military law, having served as an Army JAG Corps Captain stateside and overseas. Many lawyers call themselves "i.p. lawyers," but few are truly Registered with the USPTO, licensed to secure you your patent or ® Trademark. Look...

Joseph A. Motta was born and raised in the East Bay. He attended St. Mary’s College and graduated in 1984. He graduated from McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento in 1987. Joe’s legal career started as a Deputy District Attorney in Contra Costa County; from 1988 to 2004. There, he handled thousands of cases. He was a trial attorney on every team including Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, and Homicide. He supervised the Misdemeanor, Domestic Violence, and Sexual Assault Teams; as a supervisor, he maintained his own load of serious cases. As a deputy D.A., Joe prosecuted a number of high...

J. Michael Hosterman has over forty years of experience in personal injury law. He is known for his empathetic nature and vigorous advocacy on behalf of his clients. Civic-minded and forward-looking, Mr. Hosterman is involved in many community and professional organizations; he is a longtime member of the Pleasanton Downtown Association and the Rotary Club of Pleasanton. "Mike was a great asset to me and my case. He and his staff were on top of the details of my case and were always going the extra mile for me." - Kristi H. Livemore, CA "Michael was very honest, professional, diligent and such a friendly...

Kristen is the founder of Integrated General Counsel, a full-service business and employment law firm located in Pleasanton. IGC is designed to help entrepreneurs and business owners start, grow, and manage their companies. Kristen enjoys this work because she knows firsthand what it takes to dream up, build, and run one's own enterprise.

Kristen received her undergraduate degree in accounting from the University of San Francisco and her Juris Doctorate from Golden Gate University. Her professional experience includes a decade working for large firms like Morrison Foerster and Pillsbury Winthrop and as in-house counsel for a Fortune 500 international architecture &...

Hello. My name is Carol Ferreyra and I am the founder and owner of Ferreyra Law Group. I am a California Family Law attorney who has been practicing exclusively Family Law since 2003. I am also a Certified Family Law Specialist, accredited by the State Bar of California Board of Special Legalization.

I am devoted to helping my clients resolve their legal issues in the manner that is best suited for them in the most cost effective manner.

Anne M. Whatley has been practicing family law for over 20 years, and has experience in all aspects, including divorce, custody, support, pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements, domestic violence, and any other family law issue.

I have been exclusively practicing Family Law in California since 1993. I launched my own practice in 1996 and became a Certified Family Law Specialist since 2002. I an certified by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization. I practice in the Bay Area and Central Valley in California

Jason S. Buckingham is a California licensed attorney who helps people with estate planning (living trusts, trust administration) and real estate (practice limited to real property partition) issues. Mr. Buckingham graduated from John F. Kennedy University School of Law, Cum Laude, in December 2004, and was admitted to practice law in the State of California in May 2005, and to the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern District of California in February 2009 and the Northern District of California in March 2009. Mr. Buckingham is also a licensed real estate broker. Mr. Buckingham is a member of the California...

"I am a dedicated professional committed to ensuring that you receive the finest legal services available." Robert D. Rodriguez operates a full service law firm located in Modesto and Walnut Creek, California. The Law Office of Robert D. Rodriguez has been providing a broad range of high quality legal services to a wide range of clients, including both businesses and individuals, throughout the greater San Joaquin Valley Area. The Law Office of Robert D. Rodriguez is currently providing the same level of service to the San Francisco East Bay Area. If you...

I have been practicing solely in family law since 2011. In 2018 I was accepted as a Certified Family Law Specialist with the State Bar of California. I have also received training focused in Family Law mediation.

Karen S. Fenchel

Professional Biography

Karen Fenchel is a sole practitioner in Walnut Creek, CA. She is a Certified Family Law Specialist and has focused on all areas of family law. Her practice is settlement oriented and includes both family law mediation and collaborative law. Karen has a strong commitment to helping clients resolve issues without going to court. She utilizes her training in both mediation and collaborative practice to assist families in crisis and help them gain control of their lives. Through mediation, collaborative process and negotiated settlements, she works toward equitable solutions that consider the...

Helen has provided quality mediation services in Alameda, Contra Costa and Solano counties since 1993. Her process permits private , effective resolution of legal disputes.

Attorney with over 30 years of experience representing clients in Divorce and Family Law matters. Certified Specialist in Family Law, certified by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. My practice includes representation in all areas of divorce and family law, including child custody; child visitation; child support; spousal support ; division of community property (including high value assets); annulment; paternity; and drafting marital settlement agreements. I am also available to provide limited scope representation or consultation for self-represent parties. Representing clients throughout Contra Costa and Alameda Counties.

In 2003, Carl R. Gustafson graduated from UCLA Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelors in History. In 2005, he was a legal intern for Global Justice in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he drafted sections of human rights situation reports and submitted them to the United Nations and other international bodies. He also researched issues of international jurisdiction and the enforcement of international treaties. Carl went on to graduate with honors from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law in 2007, where he was also an associate editor for the Ecological Law Quarterly. It was Carl's yearning to right wrongs...

I have litigated many contract disputes. I taught the law of contracts at JFK University Law School for ten years. I know contracts from the practical as well as the academic point of view.