Vernalis Civil Rights Lawyers

Mr. Tabayoyon is an experienced trial attorney that focuses on personal injury and family law matters, including federal and state trial litigation.

John Hyland is a partner with Rukin Hyland & Riggin LLP. He practices exclusively in the area of employment law. John was Of Counsel with Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker in the firm’s San Francisco office where he advised and represented companies in State and Federal court actions covering all areas of employment law, including wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, disability law, employee privacy, employee leaves, and wage and hour issues. John regularly conducts training seminars and presents on a wide array of employment law issues. Law & Politics Magazine selected John as one of its Northern California Super Lawyers...

The Applegate Law Office focuses on efficient, effective representation. I provide my clients with exactly the help that they need. I founded the Applegate Law Office in June 2009. I have been practicing law in California since 2003, and I have spent most of those years practicing law in the North Bay. As an attorney for years in Santa Rosa and a former prosecutor in Ukiah and Willits, I am familiar with Sonoma and Mendocino County courts. My office, centrally located in Santa Rosa, serves all of the North Bay – Mendocino, Sonoma, Lake, Napa, and Marin counties.

A personal injury...

When individuals or businesses are involved in any form of litigation, they want an attorney who offers face-to-face contact and provides valuable legal services at competitive and reasonable costs. The Law Offices of Frank S. Moore, APC in San Francisco and Healdsburg, California, has attorneys on staff and "of counsel" that are committed and dedicated to clients and have extensive experience in the following areas of practice: • Business Litigation • Appeals and Writs • Federal and White Collar Criminal Defense • Wrongful Death • Personal Injury • Civil Rights • Disability...

Bryan Schwartz is an Oakland, California-based attorney dedicated to helping employees protect their rights in the workplace. He has fought prohibited discrimination, retaliation, and harassment, obtained reasonable accommodations for disabled employees, vindicated whistleblowers' rights, and ensured that corporations pay workers all wages they are owed. He has successfully litigated individual and class action complaints nationwide, helping to recover millions of dollars for thousands of employees, forcing corporations and Government agencies to change their practices and punish wrongdoers. Bryan Schwartz is also one of the few Bay Area-based attorneys with extensive experience representing Federal employees in their unique Merit Systems...

In the last seventeen years, Law Offices of Joseph Salama has helped companies and individuals navigate successfully through the legal system. For some, this meant going before a jury, whether in federal or state court, or before an administrative law judge. For some, it meant getting out of the case as quickly and painlessly as possible. For some, it meant putting the right knowledge, documents, and systems in place to minimize the risk of litigation. But for all of them, it meant listening, understanding, and then making the commitment to meet their needs such that they could begin to outsource...

Mike attended law school on a merit-based scholarship and graduated with honors. Since joining the firm in January 2001, Mike’s practice has been dedicated solely to representing plaintiffs. Mike specializes in litigating serious injury and wrongful death cases. He has extensive experience handling cases involving personal injury, product liability, automotive defect/crashworthiness, medical malpractice, elder abuse, civil rights, fire claims, insurance bad faith as well as government entity liability. Mike’s practice also focuses on representing property owners, both residential and commercial, in construction defect matters. He has successfully represented hundreds of homeowners and businesses in Northern California seeking recovery for defective...

Cristina focuses her practice on representing clients in employment law matters—including litigating wage and hour claims, class action employment cases, wrongful termination, harassment, retaliation, and discrimination law— and providing advice on prevailing wage and public works law, severance agreements, employee privacy, and workplace issues. Cristina conducts training seminars and presentations in Spanish and Portuguese on a broad range of employment law topics. Cristina has worked in the labor and employment law fields since the early days of her legal career. Before moving to California, she was a law clerk in the National Labor Court in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and...

Mr. Lewis’ main area of practice is civil litigation. He has litigated diverse subject areas such as First Amendment Rights, Americans with Disabilities Act, Fair Employment and Housing Act, wage laws, trade secrets, contracts, securities laws and real property laws, as well as many others. Mr. Lewis’s central area of practice involves business and employment related issues and real estate matters. Mr. Lewis also represents clients regarding homeowner's association disputes.

Mr. Lewis is also a trainer in areas of employment law for organizations with an emphasis on prevention. He has taught hundreds of courses in subject areas that include sexual harassment...

David L. Axelrod began work as a teenager, selling scorecards in Dodger Stadium. After attending college, David L. Axelrod entered a career as Park Ranger and Fire Fighter, at the East Bay Regional Park District of Northern California. In 1988, David L. Axelrod graduated law school at the University of California, Berkeley, California, passed the bar, and commenced the practice of law. David L. Axelrod worked as Deputy Attorney for CALTRANS Legal Division in Los Angeles, California, and then as Deputy Tuolumne County Counsel in Sonora, California. Mr....

"I am dedicated to my clients and work hard to achieve the results needed in every case" I have represented clients and continue to to serve the counties of San Francisco, Marin, San Mateo, Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara, Napa, San Joaquin and all other Northern California Counties. No case is to big, and no case is to small. Each one has a certain value to the client and each deserves 110% effort. This is what I do! We Handle everything from: Traffic stop signs; to DMV suspensions; to DUI cases; to serious felonies.

Scott Cole is the founder and principal attorney at Cole & Van Note, one of California's best-known and most highly-respected employment and consumer rights class action law firms. He is a graduate of the University of San Francisco School of Law (1992), and San Francisco State University (B.A., Speech Communications; 1989). He is a member of the California State Bar and the State Bar’s Labor and Employment Law Section, is admitted to practice before all California federal courts (including the 6th and 9th Circuit Court of Appeals), has prosecuted cases in numerous states including New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida,...

Christopher Whang is a Civil Litigator representing clients in a wide range of litigation matters, particularly commercial landlord-tenant issues, contract disputes, bankruptcy, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) claims. Most notably, Christopher has worked with several, high-profile, Fortune 500 companies in the Bay Area in various litigation matters. Christopher has extensive experience in the full spectrum of litigation, including pre-lawsuit investigations, drafting pleadings, conducting discovery, taking and defending depositions, performing legal research, motion practice, trial preparation, negotiations, and client interaction. Prior to becoming a Civil Litigator, Christopher worked at various Public Defender offices all across the Bay Area and Sacramento....

Charles “Chuck” Piccuta is a founding partner of the Piccuta Law Group, LLP and has practiced law for more than forty years. He attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois on a full-ride athletic scholarship for football and graduated with highest honors with a major in Political Science. He then attended Northwestern University, School of Law in Chicago on an academic scholarship. He was a member of the prestigious Northwestern University Law Review and earned his law degree in 1972 graduating with honors.

After graduating from law school, Chuck made the decision to serve his country and proudly joined the U.S. Navy...

Ms. Szeto-Wong completed her undergraduate studies at UC Berkeley. She obtained her law degree from UC Berkeley School of Law and has been litigating civil rights, family law, and employment cases in state and federal court since 2012. Ms. Szeto-Wong has a successful track record including favorable verdicts and awards in the millions of dollars. She is bilingual in English and Cantonese.

As a partner with San Francisco's Rukin Hyland & Riggin LLP, Peter Rukin represents Bay Area clients in a wide array of complex litigation matters, including employment, wage and hour, and business disputes. Mr. Rukin has built a reputation as a thoughtful and strong advocate for his clients, whatever their disputes may be. Mr. Rukin specializes in complex litigation, with a focus on wage and hour and equal employment opportunity claims. Since 2003, as class counsel he has recovered tens of millions of dollars on behalf of thousands of California employees and consumers. Peter also represents clients with respect...

Aaron J. Lodge received his BA degree and first graduate work in math. He taught math at both the high school and college level for nearly 10 years, before changing careers and going to law school. Mr. Lodge now has a general practice law firm, where he focuses on family law, mediation, civil rights, and is now affiliated with other larger firms for personal injury and other areas of law. Mr. Lodge is highly dedicated to his clients, is very personable, and excellent in both litigation (in court), and in mediation.

Rachelle T. Golden, is admitted to practice in California and in Washington D.C. She is currently admitted to practice in all California State and Federal District courts within the State of California. Ms. Golden regularly consults with private and public entities in proactive ADA compliance, which includes creating policies and procedures that comply with Federal and State laws. She is a defense litigator who represents both public and private entities in ADA defense and employment defense. Ms. Golden is a consultant and educator for various political organizations throughout California. She collaborates with and assists elected officials and lobbyist groups in drafting...

I was born in Latin America and grew up in San Francisco. A product of the Bay Area, I studied economics at UC Berkeley before moving to Washington, DC, where I worked at both the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Reserve. In 2003, I embarked on my legal studies at Cornell Law School in Ithaca, NY. Upon graduation, I worked as a corporate associate in Manhattan at a boutique international law firm. There I had the opportunity to work on a wide array of corporate transactions, from financing the construction of a hotel in NYC, structuring investments...

An Advocate for Your Rights in the Workplace. The Law Office of N. William Metke specializes in employment law litigation. The firm provides vigorous advocacy on behalf of individuals who have encountered injustice in the workplace. This includes discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, retaliation, unpaid wages, and other wrongs in the employment context. We represent clients throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. tel: 415-572-9556 email: nwm@metkelaw.com

I am an accomplished California attorney. I represent employees and tenants in a broad range of Employment, Landlord-Tenant and Civil Rights matters.

Dedicated to exceptional advocacy, I am diligent in fighting for the rights of my clients. I am genuine, experienced, and committed to justice.

I am also active in the community, currently volunteering at both Centro Legal and the Western Service Workers Association where I provide pro bono assistance to low-wage workers.

Daniel Horowitz is Contra Costa County's "Top 100 Trial Lawyer". Daniel is an active community member serving on the Lafayette Crime Prevention Commission and a strong supporter of LPIE, Generations in Jazz and the Acalanes and local sports programs. His law group, Lawyers in Lafayette is a community law firm handling all types of cases "in house" or assisting in a referral to the best attorney for your needs. Daniel Horowitz and his legal team have exceptional qualifications in targeted areas. His group of affiliated attorneys includes a licensed physician who practices as a lawyer, a licensed...

Dylan graduated from Cornell University (1986) and magna cum laude from UC Hastings College of the Law (1990). He clerked for Judge Melvin Brunetti in the Ninth Circuit and then spent a year teaching legal methods at Stanford Law School. From 1991-2001 Dylan practiced appellate law with Dennis Riordan until going out on his own in 2001. Thereafter he worked with lawyers around California on complex trials and appeals in both the civil and criminal arenas. Dylan joined Edward Kerley’s practice in 2014 and has since focused on the rights of California policyholders. He obtained two key victories on behalf...

Christopher C. Phillips was born in Sacramento and raised in Glen Ellen, CA (the heart of Sonoma Valley). Growing up, Chris was always a good student, but was consumed with Baseball. Following his dream, Chris attended Santa Rosa Junior College and then Texas Tech University to play Baseball. After graduating with an Exercise and Sports Science degree from Texas Tech, Chris decided he had just about reached the end of the line as far as baseball was concerned, so he refocused his goals and decided on Law School. After Graduating from University of Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, Chris clerked for,...

David L. Fiol received his BA in Government from Cornell University (Ithaca, NY) in 1984 and graduated from the Harvard Law School (Cambridge, MA) with his JD in 1988. He spent the first ten years of his career litigating aviation accident and other wrongful death and personal injury cases for a firm in New York City. He represented clients and family members injured by everything from automobile accidents to small private plane crashes to major disasters including the bombing and crash of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. During his tenure there he also litigated, insurance coverage, real estate...

Aaron Clefton is the Managing Partner of Rein & Clefton. He is dedicated to advancing the civil and economic rights of persons with disabilities and all people who are vulnerable or impoverished. Aaron is lead counsel on all ADA cases for Rein & Clefton. He has over 17 years working in the field of disability rights, 5 years of that as an attorney. He has received Martindale-Hubbell’s highest peer honor of “AV-Preeminent” in 2021, given to attorneys “who are ranked at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal expertise, communication skills, and ethical standards by their peers.” That same year...

Inez Kim, Attorney at Law specializes in representing individuals in various areas of law. She is known for her mission to take a genuine interest in her clients and bring fast resolutions. Her clients appreciate her immediate feedback and strong communication skills. She understands the uniqueness of each cases and meets the clients' expectations. She also holds an MBA degree and bring to the table real world business experience. She is dedicated to bring commitment, integrity and positive results for all her clients.

Marlon Monroe brings a background of court battles and life experiences rarely found in employment law & civil rights attorneys. Prior to practicing law, Marlon taught middle school in Los Angeles for five years and worked in the music industry. After graduating from law school in South Florida, he began his legal career and moved back to Oakland, CA, where he practiced criminal defense for 15 years and became known as “The People’s Champion” due to his zealous advocacy, successful outcomes and representation of prominent members of the local community. While cultivating his skills in the courtroom, Marlon also worked with...

Ms. Truong's practice focuses on all aspects of civil litigation and general business litigation.

Ms. Truong joined Perry, Johnson, Anderson, Miller & Moskowitz in October 2018. Prior to joining the firm, she worked as a litigation attorney at two Am Law 100 firms in New York, New York, where she practiced in the areas of complex and multidistrict commercial litigation, contract disputes, data/records management, E-Discovery, cross-border litigation (including the U.K, France, Israel), securities litigation, corporate internal investigations, governmental investigations (including Securities Exchange Commission investigations and antitrust investigations from the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission), bankruptcy litigation (as a member...

Mr. Miller is first and foremost a civil trial attorney, having tried over 60 cases to a jury verdict in a host of subjects ranging from real estate, business, dental malpractice, attorney malpractice, civil rights/excessive force and personal injury. Mr. Miller also represents clients regarding employment/labor matters, and homeowner's association disputes.

Mr. Miller worked as a police officer for nearly ten years on the San Francisco Peninsula. While attending Empire College School of Law at night, he started a successful legal research business, providing legal research to over 30 attorneys. He has practiced law in Sonoma County since 1988. He is...

Walter ("Skip") Walker is the managing partner of Walker, Hamilton & Kearns, LLP, a firm he founded in 1988. He and the firm specialize in high-profile personal injury and wrongful death matters, particularly in the areas of police abuse of power, dangerous condition of public property, highway design, sexual abuse, product liability and accidents involving vehicles of all kinds. He was San Francisco Trial Lawyer of the Year in 2018, has been nominated for that award several times and a finalist twice. He has also twice been a finalist for Marin County Trial Lawyer of the Year...

Alden Knisbacher has represented clients in the Bay Area and across California since 1994. He has litigated hundreds of cases in various areas of law including employment, real estate, contract and business disputes, probate disputes, civil rights and other matters.

Mr. Knisbacher is a Georgetown Law graduate.

When not practicing law he can be found hiking, biking, running or cycling with his two children. Or, perhaps, playing with their pet bunny, Bobby.