Vista Employment Lawyers

I, Nick Lansdown, am a Marine Corps Veteran. After my military service, I wanted to continue helping people who have been taken advantage of, one way or another. I got into employment law because it is the single most important area of law that impacts everyday people on a daily basis. I have dedicated myself to becoming a forceful advocate for people who have been taken advantage of or discriminated against. I bring the Marine Corps motto to my practice, Honor Courage and Commitment.

I'm a nerd when it comes to the law. I've handled a diverse caseload: business, contracts, employment, landlord-tenant, commercial, federal state and local regulations, injuries, corporate disputes, arbitration, mediation, and anything you can think of.

Stephen Sommers is passionate about representing employees unfairly treated by their employers. He represents employees with the understanding that an individual's dignity can be largely derived from the work they perform. When an employer unfairly treats employees, then the employees their financial condition and their dignity can take also be compromised. Mr. Sommers fights for justice for employees as a way to build stronger individuals and stronger communities.

Gary Rodich has three decades of legal experience fighting for the rights of injured workers. He is a Board Certified Workers’ Comp Specialist and an established leader in the field. Throughout his career, he has recovered substantial sums for his clients and provided effective legal representation at each step of the claims process. He is a dedicated advocate who is always accessible to clients, delivering first-class service for the best possible results. Mr. Rodich also represents union and non-union members, and has extensive knowledge of union laws, labor laws, and contract laws.

David Payab, Esq. is the founder of the Law Offices of Payab & Associates and one of the most respected employment attorneys in the Southern California legal community. A graduate of Southwestern University School of Law, Attorney Payab was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1997. Since then, he has built a reputation for both litigating and settling complex employment law, personal injury, real estate, and civil rights cases while assertively protecting the rights of his clients—including in one confidential settlement that resulted in more than $5 million for his client. He is the recipient of the American...

Ms. Rodriguez received her B.S. from California State University, Northridge and earned her J.D. from Glendale University College of Law. She is a first-generation attorney and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in employment law, working in this field for over 16 years; becoming an attorney in 2015 while working full-time and attending an evening law school program. Ms. Rodriguez is a 2016 graduate of the Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles Plaintiff Trial Academy. She is active with the Los Angeles Trial Lawyers Charity and is currently a board member. Ms. Rodriguez is known for her strong work...

Mr. Gill graduated from San Luis Obispo High School as a Valedictorian. He obtained his Undergraduate training at the University of California, Santa Barbara. At U.C. Santa Barbara, he majored in Law & Society and Religious Studies, and was awarded the prestigious Dean's Honors in Fall 1989 and in Spring 1992. After graduating from U.C.S.B., he enrolled at California Western School of Law for his law degree with a Dean's Scholarship. After graduating, he passed the California bar exam on his first attempt. Mr. Gill is admitted to the State Bar of California and the United States District Court...

Mark is a 20-year civil litigation attorney with a practice focusing on on business, construction, real estate, and personal injury litigation. Mark’s clients include property owners, businesses, contractors, and manufacturers that he has successfully represented in trials involving contract claims, property disputes, jobsite accidents, product liability and professional liability litigation. Mark spent the year 2003 in the record eleven-month construction defect/mold trial of El Escorial v. Santa Barbara Villas. He obtained defense verdicts for his three clients in that case. Prior to joining Christman, Kelley & Clarke, PC, Mark was a founding partner of Hardin & Coffin, LLP...

Criminal Defense Law. I use my 13 years of legal experience to fight for you on the Central Coast. As a former prosecutor, I know the ins and outs of the legal system and can work those details to your advantage.

With years of experience working for large law firms in San Francisco and Los Angeles, Emilie Elliott joined Carmel & Naccasha as an attorney in 2015. After being with the firm for five years, Emilie started her own practice during the pandemic while continuing to work for the firm on an Of-Counsel basis. She is very excited to be back with the firm and looks forward to continuing to serve our clients in intellectual property, employment law and business law matters. Emilie also has extensive experience in antitrust and unfair competition, business and entertainment litigation, and intellectual property litigation. Additionally, she...

Benjamin P. Feld is a law partner with the firm Ghitterman, Ghitterman & Feld. Mr. Feld has been representing injured workers since 2002, providing his expertise in the areas of Workers’ Compensation, Social Security Disability and third party litigation services. Mr. Feld is also a Certified Specialist in Workers’ Compensation with the State Bar of California, one of only four applicant attorneys in the County with this distinction (two of the other three are the other partners in the firm). His work has led not only to successful outcomes for his clients, but also citable appellate precedent. Mr. Feld also...

Pahoua was born in Iowa, but was raised in Fresno, California. She graduated from the University of California, Davis with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. She earned her Juris Doctorate from San Joaquin College of Law. Pahoua's law practice focuses on Employment Law, Housing Law, Personal Injury, Civil Litigation and Criminal Law.

Prior to attending law school, Pahoua worked for attorneys in the Sacramento and Fresno areas. During law school, Pahoua interned with Central California Legal Services advocating for domestic violence victims. In 2007, she was the recipient of the Champions of Justice...

Darryl E. Young is dedicated to helping the accused and relishes the challenge of fighting for the underdog and winning difficult cases while getting excellent results for his clients.

Mr. Young was born and raised in California’s Bay Area. After attending UCLA, he returned home to the Bay Area for Law School, with a focus on criminal law. Before graduating, he was certified as a Law Clerk with the San Francisco Public Defender’s and Alameda County Public Defenders offices. Upon graduation, he worked as a deputy public defender in Merced county. His aggressive manner in the courtroom resulted in many winning...

John is a former Deputy Public Defender for two separate Public Defender offices and has 23 years of criminal law experience. He has handled from simple cases all the way to murder with very successful results

I represent people...
People who have suffered injuries because of others.
People who have endured harassment, discrimination, and retaliation at work.
People on Main Street who have been cheated by Wall Street.
People who have been harmed by corporate greed and excess.
People who deserve quality representation, but cannot afford it.

Dedicated to providing practical, cost-effective, solutions to workplace challenges. Attorney Elisabeth DeBartolo is your best choice for an employment and labor attorney who offers personalized assistance with your case. She may be the most seasoned employment attorney you will find in our area. Attorney Elisabeth DeBartolo is a Monterey Employment Attorney who worked for many years in executive level Human Resources prior to attending law school. Her experience is unique. She doesn't just have book smarts, she has the day-to-day, on-the-job, in-the-trenches experience needed to identify workplace challenges and resolve them. Ms. DeBartolo can quickly...

Help small to medium size companies navigate through a wide variety of legal challenges: formation, funding, governmental impediments, operational legal planning, merger and acquisition, employee relations, and labor compliance. All with the goal of litigation avoidance. Litigation in all California state courts and the Northern and Eastern U.S. District Courts of California.

Ed Kraus is a shareholder with Silicon Valley Law Group. For over 20 years he has represented individuals, small and large companies in a variety of civil and criminal litigation matters. Ed has successfully handled litigation involving employment issues, real estate, construction, commercial disputes, contract issues, unfair competition and Americans with Disabilities Act claims on behalf of businesses. Ed also handles a wide variety of criminal litigation including representing individuals and corporations accused of grand theft, embezzlement, real estate fraud, insurance fraud, environmental, trade secret violations, driving under the influence, other driving related charges and other general criminal matters.

Ed believes...

Amanda Whitten specializes in suing large corporations for sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation and wrongful termination. She is a native of the Central Valley, has a passion for Bulldog football at Fresno State, running marathons, and social justice. Ms. Whitten's law practice extends from Bakersfield to Sacramento to Oakland. She has cases filed in federal and state courts all over the Central Valley. She has significant experience with jury trials in courts throughout the state. She knows how to get your case ready for a jury trial. Just within the last few years, Ms. Whitten has recovered millions of...

Since 1989, Lori has been practicing civil litigation throughout Northern California. She is experienced in civil litigation, professional malpractice, employment discrimination, labor and employment, personal injury, wrongful termination, and general business and contract disputes. Lori is licensed to practice law in both state and federal courts in California. With more than 25 years of experience, Lori Costanzo has engaged in a broad range of complex civil actions; she has handled jury and bench trials in both state and federal courts, and has served as a fierce advocate for her clients in mediation and arbitration. Her experience extends to the judicial level...

A resident of Oakland, Len spent much of his legal career with prestigious, top-ranked, San Francisco law firms. Mr. Watkins brings the same level of expertise, and standard of excellence, to his practice in the East Bay. Focusing on consumer bankruptcy and business law, Mr. Watkins’ depth of experience and training include: A Masters of Business Administration, concentrating on finance, from the University of California, at Davis A stock brokerage license (inactive) from the National Association of Securities Dealers A California Real Estate Broker’s license Previous Experience Business Attorney Norris & Norris (now...

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 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...

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.

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...

Jessica is a partner at Rukin Hyland & Riggin LLP and specializes in litigating employment law cases on behalf of employees. From violations of wage and hour laws to sexual harassment and discrimination, Jessica has represented both individuals and groups of people in class actions. She also advises executives in pre-litigation matters such as severance agreements and employment agreements. If you have an employment law issue in the Bay Area, please contact her office today and set up a free consultation.

Arthur Lazear has practiced law for more than 40 years, helping to obtain successful results for worthy clients nationwide. Mr. Lazear has prosecuted some of the biggest class actions ever litigated in employment law, but has never abandoned his level of personal attention to each client, which is the firm’s hallmark.

Mr. Lazear’s father was a janitor, an immigrant from Ukraine who worked nights in a tireless effort to provide his children the hope of a better life, that they might realize the American Dream. The example set by his father inspired Mr. Lazear’s lifelong commitment to protecting and enforcing the...

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...

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...

Since 1995, Joe has specialized in ERISA counseling and litigation. He has represented hundreds of ERISA benefit plan participants and beneficiaries, in individual benefits suits, breach of fiduciary duty litigation, and ERISA class action litigation. From 2003 to 2005 he represented the United States Secretary of Labor in ERISA litigation and investigations.

In 2012, Joe won the California Lawyer Attorneys of the Year ("CLAY") award. In 2019, Super Lawyers magazine ranked Joe among the Top 100 Northern California Super Lawyers, after including Joe as an employee benefits Super Lawyer for 6 years running. In 2019, Best Lawyers magazine also...

John Feder is a personal injury lawyer in San Francisco and a partner at Rouda Feder Tietjen & McGuinn. Since 1978, Mr. Feder has been practicing in the legal field. Currently, he serves as president of the Consumer Attorneys of California, and he also serves on the organization’s Executive Board and Board of Governors. For the past ten years, Attorney Feder has been selected for inclusion in the list of California Super Lawyers®. For your free case evaluation, please contact his firm today.

Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law: I provide a complete range of estate planning, elder law, probate, trust administration, veterans pension and Medi-Cal eligibility services. I work with clients to create and implement an estate plan specifically designed with them in mind, including their family, their business, their property and their personal wishes. This includes preparation of Durable Powers of Attorney for Health Care and Durable Powers of Attorney for Asset Management. Family Law: I have over 30 years of experience in family law. Besides being a highly trained, experienced and knowledgeable family lawyer, I am personally and professionally sensitive to the concerns...

Mr. Vlasak focuses his practice on civil litigation for plaintiffs, including habitability and wrongful eviction suits for tenants, as well as consumer, employment and personal injury actions. Mr. Vlasak earned his Juris Doctor degree from Temple University Law School in Philadelphia, where he was Staff Editor of Temple International and Comparative Law Journal. Prior to his career as an attorney, Mr. Vlasak was an Adjunct Professor and taught courses including philosophy, ethics, and logic.

I help clients with their employment, business, and start-up needs. I also represent clients involved in civil litigation. Please contact me to find out how I can help you with your legal needs.

Harry G. Lewis is an accomplished Employment, Immigration and Business Law attorney with extensive trial experience. He represents private and public companies, non-profits, public agencies and individuals throughout California.

Harry partners with clients to find creative strategies that address their complex legal needs. He has an uncompromising dedication to excellence, providing attentive service and skilled advocacy, always focused on achieving the best possible results.

Harry received his B.A. from the University of Virginia. In 1991, he earned his J.D. from William & Mary Law School. Harry is active in the community, including serving on the Board of Directors for the Marin Humane...

Erica Rosasco is a partner at McKague Rosasco LLP in Rocklin, California. She has received an “AV® Preeminent™” Rating by Martindale-Hubbell, which is the highest rating available from Martindale-Hubbell, the leading independent attorney rating entity. She also was just named this year as a Super Lawyer of Northern and last year as a Super Lawyer California Rising Star, Sacramento Magazine’s 2016 Top Lawyers in Sacramento and a Who’s Who Top Attorney for 2016. Her clients sing her praises, resulting in Ms. Rosasco receiving Avvo’s Client’s Choice award for 2015 and a “superb” attorney rating. ...