Woodcrest Employment Lawyers

Andrew Hillier is an experienced employment law litigator representing employees throughout California. He has helped plaintiffs navigate prosecution of claims for wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage theft, rest and meal break violations, and whistleblower retaliation.

In addition to his legal practice, Andrew is an adjunct professor at the University of San Diego School of Law where he teaches trial advocacy techniques. When he isn’t working to protect the rights of workers or training law students, Andrew enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling, football, and playing with his dog, Harley.

Mr. Dzida is both an accomplished litigator and an experienced transactional attorney. He has served as lead trial attorney in over one hundred court and jury trials, and the decisions in many of his appellate cases have been published in the official reports. Mr. Dzida is also an experienced and accomplished transactional attorney, negotiating and documenting real estate and business agreements and organizing business and non-profit corporations and limited liability companies for large and small clients. He, therefore, brings the practical perspective he has gained from both of these areas, as a litigator and as a transactional attorney, to his...

For 17 years, I served as an insurance defense counsel, handling cases related to construction defects, general liability, and medical malpractice defense. Now, my practice is centered on consumer civil rights and employment law, where I also handle class actions in both fields.

Matt Falkenstein has been an attorney with Skapik Law Group since January 2021, having first joined the firm in 2020. Since entering the legal profession, Mr. Falkenstein has been a dedicated and zealous advocate for clients whose rights have been violated. He is committed to pursuing fair and just outcomes, bringing a strategic and client-focused approach to every case. Mr. Falkenstein has experience across a broad range of civil litigation matters, including cases involving excessive force and police brutality, police misconduct, employment discrimination, wrongful termination, wage and hour class actions, and catastrophic personal injury. He is known for his creative legal...

Sharmin Jalali is the president and managing attorney at Jalali Law APC. Sharmin was born in the United States, and raised in Tehran, Iran. At 17, she returned to the United States to pursue the practice of law. Her diverse background greatly influences her creativity and strategic thinking abilities. After becoming a resident of Orange County in 2010, she attended University of California, Irvine, appearing on the dean’s honors list every semester of her attendance until graduation. She obtained her JD at Chapman University, Fowler School of Law. Prior to becoming a California licensed attorney in 2017, Sharmin had already obtained...

Ann Cook brings a business-focused approach to Phillips ADR, leveraging a decade at Ernst & Young LLP, including two years as General Counsel. Experienced as both plaintiff and defendant, she understands dispute dynamics and has litigated, arbitrated, and mediated cases in accounting, securities, contracts, and employment. A creative problem solver, Ann advised on complex corporate initiatives, balancing risk and business goals, earning recognition as a tenacious leader. At EY, Ann managed legal strategy for a $20B firm with 50,000 employees, overseeing litigation and regulatory matters during high regulatory activity. She advised on public disclosure and bankruptcy issues for over 1,000 public...

As a litigator, Michael Alfera excels in developing persuasive arguments and strategies for clients involved in business and commercial disputes on both sides of the 'v.' Before his current role at Weinberg Gonser, he worked as a judicial law clerk, first for the Los Angeles Superior Court and later for the Honorable Otis D. Wright II, a District Judge in the District Court for the Central District of California. His role in assisting multiple judges sharpened his ability to view cases from a judicial standpoint, which is essential in achieving positive results for his clients. Mr. Alfera was #1 in his...

I’ve helped California businesses confidently navigate workplace compliance and employee issues since 2009, first as a litigator, now as a trusted advisor. After several years in the litigation trenches, I shifted my focus to preventing legal disputes before they escalate. Throughout my career, I’ve partnered with hundreds of organizations from startups to established enterprises, crafting clear policies, minimizing risk, and resolving complex employment issues efficiently. Jamie Stein and I co-founded EmployLaw Group with a shared belief: legal services should be built on genuine client relationships, transparent communication, and practical solutions. Traditional firms often create distance between partners and clients. We’ve...