Santa Cruz Lawyers

We provide dedicated representation designed to produce results. Our primary focus is real estate, construction, landlord tenant and business law.

Paul Caputo, Esq. is a founding partner and the senior trial attorney at Caputo and Van Der Walde - Injury & Accident Attorneys. His goal as a trial lawyer is to represent injured people who are unable to afford legal representation. He has taken on large companies and extended personal resources on behalf of his clients. Paul Caputo has a long history of success and has achieved numerous recognitions, including being the only Santa Clara County lawyer who was chosen as the California Trial Lawyer of the Year. He is ready to take on your case, so schedule a case...

Ken is a transactions attorney, arbitrator and mediator with 29 years of experience in intellectual property licensing, litigation, and technology transactions. He practiced at leading US law firms and served as Senior Vice President at Samsung Electronics as the head of the Silicon Valley IP Office from 2011 to 2021. Ken has handled more than two hundred IP litigation matters, negotiated numerous patent licenses including three of the largest patent cross license agreements, and helped clients to acquire companies ranging from startups to a multibillion dollar company. He was also extensively involved in SEP and FRAND disputes...

Timothy Walton has more than eighteen years experience in litigation with senders of unsolicited commercial email.

Michael Barsi is admitted to practice in both the California and the Federal District Court's in the State of California and has practiced law for over 30 years. Mike Barsi received his Bachelor's Degree from the University of California at Berkeley with honors in December 1986 and his law degree from Santa Clara University School of Law in December 1991. Mr. Barsi practices in the areas of estate planning, Wills and Trusts as well as Probate Administration. Michael has represented clients in both California state courts and the United States Federal District Courts for over 30 years...

Scott Kanter is the lead estate planning and estate and trust litigation attorney within the Hinshaw Estate Planning practice group. He was admitted to practice law in California in 1998 and he has tried in excess of twenty jury trials and over thirty court trials. Over the course of his career, his legal practice has encompassed a broad spectrum of experience including estate planning and estate and trust litigation matters. He walks his clients through the estate planning process to ensure that all of their important estate planning goals and...

John Erik Fraker is the chair of the Charitable Planning & Philanthropy Practice Group for Ainer & Fraker, LLP. Specializing in high net-worth estate planning, philanthropy, and asset protection, John excels at providing sophisticated financial solutions and advanced charitable techniques that help individuals reduce taxes, provide a lasting legacy, and strengthen the familyâs core identity. Prior to co-founding Ainer & Fraker, LLP in 2002, John handled the investment and insurance needs of high net worth families as a fee-only financial planner in the affluent Brentwood Santa Monica area of Los Angeles. Additionally, he worked as Business Development Officer for the...

Over twenty-nine years experience in workers' compensation and personal injury law, twenty-four years as an attorney. Former firefighter injured in the line of duty, went to law school as vocational rehabilitation. Have lived and worked in Santa Cruz County for over thirty-four years.

Benita Ventresca has been practicing family law in Santa Clara County, California, since 1978. She helps her clients throughout San Jose and the Bay Area deal with some of lifes most difficult issues while minimizing conflict and reaching the fastest possible resolution whenever possible. At Law Offices of Benita Ventresca, Attorney Ventresca provides representation in family law areas that include divorce, child custody and visitation, child and spousal support, restraining orders, and paternity actions. Attorney Ventresca emphasizes communication with her clients, persistent advocacy, and attention to all aspects of their case. Regardless of the size of the case, her...

Mr. Burgess is the owner of Law Offices of David C. Burgess. He focuses his practice on the needs of small and medium-sized businesses. He has extensive experience in the purchase and sale of businesses, both from the seller and the buyer standpoints. His goal is to listen carefully to his clients, recognizing that each person and business is unique. He then seeks to fashion practical, creative, and cost-effective solutions to best fit each client's specific circumstances. He offers the personal attention, customized service, and efficiency that often are lacking from the mega law firms. Mr. Burgess seeks to build long-term...

I have focused my practice solely on estate planning and advanced estate planning, specifically the legal work to PREVENT PROBATE. As a San Mateo County native, I receive great satisfaction in using the law to help other San Francisco Bay Area residents and home owners avoid the time consuming, costly and disruptive probate process. I meet with every client at a Fidelity Law Office near them and guide them through the estate planning process in a fun and efficient way. My positive approach and knowledge of estate planning law ensures that each client makes the right decisions for their estate...

Mr. Wang’s practice focuses on employment litigation that includes civil claims involving wrongful termination, harassment, unpaid wages, discrimination, trade secrets and workplace violence claims. He is also involved in counseling his clients as to human resources issues ranging from family leave practices, workplace investigations, and disciplinary write-ups.

Cecelia became a Certified Family Law Specialist in 2002 and has continued to maintain these credentials. She has been practicing law since 1991. At this time nearly 100% of her business is in Family Law matters, including Divorce, Custody, Support, Guardianship, Parentage, pre and post nuptial agreements, and other related matters. This includes not only negotiated settlements, but trials and appeals. She understands the pressure that is asserted by the system (and the opposing spouse) when going through a court proceeding and is committed to, as much as is possible, reducing the stress experienced...

I have a successful business litigation and civil appellate practice. I also represent both debtors and creditors in Chapter 7, Chapter 11 and Chapter 13 bankruptcies. I represent individuals and businesses in Chapter 11 reorganizations. I also represent both plaintiffs and defendants in bankruptcy adversary proceedings in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of California and the Eastern District of California.

Carol is a lawyer who is certified as a Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law by The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. Carol graduated from the University of California at Berkeley and the University of California at Los Angeles School of Law. She is a member of the Trusts and Estates Section of the Silicon Valley Bar Association, and a former Editor of its newsletter, the Scrivener. Carol has received an "AV® Preeminent" rating from Martindale.com and has been named a Super Lawyer (2012 - 2023) Rising Star (2011) in Northern California. Carol is a former...

Paul was born in Boston Massachusetts and moved to Scottsdale, Arizona to attend Arizona State University. After completing his undergraduate degree, he moved to the Bay Area in 1989 to study law at Santa Clara University. He received his Doctorate in Jurisprudence in 1993, and practiced for one year as a defense attorney for a local insurance defense firm. After watching large insurance companies take advantage of plaintiffs, Paul joined a Bay Area civil litigation practice and specialized in helping plaintiffs in personal injury cases such as car accidents, slip and falls, and wrongful death. He became a partner of Cornell &...

Sharon Glenn Pratt is the founder of the law firm of Pratt & Associates, APC. She has over 30 years of experience specializing in civil litigation, contract review and preparation, CC&R and Rules interpretation and enforcement, construction and architectural review, Fair Housing law, civil restraining orders, financial issues, elections and recalls, corporate governance, and Anti-SLAPP law. She also practices in other areas of real property law such as construction, easements, boundaries, nuisance, premises liability, and neighbor law.

Personal
Sharon is a mother of 3 children, and has been an active supporter of Bellarmine College Prep School, Los Gatos High School, University...

Certified Specialist, Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law, State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization
Certified Public Accountant, State of California
AV Preeminent Peer Review, Martindale-Hubbell
Northern California Super Lawyer

I am now retired and am not accepting any clients.

Criminal defense attorney John D. Fitzpatrick fiercely defends the constitutional rights of his clients in courts throughout the state, protecting them from racial profiling, excessive force, mass incarceration, and the prison industrial complex. He has repeatedly won dismissals of all charges, earned the release of numerous clients from custody, and negotiated the most favorable terms for his clients.* John aggressively represents his clients from Arraignment through all phases of trial and will not rest until the case is dismissed or they are fully acquitted. He knows firsthand the effects that any conviction or incarceration can have on his clients and their...

Certified Specialist, Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law, The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization

Rated AV Preeminent for over 30 years (1986-current) - Professional excellence earned through a strenuous Peer Review Rating process that is managed and monitored by Martindale-Hubbell

Selected to Northern California Super Lawyers

Jennifer K. Whipple is an Attorney with over 20 years of civil litigation experience. Prior to founding Whipple Law Group, Ms. Whipple served as In-house Litigation Counsel and Assistant General Counsel to the world's largest fresh-packed tomato processor and prior to that, she was a Partner at an AV-rated firm. Ms. Whipple’s current practice focuses on Special Education law and Employment law. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ...