California Civil Rights Lawyers

Peter Depew is a veteran of the United States Army, a graduate of Pepperdine University School of Law, and a former clerk to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Rwanda. He enjoys all things involving the Pacific Ocean.

Because divorce is a problem to be solved, not a battle to be won, I focus on alternatives to the court system, through Collaborative Law and Mediation. I believe that most families and children are best served by being supported to work together in resolving their family matters. The fundamental goal in both Collaborative Divorce and Mediation is client empowerment.

With either mediation or the Collaborative process you will have control of the decisions that are made and will be firmly supported, legally and emotionally, in achieving a successful dissolution of your relationship. This not only allows but also encourages you...

Spolin Law P.C.’s founder, Aaron Spolin, is a former prosecutor and award-winning criminal appeals attorney. He has achieved successful outcomes on hundreds of criminal cases, including numerous dismissals of major felony cases; non-criminal resolutions to complex fraud and insurance fraud defense cases; successful appellate outcomes from various appellate courts; and multiple not-guilty jury verdicts at trial. Innocent Spolin Law clients wrongfully accused of murder and other serious crimes are now free because of his work. Aaron is the recipient of various awards for his advocacy, including the American College of Trial Lawyer’s Medal for Excellence in Oral Advocacy as well as...

Jonathon Kaplan is one of the state’s top trial lawyers, having tried dozens of significant cases involving civil rights, employment claims, wage and overtime matters, discrimination, harassment, hostile work environment, FEHA, Equal Pay Act, personal injury, product liability, consumer claims, fraud claims and business disputes. He has obtained an overwhelming number of highly successful verdicts for his clients. Jon has served as appellate counsel on many cases, resulting in published California opinions and establishing law in his areas of practice. Based on his winning track record, opposing lawyers know Jon and his law firm, Kaplan Weiss LLP, are ready, willing...

Mr. Hermansen focuses his law practice on state and federal criminal trials, appeals, and habeas corpus. He's been a Board Certified Criminal Law Specialist by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization since 2009, and he's been recognized as a Super Lawyer in criminal law in San Diego every year from 2008 to the present. In addition to representing criminal defendants at state and federal felony jury trials, he frequently argues before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the California Court of Appeal. He's also argued before the United States Supreme Court, the California Supreme Court, and en...

Haeggquist & Eck partner and trial attorney Amber Eck is a tenacious advocate for employees, consumers and shareholders, and has been for the past 26 years. Amber has taken cases to trial in both state and federal court as lead trial attorney, and has recovered millions of dollars for her clients in settlements, including multiple six- and seven-figure settlements. Amber doesn’t shy away from high-profile defendants — a fact well-illustrated by her role as co-lead counsel in the well-publicized class action against President Donald Trump and Trump University, which settled for $25 million. For her work in the case,...

Glenn Katon is an experienced litigator who has handled numerous trials and appeals. His practice has focused on plaintiffs’ civil rights for the last ten years, preceded by over ten years of commercial litigation. He has litigated racial profiling, immigrants’ rights, police misconduct free speech, and religious freedom cases, and been quoted on civil rights law in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and Newsweek.

Yitz Weiss is an Employment Law attorney with over a decade of experience in litigating a variety of employment law cases, including unpaid wage and overtime claims, discrimination, harassment, FEHA, Unequal Pay Act, wrongful termination, and sexual assault cases. Yitz counsels clients on pre-litigation employment disputes and represents them from the inception of a lawsuit all the way through trial and even on appeal. Yitz routinely serves as counsel in mediations, binding arbitrations and in major trials. Upon graduating with a Bachelors degree in Economics from Yeshiva University and obtaining a Degree of Rabbinic Ordination, Yitz Weiss then entered Southwestern University...

Oakland, California-based civil rights lawyer representing employees and tenants in cases involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation and wrongful termination.

Since 1997, Mr. Young has represented plaintiffs involved in serious personal injury cases. Mr. Young has a strong background in litigation and appeals. In 2005, Mr. Young successfully argued a significant premises liability case on behalf of a seriously injured plaintiff before the California Supreme Court, Delgado v. Trax Bar & Grill (2005) 36 Cal.4th 224, which established that California merchants have a special relationship-based duty of care to protect their customers from the wrongful acts of other customers. Mr. Young also won an appeal in another premises liability case, Mata v. Mata (2003) 105 Cal.App.4th 1121, which involved...

William D. Ausman, Esquire Attorney at Law 8320 Morro Road Atascadero, CA 93422 Phone: 805-466-4800 Fax: 805-466-4802 Avvo LinkedIn William D. Ausman, Attorney and Counselor at Law is a lawyer based in San Luis Obispo County, California and founded 805 Law Group. He is an experienced family, civil and criminal defense attorney who has an excellent legal team that has obtained outstanding results for his clients. Mr. Ausman is a seasoned family law attorney who has successfully represented client in over 3000 cases. Mr. Ausman has extensive experience in handling high...

From 1987 to 1990, he was a staff attorney at Westside Legal Services, in Santa Monica, California where he was the lead trial lawyer representing lower income families and individuals who could not afford a lawyer. In 1990, DeSimone founded the cutting edge civil rights law firm Schonbrun & DeSimone. Later known as Schonbrun DeSimone Seplow Harris & Hoffman, the firm established a reputation as one of the most prestigious civil and employment rights law firms in the State of California and in the entire country.

After twenty-five years as a partner, Jim decided to carve out his own path by...

For nearly 25 years, Sa'id Vakili has represented businesses and individuals in litigation matters involving complex business and contract disputes, business torts, direct and derivative shareholder disputes, intellectual property disputes, and all forms of employment claims. He has also handled a variety of serious injury tort claims including those arising under maritime and aviation law. Mr. Vakili is admitted in California, New York, New Jersey and Washington, D.C. and has handled cases in various other jurisdictions such as Florida, Nevada, Ohio, South Dakota, and Virginia through associations with local law firms in those locations. Mr. Vakili has also served...

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...

Randall H. Scarlett is a seasoned San Francisco personal injury lawyer and managing partner at Scarlett Law Group. With significant experience handling serious injury cases, Mr. Scarlett focuses his practice on TBI (Traumatic Brain Injuries) and catastrophic accident cases. After decades of experience in the legal field, Mr. Scarlett uses proven strategies to help his clients pursue maximum compensation for their damages. In addition to his experience, he has earned an AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale-Hubbell® and been recognized by Best Lawyers in America®. Mr. Scarlett earned his B.A. from the San Francisco State University and his Juris Doctor from...

Alana Yakovlev is a stellar trial lawyer with a heavy emphasis on criminal defense and civil rights. Rated one of the top trial attorneys in the country, Ms. Yakovlev's advocacy leads to immediate and effective results for her clients.

My firm, Vanaman German LLP, focuses exclusively on special education, disability discrimination, and cases involving the injury or abuse of students with disabilities. We specialize in special education litigation from IEP representation through due process hearings and into federal court. Our areas of expertise include: Special Education We offer the full range of special education representation, from IEP advocacy to due process to federal court litigation. Our attorneys combine their deep knowledge of the substance and procedure of special education law with an understanding of education, assessment, and how school district's function, to ensure that our clients are provided...

I am an accomplished litigation and trial lawyer. My practice includes Civil Rights, Police Misconduct, Legal Malpractice, and Insurance Litigation. I practice throughout California, in all state and federal courts. With over three decades of experience, I provide knowledgeable and skilled representation. I zealously advocate, determined to achieve the best possible outcomes for my clients' legal situations. Recognized by peers for exceptional ethics and representation, I hold an AV Preeminent Rating, and have been honored as a Super Lawyer for the past three years.

Dan Robinson Law provides Fortune 500 - level legal services to small businesses and those with disabilities.

After serving as a clerk for the current Chief Judge of the Central District of California, Dan spent twelve years practicing commercial litigation at large international law firms in San Francisco and a commercial litigation boutique firm in Los Angeles. He represented companies including some of the world’s largest corporations in Federal Court in jurisdictions around the United States, as well as in international arbitrations and the Federal Trade Commission. He litigated cases for Samsung, Microsoft, Huawei, Ariba, MySpace, and others, arguing in courts...

A Los Angeles-native, Ms. Berjis received her Bachelors of Arts in History, from California State University, Long Beach, and subsequently earned her Juris Doctorate from Trinity Law School. As a law student, Ms. Berjis received the Academic Achievement Award (i.e., the highest grade in her class) in an impressive six (6) courses, which included Civil Procedure II, Remedies, Evidence, Legal Research & Writing II, Criminal Law, and Criminal Procedure. In addition to her academic success, as a law student, Ms. Berjis also was a member of the Trial Advocacy Team. Prior to founding the Law Office...

Attorney Suzanne Skolnick is a seasoned personal injury attorney who has been an advocate for personal injury clients in California for over twenty years. She obtained her Juris Doctorate degree from the University Of San Diego School Of Law after completing her B.A. in Legal Studies at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Ms. Skolnick started as an associate at a small firm located in the Inland Empire. She quickly developed a reputation for hard work, ingenuity, and skill. She initially honed her civil litigation skills in the Superior Court for the County of Riverside, California. More recently, she practices in the...

My clients receive an aggressive defense that only years of courtroom experience can deliver. No matter how challenging a client's case is, they can rest assured they have a powerful ally on their side. Increasingly individuals and businesses find themselves in contact with government agencies like the FBI or IRS. The consequences can be devastating, personally, professionally and financially. The government can and does form the wrong impression of targets and subjects. Correcting the government's impression requires an attorney’s involvement. Successful , self-made people have accomplished much on their own. Unfortunately, many of these useful business...

We are Employment Law, Sexual Harassment, Wrongful Termination, Workplace Discrimination, Wage & Hour, and Whistleblower Attorneys in New York City, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, & Miami. With decades of experience and over $200 Million recovered throughout this time, call now for free consultation. No fee unless we recover.

John Jahrmarkt, Esq. is the owner and managing partner of Jahrmarkt & Associates. John has more than 20 years of experience handling all kinds personal injury claims - from complicated catastrophic injuries to garden variety "soft tissue" pain. John knows how the insurance industry works and the steps their adjusters can take to protect their profits. All of our accident and injury claims are managed by John, experienced in fighting back against any low-ball insurance offers. We have recovered a number of multi-million dollar rewards for our clients, and we have established a reputation for excellence and professionalism...

Philip Shakhnis is a forceful, meticulous and compassionate attorney with over 20 years of experience representing tenants. Philip has represented hundreds of tenants forced to live in slum conditions. Philip has also helped tenants poisoned by carbon monoxide leaks, exposed to mold and whose children have been lead poisoned. Philip is at the forefront of representing tenants wrongfully evicted from properties protected by local rent control laws. Philip focuses his law practice on representing tenants because he strongly believes that every family and every person deserves the right to a safe, decent and healthy home. As part of his experience...

Kenneth Chike Odiwe is a skilled attorney with extensive experience in Civil Rights and Personal Injury litigation. He primarily focuses on representing clients in Civil Rights cases. Some of the areas of expertise he covers include: Police Misconduct: Mr. Odiwe is well-versed in handling cases related to police brutality, excessive force, officer-involved shootings, and custodial deaths. He also specializes in cases involving restraint asphyxia, positional asphyxia, excessive tasing, baton strikes, beanbag shotgun use, and 40mm rubber rounds. Medical Care: Chike Odiwe has a deep understanding of cases that involve inadequate or denied medical care, as well as interference with familial relationships. He...

Andrew Cherkasky Andrew Cherkasky is a former federal prosecutor best known for his work as an elite complex litigation attorney with a tremendous range of professional experience. He has become a premier national civil rights attorney through his wide range of legal experience, spanning from complex criminal litigation, to commercial and corporate transactions, to advising Generals in combat, to leading multi-million-dollar federal lawsuits. Andrew is a regular contributor on Fox News, CNN, and other national networks and has also been recognized for his expertise by a wide range of national news outlets, to include: The New York Times, The Washington...

Mr. Mitchell is dedicated to defense by training and experience, familiar with the demands of protecting the interests of the criminally accused. He worked for 7 years as a Public Defender and handled thousands of cases before going into private practice. He has experience in representing individuals in cases involving Homicide, Domestic Violence, DUI, Drug Sales and Possession, Weapons, Elder Abuse, Assault and Battery, Burglary, Robbery, Evading, Gang, White Collar Crimes, Conspiracy and Probation Violations.

He also pursues Civil Right Violations, police misconduct cases, ensuring his clients are afforded their rights or compensation for the deprivation of the same.

If you've been...

Human / Civil Rights Attorney working with clients in the public and private spheres for over 25 years in over 75 countries. Significant experience serving non-profits in the public health and international development spheres assisting refugees, asylum seekers, and those suffering from various forms of trauma. Particular focus on LGBTQ and non-binary clients with legal / personal concerns related to gender expression and its effects and helping spearhead international initiatives addressing the same.

Current Director of the Gamelan Council - Asia-Pacific Public Health, Microfinance, and Development Center. Previous experience includes working as a primary care clinician / rural health officer for...

Dwight Ritter is a trial attorney at Ritter & Associates in San Diego, California. He holds degrees from Indiana University Law School and the London School of Economics. He is also licensed in California, Arizona, Indiana, and the Island of Guam, as an expert on maritime law. Having built his reputation on personal attention to detail, Dwight strives to create a personal relationship with his clients. With a specialization in personal injury, Dwight is prepared to handle cases that involve wrongful death, sexual harassment, auto accidents, and civil rights claims. In addition, he has earned the title of Master Trial...

Getting her start in the trenches as a legal aid attorney, Erika has years of experience in seeking justice for employees and consumers against unfair practices. She has fought off debt collectors, obtained justice for wrongfully terminated employees, and untangled thorny credit reporting issues. She has taken on local government for refusing proper restroom access to transgender people. In 2015, she even had a federal court declare a state's garnishment statute unconstitutional for violating the rights of low-income debtors.

Whether your case is just starting, or whether you are up on appeal, Erika has the experience and...

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....

Since starting Varlack Legal Services in 2009, I have been on the front lines of litigation as a trial attorney. Valuable experience in the courtroom was gained as a member of the Alameda County Bar’s CAAP program and Lawyer Referral Service. These programs helped me grow my practice as a young attorney while allowing me to grow as a litigator. As a graduate of Howard Law School, I chose to become “a social engineer” rather than a “parasite on society.” After law school, I served on the Charles Houston Bar Association’s Board of Directors, as membership...

Paul Neuharth has been practicing criminal and administrative law exclusively for 25 years. Considered a top State, Federal Criminal defense and DUI attorney in San Diego, Mr. Neuharth has worked his way through College and Law School as a California State Law Enforcement Officer for almost 7 years. As an award winning trial attorney, he zealously fights for the best possible outcome for every client – regardless of the criminal charges. He has been recognized as a leading DUI and criminal defense lawyer in greater San Diego, by the legal community.

Alreen Haeggquist is on a mission to stand up with individuals to enrich their lives and inspire change by dismantling fear and shame and empowering those who have faced discrimination, retaliation, sexual harassment, and sexual assault to stand up and demand accountability. Today, the overwhelming majority of Alreen’s clients are women who have suffered egregious wrongs at the hands of their employers. No defendant is too large or powerful for her to tackle: she has recently represented plaintiffs in employment claims against such major corporations as Trader Joe’s, Sharp Healthcare, Wyndham, Kaiser Permanente, and the Grand Del Mar. ...

I received my JD from UC Hastings in 1976. I went on to work for the Orange County Public Defender's office from 1979-1986. After that I was partner at Earley & Baruch until 1992. Then I ventured out on my own and have continued to practicing law.

During my many decades of successful personal injury, employment law, business litigation and civil rights law practice, I have achieved a stellar firm-wide win rate in more than 200 trials, scores of impressive civil case victories and millions of dollars won for clients in negotiated settlements and in court.

Combined with these special...

For more than twenty five years I have represented investors and consumers in class-action litigation, focusing primarily on federal civil appeals. I have briefed and argued appeals before all but two of the thirteen federal circuits, and was intimately involved in briefing the merits in three cases before the United States Supreme Court. My pro bono work has included writing and filing amicus curiae briefs on behalf of religious organizations and faith leaders opposing discrimination and supporting religious liberty and equal rights for all.