Avenal Government & Administrative Lawyers

Ms. Macedo practices civil litigation, estate planning, provides general counsel services, and is a consultant working on policy issues. Her interests include supporting local municipalities, small businesses, and community nonprofits. She is also a career development coach focusing on women of color. Previously she was an Associate at a Central Valley plaintiff’s law firm working on catastrophic personal injury cases and an Equal Justice Works Legal Fellow focusing on providing free legal assistance to low-income communities in the Central Valley.

I have practiced law in California for more than 23 years with a career that includes private practice, as a Deputy Attorney General with the California Department of Justice, and as a clerk to an appellate court judge. Our firm represents property owners and businesses in environmental litigation and as advisors for matters involving soil and groundwater remediation, Clean Water Act citizen suits, Water Board investigation orders, and more.

We work with our clients to identify the best strategies for their needs. What matters most is our clients’ comfort level and...

I’ve been an attorney for going on 20 years in the greater bay area of California. When you call me, you will talk to me directly. You won’t get assigned to a paralegal or another attorney. I have a passion for practicing law and helping my clients to the best of my ability. I like talking to people and getting to the heart of the matter through direct and clear talk.

David E. Mastagni is a partner with the law firm of Mastagni Holstedt, APC, who specializes in labor and employment law representation of public safety employees, including trial and appellate litigation in California and federal courts. In particular, he handles complex civil, class action and collective action litigation, claims arising out of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the U.S. and California Constitutions, the California Public Records Act (CPRA), the Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights (POBR), the California Labor Code, the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act, and other statutes protecting the rights of employees.
Among his other legal activities, David is an...

I am an accomplished California attorney, representing clients with Government, Environmental, Natural Resources and Land Use matters. I have over 30 years of experience with a broad array of federal, state and local issues. I bring knowledgeable and skilled advocacy to effectively and efficiently meet your legal needs. A recipient of CalCIMA's Spirit of the Industry Award, I am also listed among The Best Lawyers in America and Northern California Super Lawyers.

Kevin McDonnell is a skilled California Business, Real Estate, Government & Administrative, and Litigation attorney. His practice includes, but is not limited to, representation of developers and property owners with land use, zoning, entitlements, regulation, and compliance, and dispute resolution matters.

Kevin brings unique knowledge and understanding to his cases. In addition to his law degree, he holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering and M.S. in Structural Engineering. Kevin is registered in California as both a Civil and Structural Engineer.

Kevin advocates for clients with passion and integrity. He is dedicated to providing exceptional service and the best possible results. Visit...

Sean Prosser defends clients facing investigations and enforcement actions by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), including FBI and Grand Jury proceedings, and other government agencies. He also defends companies and their executives in shareholder litigation. With offices in San Diego and Los Angeles, Sean leads Mintz Levin’s California Securities Litigation practice. His clients include public and private companies, officers and directors, board committees, broker-dealers, banks, investment advisors, hedge funds, CPAs, individual stock traders and public officials. Sean regularly represents clients before the following agencies and regulators: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission...

“I have walked many paths in life. I started life out as an attorney, have been a minister, a school teacher, but the most important job I’ve ever had is a father. When my son, Danny was born, it changed my life. When he was diagnosed with autism, it shook my world. When the school system and the state tried to cut off his services because of this current budget crisis in California, it pointed me to my true calling. I have often wondered why I’ve been privileged to be able to have three very satisfying careers as...

Local Estate Elder Law Planning Attorney
Long term Pleasant Hill resident, Jeffrey Hall, didn’t follow the traditional path to the practice of law. Indeed, attorney Hall grew up in central Los Angeles, and in a time when there was no expectation that he would attend college; and law school was simply not an option. However, after completing his bachelor’s degree in Economics from Saint Mary’s College, he volunteered with the Air Force in 1981 and served for 9 years, both reserve and active. Upon returning to California, he and his wife made Pleasant Hill their home and have...

Heidi Machen has been an attorney since 1996 when she graduated from University of California Hastings College of the Law and passed the California Bar Exam. Prior to hanging her shingle as a sole practitioner in 2008, representing clients in matters of employment and regulatory law, Ms. Machen served in various policy and executive positions in local and Bay Area government.

Among her extracurricular activities, she is an avid cyclist, a Vegan cook, an amateur oil painter, has been known to contribute to theatrical productions on or off stage, and to participate in Democratic party doings. She...

Lance Claery has been successfully practicing family law for more than seven years. He has worked with a diverse client base ranging from multi-millionaires to low income, modest means clients. He started his career as an attorney working with one of Southern California's most experienced family law attorneys. Thereafter, Mr. Claery began working for one of Southern California's busiest and most prestigious law firms. He was made a partner of that firm very quickly and has since worked on hundreds of divorces and other family law matters. Mr. Claery has handled trials, depositions, arbitrations, mediations,...

Having enjoyed a varied career for State, County and City government, and having specialized in civil rights and employment matters throughout, I have joined with Mike Claessens and Bob Cramer, colleagues of 20+years, in a common purpose and dedication: License Advocates Law Group LLP is we three, representing California professional and occupational license applicants and licensees in administrative proceedings to obtain, defend from discipline or revocation, and reinstate licenses in 800+ career fields. We are having the time of our professional lives.

James Lawrence Knox is a partner at Milligan, Beswick, Levine & Knox, LLP. For almost two decades, Mr. Knox has been providing aggressive legal representation to clients facing criminal charges, as well as individuals involved in family law issues or facing administrative law proceedings. Mr. Knox, along with the other members of our legal team, is firmly committed to putting the needs of clients first and has a long and distinguished track record to show that he is a skillful litigator and knowledgeable legal professional.

Whether you are getting divorced, have been charged with a crime, received a traffic citation, or...

Stacie Patterson—San Diego Criminal Defense Attorney & Professional License Defense Attorney. The Law Office of Stacie L. Patterson serves the greater San Diego, Riverside, and Orange County areas in professional license defense and criminal defense. Stacie Patterson has over 20 years of experience in California as a professional defense attorney and as a California and San Diego criminal defense attorney. Stacie graduated from Yale Law School in 1991. Since then, she has defended clients accused of felonies and misdemeanors in both federal and state courts. As a professional license defense attorney, she has defended clients from a wide range...

Our operation is focused on providing cost effective solutions and expert customer service to all our clients. In addition to real estate, the firm represents clients in business litigation, construction defect problems, estate planning, arbitrations and mediations. We want our clients to fully understand the legal process and what will be involved in finding a constructive result to their legal issue. I am very active in the legal and real estate community. I continue to educate myself on the most up to date information within my field. I maintain active memberships with both local and national groups in the industry....

Seena Max Samimi is an attorney in JMBM's Government, Land Use, Environmental and Energy practice, focusing on assisting clients in successfully navigating complex regulatory, zoning, and environmental issues. He is uniquely positioned to support clients with their development projects, and with litigation, due to his extensive experience throughout his career as 1) outside-firm counsel for public entities such as cities and counties, 2) in-house counsel for an international construction company, and 3) litigation and environmental counsel in the large firm setting, representing major private commercial enterprises.

Seena spent several years representing a wide range of public entities such as cities,...

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.

I have over 21 years experience serving Santa Cruz, Santa Clara and Monterey Counties with superior and efficient land use, real estate, and business law services – all backed by professionalism and integrity. In my current practice in Capitola, I represent individual, business and public agency clients in a wide range of real estate, land use, and public law matters (transactional and litigation), with special emphasis on: Land use permits; Zoning compliance and red tag removal; CEQA and Coastal Act compliance and litigation; Writ of mandate litigation (against or on behalf of public agencies); Real estate transactions, disputes...

Birch Citadel CEO and founder Matt Chalmers is a seasoned environmental attorney with over seven years of experience practicing at the forefront of climate change and energy law and policy, administrative law, CEQA, NEPA, land use planning, and permitting. Experience: From 2014 to 2023, Matt served as an attorney for seven years with the California Energy Commission as well as in technical and policy advisor capacities. He was the lead attorney on numerous aggressive and high-profile energy efficiency rulemakings such as California's 2019 and 2022 Energy Codes, which implemented first-in-the-nation requirements that most new construction in California be built with solar...

San Diego Attorney Brian A. Victor has litigated complex family law matters ranging from child custody issues to community property debts resulting from loans. Brian A. Victor is the only attorney in San Diego County with prior work experience at Family Court Services (FCS) where for more than eleven years he worked with the most challenging child custody visitation matters and crafted more than 4000 child custody recommendations for Family Court judges. Attorney Victor sets himself apart from other family law attorneys in his ability to prepare clients for their FCS custody and visitation session when there is a custody dispute...

After working for the Office of the Attorney General and the Public Defender's Office, I graduated at the top of my law school class and opened my own office in downtown Sacramento in 1997. I've been running my own law office for almost 30 years now. I handle DUI Defense, Criminal Defense, Administrative Professional Licensing Defense cases. I'm a skilled negotiator, and I've won every case I’ve set for trial in the past 20 years. I offer a personal service and I have a passion for defending my clients - to protect them from the disruption and life changing...

Nicholas Arcamone is currently an Associate at the Bruckner Law Firm- a federal contract litigation firm in San Diego, CA. At the completion of a four-year tour with the Army as a Military Intelligence Officer, CPT Arcamone returned to San Diego to attend Thomas Jefferson School of Law. Nick volunteered with the SDVLP's Domestic Violence Clinic, where he helped indigent domestic and elder abuse victims in obtaining quality legal services. He earned the Wiley M. Manuel Certificate for Pro-Bono Services in 2011. Nick began his...

I am passionate about helping people. I love getting to know my clients and providing them with a positive experience and services that offer real value to their lives.

Your Estate plan is important to you and should fit your life and values, not just a form printed out with your name stuck in it. My estate plans are tailored to you and are of immediate use to help you organize your life with a personalized Grab-and-Go book.

My broad business career in high technology with several Fortune 500 companies gives me a unique perspective and business sense...

ADAM G. SLOTE practices in the areas of administrative law (professional licensing), litigation and business law. He has been in practice since 1988. Adam opened his own practice in 1992 with the goal of utilizing technology to provide high-quality legal services efficiently and cost-effectively. LICENSE LAW (ADMINISTRATIVE LAW) - Adam has defended professionals and businesses in administrative law/licensing law cases since 1991. His licensing practice is state wide. He has extensive experience in hearings before the California Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) as well as experience filing Appeals/Writs of Administrative Mandamus (Mandate) to the Superior Court of California and to...

Professional experience spanning thirty years in the practice of law, including fourteen years as City Attorney/City Prosecutor and four years as Del Norteâs County Counsel. Member of the Bar of the United States Supreme Court, Northern and Eastern Districts of California of the U.S. District Courts as well as the State Bar of California. Member and past memberships in the Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California, California Trial Lawyersâ Association, California District Attorney's Association, Los Angeles County Bar Association, and Past President of the Del Norte County Bar Association. Practice Areas: Real Estate and Land Use...

Think Defense is a professional law corporation that delivers effective legal representation in white-collar cases, blue-collar cases, and business litigation.

Before founding the firm, Mr. Dabiri was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Los Angeles and Orange County, where he investigated and prosecuted a wide range of federal criminal cases.

Before serving as a federal prosecutor, he litigated complex civil cases at one of the best and biggest law firms in the world, O'Melveny & Myers.

And before joining the firm, he clerked for a federal trial judge at the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.

He earned his bachelor's degree in Political Science...

Nicholas Grossman joined the State Bar of California in 2009 and has been selected by his peers as a “Rising Star” (top 2.5% of attorneys in Southern California under the age of 40) seven years in a row (2013- 2019). He has extensive experience in the areas of personal injury, employment law, probate, and civil litigation; and have tried multiple cases to verdict. Mr. Grossman has also served as an adjunct professor of law at AHU School of Law in Ontario, California, where he taught several classes including Legal Remedies and Wills & Trusts.

Prior to working at Shafer,...

Jonathan A. Goldstein is the founder of the Law Offices of Jonathan A. Goldstein, Esq. (JAG Law Offices). He is an attorney, mediator, and arbitrator with over seventeen years of experience in representing public and private sector clients while serving the public interest for the last eleven years in various pro bono and voluntary roles. Mr. Goldstein is a graduate of the Johns Hopkins University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree with Honors in Political Science and a minor in Women’s Studies. He also received a Juris Doctorate with Honors from The George Washington University School...

S J Harris Law is devoted to representing individuals and businesses in Professional Licensing and Civil Litigation Matters, as well as Small Business Transactions, Formation, Dissolution, and Contracts. Scott J. Harris is a former Deputy Attorney General with the California Department of Justice, where he represented many of the licensing agencies of the California Department of Consumer Affairs, and the People of the State of California. Scott J. Harris served as the Liaison Deputy for the Licensing Section of the Office of the Attorney General to the California Board of Accountancy, and the Court Reporters Board of California, and prosecuted hundreds...

General practitioner who provides exemplary consultation and representation for families and businesses in Minnesota and California. Unbundled legal services available. Business attorney who provides superior legal leadership for established companies, as well as startup endeavors. Institutes policies and procedures to ensure compliance with municipal, state and federal laws and regulations. Clients include medical service providers, security firms, restaurants, local organizations (not for profit,) home improvement contractors, etc. I pride myself on understanding a business’ needs and responding promptly, efficiently and effectively. Family attorney who provides compassionate legal guidance for empty nesters, as well as young couples. Focuses on ensuring a benevolent...

I bring 18 years of litigation experience to the Department of Police Accountability. For the last four years, I have practiced plaintiff's personal injury law and criminal defense in private practice. I served as a deputy public defender in the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office from 2002 until 2014. As a deputy public defender, I helped to defend thousands of people who could not otherwise afford an attorney, and was trained to lofty standards of excellence in criminal defense.

I am a proud graduate of the University of California Los Angeles School of Law in 2001, with the distinction of...

Jennifer McGrath has created a unique law practice specializing in all areas of cannabis law. With over twenty years of legal experience, Ms. McGrath provides legal support and guidance on California Cannabis Law to cannabis businesses throughout the state as well as Cities and Counties in navigating the emerging California State and local regulation of both recreational and medical marijuana in this rapidly changing environment.

– cannabis licensing (local and state)
– cannabis regulatory compliance
– appeals of cannabis license/permit denials or discipline
– cannabis litigation & administrative hearings
– development agreements
– building permits
– zoning & land use
– leases
– voter initiatives
– advocacy
– government...

We are California's premier professional license law firm, appealing license denials, defending accusations, and assisting professionals with government regulatory compliance issues. For 20 years, I have fought for professionals and business owners, listening with compassion, being straightforward and honest with our clients. Our clients face a system that can be cold, impersonal, uncaring and harsh. We act as skilled and knowledgeable guides through that system. We strive to educate and inform clients, to minimize case weaknesses and maximize strengths, in order to achieve the best results while mindful of a client's budget and appetite for risk....