Experience

Spertus, Landes & Josephs, LLP

• United States
• Law Practice
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Counsel

  • Aug 2022 - Present



Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC

• Pasadena, CA

• Senior Counsel

  • Jul 2013 - Jun 2022

  Senior counsel in litigation practice group representing public entities in disputes over public revenues, elections, other municipal issues, and related appeals. Trial court experience includes defense of complex challenges to municipal utility rates, utility franchise fees, assessments, and general fund transfers throughout California, including class action challenges. Extensive law and motion and bench trial experience. Served as contract general counsel to Goleta Water District (October 2020 to present), a public agency organized under County Water District Law, and Burbank Hospitality District (2017 to present). Appellate experience includes: - Award Homes v. County of San Benito (2021) 72 Cal.App.5th 290 and BMC Promise Way v. County of San Benito (2021) 72 Cal.App.5th 279 — successful defenses of county's annexation tax-sharing agreements with private developers; - Jacks v. City of Santa Barbara (2017) 3 Cal.5th 248 — successful petition for review of challenge to electricity franchise fee and reversal at Supreme Court; judgment for client on remand affirmed on appeal (2021, unpublished); - San Diegans for Open Government v. City of San Diego (2019, unpublished) — reversals of $874,000 attorney fee award and order denying client $131,000 in trial costs; - Reid v. City of San Diego (2018) 24 Cal.App.5th 343; California Taxpayers Action Network v. City of San Diego (2018, unpublished) — dismissals of constitutional challenges to assessment affirmed on appeal - Webb v. City of Riverside (2018) 23 Cal.App.5th 244 — dismissal of constitutional challenge to general fund transfer affirmed on appeal; - Jurupa Valley Limited Partnership v. City of Vernon (2016, unpublished) — successful defense of challenge to parcel tax affirmed on appeal; - amicus briefs on public law matters, including in California Cannabis Coalition v. City of Upland (2017) 3 Cal.5th 924; and In re Transient Occupancy Tax Cases (2016) 2 Cal.5th 131. Show less



Faegre Baker Daniels LLP

• United States
• Law Practice
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Associate

  • Aug 2011 - Jul 2013

  Associate at 800-lawyer international law firm in the firm's environmental and products liability group, focusing his practice on environmental and products liability litigation. Representative matters include: - fact development, preparation of witnesses for deposition and legal research in groundwater contamination dispute involving novel claims for response costs and natural resource damages (NRD) and under state environmental cleanup statute; - successful representation of Chinese manufacturer in post-judgment motion to set aside an eight-figure judgment on due process grounds in a products liability claim; - fact development and expert witness preparation in NRD case where NRD trustees are seeking more than $1 billion in damages; - representation of national plumbing manufacturer during settlement of federal multi-district products liability litigation. Show less



Los Angeles Superior Court

• United States
• Administration of Justice
• 700 & Above Employee

• Law Clerk

  • Dec 2009 - Jul 2011

  Completed bench memoranda for each court day for busy California state court on law and motion matters in civil actions. Bench memoranda included analysis of dozens of motions for summary judgment, and many anti-SLAPP motions, discovery disputes, demurrers, motions to strike and requests for entry of default judgment. Completed bench memoranda for each court day for busy California state court on law and motion matters in civil actions. Bench memoranda included analysis of dozens of motions for summary judgment, and many anti-SLAPP motions, discovery disputes, demurrers, motions to strike and requests for entry of default judgment.