David S. Thomas

Breann Robowski is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation and Controversy - Tax. Breann, who practices law in Palo Alto, California, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Breann is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kenneth A. Kuwayti is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Kenneth A., who practices law in Palo Alto, California, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kenneth A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

C. Brian Wainwright is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Tax Law. C. Brian, who practices law in Palo Alto, California, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which C. Brian is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

William (Bill) Gaede focuses his practice on intellectual property litigation in the life sciences and medical device industries. Bill serves as lead counsel for a wide range of companies and research institutes and has extensive experience in litigating life science technologies such as antibodies, proteins, small molecules and diagnostics. In addition to his jury trial experience, Bill has argued before the US Circuit Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. He further provides risk manage...

James F. Valentine is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Intellectual Property and Litigation - Patent. James F., who practices law in Palo Alto, California, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which James F. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jay Ross is Co-chair of Hopkins & Carley’s Litigation Department. He handles contract, fulfillment, and payment disputes as well as real estate disputes, including construction, purchase and sale transactions, commercial landlord-tenant disputes, easements, and land use. A wide variety of businesses associated with the real estate industry rely on Jay to apply his years of business litigation experience and practical approach to solve their problems. These include: Commercial genera...

Erika is the Co-chair of Hopkins & Carley's Trust and Estate Litigation practice. She represents and advises professional fiduciaries, trustees, beneficiaries, high net-worth individuals, family offices, and businesses on a range of trust and estate litigation and trust administration matters.

Dori is the Co-chair of Hopkins & Carley’s Litigation Department. She represents a wide range of clients in complex real estate, land use, and business litigation matters. Dori regularly represents developers and property owners in disputes involving: Real estate purchase and sale transactions Real estate investment fraud Commercial landlord-tenant Boundary and property lines Easements Dori also regularly appears on behalf of clients at City Council meetings, Planning Commission mee...

James G. Snell is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Technology Law and Trademark Law. James G., who practices law in Palo Alto, California, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which James G. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Chris Berka is a nationally recognized trial lawyer with a practice focusing on environmental, real estate, energy, natural resources, product liability and contract matters. He has resolved more than two hundred cases for clients in a range of industries and sectors, including technology, aerospace, oil and natural gas, wind energy, real estate development, pharmaceuticals, higher education, transportation, news media, mining and consumer products. In addition to his litigation practice, Chr...