Debra J. Vella

Robin Wofford is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Robin, who practices law in San Diego, California, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Robin is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

David Balfour is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Health Care Law. David, who practices law in San Diego, California, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Nicola A. Pisano is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Intellectual Property. Nicola A., who practices law in San Diego, California, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Nicola A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Hayden Trubitt is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Hayden, who practices law in San Diego, California, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Hayden is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Josh Franklin is a business trial lawyer who has tried nearly fifty jury trials in his career. His practice focuses on insurance coverage/bad faith litigation and business litigation. In the area of insurance coverage, Josh regularly represents policyholders in matters arising out of an array of insurance policies, including directors and officers liability (D&O), errors and omissions (E&O), employment practices liability (EPL), commercial general liability (CGL), and cyber. Josh has ...

Alreen Haeggquist is the Managing Partner at Haeggquist & Eck, LLP. Motivated by the pains of her childhood, Alreen became a lawyer and has been standing up for those who have suffered sexual assault, sexual harassment, discrimination, and retaliation for 20 years. Alreen is a best-selling author of Fired Up: Fueling Triumph from Trauma. She shares her deeply personal story of childhood abuse and the steps she took to overcome the long-lasting effects. Her lived experience and trauma-info...

Melanie Gold spent more than three decades as a research attorney for California appellate courts. She primarily worked with the justices of the Fourth District Court of Appeal in San Diego, but also with those of the Sixth District Court of Appeal in San Jose as well as the California Supreme Court in San Francisco. During that time, Melanie analyzed thousands of briefs, motions, and petitions, advised justices on hundreds of appeals, and developed a deep understanding of how appellate court...

Michael Neil, a trial lawyer and senior partner of the firm, specializes in civil litigation with emphasis in personal injury, professional liability, products liability, as well as business litigation. Mr. Neil has tried over 140 Superior Court cases to jury verdict. He is a past Secretary/Treasurer and the current President of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel. Mr. Neil is a past President of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel and holds the rank of Diplomat...

Danielle C. Humphries, a partner in the firm’s San Diego office and Chair of San Diego’s Trusts & Estates practice group, is a trusted wealth advisor to her clients and their families through her trusts and estates work. The majority of Danielle’s practice focuses on trusts and estates, including estate planning, wealth transfer and preservation, business succession planning, trust administration, probate, and probate litigation. Danielle also has extensive experience re...

Christopher W. Olmsted is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Christopher W., who practices law in San Diego, California, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Christopher W. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.