Ellison Folk

Cadio Zirpoli is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Antitrust Law, Litigation - Antitrust and Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs. Cadio, who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Cadio is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mathew A. Wyman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Mathew A., who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Mathew A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Marv Pearlstein represents some of the most successful and active real estate development companies and investment firms in their acquisition, development, construction, financing, management and disposition of real property. He has substantial experience in representing these clients in every major real estate product area, including multifamily, office, commercial, industrial and hospitality. Marv’s work with real estate developers and investors includes entity formation strategy and ...

Benjamin Clinger is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law. Benjamin, who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Benjamin is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Lou Cisz concentrates his practice on insolvency, restructuring debts, creditors’ remedies and related litigation. His clients include lenders, special servicers, manufacturers, vendors, contractors, health care companies, insurers, indenture trustees, buyers and sellers of assets and business ventures in a large cross-section of industries. Mr. Cisz has also worked in the food and beverage industry and has represented clients in that industry throughout his career. He has represented p...

Tim Miller founded the Silicon Valley office of Valle Makoff after 14 years as a litigation partner in the Northern California offices of the international law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. Mr. Miller has extensive experience litigating complex cases in federal and state courts. Mr. Miller's practice includes a broad range of business and contract disputes, claims of trade secret misappropriation, claims against officers, directors and trustees asserting breach of fiducia...

Jessica L. Grant is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants. Jessica L., who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jessica L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

When business partnerships, startups, and investment funds are in the throes of intra-company disputes or face claims of wrongdoing, business litigator John D. Pernick guides companies and their founders, directors, executives, and investors toward resolutions that serve their overall interests, be it through negotiation or litigation. He also represents companies and individuals in complex state and federal litigation matters and in connection with investigations by the Securities Exchange C...

Scott Righthand is the principal of the Law Office of Scott Righthand, a San Francisco personal injury law firm exclusively representing plaintiffs. He did his undergraduate work at University of Colorado, Boulder and graduated from UC Hastings in San Francisco in 1979 becoming a member of the California Bar in that year. From 1979-1982 he was an associate at Furth, Fahrner and Wong, an antitrust/administrative law firm in San Francisco. From 1982-1992 he was employed as an associate and then...

Charles S. Birenbaum serves as the firm’s Chair of Northern California. Chuck is an experienced labor and employment attorney who focuses his practice on traditional labor and employment law matters, and has wide-ranging experience litigating in state and federal courts as well as various administrative agencies. He has testified on proposed legislation impacting entire industries before state legislative committees, and has interfaced and negotiated with labor organizations, politician...