Emily Vance

Max Schuver is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Max, who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Max is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Dustin Calkins is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Dustin, who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Dustin is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Marie A. Cooper is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Land Use and Zoning Law. Marie A., who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2017. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Marie A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Caitlin Sinclaire Blythe is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Caitlin Sinclaire, who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Caitlin Sinclaire is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Alicia Guerra has developed a multi-disciplinary practice focused on local, state, and federal land use entitlement and permitting and environmental review for a broad sector of private industry, developers, and public agencies. Ms. Guerra’s practice often involves complex and controversial projects at all levels of the administrative process including due diligence, land use entitlements, development agreements, disposition and development agreements, permitting advice, and counsel for...

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...

Shawn M. Christianson focuses her practice on insolvency, receiverships, and complex litigation with an emphasis on technology related issues. She represents financial institutions, secured and unsecured creditors, technology companies, receivers, and bankruptcy trustees. Her practice spans the state, federal and bankruptcy courts, as well as out of court proceedings and mediation. She argued, and prevailed at every level from the trial court through the Ninth Circuit, a seminal case on the t...

Cecily Barclay focuses her practice on land use and entitlements, real estate acquisition and development and local government law. She regularly assists landowners, developers and public agencies throughout Northern California in all aspects of acquisition, entitlement and development of land, including land use application processing, drafting and negotiating purchase and sale agreements, negotiating and securing the approval of development agreements, general plan amendments, specific plan...

Gwenneth O'Hara is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Natural Resources Law. Gwenneth, 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 Gwenneth is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jim Basile is a partner in Kirkland's Bay Area office. He has spent twenty-eight years as a trial lawyer, was a founding partner of Kirkland's San Francisco office and head of Kirkland's San Francisco litigation practice for over a decade. He is the partner in charge of Kirkland's Firmwide trial advocacy program and litigation attorney training program (the Kirkland Institute for Trial Advocacy). Jim is a seasoned litigator with a diverse practice focusing on high-profile, complex litigation ...