Eric M. Steinert

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

Matthew C. Smith has extensive experience in all aspects of civil litigation, including trials, arbitrations, and mediations. Matt represents individuals and business clients on a wide variety of professional and business litigation matters. He has served as lead counsel or co-counsel in more than a dozen trials and arbitrations. Matt also handled several successful appeals and has argued before the Fourth District Court of Appeal. Matt earned his Juris Doctor from Washington & Lee Univer...

Ryan H. Nell is an employment attorney responsible for representing California employers statewide in both counseling and comprehensive litigation support. With the ever-changing landscape of California and federal employment law, Ryan prides himself on assisting clients in staying ahead of the curve in an effort to avoid legal trouble before it arises. He has extensive experience representing clients in harassment, retaliation, and discrimination matters, as well as large-scale wage and hour...

This firm is devoted exclusively to the practice of family law. Mr. Cruse and his three support staff handle complex family law cases and child custody disputes. Mr. Cruse is in his 43rd year of the practice of law. His clients are business professionals, business owners, military officers, those with professional practices and the financially independent. Mr. Cruse is a recognized expert in electronic discovery.

Thomas S. Ingrassia is a founding member of Pettit Kohn Ingrassia Lutz & Dolin, and serves as the firm’s Chief Financial Officer. As co-chair of the firm’s Employment and Labor Department, Tom regularly assists his clients in developing and enforcing appropriate employment practices and policies, investigating claims of employee harassment/misconduct, and defending all forms of employment litigation before State and Federal courts and administrative agencies. Tom has achieved ...

Gordon L. Gerson is managing principal of GERSON LAW FIRM APC, concentrating nationwide in all aspects of real estate and commercial real estate finance. Mr. Gerson has an active institutional and mortgage banking practice. He has substantial experience in commercial real estate finance with a particular emphasis on the origination, workout and enforcement of a loan with a particular emphasis on real estate finance for the capital markets. His past and current engagements include some of the ...

Jenny Dixon represents individuals and companies in business and employment disputes, corporate and securities fraud, and violations of antitrust and competition laws. She has represented employers in proceedings before the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) Labor Commissioner’s office, Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH), and the Civil Rights Department (CRD). With over 25 years of experience in both the pursuit and defense of complex claims, Jenny has the...

Tim L. Johnson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Tim L., 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 Tim L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Chris Hoffman is the founding and managing partner of the San Diego office. He has represented hundreds of employers in matters ranging from class action litigation, to traditional labor matters and general employment advice. While litigation remains a significant portion of his practice, Chris also spends a significant amount of time counseling clients regarding day-to-day employment issues and assisting them to find practical and proactive solutions to their legal problems. Chris was select...

Eric Acker is a partner and trial lawyer in the firm’s Intellectual Property Group. Mr. Acker has tried more than 50 trials (including more than 47 jury trials) in courtrooms across the country. Mr. Acker’s recent trials have involved a variety of technologies and significant legal issues. In the high-profile SCO v. Novell case, following a three-week trial, the jury affirmed our client Novell’s ownership of the copyrights to the UNIX software code and rejected SCO’s c...