Jo Dale Carothers

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.

In his practice, HFM Partner James “Jim” Peterson focuses on business and employment litigation. Mr. Peterson advises and litigates disputes for a number of business clients on various aspects of the employment relationship, including misappropriation of trade secrets and proprietary information, protection of customer lists and employees, discrimination, sexual harassment, breach of contract, wage and hour laws, and wrongful termination. Mr. Peterson is an expert on employment-re...

HFM Trusts & Estates Partner Brian Tsu is a Fellow of the American College of Trusts and Estate Counsel and California Certified Legal Specialist. Mr. Tsu represents high-net-worth individuals in the areas of domestic and international estate planning, related areas of taxation and closely-held family business planning. He also advises fiduciaries in complex trust and estate administrations, particularly when tax or cross-border issues are present. His work includes: International Estate ...

Stephen J. Oddo represents the firm's clients in complex litigation. Mr. Oddo spent more than a decade representing individual and institutional shareholders in corporate merger and acquisition class actions. In so doing, he has secured tens of millions of dollars of additional consideration for shareholders whose investments have been adversely impacted by corporate transactions. Mr. Oddo has also achieved disclosure of material information to shareholders ensuring they are informed on the t...

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

John Rice, a former federal prosecutor, represents both individuals and corporations in a wide range of complex white collar matters, including SEC enforcement actions, anti-money laundering and bank secrecy act compliance matters, and foreign corrupt practices act investigations. Mr. Rice is an experienced litigator who has tried numerous cases to verdict, including dozens of federal jury trials, and argued cases before federal appellate courts. His practice focuses on white-collar criminal ...

Partner Alexis S. Gutierrez is the Chair of HFM's Litigation Department, in addition to serving on the firm’s Executive and Management Committees. With over 20 years of first chair experience, Mr. Gutierrez provides business and employment counseling and complex commercial litigation support to public and private entities, and non-profit organizations. He enjoys Martindale-Hubbell’s highest peer rating (“AV Preeminent”) for Legal Ability and General-Ethical Standards. ...

Clark Hudson, a trial lawyer joined Neil Dymott in 1990 and has been a shareholder since 1997. Mr. Hudson specializes in civil litigation with emphasis in medical malpractice, professional liability, products liability and personal injury. Since joining Neil Dymott, Mr. Hudson has tried over 70 jury cases in various Southern California State Courts. Mr. Hudson is a former board member and Past President for the San Diego Defense Lawyers. He is a Senior Director (2017-2018) for the Federation ...

Partner Martin Eliopulos is the head of HFM's Bankruptcy Practice Group. Mr. Eliopulos is one of HFM’s home grown and more seasoned attorneys having joined the firm in 1990 and was admitted to practice law in all courts for the State of California that same year. He is also admitted to practice law in all four Federal Judicial Districts within the state of California including all Bankruptcy Courts, all District Courts, the Ninth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel and the Ninth Circuit ...

Deyan P. Spiridonov is a member of the firm’s Mergers & Acquisitions practice. He is a member of the California State Bar Association. Deyan practices in the area of mergers and acquisitions and has represented public and private companies in the telecommunications, semiconductor, software, technology-related defense contracting, biotechnology and financial industries. Mr. Spiridonov has experience in structuring and negotiating all aspects of acquisition transactions, including sto...