Joshua Jacobs

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...

Steven D. Hamilton is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Land Use and Zoning Law and Real Estate Law. Steven D. practices law in San Diego, California Best Lawyers has recognized Steven D. Hamilton since 2023. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Steven D. Hamilton is held by other lawyers.

John P. Cleary is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law and Venture Capital Law. John P. practices law in San Diego, California Best Lawyers has recognized John P. Cleary since 2026. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which John P. Cleary is held by other lawyers.

Brian Fish focuses his practice on land use, public/private partnerships, public contracting, environmental and real estate matters. Mr. Fish assists public and private clients with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance, coastal permitting, planning and zoning issues, Subdivision Map Act processing, Williamson Act issues, condominium conversions and prevailing wage analysis. He also negotiates and drafts all other manner of documentation required to acquire, develop, finance,...

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...

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...

Ed Chapin is the Managing Partner in the San Diego office of Sanford Heisler Sharp, LLP, a national law firm with offices in the District of Columbia, New York, California, Tennessee, and Maryland. Ed received his J.D. from the University of Missouri School of Law and his B.S. from Southwest Missouri State University. Ed is a veteran litigator whose practice spans class actions, unfair business practices, professional negligence, insurance coverage, bad faith, toxic torts, serious personal in...

Throughout her 30-year career, Susan Basinger has effectively handled personal injury and wrongful death cases; medical and legal malpractice actions; and premises and products liability cases. Ms. Basinger also has extensive experience with complex business disputes, including those involving insurance and contract law, fidelity bond issues, and officer and director liability claims. Ms. Basinger has served as trial counsel for representative clients such as FedEx Ground Package Services, In...

Catherine Swafford is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Litigation - Trusts and Estates. Catherine practices law in San Diego, California Best Lawyers has recognized Catherine Swafford since 2027. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Catherine Swafford is held by other lawyers.

John Schena is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Commercial Litigation. John practices law in San Diego, California Best Lawyers has recognized John Schena since 2027. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which John Schena is held by other lawyers.