Martin C. Nichols

Michael Neil, a trial lawyer and senior partner of the firm, specializes in civil litigation with emphasis in personal injury, professional liability, products liability, as well as business litigation. Mr. Neil has tried over 140 Superior Court cases to jury verdict. He is a past Secretary/Treasurer and the current President of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel. Mr. Neil is a past President of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel and holds the rank of Diplomat...

Jesse Ferrantella is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Litigation - Labor and Employment. Jesse practices law in San Diego, California Best Lawyers has recognized Jesse Ferrantella since 2025. 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 Jesse Ferrantella is held by other lawyers.

Jeff is considered a preeminent land use lawyer in San Diego, assisting his clients navigate the legal, regulatory, and ever-increasing political challenges inherent in the entitlement of high-profile and controversial development projects. During these challenging times, Jeff is guiding his clients through uncharted waters by assisting those currently processing entitlements, and working diligently to preserve or extend those entitlements threatened by expiration. He continues to effectively...

Mark A. Spiegler is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Real Estate Law. Mark A. practices law in San Diego, California Best Lawyers has recognized Mark A. Spiegler since 2024. 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 Mark A. Spiegler is held by other lawyers.

Samer S. Habbas is the Founder and Managing Partner of Samer Habbas & Associates , a California personal injury law firm focused on catastrophic injury and wrongful death litigation. With more than 20 years of experience , Mr. Habbas represents individuals and families in complex, high-exposure cases involving commercial trucking collisions, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, motorcycle and pedestrian accidents, and premises liability. Over the course of his career, Mr. Habba...

Christine De Santis is a Partner at HFM and is certified as a legal specialist in family law by the State Bar of California. Ms. De Santis specializes in handling dissolution of marriage and paternity cases, child custody and visitation, child support and spousal support, and division of assets and debts, and mediations. She also handles step-parent adoptions and child support cases through the San Diego County Department of Child Support Services. Ms. De Santis has been named a San Diego Sup...

Robert Wright is a founding partner of the firm and has a long history of successfully representing corporate, governmental, and individual clients in a wide range of cases involving unfair competition, product liability, antitrust, securities, corporate, banking, fidelity bond, real estate, trust and estate, and employment, constitutional, and admiralty law. He has considerable experience with complex procedural matters, including mass tort, coordinated, and class actions. In addition to rep...

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 ...

Catherine M. McBain is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. Catherine M. practices law in San Diego, California Best Lawyers has recognized Catherine M. McBain 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 profes...

Cheryl Dunn Soto's practice has focused on representing commercial policyholders in insurance coverage matters and insurance/bad faith litigation since 2008. Her clients include law firms, accountants, contractors, developers, real estate professionals, medical groups, broker-dealers, HOAs, distributors and manufacturers, and other companies throughout California. Cheryl handles a wide variety of coverage matters and has significant experience with liability policies, including directors and ...