Michael E. Lyon

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. ...

Guillermo A. Escobedo is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Guillermo A., who practices law in San Diego, California, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Guillermo A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

At Withers Bergman LLP, Steven focuses his practice on estate planning, trust and estate administration, charitable giving and representing tax-exempt organizations. He has designed and used computer modeling to show the economic consequences of various estate planning and charitable giving techniques. Steven is also experienced in the area of executive compensation, focusing on compensation and intermediate sanctions issues for tax-exempt organizations. Steven has represented exempt organiza...

Catherine M. McBain is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. Catherine M., who practices law in San Diego, California, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Catherine M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Erwin J. Shustak is the Founder and Managing Partner of Shustak Reynolds & Partners PC in San Diego, California. He leads the firm’s Litigation and Arbitration Department and has more than four decades of experience representing clients in complex business disputes and financial matters throughout the United States and internationally. His practice focuses on Commercial Litigation and Financial Services Regulation Law, including disputes involving securities, financial institutions,...

John E. Fitzsimmons is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management. John E., who practices law in San Diego, California, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Nicole M. Martinez is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Nicole M., who practices law in San Diego, California, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Nicole M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

As a partner in the firm’s Corporate & Securities, Real Estate, and Employment practice groups, Kenneth Jones has more than 30 years of experience in all phases of corporate, real estate, finance, business, commercial and employment law. Mr. Jones’s broad experience, education and knowledge in real estate and business matters allows him to employ a practical, creative approach in representing his clients. Mr. Jones represents clients in business planning, entity formation, gov...

Melanie Gold spent more than three decades as a research attorney for California appellate courts. She primarily worked with the justices of the Fourth District Court of Appeal in San Diego, but also with those of the Sixth District Court of Appeal in San Jose as well as the California Supreme Court in San Francisco. During that time, Melanie analyzed thousands of briefs, motions, and petitions, advised justices on hundreds of appeals, and developed a deep understanding of how appellate court...

Vincent J. Bartolotta, Jr. is a founding partner of Thorsnes Bartolotta McGuire. He specializes in plaintiffs' litigation with an emphasis in business disputes, condemnation, and major injury cases. A tenacious litigator, Bartolotta is recognized annually by Woodward/White as one of the Best Lawyers in America -- a recognition he's received every year since 1987. "There's really no secret about what I do," he says, "I really do care for my clients; each case gets a piece of my soul." Bartolot...