Michelle F. Catapang

T heo is a fourth generation trial lawyer – his great grandfather served as the Presiding Judge of the Tennessee Court of Appeals, as well as a State Senator, his grandfather practiced law until he was 92, and his father served as president of both the Tennessee Trial Lawyers’ Association and the Tennessee Bar Association. Driving around with his dad during the holidays visiting clients made a lasting impression on Theo. Without fail, every person who came to the door during those...

Phong-Chau G. Nguyen is a partner in Lieff Cabraser’s San Francisco office specializing in consumer and defective product cases, as well as personal injury/mass tort matters. He is part of the leadership team in the Volkswagen Diesel Emissions multidistrict litigation, which secured an unprecedented $14+ billion in settlements on behalf of U.S. owners and lessees of Volkswagen diesel vehicles, won the California Daily Journal’s “California Lawyer of the Year” award, an...

Attorney Jennifer L. Alesio is a partner at Simmons Hanly Conroy in the San Francisco office. She focuses her practice on mesothelioma and asbestos-related cases, helping injured workers and their families secure the justice they deserve. In the 10 years Jennifer has practiced law, her tenacity in the courtroom and empathetic approach to clients has resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for her clients. “It’s my job to tell the stories of the work...

Andrew B. Sabey is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Land Use and Zoning Law and Litigation - Land Use and Zoning. Andrew B., who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Andrew B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Belinda Hanson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law and Family Law Mediation. Belinda, who practices law in San Mateo, California, has been recognized since 2003. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Belinda is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

A leader within the plaintiffs’ bar, Lexi J. Hazam Chairs the firm’s Mass Torts Practice group and represents clients in mass tort cases and environmental class actions, as well as whistleblower/false claims act actions. In November 2022, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers of the Northern District of California appointed Lexi as Co-Lead Counsel of MDL 3047, In re Social Media Adolescent Addiction/Personal Injury Products Liability Litigation , the nationwide multi-district litigation ag...

Peter Bertrand is Chairman of Buchalter Nemer's Board of Directors and a Shareholder in the San Francisco office. He is a member of both the Litigation, and Insolvency and Financial Solutions Practice Groups. His practice, which is national in scope, focuses on the representation of financial institutions and companies in the areas of litigation, bankruptcy and creditor rights law. He also specializes in cases involving intellectual property, trade secrets, unfair business competition and emp...

Scott D. Brooks is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Scott D., who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Scott D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mary Powell is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law. Mary, who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Mary is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Tom Burke concentrates his practice on media, entertainment and intellectual property litigation and counseling. He has over 23 years of litigation experience in the trial and appellate courts including multiple appearances in the California Supreme Court, 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, and California’s Courts of Appeal. Tom's clients include: Amazon.com, The Bakersfield Californian, California Newspaper Publishers Association, CBS, Center for Biological Diversity, Center for Investigati...