Nicholas Hodges

Nicholas D. Brauns is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Nicholas D. practices law in San Diego, California Best Lawyers has recognized Nicholas D. Brauns 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 Nicholas D. Brauns is held by other lawyers.

After two decades prosecuting white collar crimes in federal courts throughout the country, Eric Beste now represents businesses and individuals facing domestic and international investigations and enforcement actions. A seasoned trial lawyer with a natural aptitude for advocacy, Eric takes each client’s story and turns it into a compelling narrative to achieve the best possible result. Eric focuses his practice on white collar criminal defense, internal investigations and compliance ma...

Danielle C. Humphries, a partner in the firm’s San Diego office and Chair of San Diego’s Trusts & Estates practice group, is a trusted wealth advisor to her clients and their families through her trusts and estates work. The majority of Danielle’s practice focuses on trusts and estates, including estate planning, wealth transfer and preservation, business succession planning, trust administration, probate, and probate litigation. Danielle also has extensive experience re...

Raymond Bertrand is Chair of the San Diego Office and San Diego Employment Law Department. Mr. Bertrand is one of the nation’s premier litigators. A skilled trial attorney with more than 20 defense verdicts, he has represented numerous Fortune 500 companies in their most challenging, high-profile employment cases. Mr. Bertrand is equally adept at helping his clients navigate the court of public opinion, helping protect their interests and reputations by working closely with media and co...

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 ...

Douglas A. Pettit has extensive trial and litigation experience in the areas of civil litigation, business litigation, and professional liability. He has tried over 50 cases in California. His extraordinary record of favorable outcomes and exemplary client service has resulted in recognition by his peers over the years. He was inducted into the American Board of Trial Advocates in 2007 as the youngest member of the San Diego Chapter and has achieved Martindale-Hubbell’s highest rating f...

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...

Tim L. Johnson is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Tim L. practices law in San Diego, California Best Lawyers has recognized Tim L. Johnson since 2021. 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 Tim L. Johnson is held by other lawyers.

Conor J. Hulburt is a San Diego trial attorney and founder of Hulburt Law Firm APC who represents plaintiffs in catastrophic injury and wrongful death litigation. He concentrates on cases involving defective products , dangerous roadway design , and serious vehicle collisions. He has recovered more than $150 million in verdicts and settlements on behalf of injured people and families. In May 2025, Hulburt served as lead trial counsel in Quiroz v. Caltrans , obtaining a $28.16 million jury ver...

Grant Puleo represents developers, owners, operators, investors, lenders, and financial institutions in real estate, finance, and business transactions across California and throughout the United States. He handles acquisitions, development, construction, syndications, dispositions, leasing and financing across commercial, multifamily, student housing, hospitality, data center and other product types. An experienced trial attorney with more than a dozen jury trials and dozens of binding arbit...