Randy Socol

Scott J. Ingold is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Scott J., 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 Scott J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Emily J. Fox is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management. Emily J., who practices law in San Diego, California, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Emily J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

John Fiske is California’s leading public entity-as-plaintiff lawyer and a shareholder in the San Diego offices of Baron & Budd. Mr. Fiske has resolved more than $2.5 billion dollars for public entity clients since 2018. John Fiske was the 2020 California Lawyer Attorney of the Year in Environmental Litigation and is a ten-time consecutive Super Lawyer. John Fiske has been instrumental in the wildfire litigation in California. He has resolved approximately $1.6 billion for more than...

Andrew J. Deddeh is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants. Andrew J., 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 Andrew J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Benjamin J. Howard is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants and Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. Benjamin J., who practices law in San Diego, California, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Benjamin J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Ben Coughlan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. Ben, who practices law in San Diego, California, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ben is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

This firm is devoted exclusively to the practice of family law. Mr. Cruse and his three support staff handle complex family law cases and child custody disputes. Mr. Cruse is in his 43rd year of the practice of law. His clients are business professionals, business owners, military officers, those with professional practices and the financially independent. Mr. Cruse is a recognized expert in electronic discovery.

HFM Partner Susan Moriarty Hack practices general tort and business litigation. With over 30 years of experience as a trial lawyer, Ms. Hack primarily handles business disputes, personal injury, premises liability, professional medical and business negligence, and product liability matters. She is also dedicated to meeting the needs of her clients, as well as raising the standard of practice within HFM and the broader San Diego legal community. Often noted for her considerable enthusiasm for ...

Erwin Shustak is the founder and Managing Partner of the Firm. He heads the Litigation and Arbitration Department, with over 40 years of extensive experience in a wide variety of complex disputes and transactions, across the country and overseas. Mr. Shustak specializes in litigations, trials, arbitrations and appeals of complex securities, financial and business disputes, with a particular emphasis in the areas of securities and financial services and regulation law. Few attorneys have the d...

Donald Sheppard is certified as a legal specialist in immigration and nationality law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. Mr. Sheppard’s typical clients are companies in the high tech and start-up industries seeking to hire the brightest and best talent which includes foreign nationals who need employment sponsorship in a variety of professional fields. He works closely with client companies’ HR professionals, talent partners, corporate legal counsels, ma...