Robert Hammill

Dori is the Co-chair of Hopkins & Carley’s Litigation Department. She represents a wide range of clients in complex real estate, land use, and business litigation matters. Dori regularly represents developers and property owners in disputes involving: Real estate purchase and sale transactions Real estate investment fraud Commercial landlord-tenant Boundary and property lines Easements Dori also regularly appears on behalf of clients at City Council meetings, Planning Commission mee...

Jeffrey E. Essner is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Real Estate. Jeffrey E., who practices law in San Jose, California, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jeffrey E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Quyen L. Ta is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Arbitration, Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Intellectual Property and Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants. Quyen L., who practices law in Palo Alto, California, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Quyen L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mark J. Mihanovic, head of the Firm’s California Transactions group, focuses his practice primarily in the areas of corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions. He represents companies in a broad range of industries, with a particular emphasis on technology, life science and health care companies. Read full biography: https://www.mwe.com/people/mihanovic-mark-j/

Sonal N. Mehta is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Intellectual Property, Litigation - Patent and Patent Law. Sonal N., who practices law in Palo Alto, California, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Sonal N. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Erik Puknys’ career in intellectual property began more than 25 years ago, when he joined the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office as a patent examiner. Erik started his legal career at Finnegan’s Washington, D.C. office in 1994, and moved to California in 1997 to help open the firm’s Silicon Valley office. He has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in district courts around the United States, in the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and in the U.S. Supreme Cour...

Ed Wes is a partner in the firm's Business practice, who focuses his practice on emerging growth companies. Ed's practice includes capital formation (including private financings of debt and equity securities, as well as public offerings), mergers and acquisitions and business transactions including joint ventures and technology transfer transactions. In his position as general counsel for many of his clients Ed also oversees the work of litigation and IP law specialists. Ed particularly valu...

Jay Ross is Co-chair of Hopkins & Carley’s Litigation Department. He handles contract, fulfillment, and payment disputes as well as real estate disputes, including construction, purchase and sale transactions, commercial landlord-tenant disputes, easements, and land use. A wide variety of businesses associated with the real estate industry rely on Jay to apply his years of business litigation experience and practical approach to solve their problems. These include: Commercial genera...

Dianne L. Sweeney is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Dianne L., who practices law in Palo Alto, California, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Dianne L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

A seasoned trial lawyer with significant experience in both state and federal courts in Santa Clara County, Bill’s expertise in representing businesses and individuals in complex civil litigation has provided clients many noteworthy results. In addition, Bill works with individuals and families in cases involving litigation such as will contests, trust disputes, and related issues. Bill is often called into family law matters when specific litigation expertise is required in cases where...