Robert M. Howard

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...

Adrienne L. Conrad is a principal in the San Diego, California, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. She has practiced labor and employment law for more than 20 years. An experienced trial lawyer, Adrienne is a member of the firm’s Trial group, having first-chaired jury trials, arbitrations, and state civil rights administrative hearings on behalf of employers. Adrienne's practice covers the spectrum of employment litigation. She handles both state and federal claims involving race, age, disabi...

Patricia Benke is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice. Patricia, 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 Patricia is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Thomas S. Ingrassia is a founding member of Pettit Kohn Ingrassia Lutz & Dolin, and serves as the firm’s Chief Financial Officer. As co-chair of the firm’s Employment and Labor Department, Tom regularly assists his clients in developing and enforcing appropriate employment practices and policies, investigating claims of employee harassment/misconduct, and defending all forms of employment litigation before State and Federal courts and administrative agencies. Tom has achieved ...

Vik Nagpal is the managing partner of Bremer Whyte Brown & O’Meara LLP’s San Diego offices, as well as directing the firm’s business development. He has practiced law in both Northern and Southern California since 2000. Mr. Nagpal is admitted to practice law before all State Court in California, as well as in the Central and Southern District Federal Courts. Mr. Nagpal has extensive experience in handling all general liability matters to trial and arbitration, including ...

James C. Fessenden is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management. James C., 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 James C. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Cynthia R. Chihak is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Cynthia R., who practices law in San Diego, California, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Cynthia R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

David J. Noonan has amassed an impressive career over four decades, successfully representing high profile clients, receiving numerous recognitions from distinguished organizations and serving in leadership positions in San Diego’s major legal organizations. Before becoming one of the founding partners of Noonan Lance Boyer & Banach, he was a founding partner at the award-winning law firm of Kirby Noonan Lance & Hoge, where he managed a diverse client roster that included Americ...

Nancy L. Stagg is a partner with Foley & Lardner LLP and vice chair of the Litigation Department for the San Diego office. Her practice emphasizes the defense of consumer class actions, unfair competition and false advertising litigation, as well as a wide variety of business and intellectual property litigation, including trade secret litigation. Ms. Stagg also has a background in product liability litigation. She has represented numerous publicly-held and private companies in nationwide...

Robert Frank, Senior Trial Lawyer, joined Neil Dymott in 1980. He has been a shareholder in the law firm since 1988. Mr. Frank specializes in civil litigation defense trial work and administrative licensing hearings for various types of healthcare professionals, with an emphasis on medical, dental, chiropractic and nursing specialties. He also handles a variety of other general civil litigation including, professional liability, medical malpractice and administrative licensing matters as well...