Sandi L. Nichols

Bruce Copeland is a partner in the firm’s commercial litigation practice, and former deputy department head for the firm’s entire Litigation practice. He represents and counsels a variety of businesses with respect to a variety of concerns, including advertising and labeling issues, false and misleading advertising, trade secrets, complex commercial litigation in federal and state court, litigation avoidance, and a broad range of areas in the food and beverage industry. My focus I...

Joe A. Schwachter is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Labor Law - Management. Joe A., who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Joe A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Steve Hankins tries cases involving intellectual property, employment, and other disputes. Steve was hooked on trial advocacy right after college when he worked with a group of busy personal injury trial attorneys. There were many trials, each one requiring empathy, creativity, forensic legwork, and nuanced advocacy. Raised by English teachers and artists, these skills come naturally to Steve. After 25 years of practice, Steve still enjoys more than anything else the careful preparation and f...

Charles (“Chuck”) Dyke leads the firm’s national ERISA Litigation practice. His experience includes defending complex breach of fiduciary duty claims, litigating pension plan termination cases, and handling appellate matters. Chuck also has significant experience litigating trade secrets and complex commercial cases. He has been recognized as a “Northern California Super Lawyer” each year since 2007 and is listed in Best Lawyers in America . Chuck speaks and writ...

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

Matthew Gray focuses his practice on land use entitlement processing and litigation. He represents a range of local agencies, real estate developers and landowners in all stages of the land use entitlement and development process. He assists clients in negotiating and securing approval of development agreements, general plan amendments, specific plans, zoning, subdivision approvals, and annexation of property into cities and special districts; regularly appears before planning commissions and...

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...

Alicia M. McKnight is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Alicia M., who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Alicia M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Joshua M. Henderson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management. Joshua M., who practices law in San Francisco, California, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Joshua M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Geoff Robinson focuses his practice on land use, development and real estate litigation. He represents clients in civil and administrative proceedings involving planning and zoning laws, CEQA, development fees and exactions, and public facilities financing. He is an authority on writs of mandate in the trial court and is co-author of the treatise California Administrative Mandamus (CEB, 3rd Ed. 2020) and other publications on civil writ practice. He also has substantial experience in the area...